US death toll higher than in three wars
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden led Americans in observing a moment of silence yesterday to commemorate the grim milestone of more than 500,000 US deaths from Covid19, urging Americans to set aside partisan differences and fight the pandemic together.
‘‘Today we mark a truly grim, heartbreaking milestone — 500,071 dead. That’s more Americans who have died in one year in this pandemic than in World War 1, World War 2 and the Vietnam War combined,’’ Biden said in emotional remarks at the White House.
‘‘But as we acknowledge the scale of this mass death in America, we remember each person and the life they lived. They’re people we knew.’’
Biden, Vicepresident Kamala Harris, First Lady Jill Biden and Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff marked a moment of silence about 6.15pm (local time) outside the White House after the president’s remarks.
Five hundred lit candles lined the White House steps to commemorate the dead and a military band played Amazing Grace.
Biden ordered that all flags on federal properties and military facilities be lowered to halfmast until Friday at sunset to commemorate the dead.
The president called on Americans to remain vigilant in fighting the pandemic by continuing to wear masks, observe social distancing and receive vaccinations when it is their turn.
‘‘We must end the politics and misinformation that has divided families, communities and the country, and has cost too many lives already. It’s not Democrats and Republicans who are dying from the virus. It’s our fellow Americans,’’ Biden said.
‘‘We have to fight this together as one people, as the United States of America.’’
About 19% of total global coronavirus deaths have occurred in the United States, an outsized figure given that the nation accounts for just 4% of the world’s population.
The US has the highest overall death figure, reflecting the lack of a unified, national response last year, when the administration of former president Donald Trump mostly left states to their own devices in tackling the greatest public health crisis in a century.