Sri&nbsp;Lanka's president on Monday demoted the&nbsp;health&nbsp;minister&nbsp;who publicly endorsed sorcery and magic potions to battle&nbsp;COVID-19, as coronavirus infections and deaths hit record highs.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office said Pavithra Wanniarachchi's&nbsp;health&nbsp;portfolio had been given to Media&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Keheliya Rambukwella who is also the government spokesman.

Wanniarachchi was in intensive care in January after contracting the virus despite publicly consuming and endorsing a "magic potion" against&nbsp;COVID-19 made by a sorcerer.

She also poured a pot of "blessed" water into a river in November after a self-styled god-man told her that it would end the pandemic in the island nation of 21 million people.

Sri&nbsp;Lanka's&nbsp;health&nbsp;ministry under Wanniarachchi came under intense criticism last week for understating coronavirus infections.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-kabul-descended-in-chaos-india-was-ready-for-unsc-meet-on-afghanistan-on-sunday-405889">Also read |&nbsp;As Kabul descended in chaos, India was ready for UNSC meet on Afghanistan on Sunday</a>

Despite the demotion, she will remain in the cabinet,&nbsp;the president gave her the less important transport ministry.

The number of daily virus deaths crossed 150 in the past week, overwhelming crematoriums.

Daily infections crossed 3,000, and with hospitals struggling to cope, even government&nbsp;health&nbsp;workers say the actual number of infections could be three times higher.

The government has so far rejected calls for a lockdown to contain the surge, but last week tightened restrictions.

Wedding and parties have been banned from Tuesday, while state ceremonies and public gatherings are also prohibited until September 1.

Shops, restaurants and officers will have to follow a night curfew from Monday.

In the cabinet reshuffle,&nbsp;Foreign Minister&nbsp;Dinesh Gunawardena and&nbsp;Education Minister&nbsp;Gamini Lakshman Peiris swapped their portfolios.

Sri Lanka's president on Monday demoted the health minister who publicly endorsed sorcery and magic potions to battle COVID-19, as coronavirus infections and deaths hit record highs.

Sri Lanka's president on Monday demoted the health minister who publicly endorsed sorcery and magic potions to battle COVID-19, as coronavirus infections and deaths hit record highs. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office said Pavithra Wanniarachchi's health portfolio had been given to Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella who is also the government spokesman. Wanniarachchi was in intensive care in January after contracting the virus despite publicly consuming and endorsing a "magic potion" against COVID-19 made by a sorcerer. She also poured a pot of "blessed" water into a river in November after a self-styled god-man told her that it would end the pandemic in the island nation of 21 million people. Sri Lanka's health ministry under Wanniarachchi came under intense criticism last week for understating coronavirus infections. Also read | As Kabul descended in chaos, India was ready for UNSC meet on Afghanistan on Sunday Despite the demotion, she will remain in the cabinet, the president gave her the less important transport ministry. The number of daily virus deaths crossed 150 in the past week, overwhelming crematoriums. Daily infections crossed 3,000, and with hospitals struggling to cope, even government health workers say the actual number of infections could be three times higher. The government has so far rejected calls for a lockdown to contain the surge, but last week tightened restrictions. Wedding and parties have been banned from Tuesday, while state ceremonies and public gatherings are also prohibited until September 1. Shops, restaurants and officers will have to follow a night curfew from Monday. In the cabinet reshuffle, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Education Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris swapped their portfolios.

Sri Lanka axes health minister over COVID-19 misinformation as outbreak grows

As per new data published by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, about three-fourths of people infected in a Massachusetts COVID-19 outbreak were fully vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus with four of them ending up in the hospital.

The new data reveals that fully vaccinated people who get infected carry as much of the virus in their noses as unvaccinated people. Also, they could spread it to other individuals.

CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky said in a statement said, "This finding is concerning and was a pivotal discovery leading to CDC’s updated mask recommendation".&nbsp;

She further added, "The masking recommendation was updated to ensure the vaccinated public would not unknowingly transmit virus to others, including their unvaccinated or immunocompromised loved ones.”

As per new data published by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, about three-fourths of people infected in a Massachusetts COVID-19 outbreak were fully vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus with four of them ending up in the hospital.

As per new data published by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, about three-fourths of people infected in a Massachusetts COVID-19 outbreak were fully vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus with four of them ending up in the hospital. The new data reveals that fully vaccinated people who get infected carry as much of the virus in their noses as unvaccinated people. Also, they could spread it to other individuals. CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky said in a statement said, "This finding is concerning and was a pivotal discovery leading to CDC’s updated mask recommendation". She further added, "The masking recommendation was updated to ensure the vaccinated public would not unknowingly transmit virus to others, including their unvaccinated or immunocompromised loved ones.”

CDC shows three-fourths of people infected in a Massachusetts COVID-19 outbreak were fully vaccinated

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday reported that there are outbreaks of a drug-resistant "superbug" fungus spread among patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities in Texas and Washington, D.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday reported that there are outbreaks of a drug-resistant "superbug" fungus spread among patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities in Texas and Washington, D.C. Termed as Candida auris, the fungus preys on weak immune systems. As per the CDC, evidence suggests these cases involved person-to-person transmission, which would be a first for the US. However, the cluster in the two cities is completely unrelated to each other. The 30-day mortality in both outbreaks combined was 30 per cent, although other health conditions may also have played a role. Also read | India records more than 45,000 cases of 'black fungus' A total of 101 cases of fungus have been identified in Washington, D.C., from January to April 2021. Out of which, three were isolated as being resistant to all three major classes of anti-fungal medications. In Texas, there have been 22 cases, with two being resistant to all three antif-ungal medications, and five resistant to two of the medications. CDC's Dr. Meghan Lyman, an author of the report, was quoted by CBS saying, "This is really the first time we've started seeing clustering of resistance".

Outbreaks of a drug-resistant superbug fungus spread in two US cities

A new research has revealed that coronavirus may have swept across East Asia more than 20,000 years ago, leaving traces in the DNA of people in modern China, Japan and Vietnam.

A new research has revealed that coronavirus may have swept across East Asia more than 20,000 years ago, leaving traces in the DNA of people in modern China, Japan and Vietnam. The research found evidence of genetic adaptation to the coronavirus family of viruses in 42 genes in modern populations in the above regions. The coronavirus family also consists of related MERS and SARS viruses. Both of these have caused significant deadly outbreaks in the past 20 years. Also Read | UK's former finance minister Javid appointed as health minister after Matt Hancock quits In few decades, geneticists have devised powerful tools to uncover genetic traces of historical adaptation events that remain present within the genomes of people living today. These tools are now helping scientists to discover genes that mark adaptations for high-altitude living and the adult consumption of milk. As a part of the research, the team applied cutting-edge computational analyses to the genomes of more than 2,500 people from 26 populations around the world. The researchers then signatures of adaptation in 42 different human genes that encode VIPs. These VIP signals were present in only five populations. All of them came from East Asia. This is how the researchers concluded that the ancestors of modern East Asians were initially exposed to coronaviruses around 25,000 years ago. After further tests, it was revealed that the 42 VIPs are primarily expressed in the lungs. This is also the tissue most affected by COVID-19 symptoms. The researchers also confirmed that these VIPs interact directly with the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the current pandemic.

Coronavirus outbreak may have swept east Asia 20,000 years ago, reveals study

China reported 30 new coronavirus cases on the mainland for June 5, up from 24 cases a day earlier, the country's health authority said in a statement on Sunday. 
 
Of the new patients, 23 were imported, the National Health Commission said, and the seven local cases were all in southern Guangdong province. There were no new deaths. 
 
China also reported 18 new asymptomatic infections, compared with 28 a day earlier. China does not classify symptomless infections as confirmed cases. 
 
As of June 5, China had a total of 91,248 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Its death toll stood unchanged at 4,636. 
 
Meanwhile, top US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has called on China to release the medical records of nine people whose ailments might provide vital clues into whether COVID-19 first emerged as the result of a lab leak, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

"I would like to see the medical records of the three people, who are reported to have got sick in 2019. Did they really get sick, and if so, what did they get sick with?" the report quoted Fauci as saying.

The origin of the virus is hotly contested, with US intelligence agencies still examining reports that researchers at a Chinese virology laboratory in Wuhan were seriously ill in 2019 a month before the first COVID-19 cases were reported.

However, Chinese scientists and officials have consistently rejected the lab leak hypothesis, saying the virus could have been circulating in other regions before it hit Wuhan and might have even entered China through imported frozen food shipments or wildlife trading.

Financial Times reported that Fauci continues to believe the virus was first transmitted to humans through animals, pointing out that even if the lab researchers did have COVID-19, they could have contracted the disease from the wider population.

(With inputs from agencies)

China reported 30 new coronavirus cases on the mainland for June 5, up from 24 cases a day earlier, the country's health authority said in a statement on Sunday.

China reported 30 new coronavirus cases on the mainland for June 5, up from 24 cases a day earlier, the country's health authority said in a statement on Sunday. Of the new patients, 23 were imported, the National Health Commission said, and the seven local cases were all in southern Guangdong province. There were no new deaths. China also reported 18 new asymptomatic infections, compared with 28 a day earlier. China does not classify symptomless infections as confirmed cases. As of June 5, China had a total of 91,248 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Its death toll stood unchanged at 4,636. Meanwhile, top US infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci has called on China to release the medical records of nine people whose ailments might provide vital clues into whether COVID-19 first emerged as the result of a lab leak, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. "I would like to see the medical records of the three people, who are reported to have got sick in 2019. Did they really get sick, and if so, what did they get sick with?" the report quoted Fauci as saying. The origin of the virus is hotly contested, with US intelligence agencies still examining reports that researchers at a Chinese virology laboratory in Wuhan were seriously ill in 2019 a month before the first COVID-19 cases were reported. However, Chinese scientists and officials have consistently rejected the lab leak hypothesis, saying the virus could have been circulating in other regions before it hit Wuhan and might have even entered China through imported frozen food shipments or wildlife trading. Financial Times reported that Fauci continues to believe the virus was first transmitted to humans through animals, pointing out that even if the lab researchers did have COVID-19, they could have contracted the disease from the wider population. (With inputs from agencies)

China reports 30 new coronavirus cases on June 5, up from previous day

The Wuhan virus came from a lab. This theory is as old as the pandemic. And after 17 months we still don't know if it's true or not. But the lab leak theory refuses to die. More arguments backing this claim keep coming up. And each one is better than the other.&nbsp;

This time, a probe by the Republicans in America and a story from a prominent science writer are raising the same question: Is China trying to hide something about the Wuhan lab?

Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has had no doubt that the virus escaped from a lab in Wuhan.

When Pompeo was in charge of the state department, his office released a fact sheet that said researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology had become ill in the autumn of 2019.

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&nbsp;

This was well before China reported its first case. And all these months and investigations later, Pompeo still believes that a leak did happen.

This claim is not new. But what about the evidence? Can anyone prove a lab leak?

Republican lawmakers say there is circumstantial proof&nbsp;that merits a full and credible investigation. They have released a report asking the US government to put more pressure on China for a probe.

And it's not just politicians. Many scientists and researchers agree that the lab theory must be investigated.&nbsp;

Nicholas Wade, a prominent science writer, recently authored a detailed assessment for the bulletin of atomic sciences. The piece explores every angle, and assesses all possibilities.

Wade believes that neither a natural outbreak, nor the lab theory should be ruled out. But going by the evidence that's available, a lab leak looks much more plausible.

Wade lists several events that put a question mark on the role of the Wuhan lab.

In his piece, he shares how researchers at the Wuhan lab collected hundreds of bat coronaviruses and how they were doing gain-of-function experiments.

This is research designed to make coronaviruses infect human cells and humanised mice. Here is where the role of Peter Daszak comes into question.

Daszak is the president of EcoHealth Alliance, an American organisation that funded research into coronaviruses at the Wuhan lab in China.

In the early days of this pandemic, 27 prominent public health scientists had signed a letter. They rejected theories that suggested the Wuhan virus was not natural in its origin.

In his piece, Nicolas Wade claims Daszak had organised and drafted this letter. And while doing so, he did not disclose his own links to the Wuhan lab. Daszak claims the charges against him are disingenuous and wildly erroneous. His organisation the EcoHealth Alliance received funding from America's National Institute of Health. The same body that is headed by Dr Anthony Fauci.

Dr Fauci himself has recently faced questions over the funding that America gave to the Wuhan lab. While EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan lab did get American money, Fauci maintains that the funding wasn't for any gain of function research.

In recent weeks, The fresh claims and new connections have caught the eye of more experts. 18 scientists have now written an open letter. Demanding a new probe into the origins of the Wuhan virus. The doubts can only be settled if China gives unfettered access to the Wuhan lab.

And that's wishful thinking.

The Wuhan virus came from a lab. This theory is as old as the pandemic. And after 17 months we still don't know if it's true or not. But the lab leak theory refuses to die.

The Wuhan virus came from a lab. This theory is as old as the pandemic. And after 17 months we still don't know if it's true or not. But the lab leak theory refuses to die. More arguments backing this claim keep coming up. And each one is better than the other. This time, a probe by the Republicans in America and a story from a prominent science writer are raising the same question: Is China trying to hide something about the Wuhan lab? Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has had no doubt that the virus escaped from a lab in Wuhan. When Pompeo was in charge of the state department, his office released a fact sheet that said researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology had become ill in the autumn of 2019. × This was well before China reported its first case. And all these months and investigations later, Pompeo still believes that a leak did happen. This claim is not new. But what about the evidence? Can anyone prove a lab leak? Republican lawmakers say there is circumstantial proof that merits a full and credible investigation. They have released a report asking the US government to put more pressure on China for a probe. And it's not just politicians. Many scientists and researchers agree that the lab theory must be investigated. Nicholas Wade, a prominent science writer, recently authored a detailed assessment for the bulletin of atomic sciences. The piece explores every angle, and assesses all possibilities. Wade believes that neither a natural outbreak, nor the lab theory should be ruled out. But going by the evidence that's available, a lab leak looks much more plausible. Wade lists several events that put a question mark on the role of the Wuhan lab. In his piece, he shares how researchers at the Wuhan lab collected hundreds of bat coronaviruses and how they were doing gain-of-function experiments. This is research designed to make coronaviruses infect human cells and humanised mice. Here is where the role of Peter Daszak comes into question. Daszak is the president of EcoHealth Alliance, an American organisation that funded research into coronaviruses at the Wuhan lab in China. In the early days of this pandemic, 27 prominent public health scientists had signed a letter. They rejected theories that suggested the Wuhan virus was not natural in its origin. In his piece, Nicolas Wade claims Daszak had organised and drafted this letter. And while doing so, he did not disclose his own links to the Wuhan lab. Daszak claims the charges against him are disingenuous and wildly erroneous. His organisation the EcoHealth Alliance received funding from America's National Institute of Health. The same body that is headed by Dr Anthony Fauci. Dr Fauci himself has recently faced questions over the funding that America gave to the Wuhan lab. While EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan lab did get American money, Fauci maintains that the funding wasn't for any gain of function research. In recent weeks, The fresh claims and new connections have caught the eye of more experts. 18 scientists have now written an open letter. Demanding a new probe into the origins of the Wuhan virus. The doubts can only be settled if China gives unfettered access to the Wuhan lab. And that's wishful thinking.

Origin of Wuhan virus needs to be found

Some 77,000 chickens will be culled in the Japanese prefecture of Tochigi due to a new outbreak of highly pathogenic bird flu, Japanese media reported on Saturday.&nbsp;

According to the news, a quarantine zone was established within a three-kilometre (1.9 miles) radius from the affected farm and a ban on the export of eggs and poultry products was introduced within a 10-kilometre range.&nbsp;

In January, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that the new outbreak of avian influenza, which started in November, has broken all records in terms of the number of chickens culled in one season. &nbsp;

Seventeen out of Japan's 47 prefectures were affected by the outbreak. Bird flu outbreaks have also been detected in the prefectures of Chiba, Kagawa, Fukuoka, Hyogo, Miyazaki, Hiroshima, Nara, Oita, Wakayama, Okayama, Shiga, Kochi, Tokushima, Gifu, Kagoshima, Toyama and Ibaraki. &nbsp;

According to the Ministry for Agriculture, some 9.7 million domestic birds have already been exterminated to prevent the spread of the disease. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Some 77,000 chickens will be culled in the Japanese prefecture of Tochigi due to a new outbreak of highly pathogenic bird flu, Japanese media reported on Saturday.

Some 77,000 chickens will be culled in the Japanese prefecture of Tochigi due to a new outbreak of highly pathogenic bird flu, Japanese media reported on Saturday. According to the news, a quarantine zone was established within a three-kilometre (1.9 miles) radius from the affected farm and a ban on the export of eggs and poultry products was introduced within a 10-kilometre range. In January, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that the new outbreak of avian influenza, which started in November, has broken all records in terms of the number of chickens culled in one season. Seventeen out of Japan's 47 prefectures were affected by the outbreak. Bird flu outbreaks have also been detected in the prefectures of Chiba, Kagawa, Fukuoka, Hyogo, Miyazaki, Hiroshima, Nara, Oita, Wakayama, Okayama, Shiga, Kochi, Tokushima, Gifu, Kagoshima, Toyama and Ibaraki. According to the Ministry for Agriculture, some 9.7 million domestic birds have already been exterminated to prevent the spread of the disease. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan to cull 77,000 chickens over new bird flu outbreak in Tochigi 

Iran has requested&nbsp;India to provide&nbsp;COVID-19 vaccines to the country. Local media in Iran on Wednesday reported that authorities in the country have given approval for use of AstraZeneca-oxford and Bharat Biotech vaccines. Now, Iran joins over 20 countries to request India for vaccines.&nbsp;

India has so far supplied over 229.7 lakh doses of covid vaccines to the global community. Of these over 64 lakh doses have been supplied as grants while over 165 lakh doses have been supplied on a commercial basis.

Last week in response to a question, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "We will continue to take forward the global vaccine supply initiative and cover more countries in a phased manner."

In West Asia, India has already supplied vaccines to Bahrain and Oman as a gift with 1 lakh doses, and Egypt (50000), Kuwait (2 Lakhs), and UAE (2 Lakhs) on a commercial basis.&nbsp;

In fact, India has gifted vaccines to its entire neighbourhood. It has given vaccines to Bangladesh (20 Lakhs), Myanmar (17 Lakhs), Nepal (10 Lakhs), Bhutan (1.5 Lakhs), Maldives (1 Lakh), Mauritius (1 Lakh), Seychelles (50000),Sri Lanka ( 5 Lakhs), Afghanistan (5 Lakhs).&nbsp;

Amid the covid pandemic, India reaffirmed its position as the pharma capital of the world by sending medicines to 150 countries.

Iran has requested India to provide COVID-19 vaccines to the country. Local media in Iran on Wednesday reported that authorities in the country have given approval for use of AstraZeneca-oxford and Bharat Biotech vaccines.

Iran has requested India to provide COVID-19 vaccines to the country. Local media in Iran on Wednesday reported that authorities in the country have given approval for use of AstraZeneca-oxford and Bharat Biotech vaccines. Now, Iran joins over 20 countries to request India for vaccines. India has so far supplied over 229.7 lakh doses of covid vaccines to the global community. Of these over 64 lakh doses have been supplied as grants while over 165 lakh doses have been supplied on a commercial basis. Last week in response to a question, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "We will continue to take forward the global vaccine supply initiative and cover more countries in a phased manner." In West Asia, India has already supplied vaccines to Bahrain and Oman as a gift with 1 lakh doses, and Egypt (50000), Kuwait (2 Lakhs), and UAE (2 Lakhs) on a commercial basis. In fact, India has gifted vaccines to its entire neighbourhood. It has given vaccines to Bangladesh (20 Lakhs), Myanmar (17 Lakhs), Nepal (10 Lakhs), Bhutan (1.5 Lakhs), Maldives (1 Lakh), Mauritius (1 Lakh), Seychelles (50000),Sri Lanka ( 5 Lakhs), Afghanistan (5 Lakhs). Amid the covid pandemic, India reaffirmed its position as the pharma capital of the world by sending medicines to 150 countries.

