The new cumulative figure for “confirmed and probable COVID-19 deaths” released by the New York City Health Department, marks a staggering increase of over 3,700 deaths formally attributed to the highly contagious illness since March 11. The city’s revised count, 10,367 in all, also raises the total number of lives lost to coronavirus nationwide to more than 28,300, with New York state, and its largest city in particular, accounting for the biggest share of deaths by far. US public health authorities have generally attributed deaths to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, only for patients who had tested positive for infection. New York state and some other hard-hit areas continue to report sharp decreases in hospitalisations and numbers of patients on ventilators. Trump and a number of state governors, including Cuomo, have clashed sharply this week over who has the power to lift restrictions aimed at curbing the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: bd News24 April 14, 2020 23:37 UTC