US President Donald Trump recommends face covering as US death toll crosses 7,100

New York: US President Donald Trump announced new guidelines on Friday recommending that Americans wear face coverings while in public to battle the spread of the coronavirus pandemic but made it clear that he is “choosing not to do it”.

“It’s a recommendation. It’s voluntary. I just don’t want to wear one myself”, Trump said, reflecting the mood of the fairly long drawn debate on the subject at the highest levels of the US government.

The COVID-19 has sickened more than 2,70,000 people in the US and killed more than 7,100 in barely a month since the first death was reported from the West Coast. Most of the dead are in New York City, where hospitals are simply overwhelmed by the surge.

The New York metro area remains the epicenter of the outbreak in the US. Its high population density, tourist traffic in the early months of the year before border controls kicked in, and surface transmission from a robust public transport system have been cited by public health experts as crucial ingredients of the virus’ deadly blow.

Facing severe shortage of intensive care equipment, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is taking one of the most aggressive steps yet in the US battle against COVID-19. Cuomo said he would sign an executive order to take ventilators that aren’t being used.

Cuomo has said New York could run out of ventilators next week. Louisiana’s governor said New Orleans could be down to zero supply by Tuesday. Global shortages of masks, gowns and ventilators have led to intense competition among buyers from all over. (IANS)

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