'We won't be closing the country again': Trump plays down chance of a second coronavirus wave as cases continue to mount
President claims no second shutdown as states blame testing on new cases
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.President Donald Trump has said the US will not conduct another coronavirus shutdown even as new cases spiked across several states where measures have been eased.
“We won’t be closing the country again. We won’t have to do that,” Mr Trump said on Wednesday night during an interview with Fox News.
Those comments came as six American states announced all-time highs for new Covid-19 infections on Tuesday.
The states – Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Nevada – have now seen thousands contract coronavirus since phased reopened began some two weeks ago.
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow and treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin have also reiterated that the United States could not shut down again.
“We can’t shut down the economy again,” Mr Mnuchin told CNBC last week. “I think we’ve learned that if you shut down the economy, you’re going to create more damage, and not just economic damage, but there are other areas”.
Vice President Mike Pence, meanwhile, has encouraged governors to repeat the Trump administration’s claim that increased testing accounts for the spike in numbers, The New York Times reports.
The Times’ analysis found that positive Covid-19 cases surpassed average tests administered in at least 14 states. At the same time, some 21 states are believed to be on an upward path.
Still, the president claimed on Wednesday that the country was in “great shape” and that it could manage new coronavirus cases.
He added that his administration, which has overseen the world’s worst Covid-19 pandemic death toll, had made “all the right moves” since the virus entered the US.
Whilst the economic shutdown has seen almost 44 million unemployment claims submitted since march, almost 120,000 Americans have lost their lives to the virus and 2.21 million people have contracted it.
Mr Trump maintains that his administration created “the greatest economy in history” prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, whilst its rebound will be central to his re-election bid in November.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments