国际英语资讯:Spotlight: U.S. COVID-19 deaths top 50,000, debates heating up over reopening economy_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: U.S. COVID-19 deaths top 50,000, debates heating up over reopening economy

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- More than 50,000 people have died of COVID-19 in the United States while debates are heightening over reopening the country's economy severely battered by the virus.

A total of 870,468 cases have been reported in the United States with the death toll reaching 50,031 as of 11 a.m. Friday (1500 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.

The state of New York suffered the most, with 263,460 cases and 20,982 deaths. In other hardest-hit states, New Jersey reported 5,426 fatalities, Michigan reported 2,977 deaths and Massachusetts recorded 2,360 deaths, the data showed.

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: U.S. COVID-19 deaths top 50,000, debates heating up over reopening economy1

With the largest number of known cases in the world, the United States is seeing disputes heating up over loosening social distancing restrictions and reopening the economy.

Several states are moving toward restarting their economies after the federal government issued new guidelines to reopen the country in phases. Many others remain hesitant to take such steps without more robust testing capacity.

Georgia moved ahead on Friday with plans to allow some nonessential businesses such as gyms, barber shops, hair salons, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys to reopen with strict social-distancing and hygiene requirements.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee outlined on Friday the first steps from the "Tennessee Pledge," the state's guidance for reopening businesses during the pandemic. These guidelines apply to 89 of the state's 95 counties. Restaurant and retail industries are among the first to open.