US suffers 2,000 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours for the first time in three months as fatal cases rise in 23 states
MORE than 2,000 people died from coronavirus in a 24-hour span for the first time in three months as deadly cases continue to rise in 23 states.
According to a tally from John Hopkins University’s coronavirus tracker, the US recorded 2,060 deaths at 8.30pm on Thursday.
The last time more than 2,000 deaths were reported in the time timeframe in the US was on May 7.
More than 5million coronavirus cases have been reported in the country and over 163,000 people suffered virus-related deaths.
Both the number of infections and deaths from COVID-19 are the highest of any country in the world.
According to a Reuters analysis released on Friday, coronavirus deaths are rising in 23 states, while case numbers are rising in 20 states.
As of Friday, the US reported an increase of 10,000 deaths among Americans in the past nine days.
Per Reuters, many of those reported deaths happened in California, Florida, and Texas — states that have seen severe outbreaks since reopening at the beginning of the summer.
Dr Deborax Birx, lead coordinator of the White House’s coronavirus task force, said on Sunday the country’s pandemic is entering a “new phase.”
She said on CNN that what the country is “seeing today is different from March and April.”
“It is extraordinarily widespread,” Birx said. “It’s into the rural as equal urban areas.”
She warned that even living in a rural area that’s less populated, residents “are not immune or protested from this virus.”
“If you’re in multi-generational households, and there’s an outbreak in your rural area or in your city, you need to really consider wearing a mask at home, assuming that you’re positive, if you have individuals in your households with comorbidities.”
Birx said that months into the pandemic, “Right now is different and it’s more widespread.”
On Thursday, University of Washington health experts released predictions that nearly 300,000 US residents could be dead from the virus by December 1.
The previous forecast predicted 230,000 deaths by November 1
Officials said that 70,000 lives in the US could be saved if more people wore face masks.
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According to an Associated Press analysis published on Wednesday, COVID testing in the US is dropping, despite infection and death toll numbers rising.
The number of tests per day slid 3.6 percent over the past two weeks to 750,000, with the number decreasing in 22 states.
Among those states include Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, and Iowa where the percentage of positive tests is high and continuing to climb.