(CNN) The death toll from Covid-19 is "both a profound tragedy and a massive global failure at multiple levels," the Lancet Covid-19 Commission said in a report Wednesday. "Too many governments have failed to adhere to basic norms of institutional rationality and transparency, too many people -- often influenced by misinformation -- have disrespected and protested against basic public health precautions, and the world's major powers have failed to collaborate to control the pandemic," the commissioners wrote. The World Health Organization says there have been more than 6.4 million Covid-19 deaths reported as of Sunday, but some experts say the actual toll most likely dwarfs the reported number. The Lancet Commission report is addressed to UN member states, UN agencies and others, including the G20 and G7. The commission specified that it is not "an investigative group, nor a body of biomedical specialists," but it focused on science-based policy, global cooperation and international finance in order to propose "guideposts for strengthening the multilateral system to address global emergencies and to achieve sustainable development."

---