Health officials continued to warn Americans on Friday that the novel coronavirus outbreak in the United States would get a lot worse before things get better, but that stay-at-home orders and social distancing was making a difference.

Meanwhile, the U.S. economy posted a loss of more than 700,000 jobs in April, bringing an end to a decadelong era of job creation as COVID-10 continues to keep businesses shuttered and people at home.

Here is your COVID-19 update for Friday, April 3rd, 2020:

Coronavirus Death Toll in U.S. Surpasses 6,000 as More than 245,000 Cases Confirmed Nationwide

The number of coronavirus infections in the United States surpassed 245,000 with more than 1 million confirmed cases worldwide, data collected by Johns Hopkins University showed Friday morning. The death toll in the U.S. also climbed above 6,000, with the vast majority of those deaths occurring in New York state where more than 1,500 people have died.

More than 1,000 deaths were recorded in the 24-hour period between Thursday and Friday alone, the data showed.

The situation has also prompted the Federal Emergency Management Agency to request 100,000 body bags from the U.S. Department of Defense, due to concerns that funeral homes and morgues across the country will be overwhelmed by the number of people who pass away over the next few months, ABC News reports.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Thursday night during a CNN town hall that he believes there should be a nationwide stay-at-home order.

"The tension between federally mandated versus states rights to do what they want is something I don’t want to get into,” Fauci said. "But if you look at what is going on in this country, I do not understand why we are not doing that. We really should be."

Nearly 40 states have issued some kind of restrictions on movement and business as part of the effort to curb the spread of the coronvirus, though the severity of restrictions can vary widely from state-to-state.

Dr. Fauci told "Fox & Friends" Friday morning that the COVID-19 pandemic in the US will "get worse, much worse, before it gets better."

"There's no doubt in my mind or anyone who knows anything about this, that the mitigation activities, the physical separation that we're doing clearly is having a positive impact," he added, urging people to continue to follow social distancing recommendations.

Health Officials Expected to Urge Americans Living in Coronavirus Hot Spots to Wear Face Coverings

Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday hinted that the White House Coronavirus Task Force would begin recommending Americans who live in areas of high coronavirus transmission wear some kind of cloth face covering when they go out in public to help curb the spread of the disease.

The mask advisory is based on new guidance outlined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pence said, adding that it was based on "consultation and advice from the CDC and top health experts."

The new guidelines for masks would be released "in the days ahead" Pence said.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcettiurged Angelenos on Wednesday to begin wearing any type of protective face coverings when they go out in public, but warned it shouldn't give people a false sense of security.

“I know it will look surreal. We're going to have to get used to seeing each other like this,” Garcetti said Wednesday as he put on a black cloth mask during his daily coronavirus briefing. “To be clear, you should still stay at home. This isn't an excuse to suddenly all go out.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasioissued a similar order at a news conference on Thursday.

"We're advising New Yorkers to wear a face covering when you go outside and near other people," said de Blasio said. "It can be a scarf, it can be something you create at home, it can be a bandana."

Residents are being asked to avoid purchasing medical grade masks, such as N95 and surgical masks because those are desperately needed for frontline workers such as doctors and first responders.

Initial guidelines published by the CDC advised Americans against using masks unless they were infected with the virus or worked as a medical professional. Many experts fear that masks would give people a false sense of security and they would stop practicing good social distancing measures.

At Thursday's daily White House press briefing, President Donald Trump said he did not believe wearing masks would be made a requirement.

"I don't think they'll be mandatory, because some people don't want to do that," he said. "If people wanted to wear them, they can. If people want to use scarves, which they have, many people have them, they can. In many cases the scarf is better, it's thicker, depending on the material."

National News

Oldies 93.5 · Columbia & Greene’s Greatest Hits of the 60s, 70s & 80s