WASHINGTON: The number of coronavirus cases in the US has surpassed the 4 million mark, while the deaths have increased to more than 144,000, as President Donald Trump pushes to reopen schools across the country. As of Friday morning, the coronavirus cases in the country reached 4,034,831, and the national death toll rose to 144,242, both tallies account for the highest in the world, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University (JHU). California has rsurpassed New York to be the hardest-hit state with 421,857 cases, the data showed.
The true number of COVID-19 cases in the US may be 6 to 24 times higher than reported, according to a new study published Tuesday. In the cross-sectional study of 16,025 residual clinical specimens, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated the proportion of persons with detectable COVID-19 antibodies ranged from 1 per cent in the San Francisco Bay area to 6.9 per cent in New York City.
On Thursday, Trump urged schools across the country to reopen as long as they can practice good hygiene and social distancing.
The White House is asking Congress to pledge $105 billion to schools as part of next coronavirus stimulus bill, he said.
Trump and his administration is pressuring schools to reopen in fall, threatening to withhold federal funding from schools that do not comply. Reopening schools is seen a crucial step to restarting the country's economy for his re-election campaign. Few Americans want to see their local schools reopen for in-person instruction as usual or even with minor adjustments, said a new poll released on Wednesday. (IANS)
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