The US virus death toll has surpassed 50,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
A New York cemetery receives the bodies of Covid-19 victims. Photo: 2020 Anadolu Agency/ AFP
More than 3,000 deaths came in the last 24 hours, and there are now over 870,000 confirmed cases nationwide.
The grim news comes as parts of the US reopen after weeks of lockdown.
Some hair salons, bowling alleys and other businesses are opening on Friday in Georgia, Alaska and Oklahoma.
The US has by far the highest death toll and case count in the world.
However, it has a population of 330 million, much higher than other worst affected countries, such as Spain and Italy.
Dr Deborah Birx, an expert on the White House Covid-19 task force, said the US had "one of the lowest mortality rates in the entire world".
On a per capita basis, the current reported US death rate is lower than Spain, Italy, France, Belgium and the UK.
Vice-President Mike Pence, the taskforce leader, said the US has conducted 4.9 million tests thus far, and is working with governors to expand testing.The $484bn economic stimulus bill, passed yesterday by Congress, includes funding for testing expansion.
It is the fourth Covid-19 relief package passed by Washington, and also allocates funds towards hospitals and a small business loan programme.
President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on Friday, saying he wanted to "rush economic relief to our citizens".
What's the current situation in the US?
The rising death toll comes as several US states are beginning to ease economic restrictions, despite warnings from experts and President Donald Trump.
In Georgia, which has one of the fastest re-opening timetables in the country, bowling alleys, spas, hair and nail salons, tattoo parlours and other personal care businesses will be allowed to resume operations.
On Monday, Georgia will allow dine-in restaurants and theatres to re-open.
During Thursday's task force briefing, Trump said he "wasn't at all happy" with the moves by the state's Republican Governor, Brian Kemp, nor were his team of experts.
"I want the people in Georgia to be safe," the president said. "And I don't want this thing to flare up, because you're deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines."
Kemp, after Trump's criticism, has tightened some of the sanitation and social distancing requirements for restaurants.
The president is also facing backlash after he suggested injecting disinfectants as a potential coronavirus treatment.
- BBC