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| Top US health official Fauci warns of 'disturbing' new US surge | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| America's top infectious disease expert has told lawmakers that the nation is seeing a "disturbing surge" in coronavirus infections in some states. | America's top infectious disease expert has told lawmakers that the nation is seeing a "disturbing surge" in coronavirus infections in some states. |
| A panel of health officials, including Dr Anthony Fauci, said the next few days will be crucial to stem the new outbreaks. | A panel of health officials, including Dr Anthony Fauci, said the next few days will be crucial to stem the new outbreaks. |
| Cases are climbing rapidly across a number of US states. | Cases are climbing rapidly across a number of US states. |
| Four top experts also testified they were never told by President Donald Trump to "slow down" testing. | Four top experts also testified they were never told by President Donald Trump to "slow down" testing. |
| Their comments come after Mr Trump told a weekend rally in Oklahoma that he had asked his team to do less testing to help keep official case counts down,. | Their comments come after Mr Trump told a weekend rally in Oklahoma that he had asked his team to do less testing to help keep official case counts down,. |
| The White House has said his comment was "in jest". | The White House has said his comment was "in jest". |
| "To my knowledge, none of us have ever been told to slow down on testing," Dr Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, testified to a congressional committee investigating the US response to the pandemic. | "To my knowledge, none of us have ever been told to slow down on testing," Dr Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, testified to a congressional committee investigating the US response to the pandemic. |
| "In fact, we will be doing more testing," he added. | "In fact, we will be doing more testing," he added. |
| The other three officials - representing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health and Human Service - also disputing Mr Trump's comment, saying they had never been directed to slow testing. | The other three officials - representing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health and Human Service - also disputing Mr Trump's comment, saying they had never been directed to slow testing. |
| More than 120,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus - more than any other nation. | More than 120,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus - more than any other nation. |
| What else did experts say? | What else did experts say? |
| Dr Fauci warned of "a disturbing surge of infection" and "increased community spread" in many southern and western states. | Dr Fauci warned of "a disturbing surge of infection" and "increased community spread" in many southern and western states. |
| "A couple of days ago there were 30,000 new infections", in a single day, he said. "That's very troubling to me." | "A couple of days ago there were 30,000 new infections", in a single day, he said. "That's very troubling to me." |
| "The next couple of weeks are going to be critical to address those surges that were seeing Texas, Florida, Arizona, and other states." | "The next couple of weeks are going to be critical to address those surges that were seeing Texas, Florida, Arizona, and other states." |
| CDC Director Dr Robert Redfield called testing "a critical underpinning of our response" but said social distancing measures are more important ways to keep the virus from spreading. | CDC Director Dr Robert Redfield called testing "a critical underpinning of our response" but said social distancing measures are more important ways to keep the virus from spreading. |
| Dr Redfield also called on all Americans to get a flu jab this year, saying the public must "embrace flu vaccinations with confidence". | Dr Redfield also called on all Americans to get a flu jab this year, saying the public must "embrace flu vaccinations with confidence". |
| "This single act will save lives," he added. | "This single act will save lives," he added. |
| Dr Fauci added that he is "cautiously optimistic" a vaccine may be ready by the end of 2020. | Dr Fauci added that he is "cautiously optimistic" a vaccine may be ready by the end of 2020. |
| He said it is a matter of "when and not if" the vaccine is ready, but added that it "might take some time". | He said it is a matter of "when and not if" the vaccine is ready, but added that it "might take some time". |
| Drug company Moderna has plans "to launch a Phase 3 clinical trial as early as July 2020, pending positive results from this Phase 2 trial," he said. | Drug company Moderna has plans "to launch a Phase 3 clinical trial as early as July 2020, pending positive results from this Phase 2 trial," he said. |