[Anchor]
The United Sates now has more novel coronavirus infections than China where the disease was first detected.
Data by Johns Hopkins University showed that as of early Friday, the U.S. had nearly 86,000 confirmed cases.
Ron Chang reports.
[Reporter]
The latest U.S. figure is a few thousand more than China and Italy, which has reported the most deaths.
However, the official number from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stands far lower at around 68,000 cases.
The number of fatalities in the U.S. is nearing 1,200.
Some 40 percent of Americans are under lockdown.
President Donald Trump has urged citizens to practice social distancing.
[Clip: Trump: 00:08]
"We say stay at home and save lives. This is a time of shared national sacrifice but it's also a time to treasure our loved ones."
New York has been the hardest hit, with the state scrambling to find enough breathing machines to treat its patients.
Earlier this week, Governor Andrew Cuomo made desperate pleas to other states and the federal government to send ventilators that New York will return when demand slows down.
Meanwhile, China reported 55 new cases on Friday.
The National Health Commission said just one infection was local while the rest were imported.
China has decided to suspend the entry of most foreign nationals from Saturday, including those with valid visas and residence permits, to block infections from overseas.
Ron Chang, eFM News.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>
