US COVID-19 death toll tops 100,000

The death toll from the novel coronavirus jumped past 100,000 on Wednesday, according to a tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

With the European Union unveiling a massive recovery plan to step up its emergence from the crisis, the US figure was a sobering reminder of the devastation being wreaked around the globe by a virus that only emerged late last year.

Confirmed US deaths stood at 100,396 late Wednesday, with nearly 1.7 million infections, according to the tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The 24-hour toll shot back up after three days of sharp declines, to 1,401.

Nevertheless, most US states moved toward reopening restaurants and businesses, cheered on by President Donald Trump, who is eager to see the economic pain of the crisis mitigated as he seeks re-election.

The US capital Washington will ease its lockdown from Friday.