US coronavirus cases continue to surge after surpassing highest global number

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Coronavirus continue to surge in the US, after the country recorded a seventh consecutive day of more than 100,000 new cases.

Monday also saw the US surpass 10m total cases – the most in the world – and reach an overall death toll of 238,256.

There were 111,433 new cases on Monday and 590 new deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Hospitalizations were also rising, with more than 59,000 hospitalized nationwide, reported the Covid Tracking Project, which saw the biggest single-day increase since 10 July. It found South Dakota had the highest hospitalization rates in the country and that Illinois had reported more than 10,000 cases for four days straight.

Joe Biden, the president-elect, has warned the US is “facing a very dark winter” and that even with Pfizer’s announcement that it has a vaccine it believes is 90% effective, 200,000 more lives could be lost in the next few months.

Alex Azar, secretary of health and human services, said on Tuesday the government will have enough of the vaccine by the end of December “to have vaccinated our most vulnerable citizens”.

By the end of January, he told NBC, there will be enough for all healthcare workers and first responders, with March or early April targeted for a general vaccination program.

In the meantime, states are struggling to cope. In El Paso, Texas, officials have six mobile morgues and have requested four more, CNN reported. The state was approaching 1m infections.

Ohio’s chief medical officer, Dr Bruce Vanderhoff, warned of an “unprecedented spike” in hospital use and a growing demand on staff.

“If we don’t control the spread of this virus, we won’t be able to care for those who are acutely ill without postponing important, but less urgent, care,” he said. “We anticipate that this kind of shift could happen in a matter of weeks if trends don’t change.”

In Utah, Governor Gary Herbert warned of a “dire situation” in hospitals, declared a state of emergency, issued a mask mandate and restricted social gatherings.

“This is a sacrifice for all of us,” he said. “But as we slow the spread it will make all the difference for our overworked healthcare workers, who desperately need our help.”

In California, cases are at their highest levels in months – a rise that the governor, Gavin Newsom, said could be linked to Halloween. The positivity rate in the state is 3.7% – a jump from 2.5% in just over three weeks – and hospitalizations have risen by more than 28% in two weeks.

Newsom said people were starting to “take down their guard, take off their masks, begin to mix outside their households. We’re seeing some early indication related to Halloween. I’m very sober about that”.

In New York, the first epicenter of the pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio reported rising case numbers – with the positivity level above 2% – as he warned the city has “one last chance to stop a second wave”.

On Monday he said 71 patients were admitted to hospital, with 779 new cases.