【常速英语广播5分钟】英语新闻20200321

VOA NEWS

March 21, 2020

This is VOA news. I'm Diane Roberts.

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The outbreak has gone on to infect more than 250,000 people across the globe and killed more than 11,000.

Here's AP's Sagar Meghani with more on the dramatic numbers.

The World Health Organization says the virus continues spreading quickly across the globe, saying it took about three months to hit 100,000 confirmed cases and only 12 days to reach the next 100,000.

The Senate today will start negotiating a massive economic relief package likely to top $1 trillion as the nation heads toward a potential recession.

California's ordering all 40 million of its residents to stay home as other states warn of looming critical medical supply shortages.

The Pentagon says more than 4,000 National Guard reservists have deployed in 31 states to help fight the virus.

Sagar Meghani, Washington.

Britain is asking 65,000 retired nurses and doctors to return to work to help fight the coronavirus. AP correspondent Charles De Ledesma reports.

The government is sending letters to thousands of former nurses and retired doctors on the recall. Health Secretary Matt Hancock says he hopes "many, many thousands will respond" to the appeal. Volunteers will be given training over the next few weeks before being allocated to various hospitals, as well final-year nursing and medical students could also be drafted to bolster health care staff.

Britain's coronavirus outbreak is not expected to peak for several weeks. Already, some hospitals have complained about overworked staff and shortages of ventilators and protective equipment such as face masks.

Charles De Ledesma, London.

From Washington, this is VOA news.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence's press secretary said Friday someone in his office has tested positive for the coronavirus.

She says neither President Donald Trump nor Mr. Pence have had close contact with the individual.

Mr. Pence is leading the White House taskforce formed to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

Negotiations on a possible $1 trillion coronavirus economic stimulus bill in the United States seems to have hit a stumbling block.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said agreement by a Friday midnight deadline was becoming elusive with several major issues dividing congressional Republicans and Democrats.

Earlier in the day, President Trump said the United States and Mexico will sharply curtail cross border travel to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

"... during a global pandemic, they threaten to create a perfect storm that would spread the infection to our border agents, migrants and to the public at large."

The United States capital, Washington D.C., has suffered its first death from the new coronavirus.

D.C. Health Director LaQuandra Nesbitt shares more about the patient who died.

"He is a 59-year-old man with a complicated medical history who experienced symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough and shortness of breath, who was admitted to a local hospital just a week ago."

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser says residents of the District of Columbia who would normally be out in droves this time of the year to enjoy the cherry blossoms must heed the call to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

"We need anyone who is not performing an essential service or activity to stay home. Don't treat this like a normal weekend, there will be more weekends, more nice days, and right now we're all focused on flattening the curve."

Also in the U.S., Connecticut and Illinois joined New York and California in ordering residents to stay home to stand the coronavirus pandemic.

In Texas, the governor says tens of thousands of virus cases are possible. But Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee says there are not enough test kits.

"We are asking that the president who understands this morning said 'get it done' is to for him to utilize the Defense Production Act to increase the number of the production of test kits so that we can do massive testing which is what I called for."

The Olympic flame has completed its journey from Greece to Japan. This amid growing fears that Tokyo Games will have to be postponed because of coronavirus fears.

The journey symbolizes a small victory for Olympic Committee officials and local organizers who maintain the Games will open July 24.

The flame arrived aboard an aircraft emblazoned with a logo saying "Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay" and outside with a sign saying "Hope Lights our Way."

I'm Diane Roberts, VOA news.