Iran requests India to provide COVID-19 vaccines

UN has announced that it will provide 15 million dollars to help Guinea and Congo combat new outbreaks of Ebola. UN Spokesperson said this will help both the countries respond to the epidemic. This is the first time, an outbreak has been recorded in Guinea since an outbreak that ended in 2016. Guinea records 3 deaths and 4 fresh cases while Congo also recorded 4 fresh cases of Ebola.

UN releases $15 million to fight Ebola

While the world struggles to contain the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, scientists are warning of another one which is likely to come from a yeast-like fungus.

Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were cited by The Sun as saying that the next pandemic could be caused by "Candida Auris", a fungus which resembles the Black Plague. 
 
They referred to CA as the "perfect pathogen" for a much serious pandemic. The CDC claimed that if the fungus permeates one's bloodstream, it will most certainly become fatal. If it enters the body through catheters or other tube-based equipment in hospitals, it would be even more fatal.

Also read:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/lsd-allows-brain-to-trespass-anatomical-rules-new-study-finds-360681" hreflang="en">LSD allows brain to trespass anatomical rules, new study finds</a> 
 
The fungus was initially identified in 2009, and remains largely triumphant in the face of antifungal drugs.

An epidemiologist from Imperial College, London - Johanna Rhodes said that the fungus can survive on surfaces for long periods. "One of the things that make Candida Auris so scary is the fact it can linger on inanimate surfaces for long periods and withstand whatever you throw at it," Rhodes told The Sun.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-decode-how-coronavirus-damages-lung-cells-within-hours-360434" hreflang="en">Scientists decode how coronavirus damages lung cells within hours</a>

Rhodes was one of the scientists involved in containing a fungus outbreak in the UK in 2016. The fungus was compared to the Black Plague only after a CDC doctor found that the fungal makeup resembled substances that are found in lagoons, and other areas brimming with bacteria.

"It is a creature from the black lagoon. It bubbled up and now it is everywhere," The Sun quoted CDC's Dr Tom Chiller as saying.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/phases-of-moon-dictate-our-sleep-patterns-study-359785" hreflang="en">Phases of moon dictate our sleep patterns: Study</a> 
 
After COVID-19 emerged and brought to light the loopholes in global healthcare structures, scientists warned that many such pandemics could pop up in the coming years. Many have attributed it to human activity and the depletion of natural resources, with climate change also emerging as an important variable.

Now, scientists are warning global healthcare professionals to buckle up, and governments to invest more in healthcare and disease prevention to wade off potential pandemics, many of which could be more fatal than COVID-19.

While the world struggles to contain the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, scientists are warning of another one which is likely to come from a yeast-like fungus. Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were cited by The Sun as saying that the next pandemic could be caused by "Candida Auris", a fungus which resembles the Black Plague.

While the world struggles to contain the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, scientists are warning of another one which is likely to come from a yeast-like fungus. Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were cited by The Sun as saying that the next pandemic could be caused by "Candida Auris", a fungus which resembles the Black Plague. They referred to CA as the "perfect pathogen" for a much serious pandemic. The CDC claimed that if the fungus permeates one's bloodstream, it will most certainly become fatal. If it enters the body through catheters or other tube-based equipment in hospitals, it would be even more fatal. Also read: LSD allows brain to trespass anatomical rules, new study finds The fungus was initially identified in 2009, and remains largely triumphant in the face of antifungal drugs. An epidemiologist from Imperial College, London - Johanna Rhodes said that the fungus can survive on surfaces for long periods. "One of the things that make Candida Auris so scary is the fact it can linger on inanimate surfaces for long periods and withstand whatever you throw at it," Rhodes told The Sun. Also read: Scientists decode how coronavirus damages lung cells within hours Rhodes was one of the scientists involved in containing a fungus outbreak in the UK in 2016. The fungus was compared to the Black Plague only after a CDC doctor found that the fungal makeup resembled substances that are found in lagoons, and other areas brimming with bacteria. "It is a creature from the black lagoon. It bubbled up and now it is everywhere," The Sun quoted CDC's Dr Tom Chiller as saying. Also read: Phases of moon dictate our sleep patterns: Study After COVID-19 emerged and brought to light the loopholes in global healthcare structures, scientists warned that many such pandemics could pop up in the coming years. Many have attributed it to human activity and the depletion of natural resources, with climate change also emerging as an important variable. Now, scientists are warning global healthcare professionals to buckle up, and governments to invest more in healthcare and disease prevention to wade off potential pandemics, many of which could be more fatal than COVID-19.

Deadly fungus could cause a pandemic more fatal than COVID-19, scientists warn

South Korea which was once haled in successfully containing the coronavirus outbreak, overtime the reality has changed. On Tuesday south Korea has recorded its second highest spike in coronavirus infections. Seoul becomes the worst COVID-19 affected region.

South Korea battles its third COVID-19 surge, Moon Jae-in under fire for vaccine strategy

Land degradation, wildlife exploitation, intensive farming and climate change are driving the rise in diseases that, like the coronavirus, are passed from animals to humans,&nbsp;United&nbsp;Nations&nbsp;experts said on Monday.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) jointly identified seven trends responsible for such diseases, known as zoonotic, calling on governments to take steps to stop future pandemics.

These are: rising demand for animal protein, extraction of natural resources and urbanization, intensive and unsustainable farming, exploitation of wildlife, increased travel and transportation, food supply changes and climate change, it said.

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"The science is clear that if we keep exploiting wildlife and destroying our ecosystems, then we can expect to see a steady stream of these diseases jumping from animals to humans in the years ahead," said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen.

"Pandemics are devastating to our lives and our economies, and as we have seen over the past months, it is the poorest and the most vulnerable who suffer the most.

"To prevent future outbreaks, we must become much more deliberate about protecting our natural environment."

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About 60 per cent&nbsp;of known infectious diseases in humans and 75 per cent&nbsp;of all emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, she said, largely due to the increased interaction between humans, animals and the environment.

The new coronavirus, which is most likely to have originated in bats, has infected more than 11 million people and killed over half a million people globally, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

But it is just one in a growing number of diseases – including Ebola, MERS, West Nile fever, Zika, SARS and Rift Valley fever – that have jumped from animal hosts into the human population in recent years, said the report.

Around two million people, mostly in developing&nbsp;nations, die from neglected zoonotic diseases every year. These outbreaks not only cause severe illness and deaths, but also result in major economic losses for some of the world's poorest.

In the last two decades alone, zoonotic diseases have caused economic losses of more than $100 billion. This does not include the cost of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is expected to reach $9 trillion over the next few years, said the report.

Most efforts to control zoonotic diseases have been reactive rather than proactive, say experts. They want governments to invest in public health, farm sustainability, end over-exploitation of wildlife and reduce climate change.

Africa - home to a large portion of the world’s remaining intact rainforests as well as fast-growing human population - is at high risk of the increased emergence of zoonotic diseases - but could also provide solutions, said experts.

"The situation on the continent today is ripe for intensifying existing zoonotic diseases and facilitating the emergence and spread of new ones," said ILRI Director General Jimmy Smith.

"But with their experiences with Ebola and other emerging diseases, African countries are demonstrating proactive ways to manage disease outbreaks."

He said some African&nbsp;nations&nbsp;had adopted a "One Health" approach - uniting public health, veterinary and environmental expertise which can help to identify and treat outbreaks in animals before they pass to humans.

The experts urged governments to provide incentives for sustainable land use and animal husbandry and to develop strategies for producing food that do not rely on the destruction of habitats and biodiversity.

Monday was&nbsp;World Zoonoses Day, which commemorates the work of French biologist Louis Pasteur, who successfully administered the first vaccine against rabies, a zoonotic disease, on July 6 1885.

Land degradation, wildlife exploitation, intensive farming and climate change are driving the rise in diseases that, like the coronavirus, are passed from animals to humans, United Nations experts said on Monday.

Land degradation, wildlife exploitation, intensive farming and climate change are driving the rise in diseases that, like the coronavirus, are passed from animals to humans, United Nations experts said on Monday. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) jointly identified seven trends responsible for such diseases, known as zoonotic, calling on governments to take steps to stop future pandemics. These are: rising demand for animal protein, extraction of natural resources and urbanization, intensive and unsustainable farming, exploitation of wildlife, increased travel and transportation, food supply changes and climate change, it said. In pics: 7 killer viruses that emerged in China and ravaged the world "The science is clear that if we keep exploiting wildlife and destroying our ecosystems, then we can expect to see a steady stream of these diseases jumping from animals to humans in the years ahead," said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. "Pandemics are devastating to our lives and our economies, and as we have seen over the past months, it is the poorest and the most vulnerable who suffer the most. "To prevent future outbreaks, we must become much more deliberate about protecting our natural environment." Also read: Mediterranean marine life flourished during lockdown: Italian coastguard About 60 per cent of known infectious diseases in humans and 75 per cent of all emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, she said, largely due to the increased interaction between humans, animals and the environment. The new coronavirus, which is most likely to have originated in bats, has infected more than 11 million people and killed over half a million people globally, according to the Johns Hopkins University. But it is just one in a growing number of diseases – including Ebola, MERS, West Nile fever, Zika, SARS and Rift Valley fever – that have jumped from animal hosts into the human population in recent years, said the report. Around two million people, mostly in developing nations, die from neglected zoonotic diseases every year. These outbreaks not only cause severe illness and deaths, but also result in major economic losses for some of the world's poorest. In the last two decades alone, zoonotic diseases have caused economic losses of more than $100 billion. This does not include the cost of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is expected to reach $9 trillion over the next few years, said the report. Most efforts to control zoonotic diseases have been reactive rather than proactive, say experts. They want governments to invest in public health, farm sustainability, end over-exploitation of wildlife and reduce climate change. Africa - home to a large portion of the world’s remaining intact rainforests as well as fast-growing human population - is at high risk of the increased emergence of zoonotic diseases - but could also provide solutions, said experts. "The situation on the continent today is ripe for intensifying existing zoonotic diseases and facilitating the emergence and spread of new ones," said ILRI Director General Jimmy Smith. "But with their experiences with Ebola and other emerging diseases, African countries are demonstrating proactive ways to manage disease outbreaks." He said some African nations had adopted a "One Health" approach - uniting public health, veterinary and environmental expertise which can help to identify and treat outbreaks in animals before they pass to humans. The experts urged governments to provide incentives for sustainable land use and animal husbandry and to develop strategies for producing food that do not rely on the destruction of habitats and biodiversity. Monday was World Zoonoses Day, which commemorates the work of French biologist Louis Pasteur, who successfully administered the first vaccine against rabies, a zoonotic disease, on July 6 1885.

