Just over four months after the United States confirmed its first known case of the novel coronavirus, the nation as surpassed a grim death toll of 100,000. The U.S. has more confirmed coronavirus deaths than any other nation in the world, and the total continues to climb. The coronavirus pandemic is now on track to become the deadliest public health emergency since the 1918 flu pandemic, which had killed an estimated 675,000 Americans during its two year duration.
At make matters more bleak, some statisticians and public health experts estimate that the total COVID-19 death toll in America, and around the world, is most likely higher due to many dying outside of hospitals and misidentified deaths due to lack of testing or other factors.
As a whole the number of new cases and deaths in the U.S. is dropping, but in certain areas the numbers are rising. California on Wednesday became the fourth state to confirm over 100,000 coronavirus cases, trailing only behind Illinois, New Jersey, and New York.
Total Global Cases: Over 5.78 Million
Total Deaths: Over 356,000
Total Recovered: Over 2.49 Million
'Lockdown Generation'
The United Nation's International Labour Organization (ILO) on Wednesday reported that more than one in every six young workers globally have stopped working during the pandemic, warnings that a potential long-term fallout from missed wages could lead to a "lockdown generation."
The report estimates that work hours equivalent to 305 million full-time jobs have been lost due to the pandemic-induced globally financial shutdown and public health related closures.
"They have been basically ejected from their jobs," ILO Director-General Guy Ryder stated, referring to those out of work. "There is danger of long-term exclusion. The scarring of young people who are excluding from the labor market early in their careers is well attested by the literature."
Ryder argued that nations need to conduct widespread COVID-19 testing and tracing programs to get their economic back in order to help this disproportionally impacted group of individuals.
Historic Stimulus
The European Union on Wednesday propose a 750 billion euro ($825 billion) stimulus fund to help member counties in the fallout from the coronavirus recession, the economic-bloc's deepest-ever. According to the Associated Press, the proposed fund, named Next Generation E.U., is made up of grants and will be tied to the common budget from the 27 member nations.
"Our unique model built over 70 years is being challenged like never before in our history," European Commision President Ursula von der Leyen stated to European Parliament in Brussels. "This is Europe's moment. Our willingness to act must live up to the challenges we are all facing."
Von der Leyen urged member nations to set aside their divisions, stated that is must be endorsed by every country.
Looking for New Treatment Options
France, Italy and Belgium followed the World Health Organizations's lead to halt the use of anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
According to Reuters, France's health ministry cancelled a nearly two month old decree that had allowed hospitals do use the drug for COVID-19. Italian health authorities concluding that the risks warranted a ban outside of clinical trials. Belgium's regulator noted that trials of the drug should also take potential risks into consideration.
The W.H.O. Director of Emergencies Dr. Mike Ryan stated on Wednesday" "there is no empirical evidence at this point that these drugs (hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine) work in this case either for treatment or for prophylaxis. We do not advise the use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19 outside of randomized control trials or under appropriate close clinical supervision subject to whatever national regulatory authorities have decided."
