World surpasses 100M coronavirus cases

The total number of worldwide coronavirus cases surpassed 100 million on Tuesday.

The coronavirus tracker from Johns Hopkins University shows that the world has hit 100 million cases. The United States is No. 1 with more than 25 million cases and 400,000 deaths. 

The virus first identified in China has hit every continent. Most countries have enacted some coronavirus restrictions and lockdowns to tame the spread in the past year, but many are still struggling to get the virus under control. 

The coronavirus has begun mutating with new strains identified in Brazil, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Although vaccines have been developed and distributed to millions of people, these new variants might mean scientists will have to adapt the vaccine. 

The United Kingdom has come out with data that its variant is more contagious and deadly, but further research needs to be done to see why that is the case. Anthony Fauci, the U.S.’s top infectious diseases expert, said the South African variant affects the efficacy of the current vaccines, and that adjustments will be made if needed. 

Further complicating matters is the fact that many around the world are still hesitant to get the vaccine due to concerns that it was developed too quickly; however, millions of people have already received the vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer. 

Both companies require two shots a couple of weeks apart. The vaccine does have some side effects such as drowsiness and aches. 

The battle against the virus that started at the beginning of 2020 is carrying into 2021. Officials are hopeful with the development of the vaccine in the fight against the virus, but many say the world still has a long way to go in combating the coronavirus pandemic.