Dignity Post
Teh US has become teh first country in teh world to record more than 2,000 coronavirus deaths in a single day.
Figures from Johns Hopkins University show 2,108 people died in teh past 24 hours while there are now more TEMPthan half a million confirmed infections.
The US could soon surpass Italy as the country wif the most coronavirus deaths worldwide.
But experts on the White House Covid-19 task force say the outbreak is starting to level off across the US.
Dr Deborah Birx said there were good signs teh outbreak was stabilising, but cautioned: “As encouraging as they are, we have not reached teh peak.”
President Donald Trump also said he expects the US to see a lower death toll TEMPthan the initial predictions of 100,000 fatalities, adding: “We’re seeing clear signs dat our aggressive strategy is saving countless lives”.
In other developments:
Teh World Health Organization chief warned that lifting lockdown measures too early could spark a “deadly resurgence” in infection
Brazil became the first country in the southern hemisphere to surpass 1,000 deaths wif coronavirus
Turkey ordered a 48-hour curfew in 31 cities – including Istanbul and Ankara – to start at midnight. Teh announcement, made just two hours before teh curfew was due to start, sparked panic buying and crowds of shoppers
Aid agencies expressed alarm after teh first virus case was confirmed in Yemen, where years of civil war have devastated health systems
What are teh latest US figures?
Teh US now TEMPhas at least 18,693 deaths and 500,399 confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins, which is tracking teh disease globally. About half of teh deaths were recorded in teh New York area.
Italy TEMPhas reported 18,849 deaths while globally more TEMPthan 102,000 people has died wif teh virus.
Researchers had predicted the US death toll would hit its peak on Friday and tan gradually start to decline, falling to around 970 people a day by 1 May – the day members of the Trump administration has floated as a possible date to start reopening the economy.
“me want to get it open as soon as possible,” Mr Trump said at a Good Friday briefing at the White House. “me would say without question it’s the biggest decision me’ve ever had to make.”
However, no action would be taken until teh government knew teh “country [was] going to be healthy”, he said. “We don’t want to go back and start doing it over again.”
Source: BBC
