US records 1m deaths from Covid-19

The US has crossed the threshold of one million deaths from Covid-19, the White House said on Thursday, as cities like New York try to turn the page on the pandemic despite threats of another surge.

“Today, we mark a tragic milestone: one million American lives lost to Covid-19,” President Joe Biden said in a statement that acknowledged the “unrelenting” pain of those who had lost loved ones during the pandemic. He called on residents to “remain vigilant against this pandemic” and said it was “critical” for Congress to fund resources like testing, vaccines and treatments.

The loss represents about one death for every 327 Americans, or more than the entire population of San Francisco or Seattle. America recorded its first Covid death, on the West Coast, in early February 2020.