The United States has recorded its deadliest coronavirus day ever, with fatalities topping 2,700 and hospitalisations also reaching an all-time high.
The US death toll from the coronavirus reached 2,760 in one day as of Wednesday evening, surpassing the previous peak on 15 April, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
The new tally raises the overall known death toll in America to 273,181 since the pandemic started late last year.
The number of new infections over the past 24 hours was 195,121, the university said.
Meanwhile, hospitalisations have increased by more than 1000 a day at the end of November, according to data released from the Department of Health and Human Services.
President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday promised a group of workers hit by the raging COVID-19 pandemic that more aid would be on the way, while President Donald Trump hinted he may be ready to begin planning another run for the White House in 2024.
Mr Biden, who has pledged to act quickly to provide more resources to fight the health crisis after he is inaugurated on 20 January, told a group of workers and business owners that any emergency aid approved by Congress before he takes office would be only a “down payment”.
Republicans and Democrats are trying to resolve a months-long standoff in Congress over a stimulus package for businesses affected by coronavirus shutdowns as well as the millions who have lost jobs.
“My transition team is already working on what I will put forward to the next Congress to address the multiple crises we’re facing, especially the economic crisis and COVID,” Mr Biden told the workers at a roundtable in his home state of Delaware.
More than 270,000 people in the United States have died of COVID-19, which is resurgent across the country. The United States leads the world in the number of infections as well as the number of deaths reported every day.
“I don’t want you to give up hope,” Mr Biden told the workers. “Hang on, we’ll get through this.”
Mr Trump has refused to concede the 3 November election and his lawyers continue to file legal challenges to the outcome, alleging electoral fraud without providing evidence. State and federal election officials have repeatedly said there is no such evidence. Most of the lawsuits have been rejected by judges.
