The United States set another record for coronavirus deaths in one day on Wednesday, at 3,865, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker.
The death toll is increasing as cases and hospitalizations also increase. More than 132,000 Americans are hospitalized with COVID-19, also a record, as the number continues to rise, according to the COVID Tracking Project. The country averages more than 200,000 new cases every day.
A surprising total of more than 361,000 Americans died from the virus, according to Johns Hopkins.
Many Americans are tired of pandemic restrictions, despite calls from public health officials to maintain them. President Trump
Donald TrumpTrump acknowledges the end of the presidency after Congress certifies Biden’s victory Congress affirms Biden’s victory after protesters terrorize Third Capitol House Legislator tests positive for COVID-19 this week MORE has been silent about the crisis as it focuses on reversing the election result and while a pro-Trump crowd stormed the Capitol on Wednesday.
Many governors are also reluctant to impose new restrictions.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel with vaccines, but the distribution effort is slow, as Trump administration officials say they are working to speed it up.
But, with months until the vaccine becomes widely available, a new strain of coronavirus poses an even greater threat, as it is considered more contagious, though not more lethal.
This strain has already been found in several states, and experts say it will become much more prominent, since it is easier to spread.
Even though the new strain is not dominant in the United States, hospitals in some areas are already overburdened, especially in Los Angeles. Ambulance teams have recently been instructed not to transport some patients with a low chance of survival to hospitals due to capacity problems.