Immune To COVID? New Study Suggests Why

Cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. topped 400,000 Wednesday, more than twice the number reported in any other country so far.

The somber milestone came the day after the nation recorded nearly 2,000 deaths and marked its single deadliest day since the first U.S. fatality from the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus was reported on Feb. 28.

In all, there were 423,135 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of Wednesday evening, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. More than 14,000 people have died and some 23,000 have recovered.

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Worldwide, at least 1.5 million people have been stricken and more than 87,000 have died.

Latest Developments

United States:

-A new report drafted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine cast doubt on some studies that have projected the spread of the virus to slow down in warmer months. The report cited the fact that "countries currently in ‘summer’ climates, such as Australia and Iran," are experiencing high levels of transmission.

-Some experts are predicting another record-breaking number of unemployment claims when data for the past week is reported on Thursday, The Associated Press reported. Nearly 10 million people applied for benefits in the past two weeks as businesses across the nation shut down due to the pandemic and its economic fallout.

-Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease doctor and a top medical advisor to the White House, said at a news briefing Tuesday that he expects schools will be able to reopen in the fall. Several states have already moved to online learning for the rest of the year, while others have canceled classes through the end of the month or longer.

-The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering loosening guidance on self-isolation for those who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 but aren't showing any symptoms.

-The federal government is buying 30,000 ventilators from General Motors, the Associated Press reports. The purchase is expected to be completed by the end of August and will cost more than $489 million. GM said the price covers its costs but the company will not make a profit on the deal.

-Some $250,000 worth of N95 masks, gloves and other personal protective gear intended for health care workers and first responders was stolen from a warehouse in Hawaii, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

-A second field hospital is in opening in New Jersey.

-Wyoming remains the only state in the U.S. not to report a death from COVID-19.

-The death toll in New York City climbed to 4,009 overnight, a day after surpassing the number of people killed in the city during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

-Behind New York and Jersey, the states with the most confirmed cases are Michigan, California, Louisiana, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

-The Miami Beach Convention Center is being converted into a field hospital. Florida has 14,747 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with most of them concentrated in the southern part of the state.

-Black people make up 30% of the population in Chicago, but they account for 68% of the city’s 118 COVID-19 deaths and 52% of the roughly 5,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, according to data from the Chicago Department of Public Health. That means they are dying at a rate nearly six times higher than that of white Chicagoans, the Washington Post reports, and that disparity is starting to emerge in other major cities including Milwaukee, Detroit and New Orleans.

Worldwide:

-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in stable condition in intensive care where he is being treated for COVID-19.

-Spain has recorded nearly 147,000 cases, the second highest number outside of the U.S. Italy, France and Germany are next, in that order.

-The Tokyo Olympic flame was removed from public display in Fukishima, Japan, where it had been since it remained in the country from Greece on March 26, the AP reported. The plan was to have the flame on display through the end of April, but it was taken down early after a state of emergency as issued in Japan, including limits on gathering of large crowds. The Tokyo Olympics and the torch relay have been postponed until next year.

-More than half of the 217 passengers on board a cruise ship off Uruguay, including many who are from the U.S., Europe and Australia, have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the AP. The ship left on March 15 for a voyage to Antarctica and South Georgia. Aurora Expeditions, the company that operates the cruise, said none of the passengers had fevers or displayed any symptoms.

For the latest coronavirus information in your county and a full list of important resources to help you make the smartest decisions regarding the disease, check out our dedicated COVID-19 page.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.