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| Coronavirus: US death toll passes 50,000 in world's deadliest outbreak | Coronavirus: US death toll passes 50,000 in world's deadliest outbreak |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The US virus death toll has surpassed 50,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, in what is the world's deadliest Covid-19 outbreak. | The US virus death toll has surpassed 50,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, in what is the world's deadliest Covid-19 outbreak. |
| More than 3,000 deaths came in the last 24 hours, and there are now over 870,000 confirmed cases nationwide. | More than 3,000 deaths came in the last 24 hours, and there are now over 870,000 confirmed cases nationwide. |
| But the US still has a lower mortality rate than most European nations based on current case counts, as the White House task force has emphasised. | But the US still has a lower mortality rate than most European nations based on current case counts, as the White House task force has emphasised. |
| The grim news comes as parts of the US reopen after weeks of lockdown. | The grim news comes as parts of the US reopen after weeks of lockdown. |
| Some hair salons, bowling alleys and other businesses are opening on Friday in Georgia, Alaska and Oklahoma. | Some hair salons, bowling alleys and other businesses are opening on Friday in Georgia, Alaska and Oklahoma. |
| The US has by far the highest death toll and case count in the world. | The US has by far the highest death toll and case count in the world. |
| However, it has a population of 330 million, much higher than other worst affected countries such as Spain and Italy. | However, it has a population of 330 million, much higher than other worst affected countries such as Spain and Italy. |
| Dr Deborah Birx, an expert on the White House Covid-19 task force, has said the country has "one of the lowest mortality rates in the entire world". | Dr Deborah Birx, an expert on the White House Covid-19 task force, has said the country has "one of the lowest mortality rates in the entire world". |
| On a per capita basis the current reported US death rate is lower than Spain, Italy, France, Belgium and the UK. | On a per capita basis the current reported US death rate is lower than Spain, Italy, France, Belgium and the UK. |
| A grim report - but not the whole picture | A grim report - but not the whole picture |
| The US is top of the grim league table for reported coronavirus deaths, but that's not the whole picture. | The US is top of the grim league table for reported coronavirus deaths, but that's not the whole picture. |
| Part of the reason is population - many countries in Europe have reported more deaths per head of population than the US and Europe as a whole has reported more deaths overall. | Part of the reason is population - many countries in Europe have reported more deaths per head of population than the US and Europe as a whole has reported more deaths overall. |
| But beware of comparing huge countries in this way. | But beware of comparing huge countries in this way. |
| The picture in New York is very different to the picture in the rest of the US and the same goes for other countries. | The picture in New York is very different to the picture in the rest of the US and the same goes for other countries. |
| Italy really has two epidemics - one in the north of the country that overran healthcare and another down south that is much less advanced. | Italy really has two epidemics - one in the north of the country that overran healthcare and another down south that is much less advanced. |
| Death rates also depend on how you count - France's figures include care homes and Belgium's figures also include suspected Covid cases, making their figures look a lot worse. | |
| Recent steep rises in the daily US death toll are also partly due to the inclusion of "probable" virus deaths. | Recent steep rises in the daily US death toll are also partly due to the inclusion of "probable" virus deaths. |
| The US Centers for Disease Control on 14 April said their case counts would include both confirmed and probable cases and deaths. | The US Centers for Disease Control on 14 April said their case counts would include both confirmed and probable cases and deaths. |
| A probable Covid-19 death is one that meets clinical and epidemiological criteria but has not been confirmed by testing. | A probable Covid-19 death is one that meets clinical and epidemiological criteria but has not been confirmed by testing. |
| It is also important to note that many mild Covid-19 cases remain unreported, so the death rate from confirmed cases is not the same as the disease's overall death rate. | It is also important to note that many mild Covid-19 cases remain unreported, so the death rate from confirmed cases is not the same as the disease's overall death rate. |
| Testing efforts are key to tracking the actual mortality and spread of the disease. | Testing efforts are key to tracking the actual mortality and spread of the disease. |
| Vice-President Mike Pence, the taskforce leader, said the US has conducted 4.9 million tests thus far, and is working with governors to expand testing. | Vice-President Mike Pence, the taskforce leader, said the US has conducted 4.9 million tests thus far, and is working with governors to expand testing. |
| The $484bn economic stimulus bill, passed yesterday by Congress, includes funding for testing expansion. | The $484bn economic stimulus bill, passed yesterday by Congress, includes funding for testing expansion. |
| It is the fourth Covid-19 relief package passed by Washington, and also allocates funds towards hospitals and a small business loan programme. | It is the fourth Covid-19 relief package passed by Washington, and also allocates funds towards hospitals and a small business loan programme. |
| President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on Friday, saying he wanted to "rush economic relief to our citizens". | President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on Friday, saying he wanted to "rush economic relief to our citizens". |
| What's the current situation in the US? | What's the current situation in the US? |
| The rising death toll comes as several US states are beginning to ease economic restrictions, despite warnings from experts and President Donald Trump. | The rising death toll comes as several US states are beginning to ease economic restrictions, despite warnings from experts and President Donald Trump. |
| In Georgia, which has one of the fastest re-opening timetables in the country, bowling alleys, spas, hair and nail salons, tattoo parlours and other personal care businesses will be allowed to resume operations. | In Georgia, which has one of the fastest re-opening timetables in the country, bowling alleys, spas, hair and nail salons, tattoo parlours and other personal care businesses will be allowed to resume operations. |
| On Monday, Georgia will allow dine-in restaurants and theatres to re-open. | On Monday, Georgia will allow dine-in restaurants and theatres to re-open. |
| During Thursday's task force briefing, Mr Trump said he "wasn't at all happy" with the state's Republican Governor, Brian Kemp, nor were his team of experts. | During Thursday's task force briefing, Mr Trump said he "wasn't at all happy" with the state's Republican Governor, Brian Kemp, nor were his team of experts. |
| "I want the people in Georgia to be safe," the president said. "And I don't want this thing to flare up, because you're deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines." | "I want the people in Georgia to be safe," the president said. "And I don't want this thing to flare up, because you're deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines." |
| Mr Kemp, after Mr Trump's criticism, has tightened some of the sanitation and social distancing requirements for restaurants. | Mr Kemp, after Mr Trump's criticism, has tightened some of the sanitation and social distancing requirements for restaurants. |
| The president is also facing backlash after he suggested injecting disinfectants as a potential coronavirus treatment. | The president is also facing backlash after he suggested injecting disinfectants as a potential coronavirus treatment. |