Coronavirus cases in the US top other countries

The U.S. has surpassed the rest of the world with the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins.

The U.S. reported more than 86,000 confirmed cases of mid-day March 27, above the nearly 82,000 cases in China and more than 80,000 reported in Italy. Globally, the number of COVID-19 cases has climbed to more than 551,000, with nearly 25,000 deaths.

The rising number of cases in the U.S. marks the nation as the new epicenter of the virus. China and Italy have implemented strict quarantine rules to control the spread of the virus.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS and the Trump administration have eased some regulations to help healthcare providers respond quicker to treat patients. Twenty-nine states have received approval for section 1135 Medicaid waivers as of March 27, granting a variety of flexibilities.

Numerous states and cities have issued their own stay-in-place orders in an attempt to slow the curve of disease’s progression. Within the U.S., New York City has been hit the hardest, with more than 20,000 of the nation’s cases.

See the Johns Hopkins data here.

Amy Baxter

Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."

Around the web

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks. 

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.