US surpasses 18 mn reported Covid-19 cases: Johns Hopkins
The United States surpassed 18 million reported Covid-19 cases on Monday.
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States surpassed 18 million reported Covid-19 cases on Monday, figures from Johns Hopkins University showed, as the virus surges nationwide.
The US has the world s highest absolute number of cases as well as the most deaths related to the virus, according to the figures.
It had a total of 18,006,061 reported cases on Monday evening and more than 319,000 deaths.
The country began administering vaccines a week ago and has given approval to immunizations developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.
States and cities have imposed varying levels of restrictions in a bid to slow the virus spread, but outgoing President Donald Trump has repeatedly downplayed its seriousness and urged reopenings.
Trump s behavior has come despite having been hospitalized with the virus himself.
President-elect Joe Biden, who defeated Trump in the November 3 election, has been far more cautious, urging mask-wearing and abiding by social-distancing rules.
Earlier Monday, Biden received a Covid-19 vaccine live on television in a campaign to boost Americans confidence in the jabs.
