National Cathedral bell to toll 700 times to mark 700K COVID-19 deaths © Getty Images The National Cathedral on Thursday will toll its bells 700 times to mark the 700,000 people who have died from COVID-19 in the United States since the beginning of the pandemic, the Washington Post reported. Catherdral officials told the Post that the Bourdon bell will toll 700 times. The tolling of the bell, which will be live-streamed, is expected to last for 70 minutes, according to the Post.