B117 variant of coronavirus may have begun to circulate in US in October
Researchers examined 2 million positive cases from US in recent months
They found more instances of virus that was missing signal from genetic code
The S gene dropout is similar to the mutation found in B117 variant from the UK
New strain of virus was first announced by UK officials in mid-December
Research shows that the mutation had been circulating in UK since September
New variant is thought to be much more contagious, according to experts
Experts warn it could fuel case surge in US unless more people are vaccinated
US Passes 20 Million Coronavirus Cases: Johns Hopkins By Ben Sheppard
01/01/21 AT 1:27 PM
The United States has recorded more than 20 million cases of Covid-19, Johns Hopkins University said Friday in its real-time tally, as the New Year brought another grim milestone underlining the country s struggle to quell the virus.
The US has so far registered 20,007,149 cases and 346,408 deaths in the pandemic, the Baltimore-based university said, making it the country with by far the highest official number of cases and the highest death toll.
On Wednesday alone, more than 3,900 people died of Covid-19 in the US, a new daily record, and experts believe the worst is yet to come as health care workers brace for a surge in cases and deaths after holiday gatherings.