Global cases near 11 million as US reports record spike

WASHINGTON: The United States reported more than 52,000 new Covid-19 infections on Thursday, a single-day rise not seen before, as the worst-affected states, mostly in the south and west, reinstated restrictions.

The Johns Hopkins University’s coronavirus tracker put the number of new cases at 52,291 and the number of new deaths at 635 by the end of Thursday.

A Reuters tally said the latest daily spike in the US was 55,274 as of late on Thursday, topping the previous single-day record of 54,771 set by Brazil on June 19.

Public health officials in the country have already warned that single-day infections could go as high as 100,000 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has forecast a total of 148,000 deaths by July 25.

The global count of cases, meanwhile, crept up closer to 11 million and total deaths went past 522,000, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker.

The US is witnessing a second flare-up, mostly affecting southern states - with the exception of California in the west. At least eight states reported record single-day highs on Thursday.

US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, was scheduled to leave on Friday for Mount Rushmore in South Dakota for July 4 Independence Day celebrations.

Meanwhile, drug-maker Moderna said a 30,000-patient trial of its vaccine candidate will start later this month. Spokesman Ray Jordan said the trial should start in or by late July, which he said is consistent with the window previously communicated.