U.S. Hits Record Daily Coronavirus Deaths, Hospitalizations

The U.S. has reached daily coronavirus records with more than 3,100 deaths and 100,000 hospitalizations

New cases have topped 200,000 a day, according to figures released Thursday. The three benchmarks show a country slipping deeper into crisis, with perhaps the worst yet to come. Millions of Americans disregarded warnings to stay home over Thanksgiving and celebrate only with members of their household.

The U.S. recorded 3,157 deaths on Wednesday, according to the tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. That’s more than the number of people killed on 9/11. It shattered the old mark of 2,603, set on April 15, when the New York metropolitan area was the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak.

The number of people hospitalized doubled in the past month and confirmed daily cases climbed over 200,000 for the second time in less than a week. That’s left health care workers short-handed and burned out.

The U.S. leads the world with nearly 14 million confirmed cases and more than 273,000 deaths.  

Related: Nevada Reports Nearly 930 New COVID-19 Cases, 15 Deaths 

Related: Gov. Sisolak: 'We Have A Lot Of Work To Do' Before Nevada Sees COVID-19 Vaccine 

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Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to visit Memphis on Thursday to discuss the development and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines, according to his office.

Memphis is home to shipping giant FedEx, which is helping in the national vaccine distribution. Pence will participate in an afternoon discussion, which will include Republican Gov. Bill Lee.

Tennessee health officials say the state is expecting to receive 56,550 doses of the potential Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in its first allocation in mid-December.

Tennessee has nearly 878 new cases per 100,000 people in the past two weeks. That ranks 24th in the country for new cases per capita, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The state has confirmed 4,638 coronavirus-related deaths.

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