US sets daily coronavirus death record for second straight day

As 2020 comes to an end, the United States broke the record for coronavirus deaths for the second consecutive day. 

The country reported at least 3,903 COVID-19 related deaths on Wednesday, according to The Atlantic’s COVID Tracking Project.

The previous fatality record was recorded just the day before, with 3,725 deaths reported on Tuesday. 

The record death count includes a backlog of “roughly 200” deaths reported in the state of Washington. However, The COVID Tracking Project noted that Wednesday’s total would still be the highest to date even without the addition.

Our daily update is published. States reported 1.6 million tests, 226k cases, a record 125,220 hospitalizations, and a record 3,903 COVID-19 deaths. Holiday reporting delays are still markedly affecting testing, case, and deaths figures. pic.twitter.com/HPV1cBbzLE

— The COVID Tracking Project (@COVID19Tracking) December 31, 2020

More than 333,500 people have died in the U.S. since the onset of the pandemic. Globally, 1.8 million people have died from COVID-19 this year, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Across the country, more than 225,671 new cases were reported on Wednesday, including a high of 6,754 cases reported in Louisiana.

There are 125,220 people hospitalized for the infection in the U.S. — also a single-day record.

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

Experts have warned that holiday reporting delays are still affecting overall figures related to the pandemic.

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