The U.S. topped 20 million total infections and inched closer to 350,000 COVID-19 deaths on the first day of 2021 — reminders of a grim reality continuing into the new year.More people have died across the U.S. than anywhere else: nearly 348,000 Americans since the pandemic’s start. That’s while hospitalizations are at the highest levels they’ve ever been. The U.S. reported a record 125,379 hospitalized