KEY POINTS U.S., by Friday at the earliest, will become the first and only country in the world with 900,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases

It will also have more than 50,000 deaths

Trump will sign the fourth coronavirus relief bill on Friday

The United States will become the first and only country in the world with 900,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases by Saturday at the latest. This unimaginable total is being driven by a steady and massive daily total increase in case numbers, which has been in excess of 29,000 over the past few days. Deaths in the U.S. from the disease will exceed 50,000 by Friday.

The U.S. had 878,006 cases as of 22:21 GMT (6:21 pm ET Thursday), according to data from real-time data website Worldometer. This total compares to 848,717 at the same time Wednesday.

Confirmed daily cases in the U.S. since Tuesday have exceeded 29,000. If this number holds true Friday, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. will exceed 900,000 based on Worldometer data. Data from Johns Hopkins University reveals 864,415 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. as of 2:41 pm ET, Thursday. Based on Johns Hopkins data, the U.S. will pass the 900,000 mark by Saturday.

The U.S. currently leads the world both in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. As of 6:21 pm ET Thursday, there were 2,631,785 cases worldwide (up 80,544 from Wednesday) and 184,066 deaths (up 6,607).

The unenviable distinction of becoming the first and only country with more than 900,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases follows the approval by the House of the $484 billion relief package to rescue distressed small businesses, help hospitals and to expand testing. The same package was approved by the Senate on April 21 via voice vote. President Donald Trump is expected to sign this fourth bipartisan coronavirus bill on Friday.

The House bill will provide $310 billion for the vital Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a forgivable loan program that ran out of money last week due to massive demand from small businesses reeling from the effects of the pandemic.

The bill will add an additional $310 billion in PPP funding. Of this total, $30 billion is reserved for small banks, community-based lenders and credit unions. There is also $30 billion for mid-sized banks and credit unions, money that will allow the smallest businesses access to funds.

Photo: AFP / Bryan R. Smith

The bill has $60 billion for small lenders as part of the small business aid program. It sets aside $60 billion for Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster assistance loans and grants. It provides $75 billion in hospital relief and $25 billion for coronavirus testing.

The legislation passed 388 to 5: three Republicans and one Democrat dissented. One independent voted present.

Political analysts said the bill is another welcome bipartisan response from Congress in the fight against COVID-19. The new bill follows the first $8.3 billion bill signed into law March 6. This bill focused on the public health response.

A second bill provided for free testing, sick leave days and paid leave. The third bill, the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, made possible the $1,200 one-time direct payments to most Americans. It also provided $500 billion in corporate aid and $350 billion to the PPP small business program.