The United States recorded the largest single-day increase in new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, as the number of deaths across the country approaches 125,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Cases rose across the country to at least 39,818 on Thursday, breaking the previous record of 36,426 set on April 24. The country also totaled 124,415 COVID-19-related deaths, and more than 2.4 million cases across the country on Friday morning, according to the data.
More than 36,000 new cases were recorded on Wednesday as the country advanced to yesterday’s record.
Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Wyoming have seen a record increase in cases this week.
Those states either got rid of the brunt of the initial outbreak or moved early to lift restrictions on residents and businesses.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott temporarily halted the state’s reopening Thursday amid a spike in COVID-19 infections.
“This temporary pause will help our state corner the spread until we can safely enter the next phase of opening our state for business,” Abbott, a two-term Republican, said in a statement.
Abbott also issued an executive order directing hospitals in four affected counties to suspend elective surgeries, calling it a “precautionary step” to ensure a “wide supply of available beds to treat COVID-19 patients.”
Lone Star State’s largest cities, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin, are located in the counties covered by the order.
While the national increase can be attributed in part to more tests, the percentage of positive results is also on the rise.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that up to 10 times more Americans may be infected with the coronavirus than previous estimates suggested, meaning that up to 20 million may have contracted the virus, but also that the mortality rate may be lower than previously thought.
Globally, more than 9.6 million people have been infected with the contagion.
Brazil is the second most affected country with more than 1.2 million cases and almost 55,000 deaths.
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