Currents News Staff
The White House coronavirus task force has revealed the virus has an attack rate of close to one in 1,000 in the New York metro area, with 28 percent of those tested being positive.
“No one wants that distinction, not a single one of us, but it is true, and that’s why we so desperately need help particularly from our federal government to get through it,” said de Blasio.
“This is the group that needs to absolutely social distance and self-isolate at this time,” explained Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator.
Despite the climbing numbers in New York, President Trump still suggested that he’s eager to end the virtual nationwide shutdown as soon as next week, contradicting his own health experts.
“Our country wasn’t built to be shut down. This is not a country that was built for this,” he said. “America will, again, and soon, be open for business, very soon.”
It’s also countering many officials in states battling exponentially rising cases:
“We believe that social distancing, that’s how you keep the pressure off the healthcare system,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
Meanwhile, Governor Andrew Cuomo visited the Javits Center, which the National Guard is quickly working to transform into a makeshift hospital with 1,000 beds.
“We can scramble and create beds. We’ll have a staff problem, because staff are getting sick,” said Cuomo.
Even with the federal government stepping in to supply some crucial medical equipment like masks and gloves, officials say that’s just a temporary solution.
“Our national stockpile allotment covers one shift at a hospital,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan.
Across the country businesses continue to close, and even parks and playgrounds are shuttered temporarily, all in efforts to all help flatten the curve.
Over 142 million Americans in at least sixteen states will be under stay at home orders by March 25.
“It’s time to hunker down in order to win this fight,” said Governor Jay Inslee of Washington.