US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib shared a projection Thursday that states between 70 and 150 million in the United States could contract COVID-19 before the outbreak subsides.
Tlaib presented this estimate at the House of Representatives, explaining that the upper end of the projection is approximately 46 percent of the more or less 327 million American population.
On the other hand, Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned against focusing on estimates, explaining that projections are based on imagined models.
Fauci highlighted that 80% percent of COVID-19 patients in the states are showing mild symptoms. The mortality rate is about 1%.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced travel restrictions from foreigners coming from 26 countries in the Schengen Area of Europe, most especially those who have been in these countries in the last two weeks. The restrictions do not include the United Kingdom and Ireland. Extra care is given for those traveling from Italy as its the country that is the hardest hit of the virus in Europe.
In Brazil, the press secretary for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonnaro, Fabio Wajngarten tested positive for the virus, according to anonymous sources who spoke with CNN. The concern is that Wajngarten met with Trump in Florida. They went to dinner together at the Mar-a-Lago resort. Photos in the event showed that Trump and Wajngarten stood a few feet apart.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the White House said Trump has no interactions with Wajngarten and the president, therefore, does not require being tested for COVID-19.
In Canada, the wife of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Sophie Gregoire, tested positive for COVID-19. She has since been placed in quarantine, taking all recommended precautions.
Cameron Ahmad, Trudeau's communications director, said the wife's symptoms remain mild. The next step is to trace all the people she has contact with to test them. The prime minister will not be tested since he is showing no symptoms, according to doctors.
In Argentina and Chile, promoters have postponed the famous Lollapalooza festival. The event may be rescheduled for the second half of 2020.
Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru, meanwhile, halted flights to and from Europe. They stopped issuing visas to travelers from the US, China, Japan, South Korea, and European countries. The governments also banned all large public gathering to stop the COVID-19 from spreading.
In Costa Rica, all classes in the universities were canceled.
Here are the total number of cases in the regions of The Americas as of March 12:
United States of America (total cases 987) (new cases 291) (total deaths 29) (new cases 4)
Canada 93 - 0 - 1 - 0
Brazil 52 - 18 - 0 - 0
Chile 23 - 6 - 0 - 0
Argentina 19 - 2 - 1 - 0
Ecuador 17 - 2 - 0 - 0
Peru 17 - 6 - 0 - 0
Costa Rica 13 - 0 - 0 - 0
Mexico 11 - 4 - 0 - 0
Panama 10 - 2 - 1 - 0
Colombia 9 - 6 - 0 - 0
Dominican Republic 5 - 0 - 0 - 0
Paraguay 5 - 0 - 0 - 0
Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 2 - 0 - 0 - 0
Honduras 2 - 2 - 0 - 0
Jamaica 1 - 0 - 0 - 0
