US sets third record in three days for new coronavirus cases

Seven-day rolling average on brink of hitting 100,000 cases per day

For the third day in a row, the US has documented a record number of new coronavirus cases.

NBC News has confirmed that there were 122,365 new Covid-19 cases nationwide on Friday.

The new total eclipsed yesterday’s record of 121, 289 cases, and Wednesday’s total of 107,872.

The seven-day rolling average is now on the brink of hitting 100,000 cases, being less than 550 cases shy of that milestone.

Texas stands on the verge of reaching 1 million recorded cases of Covid-19, adding approximately 7,000 positive tests per day. The state eclipsed California as having the largest number of cases.

With a national total of 10 million cases looming, and a death toll approaching 240,000,  whoever wins the presidential election will face a public health and economic crisis that persists at unprecedented levels.

Democratic candidate Joe Biden promises a decisive public health response that ensures the wide availability of free testing; the elimination of cost barriers to preventive care and treatment; the development of a vaccine; and the deployment of necessary supplies and personnel. The planned economic response would initially focus on workers, families, and small businesses, as well as progressive macroeconomic measures.

Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force, chaired by vice president Mike Pence, has not held a formal meeting since 20 October, instead choosing to meet in smaller groups.

An action plan for a second Trump term has not been released, but the president has spoken on multiple occasions about ensuring the availability of a vaccine when one is developed.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious diseases expert has commented that the US is experiencing record-shattering levels of new infections because the country never hit an acceptable low baseline of cases before relaxing restrictions on movement.

When parts of the country began to reopen, there were approximately 20,000 new cases per day.