More than 12,000 Americans have now died from the coronavirus and the number of confirmed infections has increased to over 380,000 as the pandemic continues to spread.
The death toll increased by roughly 1,300 in 24 hours on Tuesday to bring the total number of fatalities to 12,035.
There are now 383,260 confirmed cases across the country.
Figures show the number of fatalities has increased drastically by more than 8,000 in the first week of April compared to the entire month of March when 4,000 deaths were recorded.
The harrowing figures come as health officials warned this week would be one of the hardest for Americans given the death toll is expected to continue to rise in such stark numbers.
Data has predicted the peak of the pandemic is still yet to hit on April 16 where 3,000 deaths are expected to occur in 24 hours, according to forecasters at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine.
Health officials have warned that the death toll from coronavirus is likely much higher than is being reported because there is no national, streamlined way of reporting fatalities amid the pandemic.
New York remains the epicenter of the US outbreak with 731 new fatalities reported on Tuesday – its biggest one-day jump yet – bringing the total number of deaths in the state to 5,489 deaths.
There are now 138,836 confirmed infections across the state following an increase of 8,147 cases in 24 hours.
New York City’s death toll from the coronavirus has increased to more than 3,200, eclipsing the number killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11.
The deadliest terror attack on American soil killed 2,753 people in the city.
‘A lot of pain again today for many New Yorkers,’ Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday.
He said as alarming as the one-day increase in deaths might sound, Cuomo said that’s a ‘lagging indicator’, reflecting people who had been hospitalized before this week.
Over the past several days, in fact, the number of deaths in New York appeared to be leveling off, Cuomo said.
Cuomo went on to say that the state was seeing some leveling out in the number of hospital patients – a hopeful sign even as deaths there and in neighboring New Jersey hit single-day highs.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said his state recorded 232 coronavirus deaths in the past day, bringing its total death toll to 1,232.
Meanwhile, the number of deaths and infections in Michigan has almost trebled in just one week with that state now reporting 727 deaths and 17,221 confirmed cases.
The state has seen its death toll and number of infections triple in the first week of this month alone. A week ago, Michigan had reported 185 deaths and 6,495 new infections.
A recent spike in Michigan’s figures means it is the third highest state in the country – behind New York and New Jersey – in term of total deaths and infections as a result of the pandemic.
Pennsylvania, which health officials warned this week was an emerging hot spot, has seen its death toll and new infections almost double in a week.
The estimated peak day of the US outbreak is expected to occur in 10 days on April 16 with a projected 3,130 deaths that day, the data shows
Peak resource use for hospitals is predicted to occur on April 15 – the day before the peak death toll – where an estimated 25,000 ventilators, 140,000 beds and 29,000 ICU beds will be needed. The data shows the pandemic could be over quicker than initially thought and level out as early as June
While the data still shows a predicted 81,000 deaths from COVID-19 over the next four months, the estimate range has lowered. It was initially thought the range could be as high as 162,000 deaths but it is now predicted to be as high as 136,000 fatalities
The total number of fatalities in that state are now at 179, which is up from 50 a week ago.
The state has recorded 13,206 new infections – up from 4,203 this time last week.
Meanwhile, Louisiana – currently a pandemic hot spot – has experienced a spike in the number of new infections with 1,857 new cases in 24 hours, bringing the state’s total to 14,867. The state currently has 512 deaths.
Georgia has recorded its largest spike in deaths to date with 74 new deaths in 24 hours, bringing the total to 294 fatalities. The state currently has 7,558 confirmed infections.
The spike in Georgia’s death toll and infections came around the same time the governor allowed some beaches to reopen despite ordering residents to stay home.
New York, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, Illinois, California, Florida, Washington and Connecticut are the current hot spots in the country due to rising death tolls and the number of infections.
Health officials have warned that Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington DC are now also become emerging coronavirus hot spots due to the increasing death tolls there.