US Covid death toll now surpasses 50,000; accounts for over one-fourth of world's total

United States accounts for more than one fourth of global COVID-19 deaths and over one-third of total number of people infected with dely virus, latest figures revealed on Friday.

coronavirus pandemic that started from Wuhan City in China in vember, 2019 has so far killed more than 195,000 people across world and infected more than 27 lakh.

United States, which has been worst hit by coronavirus alone accounts highest number so far; wherein more than 9.2 lakh Americans have tested positive for COVID-19 and fatalities count on Friday stood at 51,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.

In fact, number of COVID-19 cases in US is more than next six countries taken toger: Spain (219,764), Italy (192,994), France (159,495), Germany (154,545), United Kingdom (144,635) and Turkey (104,912).

Despite accounting for largest number of fatalities, death rate, however, in US is much lower than or countries, according to Johns Hopkins University.

So far, 51,000 people have died due to COVID-19 in US, followed by Italy (25,969), Spain (22,524), France (22,245), and United Kingdom (19,506). In United States, New York accounts for largest number of fatalities (17,671) with 271,890 confirmed cases. However, US seems to be past its peak.

“Nationwide per cent of tests that come back positive has declined very significantly,” President Donald Trump told reporters at his daily White House news conference on coronavirus.

Last week, roughly 38 per cent of tests in New York were positive; this week that number is down to 28 percent. New cases in New York are down 50 per cent compared to a week ago, and fatalities are down 40 per cent over same period, he said.

In Louisiana, rate of positive test result declined from 25 per cent down to 15 per cent in last seven days alone. As many as 18 states w show a decline in a number of positive tests in last seven days which is a very, very significant progress, Trump said.

As a result, half of all Americans live in states that have w taken steps to open ir ecomies, Trump said, a day earlier California, Minnesota, and Tennessee anunced ditional plans to restart certain sectors.

“We ask every American to maintain vigilance and hygiene, social distancing, and voluntary use of face coverings. We are opening our country. It's very exciting to see,” he said.

Trump said that he spoke to Tim Cook of Apple and that y have a good sense of market.

“He feels it's going to be a V. V is sharply urd later on as we actually get it fully open,” he said.

Earlier in day, Trump signed a Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act providing USD 320 billion to keep American workers on payroll.

Of this USD 30 billion of Paycheck Protection funds will be reserved for small financial institutions, including those that serve mirity and distressed communities, extending vital relief to thousands of African American and Hispanic American small-business owners and ir employees.

More than 80 million Americans have alrey received ir payment USD 3400 for a typical family of four.

CARES Act requires that federal government send out a tice of what benefits Americans are receiving; to fulfil requirement Treasury Department is mailing a letter to him.

“It will include amount of ir ecomic impact payment, how it will arrive direct deposit, check or prepaid debit card as well as a mess to nation letting each American kw that we are getting through this challenge toger as one American family and that is what has been happening,” Trump said.

Observing that 184 countries have been hit by coronavirus, president said that y are all watching US.

“y are all watching, and y're calling, and y respect what we are doing so much. I spoke with leers of numerous countries today; y are asking if we can send m ventilators, and I am agreeing to do it," he said.

Federal government has over 10,000 ventilators and is helping Mexico, Honduras, Indonesia, France.

“We are sending (ventilators) to France, we are sending to Spain, we're sending to Italy, and we will probably be spending to Germany should y need m,” he said.

(Picture credit: AP)