US records over 3,000 COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours — highest daily toll globally

The United States has confirmed over 3,000 deaths from COVID-19 in 24 hours, setting a new record of higest single-day toll globally.

Last week, the US set a high record of 2,804 COVID-19 deaths, breaking the previous record of 2,607 deaths confirmed on April 15.

According to data from the Johns Hopkins University tracker, 3,124 COVID-19 deaths were recorded in the US on Wednesday.

The country also confirmed 221,276 new cases, making the total recorded cases above 15.4 million.

The US currently tops the list of COVID-19 fatalities, with a total of 289,970 deaths.

This development is coming two weeks after the Thanksgiving holiday period when health experts warned Americans to avoid travelling or large gatherings.

The rising deaths have increased the need for a vaccine.

On Thursday, a panel of experts will vote on a recommendation for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to grant emergency use approval for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

The vaccine has been approved in the United Kingdom and is currently being administered.

If approved by the FDA, US officials said the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine doses, reserved for vulnerable populations and frontline workers, could begin shipping within 24 hours.

Another vaccine developed by Moderna Therapeutics, a US biotech firm, with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is scheduled to be deliberated upon on December 17

Robert Redfield, director of Centers for Disease Control (CDC), had warned that another 200,000 Americans may die from the virus by February.