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| US sees over 50,000 new Covid-19 cases for third straight day as holiday begins | US sees over 50,000 new Covid-19 cases for third straight day as holiday begins |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Florida says confirmed cases up by record 11,458 while president claims US on the way to ‘tremendous victory’ over coronavirus | Florida says confirmed cases up by record 11,458 while president claims US on the way to ‘tremendous victory’ over coronavirus |
| The US reported at least 51,842 new coronavirus cases on Friday, a third day straight with a high of more than 50,000 as the 4 July holiday weekend began. On Saturday one of the worst-hit states, Florida, said confirmed cases there had risen by a record 11,458, the second time in three days the caseload had gone up by more than 10,000. | The US reported at least 51,842 new coronavirus cases on Friday, a third day straight with a high of more than 50,000 as the 4 July holiday weekend began. On Saturday one of the worst-hit states, Florida, said confirmed cases there had risen by a record 11,458, the second time in three days the caseload had gone up by more than 10,000. |
| Nonetheless, Donald Trump used his Fourth of July message to the nation to claim the US was “on [the] way to a tremendous victory” over the virus. | Nonetheless, Donald Trump used his Fourth of July message to the nation to claim the US was “on [the] way to a tremendous victory” over the virus. |
| “It’s going to happen and it’s going to happen big,” the president said in the filmed remarks. “Our country will be greater than ever before.” | “It’s going to happen and it’s going to happen big,” the president said in the filmed remarks. “Our country will be greater than ever before.” |
| Trump spoke to the country about what he called a “terrible plague from China” even as, according to a report from CNN, public health leaders were being denied permission to appear on television and speak on behalf of the federal government. | Trump spoke to the country about what he called a “terrible plague from China” even as, according to a report from CNN, public health leaders were being denied permission to appear on television and speak on behalf of the federal government. |
| One anonymous official said Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a familiar figure on TV in the early months of the pandemic, was thought too blunt about the dangers of Covid-19, or too “doom and gloom”. | One anonymous official said Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a familiar figure on TV in the early months of the pandemic, was thought too blunt about the dangers of Covid-19, or too “doom and gloom”. |
| If so, Fauci has had good reason. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland who released the daily figure for Friday, the US has recorded nearly 2.9m cases of Covid-19 and nearly 130,000 deaths. | If so, Fauci has had good reason. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland who released the daily figure for Friday, the US has recorded nearly 2.9m cases of Covid-19 and nearly 130,000 deaths. |
| Earlier this week, Fauci testified before a Senate committee, an appearance broadcast on TV. He delivered another sobering message: that the US could soon see 100,000 new cases a day and that the death toll “is going to be very disturbing, I guarantee you that”. | Earlier this week, Fauci testified before a Senate committee, an appearance broadcast on TV. He delivered another sobering message: that the US could soon see 100,000 new cases a day and that the death toll “is going to be very disturbing, I guarantee you that”. |
| Since then, in states including Texas and Florida, hospitals have continued to fill and reopening measures have been rescinded. States which suffered at the beginning of the outbreak, New York prominent among them, are also slowing reopening. | Since then, in states including Texas and Florida, hospitals have continued to fill and reopening measures have been rescinded. States which suffered at the beginning of the outbreak, New York prominent among them, are also slowing reopening. |
| In March and April, as cases surged on the east coast and elsewhere, members of the White House taskforce on Covid-19 were familiar figures on US TV. Fauci in particular won praise for his calm and no-nonsense advice, which often stood in contrast to speculative and confused messaging from Trump himself. | In March and April, as cases surged on the east coast and elsewhere, members of the White House taskforce on Covid-19 were familiar figures on US TV. Fauci in particular won praise for his calm and no-nonsense advice, which often stood in contrast to speculative and confused messaging from Trump himself. |
| But Fauci last appeared spoke directly to US TV networks on 12 June. According to CNN, he and other prominent members of the taskforce, such as Drs Deborah Birx and Robert Redfield, now rarely grant TV interviews. | |
