Biden directs US flag to be flown at half-staff for COVID-19 victims Evan Vucci/AP President Joe Biden speaks about the 500,000 Americans that died from COVID-19, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Joe Biden XXX during a ceremony to honor the 500,000 Americans that died from COVID-19, at the White House, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) and last updated 2021-02-22 23:02:26-05 As the US surpassed 500,000 coronavirus-related deaths on Monday, President Joe Biden directed that the US flag be flown at half-staff through sundown Friday. The rate of coronavirus deaths has increased in recent months. Half of the 500,000 deaths have occurred in the last three months.