Curb climate change, protect environment to prevent more outbreaks: United Nations

7 killer viruses that emerged in China and ravaged the world

Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which continues to decimate economies and kill scores of population across the globe, a new kind of medical storm is brewing in a Central African country - Democratic Republic of Congo.

A new outbreak of Ebola was reported in the country’s northwestern areas, news agency AFP reported. The country is currently dealing with the coronavirus outbreak in the eastern parts. 
 
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/in-the-shadow-of-ebola-and-covid-19-measles-rips-through-congo-288051" hreflang="en">In the shadow of Ebola and Covid-19, measles rips through Congo</a>

This resurgence has taken the lives of four people in the city of Mbandaka, the Health Minister Eteni Longondo said in a press conference.

"The National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) has confirmed to me that samples from Mbandaka tested positive for Ebola... We will send them the vaccine and medicine very quickly" Longondo said.

<h6><img alt="pp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e75563b2-561a-4a9f-a53d-6d8fe188a0d0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-4_4.jpg" /> 
A girl is getting inoculated with an Ebola vaccine on November 22, 2019 in Goma | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

Mbandaka is the capital of Congo’s Equateur province, which serves as a transport hub alongside the Congo river and houses over a million people.&nbsp;Ebola had hit the same province in the summer months of May and July in 2018, which claimed the lives of 33 people.

Since surfacing, the Ebola epidemic has killed 2,280 people in the country’s eastern region. The government was planning to announce the country Ebola free on June 25, but with new cases resurfacing, the country has to continue fighting it.&nbsp;A similar situation had&nbsp;come up in April this year when the country was three days away from declaring itself free of Ebola.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/coronavirus-much-much-worse-says-peter-piot-ebola-discoverer-286205" hreflang="en">Coronavirus much, much worse, says Peter Piot, Ebola discoverer</a>

"This is a province that has already experienced the disease. They know how to respond. They started the response at the local level yesterday (Sunday)," Longondo said.

If no cases are reported for 42 days in a row, the country would be able to declare itself free of ebola.

This marks the eleventh outbreak in the country since 1976.

Alongside ebola, the country is battling the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed over 72 and infected over 3,000 so far.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP)

Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which continues to decimate economies and kill scores of population across the globe, a new kind of medical storm is brewing in a Central African country - Democratic Republic of Congo.

Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which continues to decimate economies and kill scores of population across the globe, a new kind of medical storm is brewing in a Central African country - Democratic Republic of Congo. A new outbreak of Ebola was reported in the country’s northwestern areas, news agency AFP reported. The country is currently dealing with the coronavirus outbreak in the eastern parts. Also read: In the shadow of Ebola and Covid-19, measles rips through Congo This resurgence has taken the lives of four people in the city of Mbandaka, the Health Minister Eteni Longondo said in a press conference. "The National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) has confirmed to me that samples from Mbandaka tested positive for Ebola... We will send them the vaccine and medicine very quickly" Longondo said. A girl is getting inoculated with an Ebola vaccine on November 22, 2019 in Goma | AFP Mbandaka is the capital of Congo’s Equateur province, which serves as a transport hub alongside the Congo river and houses over a million people. Ebola had hit the same province in the summer months of May and July in 2018, which claimed the lives of 33 people. Since surfacing, the Ebola epidemic has killed 2,280 people in the country’s eastern region. The government was planning to announce the country Ebola free on June 25, but with new cases resurfacing, the country has to continue fighting it. A similar situation had come up in April this year when the country was three days away from declaring itself free of Ebola. Also read: Coronavirus much, much worse, says Peter Piot, Ebola discoverer "This is a province that has already experienced the disease. They know how to respond. They started the response at the local level yesterday (Sunday)," Longondo said. If no cases are reported for 42 days in a row, the country would be able to declare itself free of ebola. This marks the eleventh outbreak in the country since 1976. Alongside ebola, the country is battling the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed over 72 and infected over 3,000 so far. (With inputs from AFP)

Congo reports fresh Ebola outbreak three weeks before plans to proclaim the country disease-free

A neighbourhood in Indonesia's central Java province has deployed local 'ghosts' to patrol the streets and scare people into staying home in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"Ghost" volunteers scare Indonesians into staying home

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world into submission: from the biggest economy&nbsp;to the smallest - everything is now at a standstill!

When the first case was reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, nobody expected it to infect the whole world.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/coronavirus-spread-china-must-allow-global-probe-to-ascertain-origin-of-covid-19-291113" hreflang="en">Coronavirus spread: China must allow global probe to ascertain origin of COVID-19</a>

But one key ingredient of every pandemic was missed: early mitigation strategies. It was only in the last 30 days that countries scrambled to shut their own countries from the outside world.

Regardless, multiple theories have emerged amid the pandemic. Did the Chinese manufacture it? Did the US send it to China? Is it a Russian virus? Is North Korea behind it? Such discourses rooted in hyper-nationalism barely find any validation in the scientific community.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/around-3-lakh-coronavirus-patients-recovered-worldwide-326-cured-in-india-291110" hreflang="en">Around 3 lakh coronavirus patients recovered worldwide; 326 cured in India</a>

As the blame shifted from China to its wet markets that sell exotic animals, there still seems to be clarity on where it emerged from.

However, scientists are hard at work to find its origin. It is still widely believed that a bat-infected animal, perhaps a pangolin, infected the first human.

There’s one thing the scientists are sure of - that the virus did not develop among humans, but was contracted from an animal. In biological terms, this is called a “zoonotic spillover”.

A Chinese article published in February claimed that the COVID-19 disease is 96 per cent identical to a bat coronavirus in terms of its genomatic make-up.

Even then, there was no silencing conspiracy theories. A group of 27 scientists from the US wrote a letter in The Lancet.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-asian-country-is-paying-75-wages-of-2-million-workers-this-month-to-beat-economic-slowdown-291074" hreflang="en">This Asian country is paying 75% wages of 2 million workers this month to beat economic slowdown</a>

"Conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumours, and prejudice that jeopardise our global collaboration in the fight against this virus", it said.

They further ascertained, "this coronavirus originated in wildlife, as have so many other emerging pathogens."

The bat that flew away

Even with such striking similarities, the scientific community is focused on finding the cure and containing the disease, and has not been able to trace the bats that may be carrying the disease, which could resurface later on.

However, it’s not clear whether the virus directly jumped from a bat to human beings or whether it followed a chain of carriers who then gave it to humans, starting in Wuhan.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/from-drugs-to-life-saving-paraphernalia-how-the-dark-web-is-capitalising-on-pandemic-panic-291049" hreflang="en">From drugs to life-saving paraphernalia: How the dark web is capitalising on pandemic panic!</a>

It is possible that an infected farm animal was brought to the wet market alive - the perfect breeding ground for any viral infection - and was then inadvertently transferred on to humans!

But can we be sure? The upcoming few months will decide!

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world into submission: from the biggest economy to the smallest - everything is now at a standstill! When the first case was reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, nobody expected it to infect the whole world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world into submission: from the biggest economy to the smallest - everything is now at a standstill! When the first case was reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, nobody expected it to infect the whole world. Also read: Coronavirus spread: China must allow global probe to ascertain origin of COVID-19 But one key ingredient of every pandemic was missed: early mitigation strategies. It was only in the last 30 days that countries scrambled to shut their own countries from the outside world. Regardless, multiple theories have emerged amid the pandemic. Did the Chinese manufacture it? Did the US send it to China? Is it a Russian virus? Is North Korea behind it? Such discourses rooted in hyper-nationalism barely find any validation in the scientific community. Also read: Around 3 lakh coronavirus patients recovered worldwide; 326 cured in India As the blame shifted from China to its wet markets that sell exotic animals, there still seems to be clarity on where it emerged from. However, scientists are hard at work to find its origin. It is still widely believed that a bat-infected animal, perhaps a pangolin, infected the first human. There’s one thing the scientists are sure of - that the virus did not develop among humans, but was contracted from an animal. In biological terms, this is called a “zoonotic spillover”. A Chinese article published in February claimed that the COVID-19 disease is 96 per cent identical to a bat coronavirus in terms of its genomatic make-up. Even then, there was no silencing conspiracy theories. A group of 27 scientists from the US wrote a letter in The Lancet. Also read: This Asian country is paying 75% wages of 2 million workers this month to beat economic slowdown "Conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumours, and prejudice that jeopardise our global collaboration in the fight against this virus", it said. They further ascertained, "this coronavirus originated in wildlife, as have so many other emerging pathogens." The bat that flew away Even with such striking similarities, the scientific community is focused on finding the cure and containing the disease, and has not been able to trace the bats that may be carrying the disease, which could resurface later on. However, it’s not clear whether the virus directly jumped from a bat to human beings or whether it followed a chain of carriers who then gave it to humans, starting in Wuhan. Also read: From drugs to life-saving paraphernalia: How the dark web is capitalising on pandemic panic! It is possible that an infected farm animal was brought to the wet market alive - the perfect breeding ground for any viral infection - and was then inadvertently transferred on to humans! But can we be sure? The upcoming few months will decide!

Where did coronavirus actually come from?

As the coronavirus pandemic cripples the global economy, analysts predicted that over 30 million global jobs will be lost. However, this estimate may be incorrect, for India alone will witness a job cut of over 30 million.

A few people on the planet will remain unaffected by the sudden decline in the job market.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-cities-facing-major-coronavirus-equipment-shortages-285-million-masks-needed-289072" hreflang="en">US cities facing major coronavirus equipment shortages, 28.5 million masks needed</a>

Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest person is currently richer by $5.5 billion than he was at the beginning of the year.

Just Thursday, his fortune increased by $3.9 billion, the Guardian reported.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/your-story-jeff-bezos-buys-costliest-house-in-la-280739/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Amazon just outperformed everybody and itself during the pandemic, as the company was able to recover all of its losses. Bezos currently owns over 12 per cent of Amazon shares.

Turns out Bezos had sold a big chunk of his Amazon shares in February, before coronavirus wreaked havoc across the globe and shut down businesses.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-ozone-layer-is-healing-289054" hreflang="en">The ozone layer is healing!</a>

As per regulatory filings, he sold $3.4 billion worth of Amazon shares in the first week of February.

