This is a regularly updated summary of the coronavirus outbreak in the US.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease, first appeared in China in late December 2019. In the three months since it was first identified, the virus has spread to more than 50 countries, with over 100,000 confirmed cases and 3,800 fatalities reported worldwide.
Some of our other data visualizations:
World | Europe | Italy | Spain | UK | Germany |
Coronavirus basics:
COVID-19 manifests itself through flu-like symptoms. Fever (88%) and dry cough (68%) are, at this moment, the two most common symptoms. Other common symptoms include thick mugus coughed from lungs, shortness of breath, muscle pain, sore throat, headaches, and chills.
The CDC recommends you distance yourself from others, including your family. Designate a bedroom for your own quarantine if possible.
It's likely that you will not get tested unless the symptoms get very bad. Call your provider and tell them you suspect COVID-19. They will guide you through the conversation, mention anything that is relevant (travels, underlying problems, etc).
Basic hygiene still stands! Wash your hands, sneeze in your elbow or in a tissue that you immediately dispose of, don't share glasses or cutlery with anyone.
You should not go to the doctor or your hospital unless you experience severe symptoms (shortness of breath, persistent chest pain, extreme lethargy, or a bluish tint to your lips of face).
CDC's hotline number for questions: 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).
The US is well on its way to reach an exponential growth curve, like Europe and other countries. State after state, the numbers are growing.
The most important thing is to self isolate. Even if you are not afraid of the disease, even if you are healthy and not at risk, you can still become a vector of transmission. To protect the most vulnerable ones, it's important to limit the number of infection.
There might be local support groups in your community where you can help. Blood centers are in need of donations. Stay informed, be prepared, but don't panic -- we shall get through this together.
Latest Updates on the Coronavirus in the US
April 1, 2020
- More than 1,000 New York City police officers have contracted COVID-19 as emergency calls in the city hit record highs.
- U.S. manufacturing activity contracted in March as the coronavirus outbreak continues to pressure the economy
- Companies reduced payrolls by 27,000 in early March before the worst of the coronavirus-induced economic freeze, according to Moody’s Analytics.
- The total US death toll from the coronavirus pandemic topped 4,000, more than double the number from three days earlier, according to a tally by US-based Johns Hopkins University.
March 31, 2020
- The Centers for Disease Control is reconsidering its guidance that healthy people should not wear masks as new data show high rates of transmission by people who are carrying the virus but show no symptoms.
- US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has urged the Trump administration to do more to implement widespread testing and deliver critical health supplies to combat the coronavirus
- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a halt on eviction in the city for people and businesses who can’t pay rent due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the state of California
- The total number of reported cases of coronavirus infection in the United States was at least 161,807, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University
March 30, 2020
- General Motors is quickly moving to repurpose parts of two U.S. facilities from automotive to health care supplies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency is sending refrigerator trucks to New York City to serve as temporary mortuaries for deceased coronavirus patients
- Gov. Andrew Cuomo welcomed the arrival of a Navy hospital ship that will relieve New York hospitals dealing with a rapidly expanding load of coronavirus patients.
- President Donald Trump said U.S. health officials should have a “good idea” whether an anti-malaria drug being tested as a treatment for COVID-19 is effective in fighting the coronavirus in “the next three days.”
March 27, 2020
- House leaders will attempt to pass the $2 trillion economic stabilization plan by voice vote, but the plan could be delayed a day if any lawmaker insists on a recorded vote.
- Certain coronavirus "hot spots" in the United States are expected to see the pandemic hit even harder next week, US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said.
- The mayor of New Rochelle, a city north of New York City, says while the number of coronavirus cases is still increasing, it is rising at a lower rate than it was two weeks ago.
Mach 26, 2020
- US approves $2.2 trillion rescue package... but it's probably not enough.
- A well-written essay about how the pandemic in the US might end.
- Record 3.3m Americans file for unemployment as the US tries to contain Covid-19.
- While the US has overtaken South Korea in total numbers of coronavirus tests administered, it has conducted far fewer tests per capita.
