US death toll keeps jabs rollout in focus
On verge of 500,000 fatalities from virus, worst-hit nation sees encouraging signs
WASHINGTON-The United States stood on the brink of recording 500,000 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic, a mark that is focusing minds as the hardest-hit nation joins others around the world in pressing on with vaccinations.
Despite the renewed attention on the catastrophic death toll, there are signs of hope emerging in the US, where millions have now been vaccinated and winter's massive spike in infections has dropped.
But the deaths keep coming, and US President Joe Biden last month warned that "well over" 600,000 people in the US could die from the coronavirus.