Download the app and get the day’s most important stories.
Download the app and get the day’s most important stories.
The United States has recorded more than 100,000 deaths from Covid-19, moving past a grim milestone even as many states relax mitigation measures to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. The US has recorded more deaths from the disease than any other country in the pandemic, and almost three times as many as the second-ranking country, Britain.
Global coronavirus cases surpassed 5 million on Wednesday, with Latin America overtaking the United States and Europe in the past week to report the largest portion of new daily cases globally. Latin America accounted for around a third of the 91,000 cases reported earlier this week. Europe and the United States each accounted for just over 20%. Cases in Brazil are now rising at a daily pace second only to the United States.
Brazil has seen its most deadly day since the coronavirus outbreak began, prompting Donald Trump to consider a ban on travel to the US from Brazil as he declared the huge number of US cases of coronavirus was “a badge of honor”. “You know when you say that we lead in cases, that’s because we have more testing than anybody else,” he said.
The first hints that a vaccine can train people’s immune system to fight coronavirus have been reported by a company in the US. Moderna said neutralizing antibodies were found in the first eight people who took part in their safety trials. It also said the immune response was similar to that in people infected with the actual virus.
Rick Bright, who was removed from his role heading a federal agency in charge of vaccines last month, told a congressional committee on Thursday that as the virus continues to spread in the US the “window is closing to address this pandemic” because the Trump administration still lacks a comprehensive plan to tackle Covid-19. Americans should brace themselves for the risk that they will suffer their “darkest winter in modern history,” whistleblower warned the US Congress.
The coronavirus “may never go away”, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned. Speaking at a briefing on Wednesday, WHO emergencies director Dr Mike Ryan warned against trying to predict when the virus would disappear. He added that even if a vaccine is found, controlling the virus will require a “massive effort”. There are currently more than 100 potential vaccines in development.
The top US infectious diseases doctor has warned senators the virus will spread if the country opens up too soon. Dr Anthony Fauci said if federal guidelines to reopen are not followed, “little spikes” will become outbreaks. He also said the real US death toll is probably higher than the official figure of 80,000. His message is at odds with the upbeat tone of President Trump.
The U.S. death toll crossed 80,000 on Sunday, the same day U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Britain would begin easing its lockdown measures. In Washington, Dr. Anthony Fauci on Saturday became the third member of the White House coronavirus task force to self-quarantine after possible exposure to coronavirus. Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control, will also self-quarantine for 14 days.
US President Donald Trump has confirmed the White House coronavirus task force will be winding down, with Vice-President Mike Pence suggesting it could be disbanded within weeks. “We are bringing our country back,” Mr Trump said during a visit to a mask-manufacturing factory in Arizona. New confirmed infections per day in the US currently top 20,000, and daily deaths exceed 1,000.
An internal US government document predicts 3,000 daily coronavirus deaths in the country by early June, according to The New York Times. The document from the Trump administration appears to project that deaths will nearly double from the current level of about 1,750. It seems to predict about 200,000 new coronavirus cases per day by the end of this month, up from about 25,000 currently.