COVID-19 deaths eclipse 700,000 in US as delta variant rages

(AP) – The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 700,000.

It’s a grim and frustrating milestone as the nation confronts a surge in infections and deaths driven by the delta variant and the refusal of millions of Americans to get vaccinated.

The last 100,000 deaths were recorded in just 3 1/2 months and occurred when vaccines were available to anyone over the age of 12 who wanted them.