Washington, May 5 (RHC)-- There are now over 3.5 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus around the world, with nearly one-quarter of a million reported deaths.  The United States makes up close to one-third of confirmed cases and a quarter of known deaths, even though it represents less than 5% of the world’s population. 

U.S. President Donald Trump has projected the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 may top 100,000, revising statements he made in recent weeks putting the projected number as low as 50,000.  The official U.S. death toll is around 68,000, but many researchers believe the actual number is significantly higher. 

In related news, in New York City, a nursing home has reported a staggering 98 residents’ deaths linked to the coronavirus.  Until Friday, the official number of coronavirus deaths reported by the state for the facility was only 13.  The Isabella Geriatric Center said it had to order a refrigerator truck to store dead bodies because overburdened funeral homes had been taking days to pick them up.