It was a day of historic, yet regrettable milestones. The United States passed more than 1,000 deaths from coronavirus, and the U.S. now leads the world in the number of reported cases. The New York Times writes:
“Scientists warned that the United States someday would become the country hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. That moment arrived on Thursday.
“In the United States, at least 81,321 people are known to have been infected with the coronavirus, including more than 1,000 deaths — more cases than China, Italy or any other country has seen, according to data gathered by The New York Times.“
The rise in coronavirus coincided with the rise in jobless claims in this country. A record 3.3 million workers filed last week. Trump reiterated at the White House today that Americans should return to work soon, despite a soaring infection rate and death toll.
What do American workers think? Vox writes: New polling also suggests that Trump’s desire to end this period of quarantines and sheltering in place is out of step with the public’s wishes. In a poll by Morning Consult taken March 20 to 22, a plurality of Americans said they strongly support a “national quarantine,” and nearly three-quarters of Americans express at least some support for the idea.