Coronavirus USA Update: US Death Toll At 65; 3,349 Confirmed Cases

The United States will definitely see more infections from COVID-19 and more deaths even as confirmed cases on Sunday hit 3,349 in 49 states while deaths jumped to 65. Only West Virginia has no confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The warning of the coronavirus' relentless spread abetted by earlier federal government miscues on testing was made Sunday by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

"We have not yet reached our peak," said Dr. Fauci, who also warned life in the U.S. will change while the country fights the pandemic.

"For a while, life is not going to be the way it used to be in the United States," explained Dr. Fauci on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday morning. "We have to just accept that if we want to do what's best for the American public."

As of Sunday, there were 3,349 coronavirus cases in 49 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington D.C., as compiled by CNN based on data from federal, state, private and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least 65 people have died.

The nonstop advance of COVID-19 in the U.S. can be illustrated in its stunning progress since last Friday. There was a roughly 40% jump in the number of confirmed COVID-19 on Saturday compared to Friday, a huge single day spike in cases and deaths since the coronavirus first appeared on January 21.

There were at least 2,816 cases in the U.S., as of 9:45 pm ET, Saturday, according to a compilation by CNN. This total is 38.5% higher than the comparable total for Friday. A total of 58 people died.

In contrast and as of Friday evening on the East Coast at about the same time, there were 2,033 cases (including the 70 China and Japan repatriates) based on CNN totals. There were 41 U.S. deaths. Of this total, 31 were Washington, 4 in California, 2 in Florida, and one each in New Jersey, South Dakota, Georgia, and Kansas. The deaths reported Saturday were 41% higher than the comparable time on Friday.

COVID-19 news highlights on Sunday:

• CDC recommends closing all schools in the country for eight weeks or more. It asserts this recommendation will have more of an impact when it comes to flattening the coronavirus infection curve and preventing widespread infection.
• Guam confirmed its first three COVID-19 cases.
• Connecticut ordered all schools to close after March 16 until at least March 31.
• Ohio ordered all restaurants in the state closed at 9:00 p.m. with the exception of carryout and delivery services. It reported 36 confirmed cases and has 350 suspected cases on the books.
• Illinois governor J. B. Pritzker ordered bars and restaurants to close dining room service from March 16 to March 30. Delivery, carry-out, and curbside service are still allowed, however. St. Patrick's Day celebrations were previously canceled. Illinois has 93 confirmed cases.
• Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said all pre-K-12 schools in the state will close no later than Wednesday and remain closed until April 6.
• New York State reports its third COVID-19 death. The fatality was a 79-year-old woman who had “multiple major underlying health issues," said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The state has 729 confirmed cases, the most number in the U.S.
• Boston Mayor Marty Walsh declared a public health emergency to allow the city to deploy all resources necessary to fight COVID-19. All Boston Public Schools will close starting Tuesday. All bars and restaurants will reduce their capacity by 50% by removing and spreading out tables. They can't allow lines to form outside and must close by 11:00 p.m.