The United States surpassed 12 million Covid-19 cases on Saturday, according to the Johns Hopkins University real-time tracker.
The world’s largest economy currently has 12,019,960 cases and 255,414 deaths, both by far the worst global tolls. The new number comes just six days after the US crossed the threshold of 11 million cases.
Cases have risen in the US at an alarming rate, forcing many cities to re-impose blocking punishment measures.
Read also | Pfizer seeks emergency use of its Covid-19 vaccine in the US.
Health authorities have urged people to stay home over Thanksgiving holidays next week, when Americans often travel from coast to coast to be with their families.
New York City has closed schools for its 1.1 million students, while California began imposing a 10:00 pm-5:00am curfew beginning Saturday.
Chicago, the third-largest city in the US, has been under stay-at-home orders since Monday.
On Friday, President Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, announced that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and is in quarantine.
His positive test follows the infections of a number of people connected to the White House, including his father, who was hospitalized, President Melania’s wife and Trump’s youngest son, Barron.
President Trump’s administration has come under fire for its response to the pandemic and for downplaying the dangers.
On Monday, President-elect Joe Biden expressed frustration at Trump’s refusal to cooperate in the White House transition process, saying that “more people can die” from coronavirus without immediate coordination to combat the pandemic.
Yet there is a new sign of hope: American biotech giant Pfizer and German partner BioNTech announced on Friday that they will seek approval to launch their coronavirus vaccine early.
.
