The USA is in the most critical phase of the pandemic to date – with half a million recorded infections
The USA is in the most critical phase of the pandemic to date – with half a million recorded infections. And there are other sad records. Donald Trump faces a difficult decision.
Washington (dpa) – There are now more than half a million confirmed coronavirus infections in the USA. According to data published on Saturday morning by Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, more than 18,700 people have died there so far.
For the first time, more than 2000 deaths were registered within 24 hours in the USA by Friday evening (local time). This is the highest increase in the number of deaths recorded within one day in any country since the global pandemic began. US President Donald Trump said on the question of when and how the country could return to normality: “This is by far the biggest decision of my life”.
He would find it in consultation with “the smartest people”, the US president added at a press conference at the White House on Friday. “I hope to God it will be the right decision.” He is expected to present a panel of experts on Tuesday to discuss opening the country.
The United States, a country of some 330 million people, has a significantly higher incidence of known infections with the Sars-CoV-2 virus than any other country in the world. However, the figures for the individual countries can only be compared to a limited extent because of the different testing rates and a high number of unreported cases.
Among the countries most affected by the lung disease Covid-19, the university has registered the highest proportion of corona deaths relative to the population so far in Spain. According to the study, about 34 people per 100,000 inhabitants died there after infection. In Italy the figure was around 31, in the USA just under 6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, in Germany 3.
The website of the researchers at Johns Hopkins University is regularly updated with detailed data and therefore shows a higher level of confirmed infections than the official figures of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. CDC. Between Thursday and Friday evening (local time), the university recorded 2108 deaths in the USA.
US President Donald Trump wants to use sanctions against countries that block the deportation of their nationals during the Corona pandemic. Trump ordered the US Department of Homeland Security to inform the State Department about such incidents. The State Department, for its part, is to draw up a plan for the imposition of visa sanctions within seven days of such notification.
States that refused or unnecessarily delayed the withdrawal of nationals during the pandemic caused “unacceptable health risks to Americans,” it was said. The order will initially be valid until the end of the year and is not limited to certain countries.
However, US President Donald Trump sees the country already at the height of the Corona crisis. “I’m pretty sure we’re at the top of the hill. And now we’re going down. In some cases we have already started this process,” said the 73-year-old at a press conference at the White House.
The head of state of the United States was optimistic that fewer people could die in the crisis than had at least been expected. He spoke of a level that could be lower than 100,000. “We have appalling figures,” Trump said at the same time.
RESTRICTIONS IN ITALY
Italy’s government is extending the strict exit restrictions for the 60 million citizens until 3rd May. This was said by head of government Giuseppe Conte on Friday evening. The measures have been in force since 10 March. In Italy, people are currently only allowed to leave their homes in exceptional cases, for example when they have to go to work, to the doctor or to shop. A large number of businesses have also been closed for weeks. The economy of the highly indebted country fears a severe recession.
At the same time, Conte announced that after Easter – from 14 April – a few additional shops are likely to open, such as book and stationery shops and the baby clothes trade. Italy is one of the countries worldwide that has been hit hardest by the Corona pandemic. The wave of infection has slowed recently. Nevertheless, on Friday, the Civil Defence reported 570 new deaths within 24 hours. In total, more than 18,800 infected people have died since the corona virus wave began in February.
POPE – GOOD FRIDAY PROCESSION WITHOUT PILGRIMS
Pope Francis celebrated Good Friday completely differently this time because of the Corona crisis. The procession of the Way of the Cross, which is usually emotionally moving and is usually accompanied by thousands of pilgrims, was attended only by the head of the Catholic Church and few other people. The ceremony had been moved from the ancient Colosseum to the closed Vatican. On St. Peter’s Square in front of the huge cathedral, the Pope and the few other people involved in the evening procession seemed almost lost. During the celebration, the suffering of Jesus, his way to death on the cross and to the grave are traditionally re-enacted in 14 stations.
OVER 100,000 DEATHS WORLDWIDE
According to the Johns Hopkins University, more than 100,000 people have already died worldwide as a result of the corona pandemic. The number of proven cases of infection worldwide was thus more than 1.7 million.
