US becomes the first country to mark 2,000 Coronavirus deaths in 24 hours with 500,000 cases

The US on Friday, became the first country in the world to record 2,000 deaths in 24 hours making it the deadliest day from the Coronavirus pandemic any country has so far seen.

In a dark day for the country's health sector, the total number of Americans infected also ballooned to 500,000 as the Trump led nation with almost 18,798 deaths edges closer to Italy's death toll of 18,849.

New York made up almost half of the total death toll across the US and accounted for about a third of all deaths with over 7,000 deaths already in the state.

New Jersey is the second hardest-hit, with infections topping 54,588 and deaths reaching 1,932.