The death toll in the United States from the new coronavirus (COVID-19 )outbreak has surpassed the official tally in China, with more than more 3,400 fatalities recorded, according to data collected by the Johns Hopkins University.

That means the US now has the third-highest death toll of COVID-19 after Italy and Spain, and the highest number of coronavirus cases in the world with more than 175,000.

READ ALSO: President Buhari Addresses The Nation On Coronavirus, Announces Lock Down of Abuja, Lagos And Ogun State

Further restrictions on movement are being considered in the US to curb the spread of the virus, with the country now reporting twice the number of cases as China where the outbreak began late last year.

MEANWHILE – The US has offered to lift crippling sanctions against Venezuela if its leaders agree to a power-sharing deal.

Under the US plan, Venezuela’s left-wing President Nicolás Maduro would “step aside” and a transitional council would govern until fresh elections.

The US imposed its latest round of sweeping sanctions against Venezuela last year in an attempt to force Maduro to step down. However, Maduro has so far resisted all attempts to remove him from power.

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