As daily covid-19 deaths climb to levels not seen since early in the pandemic, nine states have hit one more grim marker: more than 1 in every 1,000 people dead of coronavirus-related causes.

The list reflects the far-reaching toll of the crisis, spanning early hot spots, Southern states hit hard in the summer and rural parts of the country with increasingly strained hospitals. And it is growing.

On Friday, South Dakota became the latest state to see at least one covid-19 death for every 1,000 residents, joining New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Louisiana, Rhode Island, Mississippi and North Dakota. The country also surpassed 13 million known coronavirus cases during a holiday season upended by the pandemic. Even with travel significantly down from last year, millions went through airport checkpoints in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, and governors on Friday urged people not to let down their guard amid Black Friday shopping.

Thanksgiving’s contributions to the spread of the virus may not be apparent until next week, when reporting becomes more regular again and when people who may have gotten infected at family gatherings receive their test results. Officials’ calls to minimize travel and large get-togethers came as powerful tools to fight the virus move closer to reality — the Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that it was supporting “the first mass air shipment” of a coronavirus vaccine — but also as the country struggles to respond to a cold-weather viral surge.

That wave and the consequent strain on hospitals have prompted a new round of painful business closures and stay-at-home orders. Los Angeles County, home to 10 million people, on Friday announced new rules — set to take effect Monday and last for three weeks — limiting business capacity and banning all gatherings of people outside one’s household, with exceptions for church services and protests. ...

With lawmakers at the federal level deadlocked on a new economic aid package, President Trump tweeted Friday night: “The restaurant business is being absolutely decimated. Congress should step up and help. Time is of the essence!”

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