Immune To COVID? New Study Suggests Why

More than 50,000 people have died in the U.S. from COVID-19, nearly all of them in just the past month.

Data tracked by Johns Hopkins University illustrates the startling numbers: 591 dead nationwide exactly one month ago today, compared to 50,106 early this afternoon.

Many experts believe the death toll could be even higher, and some states are reviewing deaths in recent months to see if they are related to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.

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The U.S. deaths account for more than one quarter of the 193,671 deaths worldwide. The U.S. has more than 880,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, making up nearly a third of the approximately 2.7 million cases worldwide.

(WATCH: How to Know if It’s Allergies or COVID-19)

The U.S. has more than 866,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. At least 49,759 people have died in the U.S., and more than 79,000 patients have recovered.

Worldwide, the total number of infections is more than 2.7 million, and more than 190,000 people have died. More than 732,000 patients have recovered.

Latest Developments

United States:

-Another U.S. Navy ship is facing a coronavirus outbreak. At least 17 crew members on board the destroyer USS Kidd have tested positive for COVID-19, the Navy said in a statement Friday. The ship is currently deployed to the Caribbean, and the first sailor who exhibited symptoms was flown off the ship. The news comes after more than 800 sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt tested positive.

-Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended her state's stay at home order until May 15 and is requiring that anyone entering a public space wear a face covering. At the same time, Whitmer eased some restrictions outdoor activities.

-Some businesses, including barber shops, nail salons and gyms, opened Friday in Georgia as part of Gov. Brian Kemp's controversial plan to reopen the state's economy. Savannah nail salon owner David Huynh said he had booked 60 appointments. “The phone’s been staying ringing off the hook,” Huynh told the Associated Press. “We’ve probably gotten hundreds of calls in the last hour.” Four customers were waiting at the door when the salon opened. Some proprietors of similar businesses have opted to stay closed. Salons, spas and barbershops also reopened in some parts of Oklahoma.

-Doctors, health experts and others quickly reacted to a suggestion by President Donald Trump during a Thursday briefing that disinfectants could be used inside the body to fight to coronavirus. “My concern is that people will die. People will think this is a good idea,” Craig Spencer, director of global health in emergency medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, told The Washington Post. “This is not willy-nilly, off-the-cuff, maybe-this-will-work advice. This is dangerous.”

-The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched a weekly COVID-19 surveillance report, similar to weekly updates the agency releases during the flu season.

-Trump signed a $484 billion coronavirus relief package on Friday that includes an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program. The PPP was set up to help small businesses continue to pay their workers. In addition, the bill provides $75 billion for hospitals and health care providers to address coronavirus expenses and lost revenue and $25 billion to facilitate and expand COVID-19 testing. The Senate and House both passed the bill earlier this week.

-The USNS Comfort, a Navy hospital ship that's been docked in New York harbor for several weeks to assist with the coronavirus pandemic, is returning soon to its home port in Virginia. New York this week saw its lowest daily increase in cases since March 31.

-Denver officials extended the city’s stay-at-home order and related business closures until May 8, according to the AP.

Worldwide:

-The world's Muslims began celebrating Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, amid deserted holy sites and mosques shuttered due to the coronavirus pandemic, although authorities in a few places allowed large gatherings for communal prayers. At least 10,000 people attended prayers at one mosque in Indonesia’s autonomous province of Aceh, according to local news reports cited by The New York Times.

-Parents in France can choose whether to keep their children home or send them back to school when the country's nationwide lockdown begins to ease on May 11, the AP reported. Restaurants, bars and cafes won't open until June.

-A program designed to facilitate the testing of essential workers in Britain for coronavirus was overwhelmed Friday and had to shut down early.

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.