Over a quarter-million people have died in the U.S. from COVID-19

Between the lines: "There is always a lag in deaths, compared with the rate of infection and hospitalizations, and with the latter measure now hitting records every day — 76,830 Americans were hospitalized on Tuesday, according to the Covid Tracking Project — the death toll is certain to go on rising," the New York Times writes.

The state of play: A number of states across the country have taken more drastic action over the past week, enforcing face mask mandates, partial lockdowns and advisories.

• Though Fauci has expressed support for a nationwide mask mandate, some states refuse to implement such a requirement.
• The tally of infected government officials has also surged, from President Trump and his inner circle back in September to lawmakers on Capitol Hill over the last six days.
• COVID-19 vaccine development looks promising, though the timeline of distribution remains unclear.
• The coronavirus has hit communities of color the hardest.

The context: The Trump administration is still downplaying the impact of the coronavirus more than eight months into the pandemic.