WASHINGTON, D.C.: The global death toll from the coronavirus pandemic reached 251,000 while 3.6 million individuals have been infected on Tuesday, with the United States government predicting a further surge in fatalities as an international vaccine drive garnered $8 billion in pledges.

The dire forecast from the US came as much of the Western world emerged from weeks of lockdown with hopes that the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) may have peaked in Europe, where deaths in the worst affected countries have dropped after nearly two months of confinement.