US rushes to build makeshift hospitals as coronavirus death toll rises

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The US government rushed to set up make-shift hospitals on Tuesday as over 850 people died from coronavirus, the highest number in a single day. Hundreds of hospitals are being built close to major cities to help local health care systems struggling at maximum capacity and beyond, Reuters reported.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were planning to construct some 341 hospitals in locations such as hotels, conference centers and open spaces, Lieutenant General Todd Semonite told ABC News.

The army corps has already built a 1000 bed hospital at New York’s Jacob Javits Convention Center. A field hospital is also being built at the Billie Jean King National Tennis in Queens. New York is currently the epicenter of the US outbreak, with nearly 83,712 cases and almost 1,941 deaths as of Wednesday.

In California, Reuters reported, the National Guard was converting a Los Angeles convention center to a federal medical station. As of Wednesday California had 8,704 cases and 184 deaths.

White House medical experts say 100,000 to 240,000 people could die from coronavirus in the United States, although it is hoped that preventive social distancing, sanitation and closure measures will mitigate such an outcome.

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