Even though there is nothing fishy about this besides the timing, Bezos sold over three per cent of his total holding, which is a bigger chunk than he’s ever sold before.

As the coronavirus pandemic cripples the global economy, analysts predicted that over 30 million global jobs will be lost. However, this estimate may be incorrect, for India alone will witness a job cut of over 30 million.

As the coronavirus pandemic cripples the global economy, analysts predicted that over 30 million global jobs will be lost. However, this estimate may be incorrect, for India alone will witness a job cut of over 30 million. A few people on the planet will remain unaffected by the sudden decline in the job market. Also read: US cities facing major coronavirus equipment shortages, 28.5 million masks needed Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest person is currently richer by $5.5 billion than he was at the beginning of the year. Just Thursday, his fortune increased by $3.9 billion, the Guardian reported. Amazon just outperformed everybody and itself during the pandemic, as the company was able to recover all of its losses. Bezos currently owns over 12 per cent of Amazon shares. Turns out Bezos had sold a big chunk of his Amazon shares in February, before coronavirus wreaked havoc across the globe and shut down businesses. Also read: The ozone layer is healing! As per regulatory filings, he sold $3.4 billion worth of Amazon shares in the first week of February. Even though there is nothing fishy about this besides the timing, Bezos sold over three per cent of his total holding, which is a bigger chunk than he’s ever sold before.

Did Jeff Bezos - the world's richest man, see the coronavirus pandemic coming?

The United States has now become the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak which has infected over 500,000 people globally.

However, the country is facing massive shortages of the paraphernalia required to treat the rising number of infections, which is about to reach 100,000 in the US.

A recent survey in the US which asked states about their preparedness in the face of the virus made the grim reality clear. Almost 90 per cent of the US mayors claim that they do not have enough testing kits, face masks, and other protective equipment to deal with the pandemic.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-ozone-layer-is-healing-289054" hreflang="en">The ozone layer is healing!</a>

An additional 85 per cent said that they simply do not have enough ventilators, the basic tool required to help with respiratory illnesses, like the COVID-19.

The survey, titled “US Conference of Mayors” was published on Friday and recorded data between March 20 and 24.&nbsp;

This data was collated from over 213 American cities spread across 41 states, with a combined population of 42 million.

The survey report claims that the shortage “has reached crisis proportions”.

<h6><img alt="ppp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e3ae3955-36f8-43b0-b195-7b8f1943997c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%288%29_26.jpg" /> 
Improvised hospital rooms are seen at the Jacob K&nbsp;Javits Convention Center, which will be partially converted into a hospital for patients affected by the coronavirus&nbsp;disease | AFP</h6>

“Despite their best efforts, most cities do not have and cannot obtain adequate equipment and supplies needed to protect their residents,” the report added.

&nbsp;“This is a life-threatening crisis that will continue unless the federal government does everything in its power to help us safeguard our first responders and health care workers — our first line of defence — and the millions of other public servants in our cities whose work today puts them at risk”, it further added.

The survey further found that there was little difference of shortage supply among cities and towns.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-us-virus-cases-exceed-100000-doctors-decry-scarcity-of-drugs-and-equipment-289041" hreflang="en">As US virus cases exceed 100,000, doctors decry scarcity of drugs and equipment</a>

Even though many large cities claimed to have received supplies from state governments, almost two-thirds of the cities still haven’t received any help.

In all, US cities require 28.5 million face masks, 24.4 million items of protection like gowns and gloves, 7.9 million testing kits, and over 139,000 ventilators.

Due to shortages, even distributors and sellers are compelled to increase the prices. A mask which earlier cost 97 cents now costs $5.

A group of doctors and medical workers have requested lawmakers to provide assistance worth $250 billion to cities that are experiencing a sharp shortage.

Recently, at one of the daily coronavirus briefings, President Donald Trump said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency intends to distribute over 9 million N95 masks, 20 million surgical masks, and over 6,000 ventilators.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/help-us-after-deaths-on-coronavirus-hit-ship-guests-clamour-to-leave-289039" hreflang="en">'Help us': After deaths on coronavirus-hit ship, guests clamour to leave</a>

“I have a feeling that a lot of the numbers that are being said in some areas are just bigger than they’re going to be,” Trump said recently in an interview with Fox.

New York state, which is one of the worst-hit places, has demanded 30,000 ventilators. Currently, the state has over 5,000 coronavirus patients.

Donald Trump does not believe they require 30,000 ventilators. “I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators,” Trump said.&nbsp;

“You know, you go into major hospitals sometimes they’ll have two ventilators, and now all of a sudden they’re saying, ‘Can we order 30,000 ventilators?'”

The United States has now become the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak which has infected over 500,000 people globally. However, the country is facing massive shortages of the paraphernalia required to treat the rising number of infections, which is about to reach 100,000 in the US.

The United States has now become the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak which has infected over 500,000 people globally. However, the country is facing massive shortages of the paraphernalia required to treat the rising number of infections, which is about to reach 100,000 in the US. A recent survey in the US which asked states about their preparedness in the face of the virus made the grim reality clear. Almost 90 per cent of the US mayors claim that they do not have enough testing kits, face masks, and other protective equipment to deal with the pandemic. Also read: The ozone layer is healing! An additional 85 per cent said that they simply do not have enough ventilators, the basic tool required to help with respiratory illnesses, like the COVID-19. The survey, titled “US Conference of Mayors” was published on Friday and recorded data between March 20 and 24. This data was collated from over 213 American cities spread across 41 states, with a combined population of 42 million. The survey report claims that the shortage “has reached crisis proportions”. Improvised hospital rooms are seen at the Jacob K Javits Convention Center, which will be partially converted into a hospital for patients affected by the coronavirus disease | AFP “Despite their best efforts, most cities do not have and cannot obtain adequate equipment and supplies needed to protect their residents,” the report added. “This is a life-threatening crisis that will continue unless the federal government does everything in its power to help us safeguard our first responders and health care workers — our first line of defence — and the millions of other public servants in our cities whose work today puts them at risk”, it further added. The survey further found that there was little difference of shortage supply among cities and towns. Also read: As US virus cases exceed 100,000, doctors decry scarcity of drugs and equipment Even though many large cities claimed to have received supplies from state governments, almost two-thirds of the cities still haven’t received any help. In all, US cities require 28.5 million face masks, 24.4 million items of protection like gowns and gloves, 7.9 million testing kits, and over 139,000 ventilators. Due to shortages, even distributors and sellers are compelled to increase the prices. A mask which earlier cost 97 cents now costs $5. A group of doctors and medical workers have requested lawmakers to provide assistance worth $250 billion to cities that are experiencing a sharp shortage. Recently, at one of the daily coronavirus briefings, President Donald Trump said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency intends to distribute over 9 million N95 masks, 20 million surgical masks, and over 6,000 ventilators. Also read: 'Help us': After deaths on coronavirus-hit ship, guests clamour to leave “I have a feeling that a lot of the numbers that are being said in some areas are just bigger than they’re going to be,” Trump said recently in an interview with Fox. New York state, which is one of the worst-hit places, has demanded 30,000 ventilators. Currently, the state has over 5,000 coronavirus patients. Donald Trump does not believe they require 30,000 ventilators. “I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators,” Trump said. “You know, you go into major hospitals sometimes they’ll have two ventilators, and now all of a sudden they’re saying, ‘Can we order 30,000 ventilators?'”

US cities facing major coronavirus equipment shortages, 28.5 million masks needed

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India have shot up to 902, with the addition of over 150 new cases registered in the last 24 hours.

The number of active cases right now stand at 800.

Maharashtra and Gujarat recorded six new cases each, with Madhya Pradesh adding four new cases.

Currently, there are 800 active cases in the country. Out of the total 902, 83 have recovered so far, with eight new recoveries in the last 24 hours.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-lockdown-kashmiri-youths-stuck-in-haryanas-hisar-deputy-cm-dushyant-chautala-extends-help-288789">India Lockdown: Kashmiri youths stuck in Haryana's Hisar, Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala extends help</a>

India has reportedly lost 19 people to the virus, with no deaths reported today.

27 states and union territories are currently affected throughout the country.

The country is currently in the fourth day of a 21-day-long nationwide lockdown, which has been enforced to tackle the rising number of infections in the country.

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi had said, “If developed countries with the best healthcare couldn’t effectively deal with the virus, how will we? Please stay at home and protect your loved ones, I request to you”, during a national briefing a few days ago.

Kerala currently has the most number of cases with 176, out of which 12 have recovered, with zero deaths reported in the state.

Maharashtra follows suit with 162 cases, with 25 cases of recovery recorded so far.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/situation-in-iran-remains-precarious-india-asks-citizens-to-stay-put-288787">Situation in Iran remains precarious, India asks citizens to stay put</a>

The capital city, New Delhi, currently has 33 active cases, with six recoveries reported so far.&nbsp;

The states of Manipur, Mizoram, alongside the union territory of Puducherry have so far recorded the least number of cases: one each!

In the border territories of Jammu &amp; Kashmir as well as Ladakh, the number of cases has been rising rapidly. The former has 20 cases now, and the latter accounts for 13 of the nationwide cases.

