(NEW YORK) — Here’s the latest information on the COVID-19 coronavirus as of 9:30 a.m. ET.
Latest reported numbers globally per Johns Hopkins University
Global diagnosed cases: 2,647,512
Global deaths: 184,372. The United States has the most deaths of any single country, with 47,974.
Number of countries/regions: at least 185
Total patients recovered globally: 721,349
Latest reported numbers in the United States per Johns Hopkins University
There are at least 842,624 diagnosed cases in 50 states + the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. This is more than in any other country.
U.S. deaths: at least 47,974. New York City has the greatest number of reported deaths in the U.S., with 15,074.
U.S. total patients recovered: 76,614
U.S. total people tested: 4,482,434
U.S. total people hospitalized: 121,739
The greatest number of reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is in New York, with 263,754 confirmed cases out of a total state population of 19.5 million. That is the most reported cases than in any other single region in the world. New Jersey is next, with 95,914 reported cases out of a total population of 8.88 million.
Latest reported deaths per state
Visit https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html for the latest numbers.
School closures
For a state-by-state interactive map of current school closures, please visit the Education Week website, where numbers are updated once daily.
There are 98,277 public schools and 34,576 private schools in the U.S., according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Those schools educate almost 50.8 million public school students and 5.8 million private school students.
The latest headlines
Over 4.4 million files for unemployment last week; total now 26 million+
Some 4,427,000 people in the U.S. applied for unemployment benefits in the week ending April 18. That brings to more than 26 million the total number of people who’ve applied for unemployment benefits in the last five weeks, according to the Department of Labor, as the COVID-19 pandemic keeps businesses shuttered, resulting in worker layoffs nationwide. The good news, such as it is, is that 810,000 fewer people applied for unemployment last week than did the week before, and the previous week’s unemployment figures were themselves revised down by about 8,000. Figures earlier this week from the Pew Research Center reveal 43% of U.S. adults say someone in their household has either lost their job or had to take a pay cut because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Fines more common as municipalities crack down on lockdown violators
If you’re a parent living in Cohasset, Massachusetts, you’d better make sure your kids observe social distancing rules. If not, be prepared to pay. WCVB Boston reports the town’s public health agent just sent a letter to residents declaring failure to comply with the state’s COVID-19 mandates – including a ban of public gatherings of more than ten people, which includes kids – will result in a fine of $300, per day. Massachusetts has the fourth-highest coronavirus infection rate of any state or province in the world and the third-highest in the U.S., with 42,944 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Harris County, Texas, is dropping the hammer even harder: KTRK Houston reports the county on Wednesday issued a mandatory mask order for 30 days beginning Monday. Violators will face a $1,000 fine. At a press conference announcing the order, Judge Lina Hidalgo declared, “If we get complacent, people will die. Those are the stakes.” Harris County accounts for nearly 25% of Texas’ confirmed 21,744 COVID-19 infections, KTRK reports.
Hawaiian locals bust tourists for breaking quarantine
If you’re gonna violate mandatory COVID-19 quarantine, it’s probably best you don’t brag about it on your social media. KITV Honolulu reports a tourist couple who arrived in Hawaii April 15 were recently arrested and charged with leaving their hotel room multiple times since their arrival. They were reported to police by an unidentified local who saw the couple’s multiple posts of their outings on Instagram and reported them to the hotel manager, who in turn called the police. And it’s apparently not an isolated incident – locals are keeping a keen eye out for visitors violating the rules. Said Waikiki resident Kealani Milling, whose immune-compromised son is particularly at risk for infection: “If you’re coming here as a visitor, respect the people and…please stay inside.”
Good news!
Massachusetts nurse prints photos of loved ones to show COVID-19 patients
As a registered nurse at Lowell General Hospital in Massachusetts, Jeanna Barbieri is working 12-hour shifts with COVID-19 patients fighting to stay alive – a struggle made more difficult because loved ones aren’t allowed to visit and support them. WCVB Boston reports Barbieri took it upon herself to purchase printer, which she uses to print photos that family members provide her, which she then takes to their sick loved ones, so they can be at least that little bit closer. Sunday, Barbieri says she was able to show 88-year-old coronavirus patient Ann Newell photos of all of her grandchildren – one day before Newell died of the disease. “That was an emotional moment for me,” Barbieri said. “I got into my car and let it all come out.”
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