US passes 2,000 coronavirus deaths in a day for first time since May

The United States on Thursday recorded 2,015 new coronavirus deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, marking the first time the country has hit more than 2,000 deaths since May.

Experts have warned that the death toll will keep climbing in the coming months as cold weather drives more people indoors, CNN notes. According to the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, more than 2,300 people could end up losing their lives per day due to the virus. 

The group also predicts that 471,000 Americans could die from the virus by March 1.

The U.S. also set a new record on hospitalizations on Thursday. According to COVID Tracking Project, 80,698 people are currently hospitalized. In addition, more than 187,000 new cases were reported across the country, according to CNN. 

Several states have imposed new mask mandates and coronavirus restrictions in an attempt to limit the spread ahead of the expected surge.

On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that people avoid traveling and gathering for the Thanksgiving holiday, saying that the holiday should only be spent with people living in a household together.

More than 11 million people have contracted the virus in the U.S. since the pandemic began, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 252,000 have died.