US reports 1,237 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours

The United States recorded 1,237 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing its grim total to 88,730, according to the latest real-time tally Saturday reported by Johns Hopkins University.

The country — hardest hit by the pandemic in terms of the number of fatalities — has now confirmed a total of 1,466,682 cases, the Baltimore-based school reported.

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Meanwhile, protesters marched in several cities across California recently demanding the easing of restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak and denouncing Governor Gavin Newsom's decision to shut down some beaches.

People gather near Huntington Beach Pier during a protest in Orange County, California, on Friday. Reuters

The protests were taking place in at least 11 cities, including the capital Sacramento as well as San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Some of the demonstrators waved American flags and carried signs that read "Freedom is Essential," "Open Our Churches" or "Gruesome Newsom," while voicing anger at stay-at-home rules put in place to slow the spread of the virus.

Most of the protesters did not wear any face coverings or follow social distancing guidelines.

In Huntington Beach, about 35 miles (55 kilometres) south of Los Angeles, some 700 people rallied downtown to denounce Newsom's order to shut local beaches from Friday in order to avoid a repeat of last weekend when crowds flocked to the shoreline.

Protestors gather in a demonstration in Huntington Beach, California, on Friday. Apu Gomes/AFP

"It was the straw that broke the camel's back," protestor Monica Beilhard said, referring to the beach shutdown.

"It was uncalled for, unnecessary and people out here are making that known," she added. "And we're also very much saying enough is enough, we have the right to work... and it's time for the governor to allow the healthy to be able to get back to business."

Agence France-Presse