Lack of supplies has become the shortcoming of the United States in the fight against epidemics. The United States has become the first country with more than 100,000 confirmed diagnoses; the total number of diagnoses worldwide has exceeded 600,000.

According to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University in the United States, as of 4:26 on the 28th Eastern Time (16:26 Beijing time), there have been more than 600,000 confirmed cases of new crown pneumonia worldwide. Among them, the total number of confirmed cases of New Coronary Pneumonia in the United States reached 104,000, and the number of deaths reached 17,11. The United States is the first country with more than 100,000 diagnosed cases. Since the first confirmed case appeared in January, more than two months later, the United States surpassed Italy and China to become the country with the largest number of confirmed cases worldwide, and it has gradually become the next "epicenter" of the global pandemic of new pneumonia.

More than 10,000 new cases were diagnosed on a single day for five consecutive days, and more than 200 new deaths were reported on a single day. The spread of the new crown pneumonia epidemic in the United States has attracted worldwide attention. In addition to the increasing number of confirmed cases and deaths, insufficient supplies of epidemic prevention supplies, shortage of life-saving equipment, and inadequate medical personnel have led to difficulties in the prevention and control of the epidemic in the United States.

U.S. Epidemic Events

January 21

First confirmed case in the U.S.

February 2

U.S. suspension of flights to and from mainland China

February 29

First deaths in the U.S.

March 9

U.S. stocks melted for the first time this year

March 11

NBA announces suspension of all games

March 13

U.S. declares national emergency

March 18

Trump announces closure of US-Canada border

March 23

Fed launches unlimited QE policy

March 27

U.S. has the largest number of confirmed cases

March 28

Trump signs $ 2 trillion stimulus bill

US expands detection, New York state becomes epicenter

According to "USA Today", as the scale of testing is expanded across the United States, new confirmed cases in the United States will continue to increase in the next few days. US Vice President Pence said on the 26th that as of that day, the United States had tested a total of 552,000 samples; while the United States "COVID Tracking Project" said that more than 620,000 people had been tested. Some health experts say that because of the lack of test kits, the actual number of people infected is much higher than now.

A few days ago, the new crown pneumonia epidemic in the United States spread to 50 states and the District of Columbia and overseas territories. With the development of the epidemic, US President Trump has listed seven states, including New York, California, Washington, Iowa, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida, as "heavy-hit areas." Among them, New York State is undoubtedly the "epicenter" region of the United States.

According to CNN, as of the evening of March 27, 45,934 confirmed cases and 450 deaths had occurred in New York State. Among them, 26,697 confirmed cases were in New York City, accounting for a quarter of the nation's confirmed cases. New York City Mayor Bai Sihao said on the 25th that by the end of the epidemic, half of the 8 million people in New York are expected to be infected with new coronary pneumonia.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has recently "fought a fight" with President Trump over a ventilator problem. Como said at the time that there are currently only 7,000 ventilators in New York and an estimated 30,000 are needed. In addition to requesting assistance from the federal government, New York is also making emergency purchases worldwide. However, in a Fox News interview on the 27th, Trump expressed doubts about the needs of New York State, saying that "some hospitals did not have a ventilator before, but suddenly all of them made a lot of demands." In response, Como responded on the 27th that the hospitals in New York State have not yet reached the load limit, and there are still ventilators, but the number of demand is increasing sharply. He estimates that the number of confirmed New York State diagnoses will reach a peak in 21 days, and they will need 30,000 by then. Ventilator.

Measures have also been taken in the United States against people from the hardest hit areas. According to CNN reports, the Arkansas Health Department issued a statement on the 27th saying that due to the high infection rate in New York State, all visitors from New York State need to be quarantined for 14 days.

213 mayors report lack of supplies

After the US epidemic gradually matured, the problems of lack of masks, lack of test kits, lack of protective equipment, lack of ventilator, and lack of medical staff continued to appear.

According to CNN reports, a survey was announced on the 27th by the US Mayors Conference, and 213 US mayors said that they did not have enough equipment and materials to deal with the new crown pneumonia epidemic, and did not have appropriate channels to obtain these materials. Specifically, 92.1% of the cities did not have enough test kits; 91.5% did not have enough masks to provide medical staff; 88.2% did not have enough personal protective equipment; 85% did not have enough ventilator.

The shortage of people and goods in the United States has long been prominent. As early as February, US Secretary of Health Alex Azza said in a question from members of Congress that the gap in the US mask reached 270 million. In addition, problems with early detection kits distributed by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to state health departments have also resulted in very weak detection capabilities everywhere. Although the Trump administration has quickly upgraded its detection capabilities and introduced a way to avoid the need to get off the vehicle after announcing the United States' national emergency, detection capabilities in various regions are still limited.

Hospitals in New York, New Orleans, Detroit, and several severely affected areas have issued warnings that they are facing the dilemma of lack of drugs, medical equipment, and medical staff. Recently, documents leaked from a hospital in Detroit showed that the city is already facing a "death choice", that is, due to the lack of equipment, doctors need to decide who to use the only lifesaving equipment. Although a Henry Ford health system spokesperson told CNN that the leaked document was only part of a policy document that required hospitals to prepare for the worst, it undoubtedly highlighted the difficult situation facing the hospital.

