US coronavirus death toll reaches grim milestone of 100,000

The grim milestone of 100,000 coronavirus-related deaths have now been recorded in the United States.

That number is the best estimate and the true tally is likely to be higher, but it represents the stark reality that more Americans have died from the virus than from the Vietnam and Korea wars combined.

According to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, the virus has infected more than 5.6 million people worldwide and killed over 350,000. The US has the most infections and deaths by far, with 100,047 being recorded as of late on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump several months ago likened the coronavirus to the flu and dismissed worries that it could lead to so many deaths. His administration's leading scientists have since warned that as many as 240,000 Americans could die in the country's outbreak.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, issued a stark warning after viewing video showing Memorial Day crowds gathered at a pool party in 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 countries around the world, 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.

Summertime is already a time when more people head outdoors. This year, it also means the every-four-years national political conventions in the United States where the two major political parties anoint a presidential candidate.

The events generally draw thousands of delegates and others who converge for several days. Dr Fauci said it's too early to say whether this year's conventions should be held as normal.

"If we have a really significant diminution in the number of new cases and hospitalisations and we're at a level where it's really very low, you might have some capability of gathering," he said.

"But I think we need to reserve judgment right now, because we're a few months from there. Hopefully we will see that diminution. If we don't, then I would have significant reservation about that."

And other public health experts cautioned that even more death is in the offing.

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