Daily US Times: President Donald Trump again downplays coronavirus threat despite the number of cases in U.S. surges.
On Monday, he compared the rising death toll to the number of Americans killed in car crashes and by the seasonal flu.
“We have a very active flu season, more active than most,” he was speaking at the briefing of the White House coronavirus task force, “It’s looking like it’s heading to 50,000 or more deaths.”
He then compared the coronavirus death toll with the automobile sector accidents, which kills thousands of Americans every year.
“You look at automobile accidents, which are far greater than any numbers we’re talking about. That doesn’t mean we’re going to tell everybody no more driving of cars,” Trump said.
About 39,000 people die in vehicular accidents in the United States per year.
The comparison seemed to be that, as far as mortality numbers go, the coronavirus outbreak was not an especially fearsome killer.
The president also indicated to loosen the strict restrictions. “We have to do things to get our country open,” he said.
He said the last several weeks was ”an incredible period of learning”, though he did not mention what was learned or by whom.
Though Mr Trump downplays coronavirus threat, he United States has reported 43,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 530 deaths.
The outbreak forced several states to announce a shutdown in an attempt to slow down the virus. One if four Americans are now placed under a stay-at-home order.
According to estimates, the virus could kill 2.2 million Americans, if proper attempt will not be taken. That is believed to have spooked Trump and other White House officials into taking the outbreak more seriously.
But just 8 days after his own Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued 15-day guidance that severely restricts economic and social activity, Trump appears to be growing restless with it.
The stock market continued to fall and Congress has been unable to come up with an economic package that could restore confidence.
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