Italy virus cases soar again; NY eyes temporary hospitals
Source: AP
By AMY FORLITI and FRANK JORDANS
Italy’s tally of coronavirus cases and deaths continues to soar, with officials on Saturday announcing new day-to-day highs: 793 dead and 6,557 cases.
The country, at the heart of western Europe’s rampaging outbreak, now counts 53,578 known cases.
Across the Atlantic, New York state officials considered establishing temporary hospitals on college campuses and in New York City’s main convention center in preparation for a possible onslaught of coronavirus patients, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Saturday.
Cuomo said the government is seeking to increase hospital bed capacity by 50 percent — up to 25,000 more beds. Officials have also identified 2 million protective masks to send to hot spots.
A municipality worker wearing a face mask and protective suits disinfects chairs outside the the historical Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as Blue Mosque, amid the coronavirus outbreak, in Istanbul, Saturday, March 21, 2020. The new COVID-19 coronavirus can cause mild or moderate symptoms, but for some it can cause severe illness. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
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