Coronavirus Cases Surge Past 1,000 in the US, Death Toll Reaches 28

By Staff, Agencies

The number of new coronavirus cases in the United States exceeded 1,000 as the virus swelled on both coasts of the country, with its top public health official warning that the outbreak is likely to get worse.

At least 28 people lost their lives in the United States so far and the number of those infected with the virus rose to 1,025 early Wednesday.

Almost three-quarters of US states have confirmed COVID-19. Washington State has been the hardest hit, where at least 24 people have died from the contagion.

Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders unexpectedly canceled election rallies due to concerns about the virus.

US health experts criticized US President Donald Trump’s administration for downplaying the epidemic and lagging behind in testing efforts.

Epidemiologists from Johns Hopkins University and Stanford University say faulty test kits and a diagnostic strategy that initially targeted too few people allowed the disease to spread beyond US authorities' ability to detect it and take root in communities across the country.