A priest in Mexico's best-known border city Tijuana is driven around town to bless parishioners who haven't been able to attend Mass for weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Tijuana priest rides around city blessing people from the back of a pickup truck

The top 3 airlines in the US have asked their flight attendants not to force passengers to wear a mask.

Covid-19: Mask not compulsory on US airlines?

Beaches in Los Angeles county which have been closed for more than 6 weeks during the pandemic have now been reopened activities.

COVID-19: Los Angeles county beaches reopen

President Trump's eldest daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner reportedly traveled from Washington DC to New Jersey earlier this month to celebrate the first night of Passover, despite federal guidelines advising against nonessential travel due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Ivanka Trump defies US govt's advisory: Travelled to New Jersey amid coronavirus pandemic

The President of the United States Donald Trump is still relying on his own expertise about the Coronavirus crisis. He is not only contradicting some real experts but may fire one of them. WION's Palki Sharma decodes the Trump-Fauci row.

Gravitas: Why does Trump want to fire Dr. Fauci? | Wuhan Coronavirus

This could be America's deadliest week. Coronavirus cases have crossed 4,00,000 in the United States. More than 14,000 people have died. Some experts say the worst is yet to come. WION's Palki Sharma tells you how the world's wealthiest country is coping with the crisis.

Gravitas:  America's deadliest week | Wuhan Coronavirus

The United States of America is grappling through the toughest week of pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19). The US ha recorded nearly 2,000 deaths for the third-day in a row due to this pandemic.

US having 2nd highest death toll due to pandemic COVID-19 across the globe

US records nearly 2,000 deaths for the third-day in a row due to pandemic COVID-19

The New York records deadliest day of pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) with 799 new deaths. The United States of America is grappling through the toughest week of pandemic COVID-19.

US: New York records deadliest day of pandemic COVID-19 with 799 new deaths

The United States, the world's most powerful country, has unfortunately become leaders of coronavirus infections as well with over 200,000 cases and 5,137 deaths. At such a time, the city of New Orleans, in the&nbsp;US state of Louisiana, is witnessing death rate about seven times more than that of New York City.

Officials said on Tuesday that New Orleans's death rate of local COVID-19 confirmed cases could reach 5 per cent, which is far more than the national average of more than two percent.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-outbreak-global-cases-cross-900000-death-toll-rises-to-47522-290148">Coronavirus outbreak: Global cases cross 900000; death toll rises to 47,522</a>

So why is the city witnessing such a crisis? Let's find out.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-does-not-trust-china-says-its-coronavirus-figures-are-on-the-light-side-290000">Trump does not trust China, says its coronavirus figures are on 'the light side'</a>

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that diabetes and heart disease increase the risk of coronavirus infections and New Orleans ranks high in both these conditions, more than the national average.&nbsp;

Doctors, experts and other officials also say the New Orleans' high levels of obesity and related diseases may make patients more vulnerable to the coronavirus.&nbsp;

"Obesity helps cause diabetes, which helps cause kidney issues, and we know that coronavirus attacks kidneys. And obesity is also linked to heart disease, heart disease is also linked to poverty," said Rebekah Gee, who until January was the Health Secretary for Louisiana and now is the head of Louisiana State University's healthcare services division.

About 97% of those who died of COVID-19 in Louisiana had a preexisting condition, as per the state's health department. Diabetes makes up for 40 per of the deaths, obesity 25 per cent, chronic kidney disease in 23% and cardiac problems 21 per cent.&nbsp;

A CDC report released for the first time this week show that 78% of coronavirus-affected patients in ICUs in the United States had an underlying health condition, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic lung disease.

However, the report included less than 6 per cent of the infections, still, Louisiana doctors said it was consistent with what they are observing and is in line with what Italy and China witnessed.&nbsp;

"I think it's a very good question whether or not just having that phenotype, those conditions, simply render you unable to control the viral replication and whether there's something in the immune response in those individuals that is either insufficient or even perhaps excessive, causing too much inflammation. We think that a lot of the organ dysfunction that we see in this COVID syndrome is the result of excessive systemic inflammation. We know that folks that are obese a lot of times have markers in their blood and a lot of times systemic inflammation," LSU Health New Orleans critical care doctor Kyle Happel said.