(With inputs from agencies)

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India have shot up to 902, with the addition of over 150 new cases registered in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases right now stand at 800.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in India have shot up to 902, with the addition of over 150 new cases registered in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases right now stand at 800. Maharashtra and Gujarat recorded six new cases each, with Madhya Pradesh adding four new cases. Currently, there are 800 active cases in the country. Out of the total 902, 83 have recovered so far, with eight new recoveries in the last 24 hours. Also read: India Lockdown: Kashmiri youths stuck in Haryana's Hisar, Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala extends help India has reportedly lost 19 people to the virus, with no deaths reported today. 27 states and union territories are currently affected throughout the country. The country is currently in the fourth day of a 21-day-long nationwide lockdown, which has been enforced to tackle the rising number of infections in the country. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi had said, “If developed countries with the best healthcare couldn’t effectively deal with the virus, how will we? Please stay at home and protect your loved ones, I request to you”, during a national briefing a few days ago. Kerala currently has the most number of cases with 176, out of which 12 have recovered, with zero deaths reported in the state. Maharashtra follows suit with 162 cases, with 25 cases of recovery recorded so far. Also read: Situation in Iran remains precarious, India asks citizens to stay put The capital city, New Delhi, currently has 33 active cases, with six recoveries reported so far. The states of Manipur, Mizoram, alongside the union territory of Puducherry have so far recorded the least number of cases: one each! In the border territories of Jammu & Kashmir as well as Ladakh, the number of cases has been rising rapidly. The former has 20 cases now, and the latter accounts for 13 of the nationwide cases. (With inputs from agencies)

India records over 150 new COVID-19 cases over the last 24 hours

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<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-us-virus-cases-exceed-100000-doctors-decry-scarcity-of-drugs-and-equipment-289041" hreflang="en">As US virus cases exceed 100,000, doctors decry scarcity of drugs and equipment</a></h2>

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Historic $2.2 trillion coronavirus bill passes US House, becomes law Google-parent Alphabet to donate $800 million in response to coronavirus crisis South Korea

Historic $2.2 trillion coronavirus bill passes US House, becomes law Google-parent Alphabet to donate $800 million in response to coronavirus crisis South Korea reports 146 new coronavirus cases, highest in a week Brazil's Bolsonaro questions coronavirus deaths, says 'sorry, some will die' Italy tops 9,000 coronavirus deaths, overtakes China in cases As US virus cases exceed 100,000, doctors decry scarcity of drugs and equipment

Morning news brief: US House passes coronavirus law, 9000 deaths in Italy, and more!

People in greater Tokyo and the Osaka area in western Japan hunkered down on Saturday as officials urged citizens to stay indoors to prevent a potential emergency, but some were carrying on as normal.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike's plea for the tens of millions of people in the capital and surrounding regions to avoid non-essential, non-urgent outings until April 12, and particularly this weekend, followed a surge in coronavirus infections this week, which she said puts Tokyo on the brink of a state of emergency.

Koike urged the public to avoid the national pastime of congregating to drink and watch the cherry blossoms as they hit their peak in the capital, saying on Friday, "The cherry blossoms will bloom again next year."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italy-tops-9000-coronavirus-deaths-overtakes-china-in-cases-289043" hreflang="en">Italy tops 9,000 coronavirus deaths, overtakes China in cases</a>

"I realise it's the weekend, but just ask yourself whether or not you can delay what you think you need to do to another day," she said.

Infections in Japan have climbed to more than 1,400, with 47 deaths, excluding those from a cruise ship quarantined last month. Hit early by the coronavirus in its initial spread from China, Japan had seen a more gradual rise than the recent surge in much of Europe and the United States.

This week, however, saw an acceleration that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called "a national crisis".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-us-virus-cases-exceed-100000-doctors-decry-scarcity-of-drugs-and-equipment-289041" hreflang="en">As US virus cases exceed 100,000, doctors decry scarcity of drugs and equipment</a>

Infections on Friday rose by a daily record 102, said public broadcaster NHK. Tokyo reported 40 new cases on Friday, bringing its total to 299.

While those figures are not high for a city of nearly 14 million, with many millions more in neighbouring suburbs, experts warn of a high risk of an explosive rise in infections, since authorities have not been able to track all the contacts of more than half the newest cases.

The government has deployed the military to greater Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports to assist in virus screenings and the transport of people placed in quarantine, NHK said.

The voluntary calls by Koike and other Japanese leaders for people to stay at home compares with major cities in Italy, Britain, France, Spain, and the United States - the new global epicentre of the virus - where soaring infections have created ghost towns as governments put citizens on lockdown with severe measures restricting personal movement.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazils-bolsonaro-questions-coronavirus-deaths-says-sorry-some-will-die-289037" hreflang="en">Brazil's Bolsonaro questions coronavirus deaths, says 'sorry, some will die'</a>

Globally, infections have topped half a million with more than 20,000 deaths. Governments are struggling to decide how far they need to limit personal freedoms to contain the coronavirus, which has spread to more than 100 countries.

In a quiet neighbourhood close to the Japanese prime minister's private residence in central Tokyo, the scene was typical of a Saturday morning. Some people were jogging and walking their dogs. A few stopped to pray at a local shrine. Auto traffic was brisk on local roads.

"I'm a little worried, but I have an appointment today, which is why I'm outside," said a 41-year old man walking down the street, who declined to be named.

"It's not something that I can't cancel, but I do have to meet someone. I will be riding the train later."

People in greater Tokyo and the Osaka area in western Japan hunkered down on Saturday as officials urged citizens to stay indoors to prevent a potential emergency, but some were carrying on as normal.

People in greater Tokyo and the Osaka area in western Japan hunkered down on Saturday as officials urged citizens to stay indoors to prevent a potential emergency, but some were carrying on as normal. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike's plea for the tens of millions of people in the capital and surrounding regions to avoid non-essential, non-urgent outings until April 12, and particularly this weekend, followed a surge in coronavirus infections this week, which she said puts Tokyo on the brink of a state of emergency. Koike urged the public to avoid the national pastime of congregating to drink and watch the cherry blossoms as they hit their peak in the capital, saying on Friday, "The cherry blossoms will bloom again next year." Also read: Italy tops 9,000 coronavirus deaths, overtakes China in cases "I realise it's the weekend, but just ask yourself whether or not you can delay what you think you need to do to another day," she said. Infections in Japan have climbed to more than 1,400, with 47 deaths, excluding those from a cruise ship quarantined last month. Hit early by the coronavirus in its initial spread from China, Japan had seen a more gradual rise than the recent surge in much of Europe and the United States. This week, however, saw an acceleration that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called "a national crisis". Also read: As US virus cases exceed 100,000, doctors decry scarcity of drugs and equipment Infections on Friday rose by a daily record 102, said public broadcaster NHK. Tokyo reported 40 new cases on Friday, bringing its total to 299. While those figures are not high for a city of nearly 14 million, with many millions more in neighbouring suburbs, experts warn of a high risk of an explosive rise in infections, since authorities have not been able to track all the contacts of more than half the newest cases. The government has deployed the military to greater Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports to assist in virus screenings and the transport of people placed in quarantine, NHK said. The voluntary calls by Koike and other Japanese leaders for people to stay at home compares with major cities in Italy, Britain, France, Spain, and the United States - the new global epicentre of the virus - where soaring infections have created ghost towns as governments put citizens on lockdown with severe measures restricting personal movement. Also read: Brazil's Bolsonaro questions coronavirus deaths, says 'sorry, some will die' Globally, infections have topped half a million with more than 20,000 deaths. Governments are struggling to decide how far they need to limit personal freedoms to contain the coronavirus, which has spread to more than 100 countries. In a quiet neighbourhood close to the Japanese prime minister's private residence in central Tokyo, the scene was typical of a Saturday morning. Some people were jogging and walking their dogs. A few stopped to pray at a local shrine. Auto traffic was brisk on local roads. "I'm a little worried, but I have an appointment today, which is why I'm outside," said a 41-year old man walking down the street, who declined to be named. "It's not something that I can't cancel, but I do have to meet someone. I will be riding the train later."

Tokyo restricts movement to combat virus, some folk carry on as usual

Italy's recorded 919 deaths from coronavirus on Friday, the highest daily toll anywhere in the world, while the number of confirmed cases eclipsed the total in China where the virus first emerged.

Italy was the first Western country to introduce swingeing restrictions on movement after uncovering the outbreak five weeks ago. It has tightened them week by week, banning all non-essential activities until at least next Friday.

Yet only the United States has now recorded more cases, while Italy has suffered almost twice as many deaths as any other nation.

"We haven't reached the peak and we haven't passed it," the chief of the Superior Health Institute, Silvio Brusaferro, told reporters before the data was released.

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Nonetheless, he said there were "signs of a slowdown" in the numbers of infections, which slipped from the previous 24-hour period.

"When the descent begins, how steep it is will depend on our behaviour," Brusaferro said.

Franco Locatelli, head of the council advising the government on health matters, said the existing restrictions on movement were likely to be extended beyond the hoped-for end date of April 3:

"If I had to decide using today's data, I believe it is inevitable these measures will be prolonged."

The number of confirmed cases rose by 5,959 on Friday to 86,498, taking Italy past China, with the death toll at 9,134.

SCHOOL SHUTDOWN EXTENDED

Schools and universities were among the first places to be shut down, closing nationwide on March 5. Education Minister Lucia Azzolina said the closure would have to be extended past April 3.

"Our aim is to ensure that students return to school only when we are completely sure that it is safe," she told the state broadcaster RAI.

The northern region of Lombardy, centred on the financial capital Milan, has accounted for 43% of Italy's known cases and 59% of deaths.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/help-us-after-deaths-on-coronavirus-hit-ship-guests-clamour-to-leave-289039" hreflang="en">'Help us': After deaths on coronavirus-hit ship, guests clamour to leave</a>

Once again, the city of Bergamo saw the most new cases on Friday - 602 - with Milan in second place with 547. However, the region as a whole saw a slight dip.

"The infection rate is not growing and I think it is about to fall," said Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana.

He said testing was being expanded, with people now having to present only a single coronavirus symptom to be swabbed, rather than at least two.

In an open letter, more than 300 doctors and scientists called on the government to let them use their own laboratories to speed up testing and identify the mild and asymptomatic cases that are currently going undetected.

At present, only a few, specialist labs are checking swabs, severely restricting the number of tests and information the true extent of the epidemic.

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"In Italy there is an extraordinary community of researchers who could contribute immediately and very significantly and at zero cost to the current emergency situation," they said.

There was no immediate response from the Health Ministry.

The national federation of doctors, surgeons and orthodontists said on Friday that 46 of their colleagues had died so far, many of them family doctors in northern towns and cities.

Italy's recorded 919 deaths from coronavirus on Friday, the highest daily toll anywhere in the world, while the number of confirmed cases eclipsed the total in China where the virus first emerged.

