US President Joe Biden has ordered flags to be lowered for 5 days as a sign of mourning, in memory of the nearly 500,000 Americans who died from the coronavirus. Biden also delivered remarks at a candle-lighting ceremony and observed a moment of silence in honor of the victims.
“The events of today, including the president’s remarks, underscore the scale of loss for the American people and for many families,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during a briefing. “The president will speak about the strength of the American people’s will to break the course of this pandemic, which will be accomplished by working together, following public health guidelines, and producing vaccines.”
The number of deaths from COVID-19 in the US is nearly half a million, which is a record worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. According to its data, the country has recorded more than 499,000 deaths from the virus, and the number is expected to surpass half a million in the coming days.
