The total number of new coronavirus deaths in the United States exceeded one thousand, on Thursday, while the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits reached a record, in clear evidence of the devastating human and economic impact of the pandemic.
A Johns Hopkins University census showed that at least 1,046 people died of the Covid 19 virus.
The disease is especially dangerous for the elderly and those with other health problems.
About half of the United States is currently under orders to stay at home, in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus, whose consequences are stifling economic activities and launching a wave of layoffs.
The state of New York saw the largest number of deaths and patients with the disease nationwide. New York Governor Andrew Como, who had previously warned of an expected shortage of hospital beds and respirators, said Thursday that the number of deaths in the state had reached 385, up from 285 the previous day.
Hospitals and laid-off workers and companies facing difficulties will receive much-needed economic assistance under the relief bill passed by the Senate Wednesday evening, with a vote of 96.
Claims of unemployment benefits rose to a record level of 3.3 million today, an increase of five times from its weekly record level of 695 thousand claims at the time of the recession in 1982.
House leaders said they hoped to pass the bill on Friday, while US President Donald Trump said he would ratify it to turn it into law.
The relief plan was passed to Congress at a time when Jerome Powell, chairman of the Federal Reserve (US Central Bank), said the United States "may already be in a recession."
Powell warned that a revitalized economy would wait until the virus was controlled, despite Trump's stated desire to resume economic activity by April 12.
Source: website .
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