In this July 21, 2020, file photo, pall bearers carry a casket with the body of Lydia Nunez, who died from COVID-19, after a funeral service at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Los Angeles. The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus has eclipsed 400,000 in the waning hours in office for President Donald Trump, whose handling of the crisis has been judged by public health experts to be a singular failure. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus eclipsed 400,000 on Tuesday in the waning hours in office for President Donald Trump, whose handling of the crisis has been judged by public health experts a singular failure.
The running total of lives lost, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is nearly equal to the number of Americans killed in World II. It is about the population of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Tampa, Florida; or New Orleans. It is equivalent to the sea of humanity that was at Woodstock in 1969.
It is just short of the estimated 409,000 Americans who died in 2019 of strokes, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, flu and pneumonia combined.
And the virus isn't finished with the U.S. by any means, even with the arrival of the vaccines that could finally vanquish the outbreak: A widely cited model by the University of Washington projects the death toll will reach nearly 567,000 by May 1.
While the Trump administration has been credited with Operation Warp Speed, the crash program to develop and distribute coronavirus vaccines, Trump has repeatedly downplayed the threat, mocked masks, railed against lockdowns, promoted unproven and unsafe treatments, undercut scientific experts and expressed scant compassion for the victims.
Even his own bout with COVID-19 seemed to leave him unchanged.
The White House defended the administration.
“We grieve every single life lost to this pandemic, and thanks to the president’s leadership, Operation Warp Speed has led to the development of multiple safe and effective vaccines in record time, something many said would never happen," said White House spokesman Judd Deere.
President-elect Joe Biden takes office on Wednesday.
The nation reached the 400,000 milestone in just under a year. The first known deaths from the virus in the U.S. were in early February 2020, both of them in Santa Clara County, California.
While the count is based on figures supplied by government agencies around the world, the real death toll is believed to be significantly higher, in part because of inadequate testing and cases inaccurately attributed to other causes early on.
It took four months to reach the first 100,000 dead. It took just over a month to go from 300,000 to 400,000.
Yumeka Rushing, Chief Strategy Officer at the NAACP, talks about the private sector's commitment toward racial equity and how the NAACP is attracting younger Americans to the organization's latest initiatives.
Lydia Simmons, founder of 'Moms Official Objective' or 'M.O.O.,' joins Cheddar News to discuss nutritional and hormonal support products for every stage of womanhood.
Plant-based hair extension company Rebundle recently raised $1.4 million in a pre-seed round led by M25. The company based in St. Louis says it is revolutionizing hair extensions with more comfort and less waste. Rebundle's braiding hair is made from a non-toxic, biodegradable plant, which the company says is better for the scalp and the environment. Rebundle Co-Founder and CEO Ciara Imani May and Co-Founder and CMO Danielle Washington joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
The metaverse platform Decentraland hosted its first wedding over the weekend. The union was overseen by Rose Law Group, at the firm's virtual property, hosting witnesses including 2,000 guests. The ceremony endured some technical glitches before being completed.
Alex Monaco, Host of 'The Bettor Half Hour,' joins Cheddar News to discuss what viewers can expect from MSG's 'Bet-A-Palooza,' and what casual sports fans should know about sports betting.
Actor, singer, and dancer Joey Fatone can now add chef to his repertoire, partnering with Schlotzsky’s, a pizza and sandwich restaurant franchise, to introduce the "Fatone Calzone." The triple threat entertainer joined Cheddar News to talk about the partnership as well as a potential NSYNC reunion. "So, it's like everybody's kind of everywhere. It's that moment of saying, do we want to get together? Do we do it? And how is it going to be done? You know, that kind of stuff. So, who knows? Never say never. Never say never," he explained.
The gaming industry has been under the spotlight so far this year following some big mergers and acquisitions. This week featured earnings of three major gaming companies, but also Meta and for the latter, things are not doing too hot. Joining Cheddar News to break it all down was Kenny Rosenblatt, President and Co-Founder of Arkadium.
