WASHINGTON, DC - The novel coronavirus is continuing to spread in the United States, particularly in the western and southern states.

At the time of writing the United States had recorded a total of 2,839,917 cases, more than a quarter of the world's total of 11,294,859.

Record daily numbers of new cases are being recorded in Texas and Florida, which on Saturday announced almost 20,000 cases between them.

Florida registered a record 11,458 on Saturday, while Texas recorded 8,258.

Fourteen states have spent most of July announcing new daily record increases. North Carolina, South Carolina, Alaska, Tennessee, Idaho, Missouri,and Alabama reported new daily highs on Friday.

One positive sign is the daily death toll is falling, and thus the ratio is sliding as well. Still the total number of deaths in the U.S. at 129,676 is almost a quarter of the entire world's death toll of 531,438.

New York, which appears to have peaked, remains the highest state for Covid-19 (the disease caused by the coronoavrius) related deaths, with more than twice the next trailing state. New York has recorded 32,157 deaths. New Jersey is next highest at 15,189.

Massachusetts has the third highest death toll stage with 8,172 Covid-19 patients having died.

Illinois has recorded 7,014 deaths, Pennsylvania 6,749, and California 6,334.

Michigan has lost 6,218, Connecticut 4,335 and Florida 3,702.

3,278 people have died in Louisiana, 3,236 in Maryland and 2,907 in Ohio. In Texas the death toll, at the time of writing, stands at 2,607.