The U.S. hit a new daily record on Wednesday with 3,656 deaths from COVID-19 and 276,403 new cases, according to real-time data from Johns Hopkins University.
Wednesday marked the fourth day since the pandemic began that the U.S. topped 3,000 deaths from COVID-19 in one day. It was also the 44th consecutive day that the U.S. confirmed more than 100,000 new cases in one day.
The last records of one-day cases and deaths were reached on December 11, about two weeks after Thanksgiving, when 231,775 cases and 3,300 deaths were reported, according to a report of ABC News.
As of Thursday morning, data from Johns Hopkins University show that the United States has documented nearly 17 million cases and 307,512 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Current hospitalizations related to COVID-19 have reached a record 113,090, including 21,936 patients in the intensive care unit and 7,778 with ventilators, according to The COVID monitoring project.
U.S. case numbers surpassed 100,000 newspapers for the first time the day after election and reached 200,000 newspapers for the first time on Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving.
Health experts say Thanksgiving meetings have contributed to recent rises in cases, hospitalizations and deaths, a warning as other holidays approach.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended trips or meetings with people away from home for Thanksgiving, even though millions of people traveled the days before and after the holidays.
Top expert in infectious diseases Anthony Fauci
Anthony FauciBiden plans to get COVID-19 vaccine publicly already next week Overnight Health Care: Trump official boosted herd immunity and called for low-risk Americans infection | Congress close to coronavirus agreement, including stimulus controls | U.S. officials had to return doses of Pfizer vaccine after it got too cold The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Mastercard – Modern vaccine is nearing US approval; Congress MORE cites “progress” toward the relief bill has repeatedly warned that Christmas gatherings and other holidays can lead to major spikes in cases, hospitalizations and fatalities.
Poor numbers are also occurring amid a ray of hope, as vaccinations began this week in the U.S. for vulnerable populations and health workers.