The US has reported more than 83,000 cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, a new daily record for the world's worst affected country. Data from Johns Hopkins University shows there were 83,757 cases confirmed on Friday, as well as 6,306 deaths attributed to COVID-19. A total of 223,975 deaths have now been recorded in the country. The huge surge in cases came as hospitals warned they were running out of space for new patients. "We've essentially shut down an entire floor of our hospital. We've had to double rooms. We've bought more hospital beds," said Dr. Robert Scoggins, a pulmonologist at the Kootenai Health hospital in northern Idaho. "Our hospital is not built for a pandemic." In the southern Idaho city of Twin Falls, St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center said it would no longer accept children because it is overwhelmed with coronavirus patients. Except for newborns, all under age 18 will be sent 128 miles (206 kilometers) away in Boise. Utah's Gov. Gary Herbert proclaimed Friday to be "a record day for Utah — but not a good one" as COVID-19 cases reached an all-time high for the state. "Up until now, our hospitals have been able to provide good care to all COVID and non-COVID patients who need it," he said. "But today we stand on the brink. If Utahans do not take serious steps to limit group gatherings and wear masks, our healthcare providers will not have the ability to provide quality care for everyone who needs it." On Thursday the US recorded 71,671 new cases. The US surge mirrors a similarly widespread spike in Europe, where Rome, Paris and other major cities are reining in nightlife as part of the increasingly drastic measures undertaken to slow the spread of the pandemic. The head of the World Health Organization warned that countries in the Northern Hemisphere are at a "critical juncture" as cases and deaths continue to rise. "The next few months are going to be very tough and some countries are on a dangerous track," said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press briefing on Friday. In India, former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis Saturday said in a tweet that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and asked those who have come in contact with him to get themselves tested. "Taking all medication & treatment as per the advice of the doctors. I have been working every single day since the lockdown but now it seems that God wants me to stop for a while and take a break! I have tested #COVID19 positive and in isolation. Taking all medication & treatment as per the advice of the doctors," Fadnavis tweeted. India on Saturday recorded 53,370 new COVID-19 cases, taking its total caseload to 78,14,682, while 650 fatalities pushed the death toll to 1,17,956, according to data from the Union Health Ministry. Active coronavirus cases in the country stand at 6,80,680 while 70,16,046 people have recovered from the disease so far, the data stated. The national recovery rate has improved to 89.78 percent, the ministry said. Russia said Saturday 296 persons dies of coronavirus while 16,521 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. The coronavirus operations center said in a statement total deaths reached 24,821 and registered infections increased to 1,497,167. It added 11,567 people recovered from the virus as the number reached 1,130,818. China on Saturday reported 28 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours and all cases came from abroad. No deaths occurred. The National Health Commission was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying the tally of deaths and infections, reached 4,634 and 85,775 respectively. The tally of recoveries hit 80,876 with the discharge of 11 people within the last 24 hours revealed the commission, adding that 248 were still receiving treatment. In Mexico City, Mexico reported 6,604 additional cases of the novel coronavirus and 418 more deaths in the country, bringing the official number of cases to 880,775 and the death toll to 88,312, Reuters cited the Mexican Health Ministry as saying. Health officials have said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases. — Agencies
