US coronavirus death toll surpasses 110,000

The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus passed 110,000 on Sunday, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.

Nationwide, the death toll sat at just over 110,100 on Sunday afternoon, while the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the U.S. neared 2 million. The increase in deaths and infections comes as states across the country have begun relaxing restrictions put in place to prevent the virus’s spread, including the closure of nonessential businesses.

Health experts including Anthony Fauci, a top member of the White House coronavirus task force, have also warned that the massive protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody could lead to a spike in new cases, though those wouldn’t be reflected in the current data.

“The reasons for demonstrating are valid, yet the demonstration itself puts one at an additional risk,” Fauci told WTOP on Friday.

“I get very concerned, as do my colleagues in public health, when they see these kinds of crowds,” he continued. “There certainly is a risk. I can say that with confidence.”