The United States yesterday registered a record single-day high of 57,497 new coronavirus cases and Dr Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said he “would not be surprised if we go up to 100,000 a day if this does not turn around.”
The new record of infections has led to the announcement of closures to beaches, parks, restaurants and other services in many counties as the nation prepares for its Independence Day.
With infections and hospitalisations rising across the U.S., the holiday which typically draws big crowds to beaches, daylong barbecues, concerts, parades and evening fireworks displays, has raised concerns from public officials.
The Chief of Infectious Disease at the National Institutes of Health, Dr Fauci describes a ‘very disturbing week’ as the US tally tops Brazil’s single-day record, and infections rise in 37 out of 50 states.
California has seen positive tests climb 37% but hospitalisations are up 56% over the past two weeks.
Confirmed coronavirus cases in the US have reached 2.86 million. The rising death toll is now at 132,000 and the USA now accounts for 23% of global numbers for total number of cases and deaths.
The US has been criticised for taking a less serious approach to the global pandemic with a tweet from the nation’s leader at 10.47am Match 9th that compares the coronavirus to the common flu.
Three months later, Covid-19 has now claimed over 132,000 lives in the United States of America.
“We are not flattening the curve right now,” experts told a congressional hearing earlier this week.
Fauci and other public health experts say Americans everywhere will have to start following key recommendations if they want to get back to more normal activities like going to school.
“We’ve got to get the message out that we are all in this together,” by wearing masks in public and keeping out of crowds, said Fauci.
Dr Fauci told US Senators that when and how school buildings can reopen will vary depending on how widely the coronavirus is spreading locally.
“I feel very strongly we need to do whatever we can to get the children back to school,” he said.
“We’re setting records, practically every day, of new cases in the numbers that are reported. That clearly is not the right direction.”
Health officials say younger people are accounting for more of the new cases than previously, because of a swift return to social gatherings, against federal guidelines.
With infections and hospitalisations rising across the U.S., the holiday—which typically draws big crowds to beaches, daylong barbecues, concerts, parades and evening fireworks displays—has sparked worry for many public officials.
Meanwhile President Donald Trump remains confident that the USA has the situation under control and is planning to host a July 4th party at the White House, despite objections from public health officials.
This year’s Independence Day event is reported to be scaled back – there won’t be armored military vehicles on display at the Lincoln Memorial as was the case last year, but the White House still plans to host hundreds of people on the South Lawn for music and fireworks.
Trump also plans to make remarks at the White House today after a controversial speech at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota yesterday where he referred to the nation’s culture wars.
He called protestors “a new far left fascism” and condemned those who targeted statues as “angry mobs” trying to deface “our most sacred memorials”.
Mr Trump said protesters were on “a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values, and indoctrinate our children”.
“We will not be silenced,” he said.
On the coronavirus response, the US President tweeted late Thursday night (sic): “There is a rise in Coronavirus cases because our testing is so massive and so good, far bigger and better than any other country. This is great news, but even better news is that death, and the death rate, is DOWN. Also, younger people, who get better much easier and faster!”
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