The World Health Organization said Tuesday the U.S. could become the new epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. “We are now seeing a very large acceleration in cases in the U.S. So it does have that potential,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said, according to the Reuters news agency.
About 20% of people on the planet have been told to stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19, which has infected nearly 400,000 people globally and killed more than 17,000 people.
The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 is now approaching 600 and there are more than 46,000 cases across the nation, according to Johns Hopkins University.
In Washington, U.S. senators are struggling to agree on a $2 trillion stimulus package. Both the White House and congressional leaders have signaled hope for a Tuesday breakthrough, but a global recession is still widely predicted.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday the peak of coronavirus infections in his state could be as close as 2 to 3 weeks away, and that more hospital and ICU beds will be needed than was previously anticipated.
“One of the forecasters said to me we were looking at a freight train coming across the country,” he said. “We’re now looking at a bullet train, because the numbers are going up that quickly.”
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for detailed information on coronavirus treatment and prevention. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
