U.S. coronavirus outbreak expected to worsen: official
Passengers of the Grand Princess cruise ship stepped onto land in Oakland, California, after floating off shore for days amid a coronavirus outbreak which found 21 people infected.
Workers in hazmat suits could be seen cleaning wheelchairs, as passengers were inspected in tents and then boarded buses.
Most of the 2400 passengers aboard the ship will be sent to U.S. military bases for quarantine.
Coronavirus cases are rising in the U.S… with Johns Hopkins University tallying over 800 confirmed cases, and at least 27 deaths.
The country’s top public health official - U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams - said the outbreak quote "is likely to get worse before it gets better."
In the New York City suburb of New Rochelle - the epicenter of the state’s coronavirus outbreak, the National Guard was called in.
Governor Andrew Cuomo:
(SOUNDBITE)(English) NEW YORK GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO, SAYING:
“March 12 from this Thursday - a two week period where facilities within that area, schools within that area, would be closed for two weeks. We’ll go in, we’ll clean the schools and access the situation. (flash) One mile is a fairly constrained area. It is a dramatic action but it is the largest cluster in the country and this is literally a matter of life and death.”
New York state, and others, have complained about a shortage of test kits for the virus... as made abundantly clear by New Jersey Public Health official Christopher Neuwirth.
New Jersey Public Health official Christopher Neuwirth.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW JERSEY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL CHRISTOPHER NEUWIRTH, SAYING:
"We've only received two test kits to date."
On Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence announced that private U.S. health insurers agreed to extend treatment coverage:
(SOUNDBITE) (English) VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE, SAYING:
“And I'm pleased to report, as you requested, Mr. President, that all the insurance companies here, either today or before today, have agreed to waive all co-pays on coronavirus testing and extend coverage for coronavirus treatment in all of their benefit plans. And at your direction, Medicare and Medicaid last week already made it clear to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries that coronavirus testing and treatment would be covered.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that's not good enough:
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE MINORITY LEADER, CHUCK SCHUMER, SAYING:
"First, we need widespread and free coronavirus testing. If you're worried that your doctor will charge you $200 for the test, or even if the test is free, but they'll charge you a fee to go into the hospital or go visit the doctor and you don't go and you're walking around spreading the virus, that hurts. And hurts badly."
Schumer said the U.S. is far behind in its testing for the virus… and that should be the Trump administration’s highest priority in its coronavirus fight.
