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Coronavirus: NY governor says infection rate worse than feared Coronavirus spreading in New York like 'a bullet train'
(about 2 hours later)
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has pleaded for medical supplies, warning that Covid-19's peak in the state will be worse than anticipated. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has pleaded for medical supplies, warning Covid-19 is spreading in his state faster than "a bullet train".
"The apex is higher than we thought and the apex is sooner than we thought," Mr Cuomo told reporters on Tuesday."The apex is higher than we thought and the apex is sooner than we thought," Mr Cuomo told reporters on Tuesday.
He said the federal government was not sending enough equipment to combat the crisis, noting the state needs 30,000 ventilators.He said the federal government was not sending enough equipment to combat the crisis, noting the state needs 30,000 ventilators.
New York now has over 25,000 confirmed virus cases and at least 210 deaths.New York now has over 25,000 confirmed virus cases and at least 210 deaths.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday the US could become the new epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic.
"We are now seeing a very large acceleration in cases in the US. So it does have that potential," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris said.
Mr Cuomo's warning comes as President Donald Trump suggested having the US back in business by early next month.Mr Cuomo's warning comes as President Donald Trump suggested having the US back in business by early next month.
"We need federal help and we need the federal help now," Mr Cuomo said."We need federal help and we need the federal help now," Mr Cuomo said.
"New York is the canary in the coal mine, New York is happening first, what is happening to New York will happen to California and Illinois, it is just a matter of time.""New York is the canary in the coal mine, New York is happening first, what is happening to New York will happen to California and Illinois, it is just a matter of time."
The governor blasted the 400 ventilators sent to New York from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema). The governor blasted the 400 ventilators sent to New York from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency.
"Four hundred ventilators? I need 30,000 ventilators. You want a pat on the back for sending 400 ventilators? You're missing the magnitude of the problem." He said: "You pick the 26,000 people who are going to die because you only sent 400 ventilators."
He added: "You pick the 26,000 people who are going to die because you only sent 400 ventilators." New York currently has 7,000 ventilators, but needs 30,000, the governor said.
New York currently has 7,000 ventilators, the governor said. Mr Cuomo continued: "The [infection] forecaster said to me, 'We were looking at a freight train coming across the country.'
The state is also looking into creating more healthcare areas, possibly by turning dormitories and hotels into makeshift hospitals. "'We're now looking at a bullet train.'"
The state is also looking into creating more healthcare areas, possibly by turning college dormitories and hotels into makeshift hospitals.
With 25,665 cases in New York, the state accounts for more than half of all US infections.With 25,665 cases in New York, the state accounts for more than half of all US infections.
The number of new cases in the state is doubling every three days, the governor said, and showing no sign of slowing down.The number of new cases in the state is doubling every three days, the governor said, and showing no sign of slowing down.
Mr Cuomo noted that the curve had not "flattened" in his state - meaning the rate of infections could overwhelm the healthcare system. New York may need up to 140,000 hospital beds in a worst-case scenario, he said. Mr Cuomo said the rate of infections could overwhelm the healthcare system. New York may need up to 140,000 hospital beds in a worst-case scenario, he said.
The governor also criticised the notion that the economy needed to be saved, saying he would not "put a dollar amount on human life". The governor also said he would not "put a dollar amount on human life", in what was seen as an implicit criticism of Mr Trump's concerns that measures to contain the virus could wreck the US economy.
"My mother is not expendable and your mother is not expendable." "My mother is not expendable and your mother is not expendable," said Mr Cuomo.
Mr Cuomo emphasised that he was not willing to "sacrifice that 1 or 2%" of vulnerable people. He said he was not willing to "sacrifice that 1 or 2%" of vulnerable people.
"We are going to fight every way we can to save every life that we can because that's what, I think, it means to be an American.""We are going to fight every way we can to save every life that we can because that's what, I think, it means to be an American."
What has President Trump been saying? A tale of two media events
In a news conference on Monday, President Trump had suggested the US would be "open for business" again soon, saying the US could not afford to "let the cure be worse than the problem". On Tuesday afternoon, Donald Trump sat in the verdant White House grounds for a Fox News "virtual town hall" and said he hoped to get US businesses reopened by Easter, in just over two weeks.
He repeated the sentiment on Tuesday, telling Fox News: "We're going to be opening relatively soon... I would love to have the country opened up and just rearing to go by Easter." "A great American resurrection," the Fox host suggested.
Mr Trump hit back at Mr Cuomo as well, saying that the governor had refused to order more ventilators back in 2015. A few hours earlier, Governor Cuomo held a much more sombre press conference at the Javits Center in Manhattan. The building, which three years ago hosted Hillary Clinton's ill-fated election-night party, is now a makeshift field hospital.
"We're doing more for him than anybody else," the president said. The president and the governor - two New Yorkers with a long history - clashed over the state's shortage of ventilators to treat the most serious cases.
"He's supposed to be buying his own ventilators...We're building him hospitals, medical centres, we're working very hard for the people of New York, and then I watch him and he's complaining about the ventilators." Mr Trump blamed Mr Cuomo for not purchasing more in 2015, citing a conspiracy-mongering website. Mr Cuomo said the administration should use its emergency powers to order more machines manufactured.
When it comes to easing the recent shelter-in-place orders, governors like Mr Cuomo, not the president, will have the final say.
If there's disagreement, however, the American public could be left wondering what to believe.
What did President Trump say?
On Tuesday, President Trump told Fox News he hoped the country could get back to normal by Easter, which is 19 days away.
Mr Trump said: "We're going to be opening relatively soon... I would love to have the country opened up and just rearing to go by Easter."
He added: "Easter is a very special day for me... and you'll have packed churches all over our country."
Mr Trump also warned that otherwise the country could suffer "a massive recession or depression".
The president said: "You're going to lose people. You're going to have suicides by the thousands. You're going to have all sorts of things happen.
"You're going to have instability. You can't just come in and say, 'Let's close up the United States of America, the most successful country in the world by far.'"
What is the current US situation?What is the current US situation?
There are over 46,500 confirmed cases and nearly 600 deaths attributed to Covid-19 in the US. The World Health Organization on Tuesday said the US could become the next epicentre of the pandemic given the "very large acceleration in cases". There are over 52,000 confirmed cases and nearly 680 deaths attributed to Covid-19 in the US.
States have been tightening lockdown measures despite Mr Trump signalling he was inclined to lessen restrictions soon.States have been tightening lockdown measures despite Mr Trump signalling he was inclined to lessen restrictions soon.
On Tuesday, Wisconsin, Delaware and New Mexico enacted stay-at-home orders, bringing the total number of states issuing such policies to over a dozen and affecting about one in three Americans.On Tuesday, Wisconsin, Delaware and New Mexico enacted stay-at-home orders, bringing the total number of states issuing such policies to over a dozen and affecting about one in three Americans.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been debating the details of an economic stimulus package that could total over $2 trillion (£1.7 trillion).Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been debating the details of an economic stimulus package that could total over $2 trillion (£1.7 trillion).
Democrats and the White House indicated negotiations could conclude on Tuesday, with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin saying "the president wants us to get this done today".Democrats and the White House indicated negotiations could conclude on Tuesday, with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin saying "the president wants us to get this done today".
A New Jersey man has been charged with making a terroristic threat after he coughed on an employee of a Wegmans supermarket on Monday and then claimed to have coronavirus.
Governor Phil Murphy described the suspect as a "knucklehead".