By Staff, Agencies US deaths due to coronavirus topped 16,400 on Thursday, according to a Reuters tally, although there are signs the outbreak might be nearing a peak. Relatively, US officials warned their nation to expect alarming numbers of coronavirus deaths this week, even as there was evidence that the number of new infections was flattening in New York state, the epicenter of the US outbreak.

Americans, however, are urged to resist the temptation to backslide on social distancing now that signs of progress have emerged in the battle against the coronavirus outbreak, according to US medical and state officials.

US deaths, the world’s second highest tally, set new daily records on Tuesday and Wednesday with over 1,900 new deaths reported each day, according to a Reuters tally.

US deaths were up over 1,600 on Thursday with several states yet to report their latest figures.

US cases topped 459,000 on Thursday, up 27,000 from the prior day.

New York state required all residents to stay home except for essential businesses on March 20 and now more than 94% of Americans are under similar orders but the United States has resisted a national stay-at-home order