A worker walks through the hallway of a newly opened coronavirus field hospital in Rhode Island. Photo / AP
A worker walks through the hallway of a newly opened coronavirus field hospital in Rhode Island. Photo / AP
The United States notched a record number of coronavirus cases in 24 hours for the third day running as the pandemic tightens its grip on the world's hardest-hit country.
A tally by Johns Hopkins University showed the US - which has seen a dramatic virus resurgence in recent weeks - reached nearly 230,000 new infections and 2527 Covid-related deaths on Saturday alone.
More than 280,000 have died in the US since the first death linked to the virus in early February.
But as health workers brace for a devastating season of Covid-19, some fear the worst is yet to come.
"I might really be back in a war zone," the veteran said. "We're at war against [Covid-19]."
For two weeks, the US has regularly topped 2000 deaths per day, as it had in the Northern Hemisphere spring at the height of the first wave of the country's outbreak.
US health officials warned of a surge after tens of millions of Americans ignored medical advice and travelled to celebrate last week's Thanksgiving holiday despite pleas from authorities to stay home.
For the third day in a row, the US notches up a record number of coronavirus cases in 24 hours, reaching nearly 230,00 new infections, with 2,527 Covid-related deaths over the same period, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University pic.twitter.com/P7k88jsTiu
US President Donald Trump appeared yesterday at a rally for the first time since votes were cast in the November 3 election, attracting a huge crowd in Georgia.
Close to 5000 new cases were recorded in the state on the same day.
In Georgia, close to 5000 new coronavirus cases were recorded on the same day a huge crowd attended a rally held by US President Donald Trump in the state. Photo / AP
'Personal responsibility'
Parts of the US have also gone back into lockdown, with California enforcing new restrictions from Sunday evening in 11 counties amid fears a surge in cases could overwhelm hospitals, which were down to 12.5 per cent capacity in intensive care units.
That's the plan at least, but in some areas police have said they won't enforce the rules.
"Compliance with health orders is a matter of personal responsibility and not a matter of law enforcement," Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said in a statement.
"Orange County Sheriff's deputies will not be dispatched to, or respond to, calls for service to enforce compliance with face coverings, social gatherings, or stay-at-home orders only."
"These closures and stay-at-home orders are flat out ridiculous," Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said on Friday.
A seemingly exasperated US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sought to remind people of the relatively simple steps they could take to slow the spread of the virus.
JUST WEAR THE MASK. Cover your mouth AND nose. Stay 6 feet from others. Wash your hands. Stay home if you can. #COVID19 cases are rising fast. If we don’t act together and do what we can to slow the spread, thousands more could die.
