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Coronavirus: New York virus deaths surge past 3,500 Coronavirus: Trump predicts ‘a lot of death’ as cases pass 300,000
(about 5 hours later)
New York state has recorded 630 more coronavirus deaths, another daily record that takes its toll to 3,565. US President Donald Trump has warned Americans to prepare for the "toughest week" of the coronavirus pandemic yet, predicting a surge in deaths.
Most deaths have been in New York City. The state now has almost as many cases - over 113,000 - as the whole of Italy. At his daily briefing, Mr Trump said "there will be death" in a grim assessment of the days ahead.
Governor Andrew Cuomo said infections could peak in between four and 14 days. He sought to reassure the worst-hit states, promising medical supplies and military personnel to combat the virus.
"Part of me would like to be at the apex and just let's do it. But there's part of me that says it's good that we're not at the apex because we're not yet ready," he said. But in contrast to his warning, Mr Trump suggested easing social-distancing guidelines for Easter.
Mr Cuomo said the state was continuing its search for more ventilators. He thanked China for sending 1,000 ventilators, which were due to arrive on Saturday. The state of Oregon would deliver 140 more, he said. "We have to open our country again," Mr Trump told a news conference at the White House on Saturday. "We don't want to be doing this for months and months and months."
In his daily coronavirus briefing, US President Donald Trump said he had assured Mr Cuomo that New York would get the resources it needs. Mr Trump's calls to relax restrictions on life came on the day confirmed coronavirus infections in the US surpassed 300,000, the highest number in the world.
However, Mr Trump said federal assistance will now be focused on the hardest-hit areas, adding: "There will be a lot of death, unfortunately." As of Saturday, there were almost 8,500 deaths from Covid-19 in the US, with most in New York state - the epicentre of the outbreak.
The US has more than 300,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 8,000 people have died with the virus. On Saturday, New York state recorded 630 more coronavirus deaths, another daily record that takes its toll to 3,565. The state now has almost as many cases - over 113,000 - as the whole of Italy.
Elsewhere in the world, there has been cause for optimism as the number of new infections and deaths from coronavirus has started to gradually diminish.
In Italy, the number of coronavirus patients in intensive care units dropped for the first time since the outbreak began on Saturday.
Meanwhile in Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the country was "close to passing the peak of infections" as the number of coronavirus deaths fell for the second day in a row.
Globally, more than 60,000 people have died and more than 1.1 million have been infected, Johns Hopkins University in the US says.Globally, more than 60,000 people have died and more than 1.1 million have been infected, Johns Hopkins University in the US says.
What's the latest in New York?
The state has counted 113,074 confirmed cases, 63,036 of them in New York City.
Mr Cuomo said the number of cases and deaths were now rising at a slower rate in New York City, but there was a worrying increase in cases in nearby Long Island.
Meanwhile a new overflow hospital - the 2,500-bed Javits Center in Manhattan - would be staffed and equipped by the federal government, he said.
Some 85,000 people, about a quarter of them from other states, have signed up to help tackle the outbreak in New York, the worst in the US.
New York City's mayor has sent messages to its eight million inhabitants urging qualified healthcare workers to volunteer.
"Anyone who's not already in this fight, we need you," said Bill de Blasio, appealing for help from "any health care professional: Doctor, nurse, respiratory therapist, you name it".
Mr de Blasio has estimated that the city needs 45,000 more medical staff to help tackle the pandemic in April and May.
Earlier he urged residents to wear masks - "that could be a scarf or something you make yourself, a bandana" - when they go out.
What did President Trump say in his briefing?What did President Trump say in his briefing?
Speaking at the White House on Saturday, President Trump gave a candid assessment of what lies ahead for the US in the coming weeks. President Trump gave a candid assessment of what lies ahead for the US in the coming weeks.
Next week, Mr Trump said, would "probably be the toughest" yet, warning Americans to brace themselves for "a lot of death". "This will be probably the toughest week between this week and next week, and there will be a lot of death, unfortunately, but a lot less death than if this wasn't done but there will be death," Mr Trump said.
To support states in their fight against Covid-19, Mr Trump said his administration would be deploying a "tremendous amount of military, thousands of soldiers, medical workers, professionals".To support states in their fight against Covid-19, Mr Trump said his administration would be deploying a "tremendous amount of military, thousands of soldiers, medical workers, professionals".
The military personnel will "soon" be advised of their assignments, he said, adding that "1,000 military personnel" were being deployed to New York City.The military personnel will "soon" be advised of their assignments, he said, adding that "1,000 military personnel" were being deployed to New York City.
Mr Trump also addressed his use of the Defence Production Act, a Korean-War-era law which gives him powers to control the production and supply of US-made medical products.Mr Trump also addressed his use of the Defence Production Act, a Korean-War-era law which gives him powers to control the production and supply of US-made medical products.
He said he was "very disappointed" with 3M, a US company that makes masks, saying it "should be taking care of our country" instead of selling to others.He said he was "very disappointed" with 3M, a US company that makes masks, saying it "should be taking care of our country" instead of selling to others.
But he rejected accusations that the US had committed an act of "modern piracy" by redirecting 200,000 Germany-bound masks for its own use.But he rejected accusations that the US had committed an act of "modern piracy" by redirecting 200,000 Germany-bound masks for its own use.
On the question of easing social-distancing restrictions, Mr Trump reiterated a familiar theme.On the question of easing social-distancing restrictions, Mr Trump reiterated a familiar theme.
"We need to open our country," Mr Trump said, without giving a timeline. "The cure cannot be worse than the problem itself." "The cure cannot be worse than the problem itself," Mr Trump said, expressing hope rules could be relaxed for Easter services.
Trump's lockdown frustration growsTrump's lockdown frustration grows
Analysis by BBC North America correspondent, Peter BowesAnalysis by BBC North America correspondent, Peter Bowes
By returning to the theme that "the cure cannot be worse than the problem", President Trump again revealed his frustration that America is still at a standstill.By returning to the theme that "the cure cannot be worse than the problem", President Trump again revealed his frustration that America is still at a standstill.
Mr Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to get people out of their homes and back to work.Mr Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to get people out of their homes and back to work.
While opining that the virus had to be vanquished quickly, Mr Trump restated his view that more people could die because of measures being taken to mitigate the impact of Covid-19, than the disease itself.While opining that the virus had to be vanquished quickly, Mr Trump restated his view that more people could die because of measures being taken to mitigate the impact of Covid-19, than the disease itself.
He warned that some hard decisions had to be made. "We cannot let this continue," he added, referring to nation's stagnation. "We're not going to destroy our country."He warned that some hard decisions had to be made. "We cannot let this continue," he added, referring to nation's stagnation. "We're not going to destroy our country."
What else is happening in the US?
What about the rest of the world?What about the rest of the world?
What's the latest in New York?
The state has counted 113,074 confirmed cases, 63,036 of them in New York City.
New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo said infections could peak in between four and 14 days.
Mr Cuomo said the number of cases and deaths were now rising at a slower rate in New York City, but there was a worrying increase in cases in nearby Long Island.
Meanwhile a new overflow hospital - the 2,500-bed Javits Center in Manhattan - would be staffed and equipped by the federal government, he said.
Some 85,000 people, about a quarter of them from other states, have signed up to help tackle the outbreak in New York, the worst in the US.
New York City's mayor has sent messages to its eight million inhabitants urging qualified healthcare workers to volunteer.
"Anyone who's not already in this fight, we need you," said Bill de Blasio, appealing for help from "any health care professional: Doctor, nurse, respiratory therapist, you name it".
What else is happening in the US?