US coronavirus death toll tops 100,000

The number of coronavirus-related deaths in the United States has surpassed 100,000, approximately doubling the death toll recorded in late April.

About 1.7 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country since the beginning of the pandemic, as fatalities from the virus topped the 100,000 milestone Wednesday afternoon, according to a New York Times database.

The numbers show a dramatic jump in recorded deaths over the past few weeks. The U.S. death toll hit 50,000 with almost 875,000 confirmed cases near the end of last month. The New York Times highlighted the grim milestone in fatalities on the front page of its print edition over the weekend by listing the names of coronavirus victims to mark the "incalculable loss" the nation has suffered.

The U.S. has the most confirmed cases of any country around the world, but some, such as China and Iran, have been accused of downplaying their numbers. The outbreak was first detected in Wuhan, China, late last year.

There are signs of improvement. For instance, last week in New York, the nation's hardest-hit state, the daily coronavirus death toll dropped below 100 for the first time since March.

Meanwhile, some states, such as North Carolina and Missouri, are seeing a sizable jump in coronavirus cases.

All 50 states have begun at least partially reopening after various stay-at-home orders, social distancing rules, restrictions on gatherings, and other measures were instituted to combat the spread of the virus. The health crisis has taken a big toll on economies across the globe, with the U.S. recording nearly 39 million jobless claims since mid-March and many industries suffering unemployment rates exceeding those from the Great Depression.

Some experts have expressed concern about a second coronavirus wave in the fall as people emerge from their homes and come into closer proximity with one another. President Trump, however, has said he would choose not to close the nation again if another wave hits.