Biden leads moment of silence as US tops 500,000 coronavirus deaths

President Joe Biden takes part in a moment of silence at the White House (Evan Vucci/AP)

The Covid-19 death toll in the US has topped 500,000, a staggering number that all but matches the number of Americans killed in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam combined.

President Joe Biden held a sunset moment of silence and a candle-lighting ceremony at the White House and ordered American flags to be lowered at federal buildings for the next five days.