May 21, 2020 / By Antonia Noori Farzan, Katie Shepherd, Jennifer Hassan, Rick Noack, John Wagner, Mark Berman, Marisa Iati, Adam Taylor and Brittany Shammas
As leaders around the world struggle with how and when to loosen — or even reimpose — pandemic restrictions, the novel coronavirus continues its deadly spread. The number of confirmed infections worldwide surpassed 5 million after the worst day yet for new cases. World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday that more than 100,000 new infections were reported over the previous 24 hours, the highest one-day total since the outbreak began late last year.
Nearly two-thirds of the new infections came from just four countries — including the United States, which has more than 1.5 million cases and a soaring death toll that appears likely to reach 100,000 by the end of May. “We still have a long way to go in this pandemic,” Tedros said. 
As experts warn that the push to reopen the United States could lead to a second wave of infections across parts of the South and Midwest, some communities are already starting to see their health-care systems buckle: Montgomery, Ala., Mayor Steven Reed warned Wednesday that his city is out of intensive care beds. “Right now, if you’re from Montgomery, and you need an ICU bed, you’re in trouble,” Reed said.