Gold steadied near the $1,800 level on Friday after a sharp fall in the previous session, as worries over surging coronavirus cases and U.S.-China tensions underpinned its safe-haven appeal, although a stronger dollar capped gains. Spot gold was up 0.1% at $1,797.52 per ounce. U.S. gold futures eased 0.1% to $1,797.30. The dollar held firm against its rivals, also benefiting from safe-haven inflows. The United States reported at least 70,000 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, a record daily increase for the seventh time this month, according to a Reuters tally. New York Fed President John Williams said it could take a few years for the U.S. economy to recover from the damage caused by the pandemic, and it was not yet the time to think about raising interest rates. Lower U.S. interest rates increase the appeal of non-yielding bullion. Markets also kept a wary eye on China’s trade relations with the U.S., with Washington considering a ban on travel to the United States by all members of the Chinese Communist Party and their families, a person familiar with the matter said.