The US continues to battle with the COVID-19 virus. The nation has become the first country in the world to record more than 2,000 coronavirus deaths in a single day. The figures which were provided from Johns Hopkins University show 2,108 people died in the past 24 hours and there are now more than half a million confirmed infections.

It’s possible that the US could soon surpass Italy as the country with the most coronavirus deaths worldwide. However, the White House Covid-19 task force say the outbreak is starting to level off across the US.

The US now has at least 18,693 deaths and 500,399 confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins, which is tracking the disease globally. About half of the deaths were recorded in the New York area.

Around the world Brazil became the first country in the southern hemisphere to surpass 1,000 deaths with coronavirus

Turkey ordered a 48-hour curfew in 31 cities, including Istanbul and Ankara which will begin at midnight. The announcement sparked panic buying and crowds of shoppers.

Italy has reported 18,849 deaths while globally more than 102,000 people have died with the virus.