US sees 1,435 new coronavirus deaths; total toll over 66,000

Coronavirus deaths in the United States jumped by 1,435 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total toll to more than 66,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. 

The coronavirus cases in the country are more than 1.1 million, which includes 66,224 deaths as of 8:30 pm on Saturday (0030 GMT Sunday), as per the tally. 

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The US is the worst-hit country by the virus and the other severely-affected nations are far behind. 

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Earlier on Friday, Texas became the latest and largest state to ease lockdown measures despite recording its highest single-day deaths. 

The pressure of reopening is mounting on several US states as anti-lockdown demonstrations were held in many parts, including California, where authorities had re-closed beaches from Friday after crowds flocked to the shoreline last weekend.