- As US fumbles its coronavirus response, China asserts itself as the world leader.
- Every hotspot has its own curve, experts say.
- How the coronavirus swept through the US.
- Trump wants everything to get back to normal by Easter. It won't happen.
- Trump's deluge of Facebook ads are surprisingly devoid of one important topic: coronavirus.
Mach 25, 2020
- People who intentionally spread the coronavirus could face criminal charges under federal terrorism laws, says Politico.
- President Trump tweeted that he had a good conversation New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, just one day after the two traded criticism of one another about the coronavirus response.
- The National Football League is closing all its team facilities starting today due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- New York Blood Center will be the first blood center to collect blood plasma donations from individuals who have recovered from Covid-19 in order to treat other patients.
March 24, 2020
- The United States could become the new centre of the global coronavirus pandemic, according to the World Health Organization.
- Global stock markets and U.S. futures surged Tuesday after the Federal Reserve promised support to the struggling economy as Congress delayed action on a $2 trillion coronavirus aid package.
- Coronavirus stayed on surfaces for up to 17 days on Diamond Princess cruise, CDC says.
- How a Washington State nursing home became the center of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Millions could die if Trump ends coronavirus shutdown early.
- Senate Democrats and Trump administration officials were optimistic about reaching agreement on a nearly $2 trillion economic package
March 23, 2020
- President Trump signaled that measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus could have their limits.
- US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said the US is looking into why young people in the country are being diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.
- Convicted rapist and disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein tested positive for coronavirus
- The watchdog for the U.S. Health and Human Services Department has issued a fraud alert for coronavirus scams such as fraudulent testing kits and treatment across the country.
- 'America will soon be open for business' -- Trump announces in baffling press release.
- Trump has reportedly been itching to roll back on isolation and other measures, but his own experts disagree.
- US cases top 43,000, several states issue travel rules for New York and New Jersey.
March 22, 2020
- New York experiences what looks to be an unprecedented outbreak.
- Mike Pence tests negative for COVID-19.
- New York governor estimates 40-80% of the state's population will contract the disease.
- US now has the third-highest infection count in the world, and the fastest increase rate.
- 1 in 4 Americans ordered to stay home.
- Coronavirus deepens divide and power struggle between China and US.
- What large US states are doing to fight the disease.
- Disagreements on relief package.
- Heads up for US President Trump to speak at 2100GMT.
- Rand Paul first senator to test positive for coronavirus.
- Cuomo: pandemic could last up to 9 months.
March 21, 2020
- Without severe intervention, the coronavirus is likely to overrun the American medical system.
- What are some realistic best-case and worst-case expectations.
- 75 million Americans told to stay home.
- How the coronavirus became an American catastrophe.
- Fauci contradicts Trump on coronavirus treatment.
- Economic recession is a virtual certainty at this point.
- Member of Vice President Mike Pence's staff tested positive for coronavirus.
- Pence and his wife to be tested.
- Federal spending expected to skyrocket.
- Important CDC resource on how to avoid the virus and what to do if you get it.
- Local news outlets face their own crisis, struggling to cope with the situation.
- Stocks experience worst week since 2008.
- Primary elections in two states delayed over coronavirus fears.
March 20, 2020
- U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 4 p.m. ET: 16,638 — Total deaths: 216 — Total recoveries: 121.
- New York non-essential work force has been ordered to stay home.
- After New York, Connecticut announces severe containment measures.
- No area is miraculously spared: one after another, all states are reporting surges in infections.
- US infection curve almost a perfect fit to that of Italy.
- The federal government spending is expected to skyrocket.
- Outrage over students who continue partying during the outbreak.
- The IRS will move the national income tax filing day to July 15, three months after the normal deadline for Americans to send in their returns.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom of California ordered all 40 million Californians to stay at home as much as possible in the coming weeks
March 19, 2020
- The State Department raised its global travel advisory to the Level 4, the highest possible, warning Americans against traveling abroad
- President Trump said that his administration had “slashed red tape” to develop vaccines and therapies “as fast as it can possibly be done."
