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Coronavirus Watch: Death toll in US passes 1,000

Paste BN

More than 1,000 coronavirus patients have died in the U.S., layoffs are skyrocketing, and the Senate approved its largest emergency aid package in modern history.

It's Thursday, and this is Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network, where we update you on everything to know about COVID-19.

Here's the latest news, as of 1:15 p.m. ET:

  • Unemployment benefit applications surged to a record 3.3 million last week, well above the 1.5 million claims economists had expected. Meanwhile, U.S. stocks rose for a third straight day.
  • The House is set to vote Friday on the $2 trillion aid package that the Senate approved late Wednesday. The House convenes at 9 a.m. and is expected to pass the bill, then send it to President Donald Trump for his signature. 
  • The U.S. surpassed 1,000 deaths and is nearing 70,000 cases. Worldwide, cases are nearing 500,000 with more than 22,000 deaths. See a map here. 
  • At least 13 patients died in the span of 24 hours at Elmhurst Hospital in New York City, currently the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak.
  • A 2-month-old has tested positive for COVID-19 in Nashville. Officials say the infant could be the youngest pandemic patient in the nation.
  • Tesla's solar-panel factory in Buffalo is expected to begin producing ventilators, and Bauer, a hockey equipment manufacturing company, says it's shifting its focus to materials such as masks and shields for medical professionals.
  • China is temporarily barring most foreigners from entering the country as it seeks to curb the number of imported coronavirus cases.
  • A ray of light? Nearly 120,000 people worldwide have recovered from the virus.

Ask us your coronavirus questions TODAY on Facebook: From 2-3 p.m. ET, health reporter Adrianna Rodriguez will be answering your questions about the coronavirus in a Facebook chat. You can participate by joining our Facebook group. (If you can't join today, submit your coronavirus questions here and we'll try to get them answered in our reader Q&A.) 

Want to help your local businesses? Remember, Gannett, the owner of Paste BN, has launched a website to help you support them by buying gift cards to use at a later time. Visit supportlocal.usatoday.com to get started. Don't see your favorite local business on our list? Add it!

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— Rachel Aretakis, Breaking News Editor, @raretakis, and Grace Hauck, Breaking News Reporter, @grace_hauck

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