US coronavirus death toll tops 85,000: Johns Hopkins

WASHINGTON The death toll in the US from the novel coronavirus surpassed the 85,000 mark Thursday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The Maryland-based university's running tally counted 85,066 deaths and 1,401,948 cases. The US continues to lead the world in cases and deaths related to the virus. The UK has the second-highest death toll with 33,692, followed closely by Italy's tally of 31,368. More than 243,000 people have recovered in the US, according to the data. New York is the worst-hit state by the pandemic with 27,567 deaths and more than 340,000 cases, followed by New Jersey with 9,946 deaths and more than 142,000 cases. Since the virus emerged last December in the Chinese city of Wuhan, it has spread to at least 188 countries and regions. There are more than 4.4 million confirmed global infections with an excess of 300,000 deaths, while 1.5 million have recovered.