Confirmed coronavirus cases in US surge past 500,000

NEW YORK (REUTERS): The confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States have surged past 5,00,000, although there were signs that self-isolation wasn’t helping to curb the disease.

According to details, the number of coronavirus infections has been rising by 30,000 to 35,000 cases a day as testing becomes more available.

Meanwhile, the death toll from coronavirus also surged past 18,600 as officials warned that fatalities would likely peak this week.

The US will celebrate the Easter holiday on Sunday, however, the top US infectious disease expert warned that it is too early to relax restrictions on Americans. “Now is no time to back off,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said.

Only Italy has more coronavirus deaths than the United States, with 18,849 fatalities reported, although it has a much smaller population.

Earlier on Friday, US President Donald Trump ordered top administration officials to help Italy in fighting the novel coronavirus by providing medical supplies, humanitarian relief, and other assistance.

So far, coronavirus has claimed lives of more than 100,000 people around the globe and has affected more than 1.6 million people.