The United States has recorded more than 1 million COVID-19 deaths, the White House says, with the country reaching a once-unthinkable milestone two years after the first cases up-ended everyday life.
In a statement, US President Joe Biden said it marked a "tragic milestone" for the country that has recorded the most COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.
"One million empty chairs around the dinner table. Each an irreplaceable loss. Each leaving behind a family, a community, and a nation forever changed because of this pandemic," he said.
"We must remain vigilant against this pandemic and do everything we can to save as many lives as possible, as we have with more testing, vaccines, and treatments than ever before."
The 1 million mark represents roughly one death for every 327 Americans, or more than the entire population of San Francisco or Seattle.
By the time the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, the virus had claimed 36 lives in the United States.
By June 2020, the US death toll had surpassed the total of the country's military deaths in World War I and it would exceed the American military losses of War World II by January 2021 when more than 405,000 deaths were recorded.
The disease has left few places on Earth untouched, with 6.7 million confirmed deaths globally.
Last week, the WHO said nearly 15 million people were killed either by COVID-19 or by its impact on overwhelmed health systems during the past two years.
The estimation is more than double the official death toll of just over 5.4 million.
'By no means is it over'
Millions of Americans eagerly rolled up their sleeves to receive COVID vaccines after distribution began in late 2020. By early 2021, the virus had already claimed a staggering 500,000 lives.
At one point in January of that year, more people died from COVID-19 every day on average than were killed in the September 11 attacks in 2001.
COVID-19 preyed on the elderly and those with compromised health, but it also targeted young people, killing more than 1,000 children.
Researchers estimate 213,000 US children lost at least one parent or primary caregiver during the pandemic, taking an immeasurable emotional toll.
With the COVID-19 threat subsiding after the Omicron wave last winter, many Americans have shed masks and returned to offices in recent weeks.
Restaurants and bars are once again teeming with patrons, and the public's attention has shifted to inflation and economic concerns.
But researchers are already working on yet another booster shot as the virus continues to mutate.
"By no means is it over," said top US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci at a recent event.
Reuters/ABC
