New york, Jan 09: The U.S. is battling a record number of coronavirus cases and a mounting death toll in the new year, with more than 23,000 COVID-19 related fatalities reported in just eight days, according to data from the COVID Tracking Project.
In total, the U.S. has recorded more than 21.8 million coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic last year, and a death toll of nearly 367,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
The escalating health crisis was overshadowed this week by a riot that rocked Capitol Hill, with a pro-Trump mob swarming the U.S. Capitol, resulting in clashes with police and several deaths. The riot forced lawmakers to evacuate and delayed congressional certification of the Electoral College results.