Coronavirus Update: Japan declares state of emergency, New York considers mass graves
The number of reported coronavirus cases worldwide is now 1,362,936
More than 175 countries now have confirmed coronavirus cases, with Japan declaring a month-long state of emergency for Tokyo and six other regions to slow the virus spread.
The worldwide scope of the deadly virus hit home for many around the world Monday with the announcement that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was moved to intensive care as he tries to recover from the infection.
New York remains the epicenter of the virus, with projections that the peak infection date for the state – and elsewhere around the country – will be April 16.
The number of virus-related deaths is now at 10,938, with 4,786 of them in New York alone. New York city, densely populated with roughly 8.6 million people, has been the hardest hit city in the U.S.
Temporary hospitals have been set up across the city to help treat the sick, with officials considering mass graves to help morgues attend to the hundreds of dead bodies as a result of the virus. However, U.S. officials and health experts have expressed optimism about the rate of infection slowing in New York. They also project that the number of deaths in the country could reach 150,000 to 200,000.