Coronavirus tally: Global cases of COVID-19 top 96.9 million; Biden to sign 10 executive orders to bolster pandemic management

The global tally for confirmed cases of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 climbed above 96.9 million on Thursday, according to data aggregated by Johns Hopkins University, while the death toll rose above 2.07 million. The U.S. has the highest case tally in the world at 24.4 million and the highest death toll at 46,162, or about a fifth of the global total. The U.S. added at least 184,453 new cases on Wednesdayaccording to a New York Times tracker , and counted at least 4,357 deaths. The U.S. has averaged 194,711 new cases a day in the past week. New U.S. President Joe Biden will sign 10 executive orders and other directives to overhaul the U.S. management of the crisis. The moves will expand testing, beef up vaccine administration, advance racial equality and eventually reopen schools and businesses once it is deemed safe to do so. Biden will direct all relevant agencies, including the Defense Production Act, to accelerate the manufacturing and delivery of crucial personal protective equipment, including N95 masks, gowns, swabs, rapid test kits and all material needed to deliver vaccines.
Brazil has the second highest death toll at 212,831 and is third by cases at 8.6 million. India is second worldwide in cases with 10.6 million, and third in deaths at 152,869. Mexico has the fourth highest death toll at 144,371 and 13th highest case tally at 1.7 million. The U.K. has 3.5 million cases and 93,469 deaths, the highest in Europe and fifth highest in the world.