Coronavirus tally: Global cases of COVID-19 top 241 million and U.S. FDA may soon allow mix-and-match boosters – MarketWatch

The global tally for the coronavirus-borne illness climbed above 241.2 million on Tuesday, while the death toll edged above 4.90 million, according to data aggregated by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. continues to lead the world with a total of 45 million cases and 726,201 deaths. The U.S. is averaging more than 1,600 deaths a day, according to a New York Times tracker, although cases and hospitalizations are declining. The Food and Drug Administration is moving to soon allow people to receive booster shots that are different from their first COVID-19 vaccine doses, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The FDA won't recommend any booster over the others but will permit people to get a booster shot that is different from the shot they first received, one of the people said. The agency is trying to greenlight mixing and matching as soon as this week, the people said, and is also expected to approve Moderna Inc. MRNA, -0.94%, and Johnson & Johnson JNJ, +2.15% boosters this weekIndia is second by cases after the U.S. at 34 million and has suffered 452,454 deaths. Brazil has second highest death toll at 603,465 and 21.7 million cases. In Europe, Russia has most fatalities at 221,314, mostly due to a low vaccination rate, followed by the U.K. at 139,042.

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Coronavirus tally: Global cases of COVID-19 top 241 million and U.S. FDA may soon allow mix-and-match boosters - MarketWatch