Doctors test hospital staff with flu-like symptoms for coronavirus (COVID-19) in set-up tents to triage possible COVID-19 patients outside before they enter the main Emergency department area at St. Barnabas hospital in the Bronx on March 24, 2020 in New York City. (AFP photo)

With the World Health Organization saying on Tuesday (March 24) the United States has the potential to become the new epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, New York City�s mayor accepted the moniker during a news conference.

"I don�t want us to be the epicenter, but we are the epicenter of this crisis for this nation," New York mayor Bill de Blasio said.

De Blasio spoke from City Hall in lower Manhattan on the latest count. He confirmed a total of 14,776 infected, or a third of all the cases in the United States. A total of 131 have died in New York to date.

More than 42,000 people in the United States have contracted COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus, and at least 559 have died. In warning the country could become the global epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, the WHO cited a "very large acceleration" in infections.

Healthcare workers and local officials have warned that the U.S. healthcare delivery system could collapse as the rapid spread of the contagious virus raises the possibility of an inadequate number of intensive care beds and equipment to treat severely ill patients.

In New York, officials have appealed for ventilators, masks and other medical equipment as the number of coronavirus cases spiraled and critical items were in short supply. Officials in California, another hot spot, called for 50,000 additional hospital beds.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, in a Fox News interview, said he had spoken to Trump and appreciated the president�s efforts.

"And just a short time ago, I got the very good news that we got an announcement from the federal government that 4,000 more ventilators are on the way to New York state in the next 48 hours, and half of them will come to New York City. Two thousand more ventilators for New York City. And that�s great news," de Blasio said.

Earlier in the day, New York�s Governor, Andrew Cuomo, said New York needs "30,000" more to deal.

(Source: Reuters)

LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/14977

*	NAME
*	COMMENT
4 DIGITS BELOW
*

	Israel launches missile attack on outskirts of Damascus, killing Syrian civilians
	Ukraine beset by $40m fraud in arms procurement amid war with Russia
	US approves sale of F-16 jets to Turkey after Ankara ratifies Sweden�s NATO membership
	UNSC to meet to discuss ICJ ruling on Israeli genocide in Gaza
	Gaza�s major health facility collapses amid Israeli attacks: MSF
	Americans to redeploy nuclear weapons in UK amid fears of WW3
	Yemen directly hits US warship with ballistic missile
	Turkish lawmakers open debate over Sweden�s NATO membership
	Palestinian Islamic Jihad: Al-Maghazi operation proved defeat of Israeli regime in Gaza war
	Pakistan Army Kills Seven �Terrorists� Near Afghan Border