US Confirms Over 82,000 Covid-19 Cases & 1,000 Deaths, Now Highest Number In The World
On Friday (27 Mar), the United States of America (US) has confirmed more than 82,000 Covid-19 cases.
With about 330 million citizens, US is the world’s third largest country by population. This means that there are a lot more people at risk of getting infected.
US Covid-19 cases surpasses China & Italy
With this morning’s latest figures, US is now the country with the most number of cases worldwide.
As of 12.55pm Friday (27 Mar), they confirmed a total of 85,377 cases after reporting 17,166 new ones.
Following behind are China and Italy, with their total number of cases standing at 81,285 and 80,539 respectively, according to Channel NewsAsia (CNA).
Hospitals facing shortages
CNA also reports that the death toll has climbed beyond 1,200. This makes US’ death rate 1/3 of China’s, which stands at about 3,292 deaths at the time of writing.
As the Covid-19 situation worsens in states, American hospitals are reportedly more overwhelmed.
According to CNA, medical facilities are lacking ventilators, protective masks and test kits.
The shortage of ventilators is one of the major criticisms people have against the Trump administration’s Covid-19 response.
Government trying to increase capacity
In the epicentre New York, the government is aiming to increase available hospital beds from 53,000 to 140,000 in order to meet current shortages.
They are also aiming to pass a US$2 trillion emergency relief bill to support the faltering economy.
Though so, news sites like The New York Times have criticised the government’s late responses, citing their “failure to take the pandemic seriously even as it engulfed China.”
Mexico demands for lockdown
In a stunning turn of events, Mexican protesters are now demanding to close a US southern border.
They fear that untested American travellers would spread the coronavirus, according to BBC. Mexico currently has less than 500 Covid-19 cases.
Some protesters donned face masks and were seen holding up signs, telling Americans to “stay at home”.
They are also concerned that there has been little enforcement and no testing by authorities, despite rules stipulating that the border in question is supposed to be sealed except for those on “essential” business.
Hopefully, US will be able to equip themselves adequately to deal with the surge in Covid-19 patients.
Featured image adapted from Al Jazeera.
