Coronavirus death toll in U.S. reaches 1,000; China suspends entry for foreigners with visas and residence permits

Washington Post

The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus has hit 1,000, according to tracking by The Washington Post, a toll that is increasing at an alarming rate. New patterns have emerged in the spread of the virus, according to analysis by The Washington Post of every known U.S. death. Most who have died are older than 70, but the virus also is hospitalizing and killing younger Americans. Most victims are men, and most also had underlying health conditions. The disease has killed people in 42 states and territories and the District, with the most deaths in New York.

Here are some significant developments:

  • China will temporarily suspend foreign nationals with valid visas and residence permits from entering the country, in the latest move from Beijing to ramp up restrictions on foreigners entering the country amid the coronavirus outbreak.
  • The $2 trillion emergency relief bill passed by the Senate will be voted on Friday by the House, said Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who predicted the measure would receive “strong bipartisan support,” but not unanimous consent. The bill would deliver historic levels of emergency aid across the economy, including to households, businesses, cities and states. It would expand unemployment insurance benefits and direct more money to cash-strapped hospitals.
  • Leaders from the Group of 20 nations convened to discuss the ongoing crisis. But in a sign of just how disruptive that crisis is, they did not meet in person; instead, they talked via video link.
  • Much of the world’s population is now living under some sort of pandemic-related restrictions as the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide approaches 500,000. The death toll in Spain continues to surge, with 655 additional fatalities reported Thursday, raising its total to more than 4,000 people.
  • The Labor Department’s weekly tally of 3.3 million jobless claims shattered the old U.S. record of 695,000, set in 1982. Of the “widespread carnage,” a University of Chicago economist warned: “It’s going to get worse.”

(This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)