- Senate Republicans are racing to agree on a $1 trillion economic rescue package to prevent the country from teetering into economic collapse
- American adults of all ages — not just those in their 70s, 80s and 90s — are being seriously sickened by the coronavirus, according to a report on nearly 2,500 cases.
- More than 3,600 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in New York City, marking another significant spike in tracking the deadly disease
March 18, 2020
- The US plans to immediately turn back all asylum seekers and foreigners attempting to enter the United States from Mexico illegally.
- Every state now has coronavirus after West Virginia reported its first case. Nationwide, more than 6,100 people have been infected, and more than 100 have died.
- At least 39 states have shut down schools. In several states, including New York and New Jersey, restaurant customers can't sit in restaurants or bars.
- The US and Canada have mutually agreed to close their border to non-essential traffic to stem the flow of the virus.
March 17, 2020
- The government talking to Congress about sending checks to US citizens over the next two weeks to deal with the economic impact of coronavirus
- Seven million residents in the San Francisco Bay Area have been ordered to mostly confine themselves to their homes
- Voters did not go to the polls Tuesday in Ohio, where the presidential primary was postponed
March 16, 2020
- CDC recommends that U.S. citizens should cancel all the events involving 50 or more people until mid-May.
- New York City closed its 1,900 public schools. Bars and restaurants will also be closed, limited to take out and delivery.
- The coronavirus pandemic will bankrupt most airlines worldwide by the end of May unless governments step in.
- The U.S. Navy reported its first suspected case of the new coronavirus aboard a ship, saying a sailor had tested positive for the disease.
March 15, 2020
- Fed cuts interest rates to near zero in emergency coronavirus intervention.
- Trump's handling of the situation called "delusional", might have delayed crucial action.
- Ohio, Illinois order bars and restaurants to close.
- California calls on bars, nightclubs and wineries to close, but has not made any official move.
- New York City will close public schools.
- Worst-case estimates suggest that over 20 million people in the US could require hospitalization.
- Trump's claim that Google is building a website to help people determine whether they need a test for COVID-19 has been denied by Google. The project (carried not by Google, but by the Verily, the life sciences unit of parent company Alphabet) is "in the early stages of development".
- West Virginia the only US state without a coronavirus case.
- Coronavirus expected to surge in New York City. However, the situation is exacerbated by a fake story on Twitter.
- Trump tests negative for the coronavirus.
- Candidates prepare for an election season without rallies.
- Airport screenings cause massive confusion at numerous airports.
March 14, 2020
- Government declares state of emergency -- a de facto admission of failure after just one week ago, the US administration was downplaying the risks of the current Covid-19 outbreak.
- US to extend travel ban to UK and Ireland.
- Here's what the newly announced state of emergency entails. Here is another, more technical explainer.
- Number of COVID-19 cases in the US rises sharply -- as many feared, the disease spread far beyond official figures. Unfortunately, the delay in mass testing means much is still unknown about the outbreak in the US.
- Trump says he takes no responsibility for any coronavirus failures.
- The US was painfully slow in taking any action to prevent the outbreak, experts say. We knew about this problem since January, and yet little measures were taken -- particularly at airports, where it would have mattered most.
March 13, 2020
- Late Thursday night, Alaska announced its first confirmed coronavirus case.
- President Trump's partial travel ban to Europe enters in effect today at 11:59 pm.
March 12, 2020
- Vice President Mike Pence said thousand more cases of coronavirus are expected in the US, The New York Times reports. Americans returning from Europe would need to quarantine themselves for 14 days, he adds.
- A senior Brazilian official who was with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago days ago has tested positive for the virus, according to The New York Times. Fábio Wajngarten, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s communications chief, was in close proximity to President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence and was tested positive for the virus some time after meeting President Trump.
- The actor Tom Hanks said on Wednesday that he and his wife, Rita Wilson, have the coronavirus.
