Almost 4000 people died on Wednesday due to coronavirus. It was the second day in a row that the United States saw a record daily death toll.
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
The COVID Tracking Project writes that Wednesday’s “record death count includes a backlog of ‘roughly 200’ deaths reported in WA. Even without this backlog, today’s total would still be the highest to date.”
And while many people hoped for a reset in 2021, medical experts warn that January will be rough. CNN cites Dr. Peter Hotez, an infectious disease specialist at the Baylor College of Medicine as saying “The projections are just nightmarish.” A projection from the CDC estimates that more than 80,000 Americans could die due to COVID over the next few weeks.
The next few weeks and months are going to be a very tough period for our nation — maybe the toughest of the whole pandemic.
But we are going to get through it. Brighter days are coming, but it’s going to take all the grit and determination we have as Americans to do it.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 31, 2020
This comes as cases of the new strain of COVID-19 pop up in Colorado and California. Dr. Anthony Fauci said, “This is something that’s expected.”
“The good news is that it does not appear to be more virulent.”
Watch @craigmelvin’s full interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci on the dangerous new coronavirus strain now in the United States, and what it will take to fix the slow start to the vaccine push. pic.twitter.com/Z8yK7IpJCt
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 31, 2020
Watch more above from the Today show.
