A further rise is feared as the death toll from viruses in the US reaches 350,000 TheJournal.ie

THE PAY OF DEATH in the United States has surpassed 350,000, as experts anticipate another spike in coronavirus cases and deaths stemming from holiday gatherings during Christmas and New Years.

Data collected by Johns Hopkins University shows that the United States crossed the threshold this morning.

More than 20 million people in the country have been infected.

The United States has begun using two coronavirus vaccines to protect healthcare workers and those over 80, but the launch of the inoculation program has been criticized for being slow and chaotic.

Several states have reported a record number of cases in recent days, including North Carolina and Arizona. Mortuary owners in hard-hit Southern California say they are being inundated with corpses.

The United States has reported by far the highest number of Covid-19 deaths in the world, followed by Brazil, which has reported more than 195,000 deaths.