The US has recorded new records for Covid infections and hospitalisations.
The number of people in hospital passed 100,000 for the first time, a figure that has doubled since early November, Covid Tracking Project data showed.
On Wednesday new cases rose by a record 195,695. The daily death toll of 2,733 was also close to a new high.
Infections are closing in on 14 million, with more than 264,000 deaths.
California, Texas and Florida – the three most populous US states – are among the worst-affected areas of the country, and have each registered more than one million cases.