- President Trump ordered a ban on travel from Europe for 30 days, according to The New York Times; the restriction does not apply to the UK. The measure was taken "to stem the spread of the coronavirus". A Belgian ambassador in DC (who asked to remain anonymous) said Europe didn't expect anything "this drastic," according to CNN, adding that he doesn't understand why the UK was made exempt.
- US priest who shook hands with more than 500 worshippers infected with virus.
- Costco is suspending free samples over safety concerns with the spread of the coronavirus.
- Trump visited the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Georgia on Friday, which was a stopover on his way to Mar-a-Lago where he played golf Saturday and Sunday instead of keeping on top of the growing COVID-19 crisis.
- The US State Department "advises US citizens to reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of Covid-19. Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing Covid-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveler mobility, including quarantines and border restrictions," it explained in a statement.
- The NBA announced that it will suspend the current season after Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz) tested positive for the coronavirus, the Washington Post reports.
- North Dakota has just announced the state's first case of coronavirus.
- An employee in the office of Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office has tested positive for the virus, the first known case involving a congressional staffer.The actor Tom Hanks said on Wednesday that he and his wife, Rita Wilson, have the coronavirus.Tom Hanks Says He Has Coronavirus
- President Trump ordered a ban on travel from Europe for 30 days, according to The New York Times; the restriction does not apply to the UK. The measure was taken "to stem the spread of the coronavirus". A Belgian ambassador in DC (who asked to remain anonymous) said Europe didn't expect anything "this drastic," according to CNN, adding that he doesn't understand why the UK was made exempt.
- US priest who shook hands with more than 500 worshippers infected with virus.
- Costco is suspending free samples over safety concerns with the spread of the coronavirus.
- Trump visited the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Georgia on Friday, which was a stopover on his way to Mar-a-Lago where he played golf Saturday and Sunday instead of keeping on top of the growing COVID-19 crisis.
- The US State Department "advises US citizens to reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of Covid-19. Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing Covid-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveler mobility, including quarantines and border restrictions," it explained in a statement.
- The NBA announced that it will suspend the current season after Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz) tested positive for the coronavirus, the Washington Post reports.
- North Dakota has just announced the state's first case of coronavirus.
- An employee in the office of Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office has tested positive for the virus, the first known case involving a congressional staffer.
March 11, 2020
- The worst is yet to come, experts say.
- Over 1,200 confirmed cases in the US. Most large events canceled.
- Top US health experts confirm: it’s much worse than the flu.
- White House wants to classify coronavirus deliberations, sources are saying.
- COVID-19 officially declared a pandemic.
- Coronavirus found on cruise ship.
- Coronavirus testing has been surprisingly slow and confusing in the US — the confusion continues.
- There are concerns that faulty and delayed testing means that the outbreak is more advanced than currently believed. CDC is developing serologic tests that could reveal the full scope of U.S. coronavirus outbreak
Cases, charts, and maps on the coronavirus situations by state
State of emergency across US states
Besides New York, Washington, and California, a growing number of states have declared emergencies in order to contain the spread of the virus. These include Oregon, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, and Utah.
How to get tested for the novel coronavirus
According to Stephen Hahn, FDA Commissioner, over 1,500 people have been tested for COVID-19 so far. In order to get tested, you must visit your doctor, who has to approve the procedure.
Your doctor will swab the nose or throat, collect phlegm coughed up from the lungs, or squirt liquid into the nose, throat, or lungs and collect the liquid again. This sample is then sent to a laboratory for testing. This time-consuming process is part of the reason why the COVID-19 situation in the United States is likely underreported.
On March 6, government officials announced that a million test kits for COVID-19 will soon be available over mail. You'll still have to have the procedure performed by a doctor or health worker.
The country's testing capacity will soon be greatly expanded once kits provided by LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics receive FDA approval.
But, for the moment, "we still find ourselves as a country with pretty limited capacity to test," said Michael Mina, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
This story is still ongoing and will be updated with further data and information as they surface.