The United States surpassed 100,000 deaths from the coronavirus on Wednesday.
Johns Hopkins University listed the total deaths at 100,047 early Wednesday evening. There have been nearly 1.7 million cases in the U.S.
Around the world, there have been 5.65 million cases and more than 353,000 deaths.
The numbers of deaths in the U.S. are slowing down as Walt Disney World makes plans to reopen and crowds of unmasked Americans swarm beaches. Some public health officials predict a resurgence of COVID-19 in the fall.
The stark reality comes as only half of Americans said they would be willing to get vaccinated if scientists are successful in developing a vaccine, according to a new poll released Wednesday from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, issued a stern warning after viewing video showing Memorial Day crowds gathered at a pool party in the U.S. state of Missouri.
"We have a situation in which you see that type of crowding with no mask and people interacting. That's not prudent and that's inviting a situation that could get out of control," he said during an interview Wednesday on CNN. "Don't start leapfrogging some of the recommendations in the guidelines because that’s really tempting fate and asking for trouble."
After months of lockdowns in many countries, places have begun reopening in stages. Mediterranean beaches and Las Vegas casinos laid out plans to welcome tourists again. Churches began opening up. And humans restless at being cooped up indoors for weeks began venturing outside in droves, often without practicing safe social distancing or wearing protective coverings.
On Wednesday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo traveled to Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to ask for help with massive New York City transportation projects. Cuomo accused top Republicans of "abusing" states hardest hit by COVID-19 by opposing more aid.
The Democratic governor wants to move quickly on billions of dollars' worth of infrastructure projects to jump-start New York's outbreak-ravaged economy.
Cuomo said he talked to Trump about two train tunnels beneath the Hudson River, an expansion of the Second Avenue subway line and a train linking LaGuardia Airport in Queens to Manhattan.
The projects require some federal funding or approval. Cuomo said he and the Republican president, who are often at odds, will talk again next week.
Cuomo also is seeking more federal aid for states like New York that are struggling with revenue shortfalls because of the pandemic. Some Republicans in control of the Senate have opposed the additional aid, and Cuomo continued his harsh criticism.
Trump later traveled to Florida to watch the launch of the SpaceX rocket ship with two NASA astronauts on a history-making flight into orbit.
However, the flight was called off with fewer than 17 minutes to go in the countdown Wednesday due to thunderclouds and the danger of lightning.
Liftoff was rescheduled for Saturday afternoon.
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