U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Top 1,000 as Trump Signs ‘Major’ Disaster Declarations in Texas, Florida

HEALTH OFFICIALS IN THE U.S. report nearly 70,000 cases of the coronavirus and more than 1,000 deaths, according to researchers.

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The new totals come after the U.S. on Wednesday recorded its deadliest day yet from the virus, adding over 200 fatalities.

On Wednesday morning, the U.S. case total stood at 55,000. If countries show roughly the same increase in cases on Thursday as they did in the previous 24 hours, the U.S. is on track to exceed both Italy and China as the nation with the most reported cases.

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Cases in New York and California are multiplying quickly.

New York health officials reported more than 30,000 cases as of Wednesday. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state needs more hospital capacity, medical supplies and health care workers. New York is just the first state to experience the surge of cases and hospitalizations, he said, and others will come next.

In California, the case count is doubling every three to four days, The Los Angeles Times reports. Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state has tested nearly 67,000 people.

The White House on Wednesday announced that President Trump signed "major" disaster declarations for Texas and Florida, both of which have seen case numbers more than double in the past week.

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"The President's declaration opens up new sources of funding for individual and public assistance that will help Texas respond to this public health emergency and protect public health and safety," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order this week requiring people flying in from New York to self-isolate for 14 days. The White House coronavirus task force later supported the move, saying 60% of new U.S. cases were coming from New York.

The Senate late Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a massive stimulus package aimed at offsetting some of the economic damage done by the virus. The roughly $2.2 trillion measure is the largest economic relief bill in U.S. history.

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The House is expected to vote on the bill, which includes direct pay to Americans and an expansion of unemployment insurance, on Friday.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday said the world "squandered" its first window of opportunity to control the virus. Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also cautioned against opening schools and businesses too soon, saying it could bring a resurgence in cases. His comments come after Trump on Tuesday said he wanted the U.S. "opened up and just raring to go by Easter," a timeline he said was his idea, not that of medical experts.