US coronavirus cases top 100,000 with 1,600 dead

Saturday, 28 March 2020 19:47 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

NEW YORK, (Reuters): The sum of known coronavirus U.S. cases soared well past 100,000, with more than 1,600 dead, as weary doctors and nurses coping with shortages resorted to extremes ranging from hiding scarce medical supplies to buying them on the black market.

American healthcare workers in the trenches of the pandemic appealed on Friday for more protective gear and equipment to treat a surge in patients that is already pushing hospitals to their limits in virus hot spots such as New York City, New Orleans and Detroit.

The number of confirmed U.S. infections rose by about 18,000 on Friday, the highest jump in a single day, to more than 103,000. The United States has led the world in coronavirus cases since its count of known infections eclipsed those of China and Italy on Thursday.

With at least 1,634 lives lost as of Friday night - also a record daily increase - the United States ranked sixth in national death tolls from the pandemic, according to a Reuters tabulation of official data.