New York, December 10 (RHC)-- The United States recorded 3,124 COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, shattering every daily world record since the start of the pandemic.  One hundred seven thousand people across the U.S. are hospitalized with the disease — also a record — and more than 220,000 new infections were reported in just 24 hours. 

More than one-third of U.S. residents live in areas where intensive care units have either filled to capacity or are running critically short of ICU beds.  Forecasts published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predict as many as 23,000 new COVID-19 hospitalizations a day could follow the Christmas holiday weekend, unless public health measures like social distancing and mask wearing are widely adopted.

In Alabama, former Republican state Senator Larry Dixon died Saturday of COVID-19 at the age of 78.  His widow, who also tested positive, reported her husband’s last words were “We messed up.  We let our guard down.  Please tell everybody to be careful.  This is real, and if you get diagnosed, get help immediately.”

On Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives approved a one-week extension of federal funding in order to give more time for lawmakers to reach agreement on a coronavirus relief bill.  Senate Republicans have failed to pass a new stimulus package since the House passed the $3 trillion HEROES Act last May.