A global pandemic of the novel coronavirus has infected more than 2 million people worldwide.
What We Know:
- More than 136,000 people across the globe have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases, and suspicions that some governments are hiding the scope of their nations’ outbreaks.
- Since the first cases were detected in China in December, the United States has become the worst-affected nation, with more than 638,000 diagnosed cases and at least 30,844 deaths. The number of cases in New York state alone — over 214,000 — is higher than in any single country outside the U.S.
- There have now been 30,844 deaths in the U.S. from COVID-19. The jump in the death count in New York City, and nationally, aren’t all people who have died in the past 24 hours, but are just now being counted.
- Washington and California are to extend their shelter-in-place orders. Gov. Jay Inslee announced that Washington state’s shelter-in-place order has been extended to May 4.
- Washington, the first state to record a coronavirus case in the U.S., currently has 10,694 confirmed cases and 541 deaths, according to the state’s health department.
- Inslee warned that more testing will be needed. “Testing is the biggest challenge, and will be the biggest hurdle,” he said at a press conference.
- Coronavirus deaths in California neared 600 this week as officials extended stay-at-home orders into May and residents entered Easter weekend with unprecedented limits on their movements.
- Los Angeles County health officials warned Friday that the region needs to significantly increase social distancing measures to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus and that stay-at-home restrictions could remain into the summer. Los Angeles County is extending the stay-at-home order through at least May 15.
If immunity to COVID-19 is not permanent, the virus will likely enter into regular circulation, much like influenza, possibly in annual, biennial or sporadic patterns over the next five years.