Italy's recorded 919 deaths from coronavirus on Friday, the highest daily toll anywhere in the world, while the number of confirmed cases eclipsed the total in China where the virus first emerged. Italy was the first Western country to introduce swingeing restrictions on movement after uncovering the outbreak five weeks ago. It has tightened them week by week, banning all non-essential activities until at least next Friday. Yet only the United States has now recorded more cases, while Italy has suffered almost twice as many deaths as any other nation. "We haven't reached the peak and we haven't passed it," the chief of the Superior Health Institute, Silvio Brusaferro, told reporters before the data was released. Also read: As US virus cases exceed 100,000, doctors decry scarcity of drugs and equipment Nonetheless, he said there were "signs of a slowdown" in the numbers of infections, which slipped from the previous 24-hour period. "When the descent begins, how steep it is will depend on our behaviour," Brusaferro said. Franco Locatelli, head of the council advising the government on health matters, said the existing restrictions on movement were likely to be extended beyond the hoped-for end date of April 3: "If I had to decide using today's data, I believe it is inevitable these measures will be prolonged." The number of confirmed cases rose by 5,959 on Friday to 86,498, taking Italy past China, with the death toll at 9,134. SCHOOL SHUTDOWN EXTENDED Schools and universities were among the first places to be shut down, closing nationwide on March 5. Education Minister Lucia Azzolina said the closure would have to be extended past April 3. "Our aim is to ensure that students return to school only when we are completely sure that it is safe," she told the state broadcaster RAI. The northern region of Lombardy, centred on the financial capital Milan, has accounted for 43% of Italy's known cases and 59% of deaths. Also read: 'Help us': After deaths on coronavirus-hit ship, guests clamour to leave Once again, the city of Bergamo saw the most new cases on Friday - 602 - with Milan in second place with 547. However, the region as a whole saw a slight dip. "The infection rate is not growing and I think it is about to fall," said Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana. He said testing was being expanded, with people now having to present only a single coronavirus symptom to be swabbed, rather than at least two. In an open letter, more than 300 doctors and scientists called on the government to let them use their own laboratories to speed up testing and identify the mild and asymptomatic cases that are currently going undetected. At present, only a few, specialist labs are checking swabs, severely restricting the number of tests and information the true extent of the epidemic. Also read: Brazil's Bolsonaro questions coronavirus deaths, says 'sorry, some will die' "In Italy there is an extraordinary community of researchers who could contribute immediately and very significantly and at zero cost to the current emergency situation," they said. There was no immediate response from the Health Ministry. The national federation of doctors, surgeons and orthodontists said on Friday that 46 of their colleagues had died so far, many of them family doctors in northern towns and cities.

Italy tops 9,000 coronavirus deaths, overtakes China in cases

Doctors and nurses on the front lines of the U.S. coronavirus crisis pleaded on Friday for more protective gear and equipment to treat waves of patients expected to overwhelm hospitals as the sum of known U.S. infections climbed well past 100,000, with more than 1,600 dead.

Physicians have called particular attention to a desperate need for additional ventilators, machines that help patients breathe and are widely needed for those suffering from COVID-19, the respiratory ailment caused by the highly contagious novel coronavirus.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/help-us-after-deaths-on-coronavirus-hit-ship-guests-clamour-to-leave-289039">'Help us': After deaths on coronavirus-hit ship, guests clamour to leave</a>

Hospitals in New York City, New Orleans, Detroit and other virus hot spots have also sounded the alarm about scarcities of drugs, medical supplies and trained staff while the number of confirmed U.S. cases rose by about 18,000 on Friday, the highest jump in a single day, to more than 103,000.

That tally kept the United States as the world leader in the number of known infections, having surpassed China and Italy on Thursday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazils-bolsonaro-questions-coronavirus-deaths-says-sorry-some-will-die-289037" hreflang="en">Brazil's Bolsonaro questions coronavirus deaths, says 'sorry, some will die'</a>

"We are scared," said Dr. Arabia Mollette of Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn. "We're trying to fight for everyone else's life, but we also fight for our lives as well, because we're also at the highest risk of exposure."

The United States ranked sixth in death toll among the hardest hit countries, with at least 1,632 lives lost as of Friday night, a record daily increase of 370 according to a Reuters tabulation of official data. Worldwide, confirmed cases rose above 593,000 with 27,198 deaths, the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported.

Even as hospital patient numbers steadily climbed, shortages of key medical supplies abounded.

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One emergency room doctor in Michigan, an emerging epicenter of the pandemic, said he was using one paper face mask for an entire shift due to a shortage and that hospitals in the Detroit area would soon run out of ventilators.

"We have hospital systems here in the Detroit area in Michigan who are getting to the end of their supply of ventilators and have to start telling families that they can't save their loved ones because they don't have enough equipment," the physician, Dr. Rob Davidson, said in a video posted on Twitter.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/already-in-icu-europe-awaits-major-crisis-once-coronavirus-ends-289020" hreflang="en">Already in ICU, Europe awaits major crisis once coronavirus ends</a>

Emergency powers

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday invoked emergency powers to require General Motors Co to start building ventilators after he accused the largest U.S. automaker of "wasting time" during negotiations.

He had previously resisted mounting calls for him to invoke the Defense Production Act, a Korean War-era statute that gives the president broad procurement powers in national emergencies, instead seeking to exert pressure on manufacturers to act voluntarily.

Sophia Thomas, a nurse practitioner at DePaul Community Health Center in New Orleans, where Mardi Gras celebrations late last month fueled an outbreak in Louisiana's largest city, said the numbers of coronavirus patients "have been staggering."

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"We are truly a hotbed of COVID-19 here in New Orleans," she said, adding that her hospital was trying to cope in part by shifting some patients to "telehealth" services that allow them to be evaluated from home.

New York-area doctors say they have had to recycle some protective gear, or resort to the black market.

Dr. Alexander Salerno of Salerno Medical Associates, a general medical practice with offices in northern New Jersey, described going through a "broker" to pay $17,000 for masks and other protective equipment that should have cost about $2,500, and picking them up at an abandoned warehouse.

"You don't get any names. You get just phone numbers to text," Salerno said. "And so you agree to a term. You wire the money to a bank account. They give you a time and an address to come to."

Nurses at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York said they were locking away or hiding N-95 respirator masks, surgical masks and other supplies that are prone to pilfering if left unattended.

"Masks disappear," nurse Diana Torres said. "We hide it all in drawers in front of the nurses' station."

Economic relief

After days of wrangling, the U.S. Congress passed a $2.2 trillion relief package on Friday, sending the bill to Trump, who promptly signed it into law.

In addition to aiding hospitals, the package will send cash to businesses and unemployed workers suffering from the effects of stay-at-home orders that have had the side effect of strangling the economy.

A number of hotels in New York City, including the famed Plaza Hotel, the St. Regis and the Four Seasons, are making rooms available to medical workers fearful of carrying the virus home to their families after work, or to non-critical care patients, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said.

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Marney Gruber, an emergency doctor who works in multiple hospitals around New York City, said commonly used medications were in short supply and hospitals were running out of oxygen tanks.

"These are staples in emergency medicine and ICUs – these are your bread and butter, truly, your very basic essentials," Gruber said.

At least two New York medical schools, New York University and Columbia, have said they will graduate their fourth-year students early so they can begin treating patients with the coronavirus right away.

In the nation's second-largest city, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said cases were spiking, putting the Southern California region on track to match New York City's infection figures in the next five days.

The mayor spoke as he and California's governor, who ordered all coronavirus-related evictions banned through May 31, toured a newly arrived naval hospital ship equipped with 1,000 patient beds at the Port of Los Angeles. Its sister vessel is to be deployed to New York Harbor in the near future.

At the Riverside County Fairground east of Los Angeles, California National Guard troops were setting up a 125-bed medical station to serve residents of the Coachella Valley, an area teeming with elderly retirees considered especially vulnerable to COVID-19.

The US&nbsp;military also is setting up field hospitals in Seattle and New York, the Pentagon said.

Doctors and nurses on the front lines of the U.S. coronavirus crisis pleaded on Friday for more protective gear and equipment to treat waves of patients expected to overwhelm hospitals as the sum of known U.

Doctors and nurses on the front lines of the U.S. coronavirus crisis pleaded on Friday for more protective gear and equipment to treat waves of patients expected to overwhelm hospitals as the sum of known U.S. infections climbed well past 100,000, with more than 1,600 dead. Physicians have called particular attention to a desperate need for additional ventilators, machines that help patients breathe and are widely needed for those suffering from COVID-19, the respiratory ailment caused by the highly contagious novel coronavirus. Also read: 'Help us': After deaths on coronavirus-hit ship, guests clamour to leave Hospitals in New York City, New Orleans, Detroit and other virus hot spots have also sounded the alarm about scarcities of drugs, medical supplies and trained staff while the number of confirmed U.S. cases rose by about 18,000 on Friday, the highest jump in a single day, to more than 103,000. That tally kept the United States as the world leader in the number of known infections, having surpassed China and Italy on Thursday. Also read: Brazil's Bolsonaro questions coronavirus deaths, says 'sorry, some will die' "We are scared," said Dr. Arabia Mollette of Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn. "We're trying to fight for everyone else's life, but we also fight for our lives as well, because we're also at the highest risk of exposure." The United States ranked sixth in death toll among the hardest hit countries, with at least 1,632 lives lost as of Friday night, a record daily increase of 370 according to a Reuters tabulation of official data. Worldwide, confirmed cases rose above 593,000 with 27,198 deaths, the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported. Even as hospital patient numbers steadily climbed, shortages of key medical supplies abounded. Also read: Historic $2.2 trillion coronavirus bill passes US House, becomes law One emergency room doctor in Michigan, an emerging epicenter of the pandemic, said he was using one paper face mask for an entire shift due to a shortage and that hospitals in the Detroit area would soon run out of ventilators. "We have hospital systems here in the Detroit area in Michigan who are getting to the end of their supply of ventilators and have to start telling families that they can't save their loved ones because they don't have enough equipment," the physician, Dr. Rob Davidson, said in a video posted on Twitter. Also read: Already in ICU, Europe awaits major crisis once coronavirus ends Emergency powers U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday invoked emergency powers to require General Motors Co to start building ventilators after he accused the largest U.S. automaker of "wasting time" during negotiations. He had previously resisted mounting calls for him to invoke the Defense Production Act, a Korean War-era statute that gives the president broad procurement powers in national emergencies, instead seeking to exert pressure on manufacturers to act voluntarily. Sophia Thomas, a nurse practitioner at DePaul Community Health Center in New Orleans, where Mardi Gras celebrations late last month fueled an outbreak in Louisiana's largest city, said the numbers of coronavirus patients "have been staggering." Also read: How coronavirus outbreak triggered another debate on ‘Science vs Religion’ "We are truly a hotbed of COVID-19 here in New Orleans," she said, adding that her hospital was trying to cope in part by shifting some patients to "telehealth" services that allow them to be evaluated from home. New York-area doctors say they have had to recycle some protective gear, or resort to the black market. Dr. Alexander Salerno of Salerno Medical Associates, a general medical practice with offices in northern New Jersey, described going through a "broker" to pay $17,000 for masks and other protective equipment that should have cost about $2,500, and picking them up at an abandoned warehouse. "You don't get any names. You get just phone numbers to text," Salerno said. "And so you agree to a term. You wire the money to a bank account. They give you a time and an address to come to." Nurses at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York said they were locking away or hiding N-95 respirator masks, surgical masks and other supplies that are prone to pilfering if left unattended. "Masks disappear," nurse Diana Torres said. "We hide it all in drawers in front of the nurses' station." Economic relief After days of wrangling, the U.S. Congress passed a $2.2 trillion relief package on Friday, sending the bill to Trump, who promptly signed it into law. In addition to aiding hospitals, the package will send cash to businesses and unemployed workers suffering from the effects of stay-at-home orders that have had the side effect of strangling the economy. A number of hotels in New York City, including the famed Plaza Hotel, the St. Regis and the Four Seasons, are making rooms available to medical workers fearful of carrying the virus home to their families after work, or to non-critical care patients, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. Also read: Google-parent Alphabet to donate $800 million in response to coronavirus crisis Marney Gruber, an emergency doctor who works in multiple hospitals around New York City, said commonly used medications were in short supply and hospitals were running out of oxygen tanks. "These are staples in emergency medicine and ICUs – these are your bread and butter, truly, your very basic essentials," Gruber said. At least two New York medical schools, New York University and Columbia, have said they will graduate their fourth-year students early so they can begin treating patients with the coronavirus right away. In the nation's second-largest city, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said cases were spiking, putting the Southern California region on track to match New York City's infection figures in the next five days. The mayor spoke as he and California's governor, who ordered all coronavirus-related evictions banned through May 31, toured a newly arrived naval hospital ship equipped with 1,000 patient beds at the Port of Los Angeles. Its sister vessel is to be deployed to New York Harbor in the near future. At the Riverside County Fairground east of Los Angeles, California National Guard troops were setting up a 125-bed medical station to serve residents of the Coachella Valley, an area teeming with elderly retirees considered especially vulnerable to COVID-19. The US military also is setting up field hospitals in Seattle and New York, the Pentagon said.

