U.S. reports over 1 million COVID-19 cases in a day
The United States reported 1.35 million new coronavirus infections on Monday, according to a Reuters tally. This is the highest daily total for any country in the world.
The previous record was 1.03 million cases on Jan. 3. The seven-day average for new cases has tripled in two weeks to over 700,000 new infections a day.
The record in new cases came the same day as the nation saw the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients reaching an all-time high.
Last year there were 132,051 people hospitalized with COVID-19, this year more than 136,604 are hospitalised.
The surge in cases has disrupted schools, which are struggling with absences of staff, teachers and bus drivers.
Chicago cancelled classes for a fourth day as the district and teachers failed to agree on how to deal with increased infections.
New York City suspended service on three subway lines as a large number of workers were out sick, according to its Twitter account. Companies’ plans for workers to return to office have also been derailed.
Deaths are averaging 1,700 per day, up from about 1,400 in recent days.