| The anonymous source told CNN high-profile officials, including Fauci, have been unable to gain permission to appear even though “now is the time to be sending a strong public health message”. | The anonymous source told CNN high-profile officials, including Fauci, have been unable to gain permission to appear even though “now is the time to be sending a strong public health message”. |
| Even figures seen as more amenable to the administration’s aims have struggled for airtime. The surgeon general, Dr Jerome Adams, has made just two broadcast appearances in the last few weeks, one a local radio interview and the other on NBC on Friday. | Even figures seen as more amenable to the administration’s aims have struggled for airtime. The surgeon general, Dr Jerome Adams, has made just two broadcast appearances in the last few weeks, one a local radio interview and the other on NBC on Friday. |
| There, Adams avoided answering questions about Trump’s decision not to wear a mask at public gatherings, such as his speech at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on Friday night. | There, Adams avoided answering questions about Trump’s decision not to wear a mask at public gatherings, such as his speech at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on Friday night. |
| “Every single person has to make up their own mind,” Adams said. | “Every single person has to make up their own mind,” Adams said. |
| Masks were optional at Mount Rushmore, while social distancing was not practised. It was reported that Kimberly Guilfoyle, a senior campaign official and Donald Trump Jr’s girlfriend, had tested positive for the virus. | Masks were optional at Mount Rushmore, while social distancing was not practised. It was reported that Kimberly Guilfoyle, a senior campaign official and Donald Trump Jr’s girlfriend, had tested positive for the virus. |
| CNN said Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gave a briefing to reporters on 25 June but has otherwise been off air. Alex Azar, the health secretary, has appeared on most major networks in the last few weeks. | CNN said Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gave a briefing to reporters on 25 June but has otherwise been off air. Alex Azar, the health secretary, has appeared on most major networks in the last few weeks. |
| Fauci, CNN said, has been getting his message across on other platforms, appearing on media less used by the White House, such as podcasts and foreign broadcasts. | Fauci, CNN said, has been getting his message across on other platforms, appearing on media less used by the White House, such as podcasts and foreign broadcasts. |
| On Friday, NBC reported that the White House is preparing to change its messaging on the coronavirus, to tell Americans it simply has to be lived with. | On Friday, NBC reported that the White House is preparing to change its messaging on the coronavirus, to tell Americans it simply has to be lived with. |
| In his remarks released on Saturday, Trump said: “We were doing better than any country had done in history ... and then we got hit with this terrible plague from China and now we’re getting closer to fighting our way out of it.” | In his remarks released on Saturday, Trump said: “We were doing better than any country had done in history ... and then we got hit with this terrible plague from China and now we’re getting closer to fighting our way out of it.” |
| In fact, records show Covid-19 cases are rising in 37 states and falling significantly in only one, Vermont. | In fact, records show Covid-19 cases are rising in 37 states and falling significantly in only one, Vermont. |
| Despite such evidence to the contrary, Trump claimed: “Our country is coming back, our jobs numbers are spectacular, a lot of things are happening that people don’t quite see yet. We’re on our way to a tremendous victory. It’s going to happen and it’s going to happen big. Our country will be greater than ever before.” | Despite such evidence to the contrary, Trump claimed: “Our country is coming back, our jobs numbers are spectacular, a lot of things are happening that people don’t quite see yet. We’re on our way to a tremendous victory. It’s going to happen and it’s going to happen big. Our country will be greater than ever before.” |
| Joe Biden, Trump’s opponent in November’s presidential election, also released a message marking the holiday, in which he promised to win “a battle for the soul of this nation”. | Joe Biden, Trump’s opponent in November’s presidential election, also released a message marking the holiday, in which he promised to win “a battle for the soul of this nation”. |
| On Twitter, the former vice-president added: “This Fourth of July, one of the most patriotic things you can do is wear a mask.” | On Twitter, the former vice-president added: “This Fourth of July, one of the most patriotic things you can do is wear a mask.” |