Coronavirus, the number of cases doubled in 24 hours in the USA

In 24 hours, the number of confirmed covid-19 cases in the United States has doubled by two. This Wednesday, March 11, the USA has 1,039 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, according to the interactive map developed by Johns Hopkins University. 29 people died from the virus and 8 people were cured. Health experts have criticized the authorities for downplaying the crisis and for having fallen behind in developing screening tests. Currently, more than 8,500 patients are waiting for their test results.

Over 1,000 confirmed cases

The number of confirmed cases has doubled in the space of 24 hours, and it is likely to be revised upwards in the coming hours, which, according to American epidemiologists, is explained by tests defective. Moreover, the fact that the analyzes initially targeted too small a portion of the population is also advanced.

In a study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, epidemiologists from Johns Hopkins and Stanford universities recalled that the only test used at the start of the epidemic was the one developed by the American Centers for Disease Control (CDC). But due to a reagent problem, the first kits distributed by the CDC sometimes gave inconclusive results – hear neither positive nor negative.

A virus that spares no one

Five members of Congress, including at least two Republicans who have rubbed shoulders with the US president in recent days, were in voluntary isolation on Monday after being exposed to the virus, but without showing symptoms. One traveled on Monday aboard Donald Trump’s Presidential Air Force One plane, the other accompanied him on an official visit on Friday. Vice President Mike Pence said he was also untested during a White House press conference for the team coordinating the US response to the outbreak. The world has been “taken aback” by the coronavirus, Donald Trump had launched at this press conference, announcing that he wanted to see measures adopted soon in Congress to relieve the American economy.

A city under confinement

The city of New Rochelle, located a few miles from Manhattan, was placed in confinement on Wednesday.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo explained that National Guard soldiers, in unspecified numbers, would be sent to a “containment zone” 1.6 km in radius, within the city. of 80,000 inhabitants. They will be responsible for “supplying the inhabitants and cleaning the schools,” he said. All meeting places are closed for two weeks.

In New York City, several private schools as well as universities are closed. Public schools remain open for now, although city mayor Bill de Blasio in his press conference yesterday called on New Yorkers to avoid travel by public transport as much as possible. .

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