Coronavirus live news: US hospitals stretched to limits; Pfizer seeks vaccine approval 'in days'

New data shows treatment more efficient than thought; US deaths pass 250,000; Swiss intensive care units at full capacity. Follow the updates

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11.48pm GMT

The United States is struggling to cope with the devastating spread of the virus. Fatalities related to Covid-19 have passed 250,000 within the last hour marking a terrible milstone for the nation.

Associated Press reports another grim figure showing that 77,000 people are in hospital in the US suffering from the virus. Many emergency wards have been set up, including one in the car park of a hospital in Reno, Nevada, as staff struggle to cope.

11.36pm GMT

Morning/afternoon/evening everyone. I’m Martin Farrer and thanks for joining me for updates on the coronavirus pandemic.

The main development today is that deaths from Covid-19 have passed 250,000 in the United States. According to Johns Hopkins University, 250,029 Americans have now died of the virus and there have been 11,485,176 confirmed cases. There are now 77,000 people hospitalised with Covid in the US.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2IQOQh0