Official data shows that New Orleans ranks among worst in the US when it comes to diabetes, obesity and blood pressure with nearly 39 per cent with high blood pressure, 36% obesity and about 15% diabetes.

These rates are very high than the national median which is 32 per cent with high blood pressure, 31 per cent obesity and 11 per cent with diabetes.

(With Reuters inputs) 
&nbsp;

The United States, the world's most powerful country, has unfortunately become leaders of coronavirus infections as well with over 200,000 cases and 5,137 deaths.

The United States, the world's most powerful country, has unfortunately become leaders of coronavirus infections as well with over 200,000 cases and 5,137 deaths. At such a time, the city of New Orleans, in the US state of Louisiana, is witnessing death rate about seven times more than that of New York City. Officials said on Tuesday that New Orleans's death rate of local COVID-19 confirmed cases could reach 5 per cent, which is far more than the national average of more than two percent. Also read | Coronavirus outbreak: Global cases cross 900000; death toll rises to 47,522 So why is the city witnessing such a crisis? Let's find out. Also read | Trump does not trust China, says its coronavirus figures are on 'the light side' The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that diabetes and heart disease increase the risk of coronavirus infections and New Orleans ranks high in both these conditions, more than the national average. Doctors, experts and other officials also say the New Orleans' high levels of obesity and related diseases may make patients more vulnerable to the coronavirus. "Obesity helps cause diabetes, which helps cause kidney issues, and we know that coronavirus attacks kidneys. And obesity is also linked to heart disease, heart disease is also linked to poverty," said Rebekah Gee, who until January was the Health Secretary for Louisiana and now is the head of Louisiana State University's healthcare services division. About 97% of those who died of COVID-19 in Louisiana had a preexisting condition, as per the state's health department. Diabetes makes up for 40 per of the deaths, obesity 25 per cent, chronic kidney disease in 23% and cardiac problems 21 per cent. A CDC report released for the first time this week show that 78% of coronavirus-affected patients in ICUs in the United States had an underlying health condition, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic lung disease. However, the report included less than 6 per cent of the infections, still, Louisiana doctors said it was consistent with what they are observing and is in line with what Italy and China witnessed. "I think it's a very good question whether or not just having that phenotype, those conditions, simply render you unable to control the viral replication and whether there's something in the immune response in those individuals that is either insufficient or even perhaps excessive, causing too much inflammation. We think that a lot of the organ dysfunction that we see in this COVID syndrome is the result of excessive systemic inflammation. We know that folks that are obese a lot of times have markers in their blood and a lot of times systemic inflammation," LSU Health New Orleans critical care doctor Kyle Happel said. Official data shows that New Orleans ranks among worst in the US when it comes to diabetes, obesity and blood pressure with nearly 39 per cent with high blood pressure, 36% obesity and about 15% diabetes. These rates are very high than the national median which is 32 per cent with high blood pressure, 31 per cent obesity and 11 per cent with diabetes. (With Reuters inputs)

Why New Orleans coronavirus death rate is leaping? Diabetes, obesity a reason

A doctor and an IT professional were among the three Indian Americans who have tested positive for novel coronavirus in Houston in the United States this week and are in a critical condition.&nbsp;

The families of Rohan Bavadekar, an IT professional, and Lavanga Veluswamy, a doctor, made an urgent appeal for blood donation from anyone who has recently recovered from COVID-19.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/coronavirus-in-india-close-to-2000-case-50-deaths-says-health-ministry-290112">Coronavirus in India: Close to 2000 case; 50 deaths, says Health Ministry</a>

Rohan. 42, contracted the disease due to his recent travel history and his wife Manasi and three children have also tested positive for the deadly virus and are quarantined at their home.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-holds-video-conference-with-chief-ministers-over-coronavirus-290068">PM Modi holds video conference with chief ministers over coronavirus</a>

Manasi and Dr Veluswamy's wife, who herself is a physician, have urged for blood donation with group A or AB for their coronavirus-infected husbands.&nbsp;

The third Indian-American who is in the critical stage preferred to stay anonymous and is waiting for the plasma transfusion for the treatment at Memorial Hermann hospital here.

