Washington, July 31 (RHC)-- The daily U.S. death toll from COVID-19 continues to climb, with over 1,000 deaths reported nationwide Thursday for the fourth day in a row. 

Florida recorded a new record death toll for the third straight day, with 253 new fatalities. Even as the outbreak flared to a new record high, officials in Miami-Dade County suspended all drive-thru and walk-in COVID-19 testing until next Tuesday, as tropical storm Isaias strengthened into a hurricane over the Caribbean and barreled toward southern Florida.

COVID-19 is now on track to become the third leading cause of death in the U.S. this year, after heart disease and cancer.