According to Johns Hopkins University data, the country logged a record 215,860 new infections a day earlier. New cases per day have rocketed to more than 200,000 on average.

California, where some 33 million people were back under lockdown this week, saw more than 30,000 cases on Wednesday – the highest 24-hour tally in a US state.

The United States, which has a population of around 330 million, has recorded 15.4 million infections since the start of the pandemic and is approaching 300,000 deaths – far more than any other nation.

Over the past two weeks the US has exceeded 2,000 Covid-related deaths per day several times, rivalling tolls elsewhere in the world.

In just more than a week of December, deaths were more than double the rate of the same week in November.

Medical experts have said the crisis will only worsen in the weeks ahead amid colder weather, especially if Americans continue to disregard warnings to avoid unnecessary travel and large gatherings over the holidays.

Besides the monumental human cost, the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the economy, forcing millions out of work as public health authorities imposed sweeping restrictions on social and economic life in an effort to tamp down the contagion.

Photo of US doctor comforting elderly Covid-19 patient goes viral

Congress, meanwhile, has struggled to end a months-long political stalemate over an economic assistance.

The Democratic-controlled US House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a one-week extension of federal government funding, giving lawmakers more time to haggle over a broader spending package with coronavirus relief.

The Republican-led Senate was expected to vote on the measure as early as Thursday and send it to President Donald Trump in time to avoid a government shutdown.

But disagreements remain over business liability protections demanded by Republicans and aid to state and local governments sought by Democrats before a final deal is reached on economic assistance.

Offering a new glimmer of hope, some officials said vaccinations could begin as soon as this weekend, and states have escalated plans for what is likely to be distribution effort of unprecedented dimensions.

Florida coronavirus whistle-blower could face prison after agents raid home

“I can’t think of a government operation that has been commenced that is more difficult and intricate than what governments will be asked to do here,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a briefing on Wednesday.

A panel of independent medical experts was due meet on Thursday to decide whether to recommend that a vaccine from Pfizer and German partner BioNTech should receive emergency use authorisation of the US Food and Drug Administration.

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Coronavirus vaccine: ‘Go for it’ says 90-year-old UK grandmother after getting first Pfizer shot

Coronavirus vaccine: ‘Go for it’ says 90-year-old UK grandmother after getting first Pfizer shot

In a sign that approval could be swift, documents released by the FDA ahead of the advisory review raised no new red flags over the safety or efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine.

FDA consent could come as early as Friday or Saturday, followed by the first US injections on Sunday or Monday, Moncef Slaoui, chief adviser to the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed vaccine development programme, told Fox News on Tuesday.

UK says people with history of serious allergies shouldn’t get Pfizer vaccine

Britain became the first Western nation to begin mass inoculations with the Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday. Canada on Wednesday approved the same vaccine after an accelerated review process.

The United States is in dire need of a new mechanism for fighting the pandemic, given that so many Americans have refused to follow guidance for wearing face coverings and keeping their distance for people beyond their own households.

US President-elect Joe Biden set a goal of vaccinating 100 million people – nearly a third of the US population, within the first 100 days of his administration, or by April 29.

DPA, Reuters, Bloomberg and Agence France-Presse