Doctors at the St Lukes and Memorial Hermann, said, that someone who has recovered from COVID-19 in the past two weeks and is now healthy would be the right match for the blood donation. They added that the hospitals are trying their best to find a plasma match.&nbsp;

Sewa International, a nonprofit humanitarian charity, is working with the affected families and sharing the potential donor information.&nbsp;

"Sewa International is collecting information of all potential donors and only the doctors can say if the donor matches or not after due testing and evaluation," Achlesh Amar, a volunteer of the group, said.&nbsp;

Houston Methodist Hospital is the first hospital in the US to experiment with convalescent serum therapy for COVID-19 treatment.

"Convalescent serum therapy could be a vital treatment route because unfortunately there is relatively little to offer many patients except supportive care, and the ongoing clinical trials are going to take a while," Dr. Eric Salazar, a physician-scientist with Methodist's Research Institute, said in a statement.&nbsp;

"We don't have that much time."

SEWA has appealed to the entire community through its 40-plus chapters in the US and through Facebook for the donation of plasma for the treatment.&nbsp;

(With PTI inputs) 
&nbsp;

A doctor and an IT professional were among the three Indian Americans who have tested positive for novel coronavirus in Houston in the United States this week and are in a critical condition.

A doctor and an IT professional were among the three Indian Americans who have tested positive for novel coronavirus in Houston in the United States this week and are in a critical condition. The families of Rohan Bavadekar, an IT professional, and Lavanga Veluswamy, a doctor, made an urgent appeal for blood donation from anyone who has recently recovered from COVID-19. Also read | Coronavirus in India: Close to 2000 case; 50 deaths, says Health Ministry Rohan. 42, contracted the disease due to his recent travel history and his wife Manasi and three children have also tested positive for the deadly virus and are quarantined at their home. Also read | PM Modi holds video conference with chief ministers over coronavirus Manasi and Dr Veluswamy's wife, who herself is a physician, have urged for blood donation with group A or AB for their coronavirus-infected husbands. The third Indian-American who is in the critical stage preferred to stay anonymous and is waiting for the plasma transfusion for the treatment at Memorial Hermann hospital here. Doctors at the St Lukes and Memorial Hermann, said, that someone who has recovered from COVID-19 in the past two weeks and is now healthy would be the right match for the blood donation. They added that the hospitals are trying their best to find a plasma match. Sewa International, a nonprofit humanitarian charity, is working with the affected families and sharing the potential donor information. "Sewa International is collecting information of all potential donors and only the doctors can say if the donor matches or not after due testing and evaluation," Achlesh Amar, a volunteer of the group, said. Houston Methodist Hospital is the first hospital in the US to experiment with convalescent serum therapy for COVID-19 treatment. "Convalescent serum therapy could be a vital treatment route because unfortunately there is relatively little to offer many patients except supportive care, and the ongoing clinical trials are going to take a while," Dr. Eric Salazar, a physician-scientist with Methodist's Research Institute, said in a statement. "We don't have that much time." SEWA has appealed to the entire community through its 40-plus chapters in the US and through Facebook for the donation of plasma for the treatment. (With PTI inputs)

US: Three Indian-Americans infected with coronavirus in critical condition

The whole country is following the public curfew today following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to voluntarily staying inside houses to check the spread of corona virus.

Deserted streets in India after self-imposed shutdown for 14 hrs amid Coronavirus outbreak

The number of deaths due to coronavirus in the United States jumped to hundred as President Donald Trump assured the people that they will win the fight against the coronavirus.

Death toll crosses 100 in US as Covid-19 spreads to all states