US coronavirus: 10,000 new cases reported in a single day as senate passes aid package

The new coronavirus has infected 10,000 more people in the span of a single day across the United States, raising alarm that the country could become the new epicenter of the pandemic.

The number of known coronavirus cases in the United States neared 70,000 on Thursday, after more than 10,000 new cases confirmed to be infected in one day, according to Worldometers — a website which compiles data on COVID-19.

Health officials also reported at 1,031 total deaths in the country as of Wednesday evening.

New York State, the epicenter of the new respiratory illness in the US, has only confirmed more than 30,811 cases on Wednesday, up more than 5,000 since Tuesday morning. The state has had confirmed more than 366 deaths so far.

New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, said on Tuesday that he expects to see a peak in the epidemic in 14-21 days.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also warned earlier this week that virus is accelerating.

US could become next coronavirus epicenter, WHO says

The World Health Organization has said that the United States could become the global epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.

"It took 67 days from the first reported case to reach the first 100,000 cases, 11 days for the second 100,000, and just four days for the third 100,000," WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday.

US President Donald Trump said he hopes the county will shake off the virus and get back to normal by Easter, April 12, when he said is “a beautiful day” to lift coronavirus-related restrictions around the country. 

“It's such an important day for other reasons, but I'll make it an important day for this too. I would love to have the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter,” he told a White House briefing.

US Christian leaders criticized Trump for his Easter remarks, with one describing them as the “height of hypocrisy” and the other warning that “a premature resurrection will lead to a disaster.”

US could become next coronavirus epicenter, WHO says

The World Health Organization has said that the United States could become the global epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.

That was not the first time Trump was downplaying the threat of the virus, which has so far infected more than 471,000 people and killed over 21,000 around the globe.

Senate passes $2 trillion relief package in virus fight

The US Senate unanimously passed a $2 trillion aid package on Wednesday.

This is the largest emergency aid package and action has ever taken in the US history.

White House and Senate leaders of both major political parties announced agreement on the bill on Wednesday.

“To the American people, we say, big help, quick help is on the way,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

The legislation will then go to the House for a vote.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced Wednesday evening ahead of Senate passage that the House will convene at on Friday morning to consider the relief package.

Key elements of the legislative are $250 billion set aside for direct payments to individuals and families, $350 billion in small business loans, $250 billion in unemployment insurance benefits and $500 billion in loans for distressed companies, according to a the text of the final deal that was released Wednesday.

The package would also provide funding for hard-hit hospitals — $130 billion — as well as $150 billion for state and local governments, who are preparing for a surge of tens of thousands of patients expected in the coming weeks.

Officials are trying to fill thousands of "crisis" nursing jobs nationwide, particularly intensive care unit and emergency room positions.

Even before the outbreak hit the nation, several states were complaining about shortages.

Hospital administrators advocates are now concerned that the health care system will not be able to handle the virus crisis.

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