People gather in a park in the midst of an epidemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Birmingham, Michigan, United States.
Washington:
New cases of COVID-19 in the United States increased by more than 47,000 on Tuesday according to a Reuters count, the biggest day-long peak since the start of the pandemic, as the government’s leading infectious disease expert said warned that this number may soon double.
California, Texas and Arizona have become new American epicenters of the pandemic, reporting a record increase in COVID-19 cases.
“Obviously, we are not in total control right now,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, to a committee of the United States Senate. “I am very worried because it could get very bad.”
Fauci said the daily increase in new cases could reach 100,000 unless a national push is made to quell the resurgent virus.
“We cannot just focus on the areas that are experiencing this push. It puts the whole country at risk,” he said.
Fauci said there was no guarantee of a vaccine, although initial data was promising: “Hopefully doses will be available early next year,” he said.
COVID-19 cases more than doubled in June in at least 10 states, including Texas and Florida, according to a Reuters count. In parts of Texas and Arizona, hospital intensive care beds for patients with COVID-19 are scarce.
More than 126,000 Americans died from COVID-19 and millions lost their jobs as states and major cities ordered residents to stay at home and close their businesses. The economy contracted sharply in the first quarter and is expected to crater in the second.
“TRUMP US FAILED”
The European Union has excluded Americans from its “safe list” of countries from which the bloc will allow non-essential travel from Wednesday.
The new increase in the number of cases and hospitalizations has dampened the hope that the worst of human and economic pain will have passed, which has sparked new criticism of US President Donald Trump when he wanted to be re-elected on November 3.
His rival, Democrat Joe Biden, said on Tuesday that Trump’s “historic mismanagement” of the pandemic had claimed the lives and caused more damage than necessary to the American economy.
“It didn’t have to be this way. Donald Trump failed us,” said the 77-year-old former vice president in a speech in Delaware, where he unveiled an updated pandemic plan calling for more testing and hiring. 100,000 contract tracers.
Over the past week, California, Texas and Florida have decided to close the recently reopened bars, which public health officials say are likely one of the main contributors to the recent peaks.
On Tuesday, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut added travelers from California and seven other states to those who must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Texas and Florida were named last week.
South Carolina has also become a hot spot, reporting a record increase of 1,755 cases in a single day on Tuesday.
In Texas, where the number of new cases reached a one-day high of 6,975 on Tuesday, hospitals in Houston have reported that beds are rapidly filling with COVID-19 patients.
Dr. Marc Boom, chief executive of Houston Methodist Hospital, told CNN on Tuesday that his hospital beds had seen a “very significant” increase in the number of COVID-19 patients, although the death rate had dropped .
Boom said he was concerned about Independence Day celebrations this weekend, when Americans traditionally flock to beaches and campsites to watch fireworks.
“Frankly, it scares me,” he said.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
