The World Health Organization on Tuesday warned that the United States has the potential to be the next epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization based its warning on how cases of infections and deaths are accelerating in the country.
The US has now a total of 42,164 cases plus 10,591 new cases reported in the past 24 hours. New York City saw the largest number of cases, making at least 5% of the world's total number of infections. Deaths in the nation are now at 471 plus 69 new fatalities in the past 24 hours.
In just a matter of one day, 85% of new cases worldwide were reported in Europe and the US, according to WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris. The US accounted for 40% of the 85% even it's only a single nation compared to Europe which makes up different territories.
As the US grapples with the increasing number of infections and deaths due to the pandemic aside from somewhat wobbly decisions made by US President Donald Trump, analysts expect jobs cut will also become widespread.
Airlines, cruise lines, and several arms of the travel industry are now compelled to reduced employees. According to an estimated from Moody's Analytics, there could be 5 to 6 million jobless individuals by March due to the pandemic.
Moodys said the present situation is shaping to become the largest job loss than any single month in American history. The estimated number even tops the more than 800,000 job losses recorded in march 2009 during the Great Recession.
As the travel industry ends up with job cuts, the essential goods and food industry is hiring more workers to keep serving the high demands due to the pandemic. Groceries and other similar service providers are hiring thousands of full-time, part-time and temporary employees.
CVS is hiring 50,000 new workers while Walmart plans to hire 150,000 across the US. Instacart wants to add 30,000 service shoppers across North America for the next three months.
Amazon plans to hire 100,000 people nationwide while Albertsons wants to hire 30,000 more people. The latter owns Safeway, Randalls, United Supermarkets and other pharmacy chains.
Dollar General is adding 50,000 people by the end of April. While the company expects these positions will be temporary, it is also seeing the potential for long-term career growth opportunities.
PepsiCo, meanwhile, is hiring 6,000 while Papa John's is planning to hire 20,000 people for its locations nationwide.
Domino's plans to hire 10,000 pizza makers, delivery crew, and customer service representatives. Pizza Hut is recruiting 30,000 people in similar positions across the country while 7-Eleven plans to hire 20,000.
