U.S. reports more than 200,000 COVID-19 cases a day

The daily number of patients confirmed with COVID-19 in the United States has surpassed the 200,000 threshold for the first time. With an ever-tightening lockdown controls across the nation, people in terror and nervousness are rushing back to supermarkets for stockpiling.

Another wave of hoarding everyday products among U.S. shoppers is rising nationwide following the one witnessed at the first peak of the novel coronavirus between March and April. Walmart, Costco and other large-scale warehouse retailers have recently seen toilet paper, bottled water and hand sanitizers rapidly going out of stock, according to U.S. news media. Supermarket chains including Vons and Albertsons ask their shoppers to refrain from buying an excessive amount of products in one go.

State-level quarantine and lockdown controls are getting tougher and tighter in many U.S. regions. California has been nighttime curfews in place statewide since Saturday, by which people are required to stay home from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless they engage in essential activities and jobs. Since last weekend, New Hampshire has made it obligatory to wear a mask in public space. Where social distancing is not available, people aged five and over must keep a mask on at all times.


Jae-Dong Yu jarrett@donga.com