COVID-19 Infections: 9 Million Worldwide, 2.3 Million in the US

Despite US Infection Spread, White House Official Says "No Second Wave"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The cumulative number of COVID-19 infections in the United States is on the verge of surpassing 2.3 million. The spread shows no signs of stopping, with several states recording record-high new infections. The global number of infections has also exceeded 9 million.

According to Johns Hopkins University on the 22nd (local time), the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. was estimated at 2,292,000. CNN also reported that 10 states including California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah recorded their highest number of new infections.

The cumulative number of infections in Florida surpassed 100,000 on the same day. The states in the U.S. with cumulative infections exceeding 100,000 include New York, California, New Jersey, Illinois, Texas, Massachusetts, and Florida. While infections are under control in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Massachusetts, the number of infections in California, Texas, and Florida continues to rise sharply every day.

The global number of infections has also surpassed 9 million. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently expressed concern that the number of new infections worldwide has reached an all-time high, indicating that the spread is not stopping globally. Following the U.S. nearing 2.3 million cases, Brazil (1.08 million) and India (420,000) are also failing to control infections and are setting new daily records for new infections. The spread in Peru and Chile in Latin America is also serious.

Experts continue to express concerns. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), appeared on CBS the day before and said, "We are seeing a resurgence of COVID-19 in the South and Southwest because these regions never actually eliminated the virus." Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, said, "I think this is more like a wildfire," and added, "I don't think this will be delayed."

Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the U.S. National Institutes of Health, said in an interview with Axios that the increase in COVID-19 cases among young Americans is "not surprising" and expressed concern that infections among young people could spread to high-risk groups such as the elderly.

Although COVID-19 is already showing signs of resurgence, Larry Kudlow, chairman of the White House National Economic Council (NEC), dismissed the possibility of a 'second wave.'

Kudlow appeared on CNBC on the same day and said, "There are some hotspots," but added, "We know how to handle this issue. We have come a long way since last winter, and a second wave will not come."

Peter Navarro, director of the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, appeared on CNN the day before and was asked if preparations were being made for a second wave in the fall. He said, "We prepare for what might happen," but later clarified amid controversy, "I'm not saying that a second wave will happen."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.