The US has recorded more than 2,000 fatalities due to the novel coronavirus in a single day, becoming the first country to do so.
According to the latest data, 2,108 people deaths have died in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 18,671, and the number of infections crossing more than half a million.
It comes as experts on the White House COVID-19 task force confirmed that the outbreak was stabilising, but hadn't peaked.
Researchers predict that the death toll would hit its peak on Friday and then gradually begin to decline.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump ordered his administration to help Italy in fighting the coronavirus by providing medical supplies, humanitarian relief and other assistance.
Lebanese return home as ceasefire with Israel mostly holds
Myanmar cuts ex-leader Aung San Suu Kyi's sentence, frees former president
US military: ready to strike Iran's power plants, energy industry if ordered
GCC parliamentary speakers stress unified stance against Iranian attacks
Countries to discuss Hormuz mission for when conflict ends
