For the second day in a row, the United States set a daily record for coronavirus cases when nearly 78,000 infections were reported.
Friday's 77,993 cases, as tallied by NBC News, topped Thursday's 77,640. The previous high of 75,723 was set July 29.
The new benchmarks were hit as the pandemic has accelerated at a pace not seen since the summer and as many local governments have reimposed restrictions to stop the spread of a virus that has killed 225,108 people in the U.S., according to the latest tally.
More Coronavirus Pandemic Coverage
President Donald Trump, during his final debate with Joe Biden on Thursday, declared yet again that the pandemic "will soon be gone."
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert and a frequent Trump target, warned that with the weather turning colder and more people congregating inside the U.S. is in a "precarious" place. He said there's no chance a COVID-19 vaccine will be ready before Election Day as Trump has predicted.
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