Transcript
We have hit a new global record for reported coronavirus cases.
The World Health Organization is reporting 285,000 new cases in the past 24 hours.
In the United States we surpassed another grim benchmark with more than 145,000 people dead.
Now as America struggles to contain the pandemic, dozens of the nation’s top medical experts are calling on lawmakers to shut down the country again.
More than 150 prominent American medical experts, scientists, teachers, nurses and others banded together, sending a letter to political leaders urging them to shut down the country and start over.
The warning in the letter said: “If you don’t take these actions, the consequences will be measured and widespread suffering and death.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci said states don’t necessarily have to go all the way back to a complete shutdown.
But states like Florida continue to shatter records, reporting more than 12,000 new cases and 135 deaths Friday.
California is also reporting its highest number of deaths in a single day.
In Starr County, Texas it’s a life and death situation.
The county has issued a shelter in place order.
Officials say “Our doctors are going to decide who receives treatment and who is sent home to die.”
To make matters worse, according to data from the Department of Labor, another 1.4 million Americans filed for unemployment last week.
And now many Americans are also facing the loss of their health insurance at a time when it’s so crucial.
Nearly 160 million Americans, or about half the US population, received health insurance through their employer in 2018.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, now as many as 26.8 million people could become uninsured due to those job losses.
The Foundation estimates more than 20 million would likely qualify for Obamacare subsidies or Medicaid.
But that still leaves 5 million people faced with paying their own way, all as a crucial $600 federal unemployment benefit is about to expire on July 31.
Posted – 7.25.20