North America

Virus claims record dead but US President Trump sees light at end of tunnel

by Susan STUMME with AFP Bureaus Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The coronavirus pandemic notched up another round of record death tolls in the United States and Europe, dousing the optimism of US President Donald Trump who insisted there was light at the end of the tunnel. The virus has now killed more than 87,000 people and infected over 1.5 million, according to an AFP tally on Thursday, sparing almost no country […]

US pharmacies authorized to test for coronavirus

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US authorized pharmacies on Wednesday to carry out tests for the coronavirus, including newly developed antibody tests that detect whether a person who has recovered from illness had COVID-19. Health secretary Alex Azar, announced that all tests approved by regulators could be carried out by pharmacies as the country seeks to ramp up its testing efforts. “The Trump Administration is pleased to give pharmacists the chance to play a bigger […]

US tops 400,000 coronavirus cases: tracker

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Wednesday surpassed 400,000 novel coronavirus cases, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. The pandemic has now claimed the lives of at least 12,936 people in the United States, which leads the world in the number of confirmed infections with 401,116, by the Baltimore-based school’s count. The 300,000-case milestone was passed on Saturday. The US death toll is approaching those of hard-hit Italy with […]

New York hits new coronavirus peak but curve flattening

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — New York recorded a new single-day high for coronavirus deaths on Wednesday but Governor Andrew Cuomo said the epidemic appeared to be stabilizing. Cuomo said 779 people had died in the last 24 hours, bringing the total death toll in New York state from COVID-19 to 6,268. The previous high of 731 was set on Monday. New York is bearing the brunt of America’s deadly coronavirus pandemic, accounting for […]

WATCH: Over 1-M unemployment claims filed in California

Eagle News — While the number of reported COVID-19 positive patients are continue to rise in the state of California, so does the number of Californians claiming unemployment due to the “shelter in place.” EBC Los Angeles Bureau Correspondent, Mayely Villanueva with the full report.

Nearly 2,000 US coronavirus deaths in last 24 hours: Johns Hopkins tally

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Nearly 2,000 people infected with the new coronavirus have died in the United States in the last 24 hours, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University as of 8:30 pm Tuesday (0030 GMT Wednesday). The record daily figure of 1,939 brings the total number of deaths in the US to 12,722, which is approaching tolls in the worst-hit countries so far — Italy with 17,127 dead and Spain with 13,798. […]

Twitter’s Jack Dorsey pledges $1 bn for COVID-19 relief effort

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Twitter co-founder and chief executive Jack Dorsey said Tuesday he was committing $1 billion of his personal fortune to coronavirus relief through his philanthropic fund. Dorsey said in a series of tweets that he would transfer his equity in his digital payments group Square to his limited liability corporation Start Small, contributing around 28 percent of his overall wealth. “Why now? The needs are increasingly urgent, and I want […]

Trump threatens withholding funds from UN world health body

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to cut US funding to the World Health Organization, accusing it of bias toward China during the coronavirus pandemic. Trump told reporters he was “going to put a very powerful hold on” funding to WHO, the UN body whose biggest funding source is the United States. “We’re going to put a hold on money spent to the WHO,” said Trump, who pursues an “America […]

US navy chief out over handling of ship virus outbreak

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigned Tuesday over his mishandling of an outbreak of the coronavirus on the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier, Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced. Modly stepped down five days after removing the Roosevelt’s captain, Brett Crozier, for writing a letter, which was leaked to the media, describing the virus-struck vessel’s dire situation and alleging the Pentagon was not paying adequate attention to it. The removal […]

China lifts Wuhan travel ban, Britain, NY report record deaths

by Chris Lefkow with Jing Xuan Teng in Wuhan WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — China lifted a travel ban on Tuesday on residents of Wuhan, where the coronavirus pandemic began last year, and reported no new deaths, but the situation remained grim elsewhere as Britain and New York State recorded their highest number of fatalities yet. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson remained in intensive care, meanwhile, after being admitted to a London hospital on Monday […]

COVID-19 cases worldwide go over 1.35 million; US, Spain, Italy, Germany listed as countries with most cases

  (Eagle News) – The total number of COVID-19 cases worldwide has reached more than 1.35 million, with the United States, Spain, Italy and Germany listed as the top four countries with the most number of cases, according to the Johns Hopkins University dashboard on global cases. The total COVID-19 related deaths reached 74,870 as of Monday, April 7, around 5 p.m. (PST), with Italy still with the most reported deaths at more than 16,500 […]

US warns China not to ‘exploit’ virus for sea disputes

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Monday warned China not to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to exert itself in the South China Sea after Vietnam said Beijing sank a trawler. Amid the global focus on fighting COVID-19, China has ramped up self-described research stations and landed special military aircraft in the dispute-rife sea, according to the State Department. “We call on the PRC to remain focused on supporting international efforts […]