Virus kills more Americans than WW1

NEW YORK: With 740 new coronavirus disease 2019 ( Covid- 19) deaths in 24 hours, the United States had seen more people die from the pandemic than those killed in World War 1, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

The new figure, counted at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday (8:30 a.m. in Manila, Wednesday), brought the country’s total Covid-19 deaths up to 116,854, the tracker from the Baltimorebased university showed.

The increase came after two days of death tolls under 400. And 23,351 new cases in the same 24-hour period brought the total US count up to 2,134,973, making it by far the hardest-hit of any country in the world.

The country’s pandemic death toll had already passed that of its soldiers in the Vietnam War in late April.

The US, where many businesses are reopening, continues to register around 20,000 new cases of the novel coronavirus each day. Several states are even recording their highest levels of new cases since the start of the pandemic.

The administration of President Donald Trump, who has downplayed risks of the virus and instead focused on reviving the economy as he faces a tough reelection battle in November, insists there will be no shutdown of the economy if a second fullblown wave of the epidemic arises.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, meanwhile, warned that the US economy was unlikely to recover as long as “significant uncertainty” remains over the course of the pandemic.

Trump has come under scrutiny for an upcoming campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma — his first since March when the pandemic halted mass gatherings. It is so far planned for an indoor arena that holds about 20,000 people.

The US also agreed to keep its borders with Mexico and Canada closed until July 21, officials said Tuesday, extending travel restrictions for a third time because of the pandemic.