US infections pass 1,000 as deaths rise to 31
As the US east coast wakes up, here’s a quick recap on the situation in the country.
Speaking about coronavirus infections, The number of people infected has passed 1,000 with new cases reported on both sides of the country, rather than just the west coast where the earliest outbreak took place.
Dozens of cases have been linked to a conference held at a hotel in Boston in February. Other clusters have emerged nursing homes around Seattle in Washington state.
In one of the most drastic moves so far, gatherings of more than 250 people have been banned in the Seattle area.
Nationally, there have been five more deaths, taking the total to 31, US media reported. Of the latest fatalities, two were in Washington state and there was one each in New Jersey, South Dakota and California.
Nineteen states have declared emergencies, the Washington Post reported.
Politicians are getting the Coronavirus too
UK health minister Nadine Dorries has been diagnosed with coronavirus, and is now self-isolating at home.
She first showed symptoms of the infections on Thursday – the same day she attended an event at Downing Street that was hosted by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
But she’s not the only senior politician to have caught the virus. In fact, many around the world have.
In France this week, Culture Minister Franck Riester was diagnosed. The 46-year-old minister was tested after displaying symptoms, but is “feeling well” in quarantine, French media say.
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Five French MPs have also tested positive for the virus.
In Italy, Democratic Party leader Nicola Zingaretti tested positive and went into quarantine last week. Announcing his diagnosis, he said: “So, it’s arrived.”
Italy has the highest number of cases outside China, and is currently in lock-down. European Parliament President David Sassoli has also self-quarantined, after visiting Italy on the weekend.
Iranian ministers and politicians have been affected with the infections particularly severely. Two politicians have died from the virus, Fatemeh Rahbar and Mohammad Ali Ramazani, as has Mohammad Mirmohammadi, a top adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei.
In total, more than 20 politicians in Iran have the virus.
In the US, five Republican lawmakers – including Senator Ted Cruz – have had to self-quarantine after coming into contact with a confirmed coronavirus case at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month.
US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence both attended and spoke at the conference, but the White House insists that they don’t need a coronavirus test.
Source: BBC
