President Biden ordered the White House flag lowered to half-staff late Monday as the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 exceeded 500,000.
Flags on federal property will be lowered for five days under a presidential proclamation.
Moments earlier, the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus tracker — a closely watched dashboard — said the death toll had exceeded the somber milestone of a half-million.
Mr. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were scheduled to hold a candlelight memorial for the victims of the disease at 6 p.m. from the White House.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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