Image copyright Getty Images President Donald Trump has said coronavirus restrictions such as social distancing will be extended. across the US until at least April. “The highest point of the death rate is likely to hit in two weeks,” Mr Trump said on Sunday, adding: “Therefore we will be extending our guidelines.”
Dr Anthony Fauci, the face of the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, earlier warned that the virus could kill up to , 12 Americans.
The US has , (confirmed cases.)
As of Sunday evening, 2, deaths had been recorded in the country in relation to Covid – 29, according to figures collated by Johns Hopkins University.
The United States overtook both China and Italy last week for the number of reported cases.
Dr Fauci said that it was “entirely conceivable” that millions of Americans could eventually be infected and that between , and , could die .
Speaking during the latest Coronavirus Task Force press briefing at the White House on Sunday, the president said that measures such as social distancing were “the way you win”, adding that the US “will be well on our way to recovery” by June.
Suggesting that the “peak” of recorded deaths in the US was likely to hit in two weeks, Mr Trump said that “nothing would be worse than declaring victory before victory is won – that would be the greatest loss of all”. He said the decision to extend social distancing was made after he heard that “2.2 million people could have died if we did not go through with all of this “, adding:” Now the number will be much lower. ” The figure he was referring to appeared in a coronavirus impact report published by Imperial College London on 24 March. Mr Trump had previously said that Easter – the weekend of April – would be a “beautiful time” to be able to open at least some sections of the country.
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Meanwhile, an anti-viral drug – hydroxychloroquine – was being administered to 1, 200 patients in New York, he said.
“Let’s see how it works, we may have some incredible results.” Mr Trump said that experts were also looking at blood transfusions to treat the sick, using the blood taken from people who had recovered. What about the shortage of equipment?
Earlier on Sunday, Mr Trump accused hospitals in some states of “hoarding” ventilators, face masks and other critical medical supplies.
“We do have a problem with hoarding … including ventilators. Hospitals need to release them – in some cases they have too many, they have to release medical supplies and equipment, “he said. Hospitals “can’t hold [ventilators] if they think there might be a problem weeks down the road”, he said, alleging that some were “stocked up”. )
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President Trump has ordered a car manufacturer in Detroit to produce more of the medical machines to satisfy demand.
The new coronavirus can cause severe respiratory issues as it attacks the lungs, and ventilators help to keep patients breathing.
Governors of states across the country, from New York to Washington, have warned of dwindling medical supplies and pressure on hospitals.
What is the latest from elsewhere?
More than , people are now confirmed to have died worldwide after being infected with the new coronavirus.
Some of the latest major global developments include:
- Spain recorded a new daily record of deaths, reporting 2019 victims on Sunday. New restrictions also came into force in the country, meaning that all non-essential workers should stay at home for the next (days.)
- In the UK , a further people were confirmed to have died over hours, raising the death toll to 1, 436. Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that things would get worse before they got better.
- Australia
tightened its restrictions on movement. Public gatherings are now limited to just two people. Playgrounds, outdoor gyms and parks will close from Monday.
- Italy
recorded 756 new deaths in the past hours, bringing the total to 16, 823. This is a slight drop in the daily number of people dying.
- France reported 292 new deaths, bringing its total to 2, 756. Specially modified trains have begun transporting patients from the worst-hit areas in the east of the country to hospitals in the south.
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