COVID-19 Spread Reaches Rural America... "300,000 Deaths Expected by Year-End"

White House COVID-19 Coordinator: "Masks Must Be Worn Indoors"
US CDC: "Over 170,000 Cumulative Deaths Expected by End of August"
Minneapolis Fed President: "Strong Lockdown Needed for 4-6 Weeks"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. health authorities have warned that unlike in March when the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the United States was concentrated in major cities, it is now spreading widely even to rural areas, raising concerns that the number of deaths could increase sharply. There are fears that if appropriate quarantine measures are not taken, the cumulative death toll in the U.S. could exceed 300,000 by the end of the year. Some voices are calling for the reinstatement of lockdown measures that were lifted after May and for the government to implement strong stimulus measures.

On the 2nd (local time), Deborah Bux, White House COVID-19 Coordinator, said in an interview with CNN, "COVID-19 in the U.S. is now spreading widely across the entire country, not only in cities but also in rural areas," emphasizing, "The pattern is different from March or April when the spread was centered in major cities; both urban and rural areas are equally at risk." This reflects the recent strengthening of COVID-19 spread in rural areas of the Midwest such as Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.

Coordinator Bux explained, "During inspections of 14 states recently, I saw many people traveling for vacations, and especially those who spent their holidays in southern hotspots should assume they are infected," adding, "We need to take more preventive measures, and people who have visited COVID-19 outbreak areas should seriously consider wearing masks even inside their homes."

On the same day, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also warned that if the current spread continues, about 173,000 cumulative deaths will occur nationwide by the 22nd of this month, and over 300,000 cumulative deaths could occur by the end of the year. According to the COVID-19 statistics site Worldometer, as of that day, the cumulative death toll in the U.S. was 157,898, and the cumulative confirmed cases were 4,764,609. The daily death toll recorded 1,123, marking over 1,000 deaths for five consecutive days. The daily death toll in the U.S. had reached a record high of 2,749 on April 21, then dropped to 268 on the 5th of last month, but has surged to over 1,000 since the end of last month.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

There are also calls to reinstate lockdown measures to prevent greater damage. Neel Kashkari, President of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank, said in an interview with CBS, "Even now, implementing strong lockdown measures for 4 to 6 weeks to suppress the spread of COVID-19 would be beneficial for the economy," warning, "If lockdowns are not reinstated now and the virus rages nationwide, lockdowns may have to be imposed for the next 1 to 2 years, which would cause more businesses to go bankrupt."

President Kashkari also emphasized the need for bolder economic stimulus from U.S. politicians. He said, "Currently, with historically low interest rates and substantial savings by Americans, the government can raise funds without relying on foreign borrowing," stressing, "Congress should take this opportunity to support the U.S. economy, and if the economy grows, the debt can be repaid."

However, in the U.S. Congress, confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties over the COVID-19 stimulus package continues, leading to a deadlock. In March, the Democrats proposed a $3 trillion stimulus package, which the Republicans opposed citing a rapid increase in government debt. Then last month, when the Republicans proposed a reduced $1 trillion stimulus package, the Democrats opposed it.