New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and U.S. President Donald Trump. Image: AP
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Trump brawls with New York’s governor – for respirators
The metropolis of New York is the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic in the United States. The number of confirmed infections there rose to more than 44,600. The number of deaths increased from 385 to 519 within 24 hours.
They are terrifying numbers. But another number probably worries New York governor Andrew Cuomo even more: there is a lack of ventilators.
The intensive care units are overrun in New York anyway. But if the number of people who need artificial ventilation continues to rise, experts and politicians fear a catastrophe.
He needs 30,000 official devices, Governor Cuomo said recently. The federal agency Federal Emergency Management Agency had assured him 400 devices. But that’s not enough. If tens of thousands of devices do not come within a few weeks, “then they have to choose the 26,000 people who must die,” he warned of journalists.
Trump talks the problem down
But one didn’t want to hear this cry for help: Donald Trump. On Thursday evening, the US President told Fox News: “I have the feeling that many of the numbers that are mentioned in some areas are simply larger than they will be.” He doesn’t think 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators are needed.
The counterattack by Cuomo followed on Friday. At a press conference, the Democrat said the facts he quoted were facts, not opinions. “All projections indicate that there could be a high point with 40,000 official devices.”
New York is currently trying hard to massively expand the number of hospital beds available. According to Cuomos, there have been 50,000 beds so far, 140,000 beds are required, 40,000 of them with ventilators. Cuomo announced the construction of four more temporary hospitals.
The worst is yet to come in New York: the governor expects the pandemic to peak in three weeks.
Trump activates war economy law
Donald Trump, who had long talked the coronavirus pandemic down, has now apparently recognized that the US will need more medical equipment. On Friday, he directed General Motors to use a Korean War law to manufacture ventilators.
But he also had a swipe ready for the state of New York and Governor Cuomo. Thousands of devices, supplied by the federal authorities, have been found in New York, Trump tweeted on Friday.
Cuomo called the tweet talking to CNN «Incorrect» and «roughly uninformed». Respirators would now be collected for delivery when needed. The high point of the corona pandemic has not yet been reached in New York.
(ll / with afp)
