Donald Trump rally also comes after weeks of turmoil over treatment of African Americans
Tulsa, USA:
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he was encouraging responders to respond to coronaviruses to slow testing, arguing that more tests were leading to more cases being discovered.
The President has repeatedly incorrectly stated that the COVID-19 outbreaks in several states can be explained by the increase in diagnostic tests.
At his first rally since the outbreak forced nationwide closings in March, Trump told a crowd in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that the tests were a “double-edged sword”.
The United States – which has more deaths and cases than any other country – has performed approximately 27 million tests for coronavirus, which ranks it 26th in the world per capita.
“Here’s the bad part: when you test this measure, you’re going to find more people, you find more cases,” Trump said.
“So I said” slow down the tests “. They test and they test.”
Trump’s tone was unclear if he was playing with the crowd, applauding while speaking, or if he was serious.
Coronavirus cases have increased in several states, including Oklahoma, and local health officials had asked Trump to postpone the rally, fearing it would contribute to the spread.
Six members of an advanced team working in Tulsa before the rally tested positive for COVID-19, the Trump campaign said just hours before the president came on the scene.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
