COVID-19: More than 10,000 US lives lost

The Johns Hopkins University statistics say more than 10,000 US people have died due to the coronavirus. The United States is third in the list with the most coronavirus deaths, only behind Italy with 15,887 and Spain with 13,055. White House medical experts have estimated that even if the sweeping orders to stay home are followed, 100,000 to 240,000 Americans could die to the respiratory disease COVID-19.

The ‘peak death week’ of the coronavirus starts on Monday in U.S. Hospitals were struggling to maintain and expand capacity to care for infected patients, according to a watchdog report. Admiral Brett Giroir, a physician and member of the White House coronavirus task force, told ABC’s Good Morning America programme on Monday that “It’s going to be the peak hospitalisation, peak ICU [intensive care unit] week and unfortunately, peak death week.”

Mr. Giroir raised particular alarm for the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the city of Detroit, Michigan. While speaking on NBC’s Today programme, he said, Whether you live in small-town America or you live in the Big Apple, everyone is susceptible to this and everyone needs to follow the precautions we’ve laid out.”

The state governors have implemented stay-at-home orders affecting more than 90 percent of Americans. However, eight states are still reluctant to impose such restrictions. US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General said the national Match 23-27 survey report showed that there are “severe shortages” of testing supplies and long waits for test results were limiting the ability of hospitals to keep track of the health of staff and patients.

The report said, “Hospitals also described substantial challenges maintaining and expanding capacity to care for patients.” The report also said that efforts were being made to help solve the mid-March hospital issues.