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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 23 June 2020
Continued from Front three months of shutdowns
"It is snowballing. We will that have damaged the
most certainly see more economy.
people die as a result of In Louisiana, however, Gov.
this spike," said Dr. Marc John Bel Edwards extend-
Boom, CEO and president ed restrictions on business-
of Houston Methodist Hos- es because of a troubling
pital, noting that the num- uptick in cases, following
ber of COVID-19 hospital the example set by Utah
admissions has tripled since and Oregon last week. Lou-
Memorial Day to more than isiana has recorded more
1,400 across eight hospital than 3,000 deaths.
systems in the Houston met- "There are a lot of people
ropolitan area. out there saying they are
He predicted that in three done with this virus. Well,
weeks hospitals could be the virus isn't done with us,"
overwhelmed, and he Edwards said.
pleaded with people to Countries such as Brazil, In-
cover their faces and prac- dia and Pakistan are also
tice social distancing. seeing surging cases.
"It is possible to open up Dr. Michael Ryan, the World
at a judicious pace and Health Organization's emer-
coexist with the virus, but gencies chief, said that the
it requires millions and mil- outbreak is "definitely ac-
lions of people to do the celerating" in the U.S. and
right thing. Right now, we a number of other coun- In this May 28, 2020, file photo, patrons enjoy drinks while standing at tables placed outside res-
don't have that" because tries, dismissing the notion taurants in New York.
people have let their guard that the record daily levels Associated Press
down, Boom said. of new cases simply reflect
Texas is among a number more testing. He noted that ic going." Dubai-based World Gov- est single-day count. And
of states — including Arizo- numerous countries have Meanwhile, New York City, ernment Summit that it took nearly 1 in 3 people tested
na, Alabama, Florida and seen marked increases in once the most lethal hot over three months for the overall have turned up
South Carolina — whose hospital admissions and spot in the U.S., lifted more world to see 1 million con- positive, according to the
governors have resisted deaths. of its restrictions, moving a firmed infections, but just WHO's Ryan, who said that
statewide mask require- "The epidemic is now peak- big step closer to normal. eight days to see the most the startlingly high number
ments, leaving the matter ing or moving towards a Restaurants can serve din- recent 1 million cases. suggests cases are going
to local authorities. peak in a number of large ers outdoors, customers Tedros did not mention either unreported or unde-
The number of newly con- countries," he warned. can browse through stores Trump by name or his deter- tected because of a low
firmed coronavirus cases In the U.S., Arizona, in par- and get a haircut, and mination to pull the United rate of testing.
across the country per ticular, is seeing disturbing children can return to play- States out of the U.N. health Saudi Arabia said this year's
day has reached more trends in several bench- grounds. agency but warned: "The pilgrimage, or hajj, to Is-
than 26,000, up from about marks, including the per- Eve Gonzalez, a 27-year- greatest threat we face lam's holy sites will not be
21,000 two weeks ago, centage of tests that prove old food industry worker in now is not the virus itself; it's canceled, but only "very
according to an Associ- positive for the virus. Ari- New York whose job had the lack of global solidarity limited numbers" of people
ated Press analysis of data zona's is the highest in the not yet resumed, said it is and global leadership." He will be allowed to take part.
compiled by Johns Hop- nation. too soon: "I'm dying to go added, "We cannot defeat The hajj traditionally draws
kins University. Over 120,000 The state's positive test rate out, but people's health is this pandemic with a divid- around 2 million Muslims
deaths in the U.S. have is at a seven-day average more important." ed world." from around the world for
been blamed on the virus, of over 20%, well above the In Illinois, museums, gyms Trump has criticized the five intense days of worship
the highest death toll in the national average of 8.4% and zoos can reopen on WHO over its early response and rituals in Mecca.
world. and the 10% level that pub- Friday with restrictions. In- to the outbreak and what India's health care system
In Orlando, 152 coronavirus lic health officials say is a door dining can resume at he considers its excessive has been slammed by
cases were linked to one problem. When the positive 25% capacity, and some praise of China, where the the virus. The caseload in
bar near the University of test rate rises, it means that places, such as the Lincoln outbreak began, though the impoverished coun-
Central Florida campus, an outbreak is worsening — Park Zoo, will require reser- his own administration's try of more than 1.3 billion
said Dr. Raul Pino, a state not just that more people vations. handing of the crisis in the people climbed by nearly
health officer in the resort are getting tested. Worldwide, 9 million peo- U.S. has come under at- 15,000 Monday to over
city. At Maryland's Fort Washing- ple have been confirmed tack. Trump has threat- 425,000, with more than
"A lot of transmission hap- ton Medical Center on the infected by the virus and ened to cut off U.S. funding 13,000 deaths.
pened there," Pino said. outskirts of the nation's cap- about 470,000 have died, for the WHO. After easing a nationwide
"People are very close. ital, workers described a according to Johns Hop- Companies around the lockdown, the Indian gov-
People are not wearing scramble to find new beds, kins, though experts say the world are racing to find a ernment in recent weeks
masks. People are drinking, heartbreaking encounters actual numbers are much vaccine, and there is fierce ran special trains to return
shouting, dancing, sweat- with family members of crit- higher because of limited debate over how to make thousands of migrant work-
ing, kissing and hugging, ically ill patients and their testing and cases in which sure it is distributed fairly. ers to their home villages.
all the things that happen frustration with Americans patients had no symptoms. WHO's special envoy on In Pakistan, infections are
in bars. And all those things who do not believe the Amid the global surge, the COVID-19, Dr. David Na- accelerating and hospitals
that happen are not good coronavirus threat is real. head of WHO warned that barro, said he believes it will are having to turn away
for COVID-19." "Everybody is out loung- world leaders must not po- be "2 1/2 years until there patients, with new cases
Although he asked health ing on the beaches. Just liticize the outbreak but will be vaccine for every- up to 6,800 a day. The
officials to renew calls for thinking that it's over. And unite to fight it. body in the world." government has relaxed
people to wear masks and it's not," respiratory thera- Tedros Adhanom Ghe- Brazil, with over 50,000 its coronavirus restrictions,
keep their distance, Gov. pist Kevin Cole said. "It's far breyesus, who has faced deaths, the second-high- hoping to salvage a near-
Ron DeSantis has not sig- from being over. And unfor- criticism from President est toll in the world, regis- collapsed economy in
naled he will retreat from tunately, it's those people Donald Trump, said during tered a record 54,000 new the country of 220 million
reopening the state after that will keep this pandem- a videoconference for the coronavirus cases in its lat- people.q