US surpasses Italy for most deaths from coronavirus

The U.S. now has more recorded coronavirus deaths than any other country in the world, surpassing Italy on Saturday morning.

Italy was one of the first countries outside China to experience an outbreak and has taken aggressive measures to contain the spread.

The mortality rate in the U.S. remains lower than in Italy, with more than 500,000 reported cases and 18,860 deaths in the U.S. and 147,577 reported cases and 18,849 deaths in Italy, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University.

Italy’s population is less than fifth of that of the U.S., and access to testing in both countries varies. 

However, those numbers are likely to grow; on Thursday, Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, said the U.S could see closer to 60,000 deaths by the end of the pandemic. 

On Saturday, the White House announced a “robust assistance package” to Italy, which includes mobilizing troops already stationed in the country. Like the U.S., Italy is experiencing shortages of medical equipment and hospital beds.