The U.S. set another daily record for coronavirus cases and the world surpassed 50 million total cases Sunday as President-elect Joe Biden promised to do what President Donald Trump could not: “Get this virus under control.”
The U.S. recorded 126,742 cases Saturday, the third day in a row the total exceeded 120,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins. The United States, with about 4.3% of the world population, has about 20% of the cases.
Some infectious disease experts believe the U.S. and global numbers are conservative, saying many people are asymptomatic and haven’t been tested.
Daily U.S deaths are also rising: More than 1,000 were reported Saturday. South Dakota was one of four states reporting a record number of deaths for the week. On Saturday, Gov. Kristi Noem tweeted about her state’s thriving job market, posting smiling pictures of herself arm-and-arm with elderly residents – no social distancing and no masks.
The U.S. has reported more than 9.8 million cases and more than 237,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: 50 million cases and 1.2 million deaths.
New Jersey, which along with New York was hit hard early in the pandemic, is facing fast-rising numbers once again. An additional 5,250 people residents were diagnosed with coronavirus infection over the weekend, including 3,207 in one day – the highest number in a single day since last spring. Four deaths were reported in New Jersey on Sunday, for a total of 14,629 since the pandemic began.
President-elect Joe Biden, addressing the nation for the first time since he was declared the winner Saturday, said the coronavirus pandemic was first on his list of issues he wants to tackle immediately upon taking office Jan. 20.