US coronavirus deaths now exceed 18,000: Johns Hopkins

WASHINGTON

Over 18,000 people have died from COVID-19 complications, according to data released Friday by Johns Hopkins University.

The university study counts 18,002 related fatalities and 486,490 confirmed novel coronavirus infections. There have been a total of 27,565 people who have recovered from the disease within the country.

The U.S. is the country with the highest number of coronavirus infections, but Italy is the country with the most deaths with 18,849.

Worldwide there have been at least 1,673,423 confirmed virus cases, 101,526 deaths and 371,637 recoveries, according to Johns Hopkins.

COVID-19 is the respiratory disease that manifests in people who have been infected with the virus.

Most people who contract the coronavirus will exhibit mild symptoms, but it can be particularly deadly for individuals with pre-existing chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and asthma.

The virus emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, and has spread to 185 countries and regions in the four months since.