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Coronavirus Watch: US has more deaths than any other country

Grace Hauck   | Paste BN

The U.S. now leads the world in the number of reported deaths from the coronavirus.

It's Saturday, and this is the Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network.

Here's the latest news, as of 2 p.m. ET:

  • The U.S. surpassed Italy today to become the country with the most coronavirus deaths, with nearly 20,000 fatalities, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University dashboard.
  • More than 500,000 people in the U.S. have been infected with the coronavirus. See a map of confirmed cases here.
  • President Donald Trump is creating a second task force to focus solely on how to reopen the country. Trump said the task force would be made up of "very great doctors" as well as business people and potentially members of Congress and state governors. 
  • Trump signed an order late Friday threatening to impose sanctions on countries that attempt to bar the repatriation of U.S. deportees because those people have spent time in the world's worst coronavirus hot spot.
  • Medical examiners and funeral homes are scrambling to secure temperature-controlled trailers in anticipation of overwhelmed facilities. 
  • As officials discuss when to lift stay-at-home orders, companies are rushing to develop coronavirus antibody tests that could help them make those decisions without risking a second wave of infections.

Keep sending us your coronavirus questions through this form and we'll continue to answer them in our reader Q&A. Garith from Weyerhaeuser, Wisconsin, asks: Will microwaving a protective mask kill the virus?

That's not a good idea. Microwaving handmade masks will not kill the virus and can be especially dangerous if there is metal sewn into the material. Additionally, don't use bleach, alcohol or household cleaners to disinfect masks as ingesting or inhaling these chemicals can be harmful. 

Running a mask through the washing machine "should suffice in properly washing a face covering," according to the CDC.

Surgical masks are disposable and can't be washed.

What’s up in the golden state? Many of us live in or have loved ones in California. Ventura-based reporter Arlene Martinez covers the coronavirus and more state stories in her "In California" newsletter. Check out a preview and subscribe here.

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— Grace Hauck, Breaking News Reporter, @grace_hauck

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