President BidenJoe BidenBiden to hold moment of silence for 500K COVID-19 deaths Publix offers employees who get COVID-19 vaccine a 5 store gift card Schumer says he's working to find votes to confirm Biden's OMB pick MORE on Monday mourned the more than 500,000 Americans lost to the novel coronavirus and called for unity in the battle against the pandemic.

The United States passed the grim threshold of 500,000 American deaths from the coronavirus earlier Monday, about a year after the first confirmed death due to COVID-19 in the country.

President Biden and first lady Jill BidenJill BidenJill Biden picks up where she left off We knew media would coddle Biden — here's why it's much worse The Hill's 12:30 Report: Mars rover prepares for landing MORE along with Vice President Harris and second gentleman Doug EmhoffDoug EmhoffThe Hill's Morning Report - Disaster politics hobble Cruz, Cuomo Ella Emhoff makes her Fashion Week debut Kamala Harris jogs stairs at Lincoln Memorial in viral clip MORE participated in a candle lighting ceremony and moment of silence at the White House to mark the lives lost following the president's speech.

Flags at the White House were also lowered to half-staff to mark those lost to the virus.

Biden in his address urged Americans to keep up the practices of social distancing and mask wearing in order to prevent the further spread of the virus at a time when cases are declining but remain high across the country.

Coronavirus cases have declined from their peak in January but remain high across the country, and public health experts are urging Americans to continue to practice social distancing and wear masks to prevent the further spread of the virus.

“We continue to see trends head in the right direction but cases, hospital admissions and deaths remain at very high levels,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle WalenskyRochelle WalenskyCalifornia to set aside 10 percent of vaccines for educators The epidemic behind the mask: COVID-related education inequities Conservative group launches ad series pressing for school reopenings MORE told reporters Monday