As US virus cases exceed 100,000, doctors decry scarcity of drugs and equipment

Four passengers have died on a cruise ship off the Pacific coast of Panama and more than 130 others aboard are suffering from influenza-like symptoms, at least two of whom have the coronavirus, the vessel's operator said on Friday.

Holland America Line said in a statement that the MS Zaandam, previously on a South American cruise, was trying to transit the Panama Canal and make its way to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. But Panama's government has denied it access to the canal for sanitary reasons, leaving passengers and crew wondering when they will get home.

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Chris Joiner, 59, a retiree from Ottawa, Ontario, told Reuters the cruise had turned into a "nightmare."

He was worried that he and his wife, Anna, also 59, would be forced to stay aboard for an undetermined time because she had a cough, after cruise operators said they would soon transfer healthy passengers to the Zaandam's sister ship, the Rotterdam, which is now alongside the vessel in Panamanian waters.

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"We're isolated. We're stuck on this ship. We can't go anywhere because we're not healthy, I guess," said Joiner, who took a selfie in his cabin with a piece of paper on which he had written "HELP US" in a bid for attention from the media and the Canadian government.

A ship official told passengers on Friday morning via a public address system that one guest had died several days ago, followed by two deaths on Thursday and another overnight, according to a recording heard by Reuters.

The four dead were "older guests," the operator said.

Passengers said the announcement was the first time they had been made aware of the deaths on the 238-meter (781-foot) vessel.

The Zaandam departed Argentina on March 7 and had been scheduled to end its journey in San Antonio, Chile, on March 21. Nobody has disembarked from the ship since it docked in Punta Arenas on the southern coast of Chile nearly two weeks ago.

There are 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board, as well as four doctors and four nurses, the cruise operator said.

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Holland America is owned by Carnival Corp&nbsp;Carnival's Princess Cruises earlier this month said it was suspending voyages for two month, after two of its ocean liners that had been quarantined became hotbeds for coronavirus infections.

"Sitting ducks"

The ship official said a number of patients were tested on Thursday after the ship received virus testing kits. In another public address on Friday afternoon, also heard by Reuters, he said the situation appeared to be improving.

"Some positive news, we have started to see a leveling off of guests reporting symptoms to the medical center," the official said, adding that staff had distributed one surgical mask per person. He urged passengers to keep them clean because he did not know when more would arrive.

Ian Rae, a London-based Scotsman on the ship with his wife, said most passengers were coping "pretty well" despite being in self-isolation since last Sunday.

"It's probably not an awful lot worse than the people back in the UK or anywhere else in the world at the moment," Rae, a 73-year-old grandfather of four, told Reuters by phone.

Rae, who said he and others had informed the UK government of their predicament via email, said he understood there were 229 British passengers on board. Other guests included Americans, Canadians and Australians as well as Germans, Italians, French, Spanish and New Zealanders, he said.

Relatives are getting nervous.

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"It's terrifying that no plan has been made for them and there are British nationals on this ship who need help," Hayley Johnson, whose 90-year-old grandfather and 75-year-old grandmother are on board, wrote on Twitter. Johnson said she was especially worried about her grandmother, a Type 1 diabetic.

All ports along the Zaandam's South American route were closed to cruise ships, Holland America said.

Some 53 guests and 85 crew have reported to the ship's medical center with flu-like symptoms, it added.

"If they can just find a port to dock it would be a huge relief. The fact they're just sitting on board a ship, it's like they're sitting ducks," said Neil Bedford, whose British parents, aged 65 and 63, are on board.

Panama's health ministry has not given permission for the ship to pass through the waterway, said Ricaurte Vasquez, the Panama Canal Authority's administrator. Positive coronavirus tests made on board would mean putting the ship in quarantine, he said.

Four passengers have died on a cruise ship off the Pacific coast of Panama and more than 130 others aboard are suffering from influenza-like symptoms, at least two of whom have the coronavirus, the vessel's operator said on Friday.

Four passengers have died on a cruise ship off the Pacific coast of Panama and more than 130 others aboard are suffering from influenza-like symptoms, at least two of whom have the coronavirus, the vessel's operator said on Friday. Holland America Line said in a statement that the MS Zaandam, previously on a South American cruise, was trying to transit the Panama Canal and make its way to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. But Panama's government has denied it access to the canal for sanitary reasons, leaving passengers and crew wondering when they will get home. Also read: Brazil's Bolsonaro questions coronavirus deaths, says 'sorry, some will die' Chris Joiner, 59, a retiree from Ottawa, Ontario, told Reuters the cruise had turned into a "nightmare." He was worried that he and his wife, Anna, also 59, would be forced to stay aboard for an undetermined time because she had a cough, after cruise operators said they would soon transfer healthy passengers to the Zaandam's sister ship, the Rotterdam, which is now alongside the vessel in Panamanian waters. Also read: Historic $2.2 trillion coronavirus bill passes US House, becomes law "We're isolated. We're stuck on this ship. We can't go anywhere because we're not healthy, I guess," said Joiner, who took a selfie in his cabin with a piece of paper on which he had written "HELP US" in a bid for attention from the media and the Canadian government. A ship official told passengers on Friday morning via a public address system that one guest had died several days ago, followed by two deaths on Thursday and another overnight, according to a recording heard by Reuters. The four dead were "older guests," the operator said. Passengers said the announcement was the first time they had been made aware of the deaths on the 238-meter (781-foot) vessel. The Zaandam departed Argentina on March 7 and had been scheduled to end its journey in San Antonio, Chile, on March 21. Nobody has disembarked from the ship since it docked in Punta Arenas on the southern coast of Chile nearly two weeks ago. There are 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board, as well as four doctors and four nurses, the cruise operator said. Also read: Already in ICU, Europe awaits major crisis once coronavirus ends Holland America is owned by Carnival Corp Carnival's Princess Cruises earlier this month said it was suspending voyages for two month, after two of its ocean liners that had been quarantined became hotbeds for coronavirus infections. "Sitting ducks" The ship official said a number of patients were tested on Thursday after the ship received virus testing kits. In another public address on Friday afternoon, also heard by Reuters, he said the situation appeared to be improving. "Some positive news, we have started to see a leveling off of guests reporting symptoms to the medical center," the official said, adding that staff had distributed one surgical mask per person. He urged passengers to keep them clean because he did not know when more would arrive. Ian Rae, a London-based Scotsman on the ship with his wife, said most passengers were coping "pretty well" despite being in self-isolation since last Sunday. "It's probably not an awful lot worse than the people back in the UK or anywhere else in the world at the moment," Rae, a 73-year-old grandfather of four, told Reuters by phone. Rae, who said he and others had informed the UK government of their predicament via email, said he understood there were 229 British passengers on board. Other guests included Americans, Canadians and Australians as well as Germans, Italians, French, Spanish and New Zealanders, he said. Relatives are getting nervous. Also read: How coronavirus outbreak triggered another debate on ‘Science vs Religion’ "It's terrifying that no plan has been made for them and there are British nationals on this ship who need help," Hayley Johnson, whose 90-year-old grandfather and 75-year-old grandmother are on board, wrote on Twitter. Johnson said she was especially worried about her grandmother, a Type 1 diabetic. All ports along the Zaandam's South American route were closed to cruise ships, Holland America said. Some 53 guests and 85 crew have reported to the ship's medical center with flu-like symptoms, it added. "If they can just find a port to dock it would be a huge relief. The fact they're just sitting on board a ship, it's like they're sitting ducks," said Neil Bedford, whose British parents, aged 65 and 63, are on board. Panama's health ministry has not given permission for the ship to pass through the waterway, said Ricaurte Vasquez, the Panama Canal Authority's administrator. Positive coronavirus tests made on board would mean putting the ship in quarantine, he said.

'Help us': After deaths on coronavirus-hit ship, guests clamour to leave

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