Coronavirus death toll rises to NINE in US with more than 100 others infected by deadly virus – The Sun

THE coronavirus death toll has risen to nine in the U.S., as the total number of cases soared past 100.

As the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb, the FDA announced that as many as one million tests may be done by the end of the week.



The death toll first rose to seven Tuesday afternoon, after it was confirmed the virus had caused the death of a person who passed last week, the New York Times reported.

Susan Gregg, a spokesperson for Seattle's Harborview Medical Center, where the person died two days after being admitted, told the New York Times the person who died was a member of the Life Care nursing home, where other residents have tested positive and died from the virus.

Two more were later reported dead, bringing the death toll to nine — all in Washington

EXPANDING TESTING

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a White House Press conference Monday night that as the country buckles down and prepares for community spread, health agencies have expanded testing to help identify and limit potential spread of coronavirus.

“With this new policy we’ve heard from multiple companies and multiple academic centers, and we expect to have a substantial increase in the number of tests this week, next week and throughout the month,” Hahn said.

“The estimates that we’re getting from industry right now, by the end of this week close to 1 million tests will be able to be performed.”

As the U.S. works to identify cases of COVID-19, cases continue to pop up around the country.

Georgia confirmed its first two case of the virus late Monday night, just as the cases in Americans topped 100.

Worldwide numbers creeped toward 90,000, according to the latest numbers from the WHO, as officials worked to ensure preparedness against the virus and spread awareness of symptoms to watch out for.

NEW YORK CASE

On Tuesday evening, the New York City Health department revealed that a Manhattan lawyer who had been hospitalized with coronavirus is in a "severe condition."

The patient has reportedly been identified as Lawrence Garbuz, 50, who runs a seven-lawyer law firm with his wife near Grand Central Terminal.

Garbuz was first hospitalized on Friday, according to reports, and is currently being treated in an intensive care unit in Upper Manhattan.

One of his sons, an undergrad student at Yeshiva University in New York, is also said to be showing symptoms of the disease.

Reports claim that the son has been placed into isolation alongside Garbuz's wife at the family's Westchester home.

SAR Riverdale School, where one of the Garbuz's kids attends, closed voluntarily on Tuesday as a precaution.

The state's first case was confirmed in New York City in a woman in her 30s, who had just returned from Iran and is now self-quarantining in her home, Cuomo said at a press conference Monday.

“We’re all focused on the spread trajectory," Cuomo said, as he assured that workers are quickly trying to track down those that may have come in contact with the man who fell ill.




With the second case confirmed in New York, Cuomo reminded people that it was expected to come to the state and not to panic.

"80 percent of the people that had this virus will self-resolve. They won’t even know they had the virus," Cuomo said.

“Were seeing what we expected, what we anticipated — which is an increased spread."

Cuomo said as cases are identified, it's important to ensure New York has the proper means to test for the virus and to limit how far it spreads.
"You cannot contain the spread. You can slow it, you can limit it, but you can’t contain it," he said.

The Governor signed a bill Tuesday at the briefing, allowing $40 million in emergency funds to be distributed for things like buying additional supplies and setting up quarantines.

SILICON VALLEY REACTS

On Tuesday, it was reported tech giant Twitter was "strongly encouraging" is staff in the US and across the world to work from home.

The social-media giant, based in San Francisco, has more than 5,000 members of staff across the world.

Those in its American offices have been advised to work from home, as the company has encouraged workers to avoid various offices in wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

In South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan, there are mandatory bans in place to prevent Twitter staff from heading to their offices.

The reports come as Facebook as banned all non-business visitors to its offices in California, including job applicants.

FEDERAL RESERVE TAKES ACTION

In response to "evolving risks to economic activity" from the coronavirus, the Federal Reserve announced Tuesday that interest rates would be cut by a half a percentage point —at 1 percent to 1.25 percent.

This is the first time the Reserve has slashed interest rates in an unscheduled emergency cut since 2008, CNN Business reported.

CDC's Hahn wrote on social media Monday amid growing panic, reminding people that the immediate risk for the virus is "considered low."

Worry has sparked that nursing homes may become the center of virus disasters, as elderly people and those with weakened immune systems are among the most vulnerable to the virus.

The CDC recommends preventative actions like hand washing, avoiding touching eyes nose and mouth, and staying home when sick.

Places like New York City and Kings County, Washington announced increased cleaning protocols on public transportation to help curb community spread that may occur.

In the midst of the panic, shoppers have begun to wipe out stores, clearing essential items like dry goods and cleaning products from shelves.
Senators gathered in Washington D.C. on Tuesday to discuss the response and next steps in response to the coronavirus.

"I'm very frustrated at the steps the President has taken from repeatedly contradicting experts' advice, to downplaying the seriousness of this threat, and to appointing a politician to lead the response," Senator Patty Murray from Washington said at the hearing.



 

MOST READ IN NEWS

FRANTIC SEARCH

New pics of missing girl, 7, released as cops reveal disappearance timeline

ROAD RAGE TRAGEDY

What to know about Yancy Noll and his murder

ICE SCREAM

Death row killer wanted THREE PINTS of strawberry ice cream before execution

BOSSING IT

Luxury life of girl who became a millionaire at SIX & had chauffeur-driven car

At the White House press briefing Monday evening, the Trump Administration switched the approach to the coronavirus from trying to halt the spread of the virus, to containing it.

Some had previously expressed concern over faulty test kits and strict protocol for giving coronavirus tests around America before requirements were changed.

“Now we’re focused on mitigation of the spread, as well as the treatment of the people affected,” Vice President Mike Pence said, as reported by Politico.

Source: Read Full Article

Previous post The Pioneer Woman Hoagies That Are Too Good to Wait for Game Day to Eat, According to Ree Drummond
Next post Dogwalker's recalls haunting sound as 'stepdad battered his girlfriend's five-year-old son to death against a park gate for losing his trainers'