Coronavirus Kills 50,000 in U.S., Epicenter of Global Outbreak

(Bloomberg) --

The death toll from the new coronavirus reached 50,000 in the U.S., now the epicenter of the global outbreak, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

New York City has suffered the most, with more than 16,000 deaths. Some 870,000 people in the U.S. have been infected, with about 20,000 new cases added on Thursday.

Still, some states have begun planning to roll back social-distancing restrictions, facing the dilemma of how to restart the economy without sparking a second wave of infections. Some European countries, including Germany and Austria, are already taking cautious steps toward reopening.

U.S. lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a $484 billion aid bill, which President Donald Trump is expected to sign at noon Friday. The bill includes funding for hospitals, virus testing and small businesses. Some advocates fear it won’t be enough to prop up small businesses affected by the lockdown.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.