Coronavirus tracked: Massive surge sees US set multiple world records for new daily cases

Infections continue to surge in worst hit country, as death toll approaches a quarter of a million

The US reported more than 140,000 new Covid-19 cases for the second day in a row on Thursday, as the country set a new daily record nearly every day this week.

There have now been more than 1 million new coronavirus infections in just the last 10 days, as the latest surge pushes the total figure towards 11 million.

This week, Texas became the first state to pass 1 million cases, meaning the most populous state in America now has more confirmed cases than the whole of Mexico.

Health experts warn that cases could continue to rise exponentially in the coming weeks.

There have been three main waves of coronavirus infections in the US, though unlike other badly hit countries, there has been no significant drop in new cases between each wave.

More than 40 states are showing increases in the number of cases reported, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The US has had the highest number of total coronavirus cases in the world since March.

The death toll in the US is approaching a quarter of a million people, and is currently averaging more than 1,000 new deaths per day.

The US is the third most populous country in the world, which partly accounts for the huge case numbers relative to other countries. 

But even when looking at countries on a per capita basis, the US has far more cases than any single country in Europe.

Dr Anthony Fauci, America’s top infectious disease expert, said the US is facing a “very, very difficult situation” and that more needs to be done to slow the spread of the deadly virus.

“When I testified before the Congress four months ago, I said that if we do not get control of this, that we could reach 100,000 infections a day,” he said on Thursday.

“People thought I was being hyperbolic and now look what’s happening.”