By Soo Kim
More than 50,000 people have now recovered from the novel coronavirus in the U.S., according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. remains the epicenter of the outbreak, with more than 610,000 confirmed cases, including over 26,000 deaths, to date.
Cases continue to emerge and the official figure for the number of recoveries in the country has yet to be released by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Speaking to Newsweek, a CDC spokesperson previously said it does “not have the current numbers for recovered patients at this time, and CDC has not included this data in our ongoing case counts as of yet,” but it “may put it [the data on recoveries] together in the future.”Read more
New York, the worst-hit state in the country, has seen signs of the outbreak slowing down with a “flattening” of cases, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed at a press conference on Monday.
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“Here’s the good news: The curve [of the number of cases] continues to flatten…it appears that we have a plateau. It’s flattening, it’s the flattening of the curve. The increase has slowed down,” Cuomo said.
“If you look at the number of total [hospital] admissions, 18,000, 18,000, 18,000 – that’s definitely a flattening,” he added.
The governor noted that “testing is going to be key” in continuing to flatten the curve of the outbreak. New York has tested at least 499,143 people, as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University.
“We test more than any other state. We test more than other countries. We test more than the other leading states combined in testing. But, that’s still not enough. We have to do more,” Cuomo said.
Other states that have tested over 100,000 people for the virus include California (215,400), Florida (205,322),Texas (146,467), New Jersey (139,774), Pennsylvania (133,631), and Massachusetts (126,551), Louisiana (118,422), and Illinois (110,616).
The COVID-19 virus, which was first detected in Wuhan, China, has infected more than two million people across the globe in at least 185 countries and regions.
More than 502,000 have recovered from infection but over 129,000 have died. China claims 95 percent of its 83,300 infection cases have resulted in recovery, though there are questions around the accuracy of its reporting.
Germany reports the highest number of recoveries outside China, with at least 72,600, while Spain has the second-largest portion of recoveries (at least 70,850) followed by Iran (49,933), as of Tuesday.
The graphic below, provided by Statista, illustrates the spread of COVID-19 across the U.S.
Data on COVID-19 cases is from Johns Hopkins University unless otherwise stated.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advice on Using Face Coverings to Slow Spread of COVID-19
- CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
- A simple cloth face covering can help slow the spread of the virus by those infected and by those who do not exhibit symptoms.
- Cloth face coverings can be fashioned from household items. Guides are offered by the CDC. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html)
- Cloth face coverings should be washed regularly. A washing machine will suffice.
- Practice safe removal of face coverings by not touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash hands immediately after removing the covering.
World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Hygiene advice
- Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub.
- Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before, during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste.
- Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.
Medical advice
- Avoid close contact with others if you have any symptoms.
- Stay at home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and runny nose, to avoid potential spread of the disease to medical facilities and other people.
- If you develop serious symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and contact local health authorities in advance.
- Note any recent contact with others and travel details to provide to authorities who can trace and prevent spread of the disease.
- Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.
Mask and glove usage
- Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person.
- Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
- Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning.
- Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask.
- Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of the mask.
- Do not reuse single-use masks.
- Regularly washing bare hands is more effective against catching COVID-19 than wearing rubber gloves.
- The COVID-19 virus can still be picked up on rubber gloves and transmitted by touching your face.
