New York, epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic in the United States

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With 81,000 people infected with coronavirus, the United States exceeds Italy and even China in number of cases, according to the New York Times. This does not prevent Donald Trump from wanting to "reopen" his country for Easter, when many voices are raised to extend the confinement.

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With our correspondent in New York, Carrie Nooten

In a deserted and silent New York, the sirens of the ambulances echo. If for the general public confined, it is difficult to imagine the expected wave , the doctors speak of "the beginning of a horror film ". They expect to lack personal protective equipment because the state would have just two weeks in advance. In a Queens hospital, the bodies are already stored in a refrigerated trailer.

Containment is a must in New York and to reinforce it, the mayor even bans driving on the city streets as of today. However, other states have still not implemented preventive measures. The press predicts that the situation will be as serious as in China, or even worse. " If we don't put these measures in place, we will have a Wuhan in New York, a Wuhan in Seattle, a Wuhan in South Florida, and so on, predicted epidemic specialist from the New York Times , Donald McNeil Junior, at the microphone of his daily's show, the Daily . Because hospitals are going to be overwhelmed everywhere. I observed the situation from the end of January to the beginning of February, and it scared me. These are nightmare visions. And I haven't seen anyone take them seriously. But that's what we're headed for. "

The federal government has sent 4,000 respirators to New York, but 16,000 more are needed. So far, 40,000 retirees and medical students have offered to strengthen the medical teams. The peak of the epidemic is expected in two to three weeks.

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