USA Officially Has Most COVID Deaths In The World, Passing Italy

The United States has surpassed Italy in total deaths. The US now not only leads the world in coronavirus cases, but it also has the highest death toll of any country.

The United States has suffered 20,455 deaths as of Saturday afternoon. Italy is a close second with 19,468 deaths, and Spain has the third highest number of coronavirus related deaths with 16,480. In comparison, US has a total of 528,990 confirmed cases, Spain has the second highest number of cases globally with 161,852, and Italy comes in third with 152,271 total cases.

The US ranks 6th in the world for recovered patients with 29,436. Currently, out of all cases that have either recovered or resulted in death, around 40% of cases result in death. However, recovered cases have been slow to report and may not be a complete count. Globally, the percentage of closed cases that result in deaths are 21%.

Within the US, Pennsylvania has the 5th highest number of total cases in the country with 21,655 cases. Pennsylvania has suffered 494 deaths, 42% of the total closed cases within the state.

Luzerne County Currently has the 5th highest number of cases out of all 67 Counties in Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, Lehigh Valley Health Network has recently changed their criteria for testing individuals suspected to have coronavirus. Under the new criteria, only symptomatic people ages 65 and over, symptomatic people at a higher risk of complications and other defined symptomatic at-risk people will be tested for COVID-19.

People with symptoms of the coronavirus who live within the same home as someone confirmed to have the virus will no longer be tested. These patients will be presumed to have the virus. Asymptomatic patients will no longer be tested at any LVHN test centers.