USN Comfort approaching Pier 90 in NYC on March 30, 2020 Image: Abseim / Wikimedia
The U.S. death toll from coronavirus for a single day exceeded 500 on Monday with New York reported 253 deaths, according to data compiled by two large media organizations.
CNN and The Washington Post data counts said it was for the first time that the country saw the grim milestone even as health and medical workers battle the COVID-19 disease and industries go in overdrive to produce life-saving supplies including ventilators.
Michigan reported 52 deaths, followed by New Jersey 37, California and Louisiana 34 deaths each.
More than 3,000 Americans have died since the coronavirus outbreak hit the United States last month, and the number of infections is more than 160,000.
In Washington metro area, Maryland reported five deaths, Virginia three and while the District of Columbia had no reported loss of life, according to the Post, which put the toll at 541 by 8:30 with no data submissions from Alaska and Washington state.
Dr Anthony S. Fauci and other experts on the White House coronavirus task force Sunday feared that the pandemic could cause up to 200,000 deaths in the United States.
In response to President Trump’s invoking Defense Production Act, many large companies are rushing to manufacture breathing machines. Ford says it will make 50,000 ventilators in 100 days, according to a CNN report. The channel also reported that Mercedes and James Dyson have designed breathing aids, to be made at a rapid pace.
