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WASHINGTON – The United States marked the New Year by surpassing the extraordinary milestone of 20 million COVID-19 cases.
The United States has failed in its efforts to quell the virus, which is spreading rapidly across the country and has already caused more than 347,000 deaths, by far the highest death toll nationally.
Global hopes that COVID-19 vaccines will put a quick end to the pandemic in 2021 have been shaken by the slow start of the US vaccination program, which has been hit by logistical problems and overloaded hospitals.
READ: US Adds One Million COVID-19 Cases In Less Than A Week
Nearly 2.8 million people in the US have already taken their first blows, but the number fell far short of the 20 million vaccines promised by the administration of President Donald Trump by the end of 2020.
The desperate race to vaccinate will dominate next year, and the coronavirus has already killed at least 1.8 million people since it emerged in China in December 2019, according to a count from official sources compiled by AFP.
Experts believe the worst is yet to come globally, predicting a sharp increase in cases and deaths after weeks of Christmas gatherings.
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According to Johns Hopkins University, the United States hit a record number of daily deaths on Wednesday when more than 3,900 people died from COVID-19.
President-elect Joe Biden, who will take office on January 20, has criticized the troubled launch of the vaccine and implored Americans to wear masks.
Under Trump, American authorities have delivered often mixed messages about wearing masks, social distancing and closures, and the outgoing president has repeatedly downplayed the risks.
READ: WHO grants ’emergency validation’ to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
But in his New Year’s Eve message, Trump praised his administration’s response, saying: “Our most vulnerable citizens are already getting the vaccine and millions of doses are being shipped rapidly across our country.”
The World Health Organization on Thursday granted emergency validation to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, paving the way for countries around the world to quickly approve its import and distribution.
