The United States became the first nation worldwide since the pandemic began to surpass 10 million coronavirus infections, according to a Reuters tally, as the third wave of the Covid-19 virus surges across the nation.

The grim milestone came on the same day as global coronavirus cases exceeded 50 million.

The United states has reported about a million cases in the past 10 days, the highest rate of infections since the nation reported its first novel coronavirus case in Washington state 293 days ago.

More than 237,000 Americans have died of Covid-19 since the illness caused by the coronavirus first emerged in China late last year.