US hits new daily high with 3,725 coronavirus deaths

The United States on Tuesday broke its record for the most number of coronavirus-related deaths in a single day with 3,725 reported, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. 

Tuesday surpassed the country’s previous single-day death toll high of 3,656 set on Dec. 16. 

As of Wednesday morning, the U.S. has now recorded a total of 338,656 deaths due to COVID-19. 

This comes as more than 82 million people worldwide have been infected with the virus, with the U.S. continuing to have the highest number of infections with approximately 19.5 million. 

The record numbers come as about 2 million Americans have already received their first doses of the coronavirus vaccine, according to data from the CDC, though this is far from the Trump administration’s goal of 20 million vaccinated by the end of the year.

Globally, nearly 1.8 million people have died from COVID-19 this year, according to the university’s data.

These numbers come as experts predict the pandemic will get worse as more infections are reported in the coming weeks following travel and gatherings over the holidays. 

Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, said on Tuesday during an interview on CNN that America has to assume that the coronavirus pandemic is “going to get worse.”

He noted that the U.S. is seeing between 100,000 and 200,000 new infections each day and added that once cases begin to rise, increases in hospitalizations and deaths follow.

December has been the worst month on record in terms of new COVID-19 infections, deaths and hospitalizations. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California currently has the highest daily average increase in COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days, followed by Tennessee, Oklahoma and Arizona.

Tuesday also saw Texas shatter its daily record for new cases, reporting 26,990 new infections, 41 percent higher than the previous record, which was set on Dec. 23. 

The state also set a new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations, with 11,775 on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg News.