Fact Check: Pearl Harbor, 9/11 Moment Ahead For America?

Photo courtesy: cnbc.com

Washington: Even as American edges towards its hardest week ahead, the country’s top doctor, Surgeon General Vice Admiral Jerome Adams said Americans are bracing for the “hardest and saddest” week of their lives with tragedies similar to the 9/11 attacks and the Pearl Harbour bombing, reported newspapers and agencies. 

He said the coronavirus pandemic rivals some of the darkest moments in US history, including the two worst foreign attacks on American soil: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the September 11 terrorist attacks.

“And we really need to understand that if we want to flatten that curve and get through to the other side, everyone needs to do their part,” Adams told ‘Meet the Press’ Sunday talk show on NBC news network.

How is coronavirus a Pearl Harbour and 9/11 moment for America?

• The death toll due to coronavirus crossed 9,500 on Sunday, which is three times more than the number of people who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
• A total of 2,977 people besides hijackers were killed in the September 11, 2001, attacks. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and America officially entered World War II, more than 2,400 casualties had occurred as a result of the attack.

What is the situation in America?

• More than 3.3 lakh Americans have been infected by coronavirus with Over 4,000 deaths reported in New York only.
• Members of the White House Task Force on COVID-19 have predicted between 100,000 to 200,000 lakh deaths in the next several weeks.
• Nearly 95 per cent of the country’s 330 million population are under stay-in-home orders.
• In addition to declaration of a national emergency, President Trump has notified major disaster declarations in more than 42 of the 50 states.
• The US armed forces have deployed more than 50,000 soldiers, including 1,000 doctors and nurses. They have built or are in the process of building 30 hospitals.
• The US Navy has deployed two of its hospital ships  in New York and Los Angeles.
• Trump said the US has so far conducted 1.6 million tests, more than any other country.
• Trump has sought the help of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug in the fight against coronavirus. He said the US has procured 29 million doses of Hydroxychloroquine tablets.