Coronavirus-related deaths across the globe passed a grim milestone of 4 million, according to data from Johns Hopkins University (JHU) on Wednesday.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the grim toll in a message, repeating his appeal for a global vaccination plan to boost vaccine equity.

"Today the world marks yet another grim milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic. Four million souls have now been lost to the virus. This tragic toll is more than the population of one out of three countries on earth," Guterres said.

"Bridging the vaccine gap requires the greatest global public health effort in history. In short, the world needs a Global Vaccine Plan."  

To realize the plan, the UN chief said he's calling for "an Emergency Task Force that brings together all the countries with vaccine production capacities, the World Health Organization, the global vaccine alliance GAVI, and international financial institutions able to deal with the relevant pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers, and other key stakeholders."