Number of US deaths from Covid-19 now over 3,500
New York was the nation's deadliest hotspot, with about 1,550 deaths statewide
The US death toll from coronavirus climbed past 3,500 on Tuesday, eclipsing China's official count.
The deepening crisis in New York hit close to home for the governor, when he disclosed, teary-eyed, that his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, has become infected.
"Luckily we caught it early enough," Andrew Cuomo said of his 49-year-old brother, now quarantined in his basement.
"But it's my family, it's your family, it's all of our families. But this virus is that insidious, and we must keep that all in mind."
Elsewhere around the world, hard-hit Italy reported that the infection rate appears to be levelling off and new cases could start declining, but that the crisis is far from over.
Spain struggled to fend off the collapse of its hospital system.
Russia moved to crack down on quarantine violations and "fake news" about the outbreak and China edged closer to normal as stores in the epicentre city of Wuhan began reopening.
Worldwide, more than 800,000 people have been infected and more than 40,000 have died, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.
Published: by Radio NewsHub