PARIS, March 8, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Over six million people have died 
worldwide from Covid-19 since the pandemic began, according to a tally from 
official sources compiled by AFP on Tuesday. 

  A total of 6,001,585 people have succumbed to the virus, AFP counted at 
0900 GMT. 

  The milestone comes as the number of infections and deaths continues to 
plummet in most regions of the world, except in Asia, where Hong Kong is 
suffering its worst-ever outbreak, and Oceania, where New Zealand has 
recorded a jump in cases. 

  Average global daily deaths over the past seven days have fallen to 7,170, 
down 18 percent in a week, continuing a trend seen since the peak of the 
Omicron wave in mid-February despite many countries relaxing restrictions. 

  The United States has recorded 960,311 deaths from the coronavirus, 
followed by Brazil on 652,341 and India on 515,102. 

  While much of the world is learning to live with the disease, China remains 
committed to stamping it out and has instructed Hong Kong to also pursue a 
zero-tolerance approach. 

  Hong Kong has launched controversial plans to test all 7.4 million 
residents and build a network of isolation camps. The number of weekly 
infections in the city has doubled in a week to 290,987 while the number of 
deaths has more than tripled to 1,543. 

  AFP's tally is based on Covid-19 deaths reported by national health 
authorities. 

  The World Health Organization believes that the real figure could be two to 
three times higher.