US approaches one million coronavirus cases as states loosen restrictions

America now has one third of world's cases of virus

US President Donald Trump faces criticism after he suggested that disinfectants could be used to cure coronavirus. AP

Reported coronavirus cases in the US approached the one million mark on Monday, as several states began to loosen restrictions and slowly reopen.

US cases passed 976,000 by midday on Monday, with more than 55,000 deaths reported, figures from Johns Hopkins University showed.

The latest numbers translate to a third of global coronavirus cases and a quarter of world deaths.

But several US states loosened restrictions and were gradually reopening on Monday, including Alaska, South Carolina, Colorado, Oklahoma, Michigan, Mississippi and Georgia.

Georgia allowed non-essential businesses to open, angering public health officials and US President Donald Trump, who criticised the decision.

Back at the White House, the daily briefing was initially cancelled then reinstated by Mr Trump.

“Today we are not tracking a briefing,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told Fox News on Monday morning.

But about 1pm, Ms McEnany tweeted that Mr Trump would host a briefing at 5pm.

There has been widespread criticism of his remarks last Thursday suggesting that disinfectants could be injected to cure the virus.

Ms McEnany, asked if the president would clarify his comments, said the question had been “answered a dozen times”.

The White House coronavirus task force also cut back its meetings.

The team met only once at the weekend, calling it “a rarity” and a break from its daily meetings since it was assembled, CNN reported.

Mr Trump’s favourability ratings dropped to an average of 43 per cent, polling company Five Thirty Eight said, as the pandemic took a political and economic toll on the administration.

But on Monday, US stocks opened higher even as crude oil prices plummeted. The Dow opened up 0.5 per cent and the Nasdaq 0.9 per cent.

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  A volunteer with the Red Cross shows a doorway between beds in a mobile hospital set up in partnership with the Canadian Red Cross in the Jacques-Lemaire Arena to help care for patients with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from long-term centres (CHSLDs), in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. REUTERS

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  Protestors demonstrate against new safer-at-home orders during the “End the Lockdown Now” rally at the Colorado Capital in Denver, Colorado. Stay-at-home orders have been in place throughout the US to protect against the spread of the novel coronavirus, and has led to a week of demonstrations across the country. AFP

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  A health worker disinfects the Angel de la Independencia monument at the Reforma Avenue in Mexico City. AFP

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  A empty Street is seen in Times Square amid the coronavirus pandemic in New York City. New York, which has ground to a halt to stop the coronavirus pandemic, may start reopening manufacturing and construction after May 15, Governor Andrew Cuomo said April 26, 2020. AFP

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  An official in a hazmat suit waits inside a high school entrance as a student arrives in Beijing. Senior students returned to class for the first time since schools were closed down in January as part of efforts to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. AFP

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  A supporter of anti-quarantine Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro displays a Brazilian flag during a motorcade against the president of the Chamber of Deputies Rodrigo Maia and the quarantine and social distance measures imposed by governors and mayors to combat the novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, in Brasilia. A total of 202,994 people have died worldwide since the epidemic surfaced in China in December, according to an AFP tally at 1100 GMT Sunday based on official sources. AFP

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  Joan, 45, chases his daughters Ines, 11, and Mar, 9, as they play in the street in Barcelona, during a national lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease. After six weeks stuck at home, Spain's children were being allowed out today to run, play or go for a walk as the government eased one of the world's toughest coronavirus lockdowns. Spain is one of the hardest hit countries, with a death toll running a more than 23,000 to put it behind only the United States and Italy despite stringent restrictions imposed from March 14, including keeping all children indoors. Today, with their scooters, tricycles or in prams, the children accompanied by their parents came out onto largely deserted streets. AFP

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  A woman and her son walk at the Yacht Club Portixol in Palma de Mallorca during a national lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease. After six weeks stuck at home, Spain's children were being allowed out today to run, play or go for a walk as the government eased one of the world's toughest coronavirus lockdowns. Spain is one of the hardest hit countries, with a death toll running a more than 23,000 to put it behind only the United States and Italy despite stringent restrictions imposed from March 14, including keeping all children indoors. Today, with their scooters, tricycles or in prams, the children accompanied by their parents came out onto largely deserted streets. AFP

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  Anti-government protesters stage a rally at a shopping mall in Hong Kong, China. REUTERS

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  Kilian, 6, wears a protective face mask as he jumps from a bench, after restrictions were partially lifted for children, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Igualada, Spain. REUTERS

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  A boy looks out from his home under enhanced lockdown, during the movement control order due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Selayang, Malaysia. REUTERS

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  Municipal workers decontaminate a market area during an extended nationwide lockdown to slow the spreading of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Kolkata, India. REUTERS

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  Anna Bassil runs a marathon distance dressed as a cake around her garden in St Albans. The London Marathon was due to take place today but was postponed following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), St Albans, Britain. REUTERS

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  A deserted Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Waverley Council is expected to open Bondi Beach, and the neighbouring Bronte Beach, from 7am to 5pm on weekdays, starting 28 April. EPA

In New York, which still has the highest number of cases and deaths in the country, a self-swab test was announced and would be made available this week.

The state’s Democratic Party said it was cancelling its primary election on June 23 because of the pandemic. Other states have opted for mail-in vote.

The Democrats' presumptive presidential candidate Joe Biden continued to criticise the Trump administration for not doing enough in testing and economic disparities.

In a new campaign memo, the former vice president said: “We are still seeing a massive shortfall and extensive disparities between states in testing. That’s unacceptable.

"And those failures are in no small part due to the federal government mishandling and delaying the pandemic response.

"We are now several months into this crisis and this administration refuses to own up to the original sin of its failed response – the failure to test.”

Polls are giving a boost to the Biden campaign in swing states including Pennsylvania, Florida, Wisconsin and Michigan.

But with the election six months away on November 3, the momentum and numbers could switch between the two candidates.