It is also very common for medical staff to lack protective equipment. Nurses at a medical facility in uptown New York said they needed five days for a disposable mask because of the lack of masks. "We are like fighting without armor," said Kelly Cabrera, an emergency nurse working in the Bronx.

Trump promises 100,000 ventilators

According to the Associated Press, Trump officially signed a $ 2 trillion economic stimulus bill after the Senate and House of Representatives passed on the 27th local time to deal with the economic impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic. This is the largest economic stimulus plan in the history of the United States. When he signed it, Trump said, "I have never signed an economic bill with a T (Trillion)."

Under the bill, the Trump administration will provide $ 504 billion in loans or other assistance to large businesses; $ 377 billion in loans to small businesses to pay wages and benefits; and $ 290 billion in cash subsidies to low-income Americans Of which $ 1,200 per adult and $ 500 per child; $ 100 billion in assistance to hospitals in the hardest-hit areas; and some to increase unemployment insurance benefits, expand health care expenditures, and provide assistance to hard-hit states Wait.

In addition, without addressing the shortage of life-saving equipment such as ventilators, Trump launched the National Defense Production Act on the 27th, requiring General Motors to produce ventilators as soon as possible. At the briefing on the new crown pneumonia epidemic on the afternoon of the 27th, Trump said that the government will produce 100,000 ventilators in the next 100 days. Trump also ordered two navy medical vessels to travel to the east and west coasts of the United States as soon as possible. The USNS Mercy arrived at the Port of Los Angeles on the 27th to take care of other patients at the regional hospitals; the Consol also set off for New York on the 27th.

But according to the New York Times, some experts believe that it is not known whether Trump's promised ventilator will be provided to those overloaded hospitals in a timely manner. In addition, some experts have begun to question the CDC's recommendation not to wear a mask. Robert Atmar, an expert on infectious diseases at Baylor University School of Medicine, said that as the US epidemic is becoming a pandemic, ordinary people may also wear masks, especially those who need to use public transportation for work.

International outbreak at a glance

Dynamic infection

Nearly 80 political figures in the world

After the British Prime Minister announced a positive test on March 27, the entire British cabinet was in panic and danger. According to incomplete statistics, as of now, nearly 80 political figures worldwide have been infected with new crown pneumonia, including British Crown Prince Charles, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Prince Abel II of Monaco. In addition, U.S. President Trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Brazilian President Bossonaro, Indonesian President Joko, and Philippine President Duterte have tested the new crown virus and the results were negative.

Dynamic · Death

Cousin King of Spain dies with new crown

On March 26, Princess Felipe VI's cousin, Maria Theresa, died of illness in Paris at the age of 86 due to a new crown pneumonia infection. Maria Theresa was born in 1933 and was known as the "Red Princess" during her lifetime.

The news was announced by her brother, who issued a statement on social media saying it was "very sorry" and explained that her funeral would be held in Madrid next Friday.

News · Mourning

Italian city government silences flag at half-mast

On the 27th local time, in order to express condolences to the deceased with the new crown pneumonia together with the governor of the province of Bergamo, Antonio De Carlo, president of the Italian National Cities Association and mayor of Bari, called on the social media on May 3 At 12 noon on May 31, he wore the mayor's belt and lowered the flag at the city government for one minute of silence.

It is reported that De Carlo has sent invitation letters to the mayors of the country, asking them to respond to the call previously issued by the governor of Bergamo Province, Gavrelli, to mourn the dead together and to express to the medical workers who have made huge sacrifices in the fight against the epidemic Tribute while conveying confidence and hope.

Initiatives

Tokyo, Japan urges not to gather cherry blossoms

According to reports, in view of the spread of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the five capital prefectures (Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, and Yamanashi) of the Japanese capital circle have requested to avoid going out across the country. Fukushima, Ibaraki, Toyama, and Shimane 4 prefectures also Ask to avoid traveling to Tokyo. So far, Japan has requested a total of 13 prefectures to avoid travel.

Tokyo authorities also urged people not to gather in the park to watch the spring cherry blossoms and plan to close the zoo and aquarium for two weeks. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said, "Sakura will open again next year."

Measures · Blocking

Hundreds of climbers trapped in Nepal

To curb the spread of the new crown virus, Nepal imposed a nationwide blockade, which left hundreds of hikers stranded on high-altitude mountaineering routes in Nepal.

The blockade began on Tuesday and will last a week. A spokesman for the Nepal Tourism Authority said about 500 foreign travellers on at least four climbing routes were unable to return due to the blockade. The spokesperson told CNN: "We are working with multiple government agencies to rescue these hikers and take them to Kathmandu so we can coordinate with the embassy and airlift them back home."

Measures · Blocking

Mexican protesters block border crossing

Fearing that U.S. travellers could bring the new crown virus to Mexico, protesters in Nogales, Mexico recently blocked the lane at the U.S.-Mexico border crossing with cars. They demanded that border controls be tightened and inspections of inbound passengers be strengthened, as well as public slogans asking Americans to "stay at home."

Protesters warned the government that the blockade was a "warning", calling for a temporary ban on U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico, while also requiring the government to screen newcomers for every entry.

Beijing News reporter Xie Lian