Trump contradicts reports he ordered slowing down of coronavirus testing [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• U.S President Trump said he did not order slowing down of COVID-19 testing despite saying he would during his first rally speech in months.
• White House officials clarified the president was only joking during his speech, adding the U.S is extensively testing.
• Experts warned that more tests should be conducted as a second wave of COVID-19 might come in the fall.

On Monday, President Donald Trump denied reports that he gave the order to limit coronavirus testing to make it appear that the U.S. had lesser cases. White House officials went on defending him the whole day after earlier stating that he gave the directive over the weekend.

Trump has repeatedly blamed the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. on expanded testing capacity, claiming the nation is doing a great job.

On different interviews on Monday, the president was asked if he advised his administration to limit the testing. He told Christian Broadcast Network that while the administration’s testing capability is the right thing to do, it made the U.S look bad because of the cases.

In another interview with Scripps News, Trump remarked that fewer cases would be recorded if the government limited the testing.

Trump, though, sparked outrage this weekend when he announced during his first campaign appearance in months that he told officials to decelerate testing. His aides later clarified that the president was only joking on his remarks.

On Monday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany clarified to journalists that Trump’s comment was made in jest, with trade adviser Peter Navarro echoing a similar statement on Sunday.

In the past, the president has always called mass testing exaggerated and will cause problems since it will result in a higher number of cases.

Coronavirus testing was earlier limited, but the supplies increased due to efforts by medical labs in production.

After several weeks, the U.S. was able to conduct over 25 million tests, and almost nearly 2.3 million tested positive against the total.

Since then, Trump has urged states to focus on reopening drives so the U.S. economy can recuperate during the health crisis.

Democrats criticized Trump for his comments, saying it was alarming, and Speaker Nanci Pelosi noting that the president’s moves are just desperate attempts to hide the real damage of COVID-19 to American lives.

Health authorities meanwhile argue the nation should do more and not fewer tests as experts anticipate a second wave of coronavirus in the fall.

Many officials maintained that the increase in the number of cases is due to extensive testing, noting there is also a surge in the statistics of younger people infected.

Meanwhile, Democrats Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D, N.Y., and Sen. Patty Murray, Washington, said the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has yet to disburse  $14 billion of the $25 billion assigned by Congress to develop testing and improve contact tracing.

Source: The Hill