This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
As the US grapples with a growing pandemic, top health officials have sounded the alarm on a 'disturbing surge' in coronavirus infections in some states.
According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the next few days will be crucial in stemming the new outbreaks.
Dr. Fauci testified before a congressional committee, along with other health officials, including Brett Giroir, the health department assistant secretary who oversees US diagnostic capacity.
Dr. Fauci stated, 'To my knowledge, none of us has ever been told to slow down on testing. In fact, we will be doing more testing.'
The other officials representing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Department of Health and Human Services also disputed President Trump's comment, saying they had never been directed to slow testing.
President Trump had previously stated that he had asked his team to do less testing to help keep official case counts down, but the White House later clarified that the comment was 'in jest.'
However, on Tuesday, the president appeared to contradict that, telling reporters, 'I don't kid.'
As of now, over 2.3 million Americans have been infected with coronavirus, and at least 120,000 have died – more than any other nation.
Arizona, where President Trump addressed a megachurch on Tuesday, surpassed its daily record for new infections only hours before he arrived.
Officials there warn that over 80% of hospital beds are currently being used and that the healthcare system may be overrun in the coming days or weeks.
Dr. Fauci warned of 'a disturbing surge of infection' and 'increased community spread' in many southern and western states.
He stated, 'A couple of days ago there were 30,000 new infections in a single day. That's very troubling to me.'
The number of new daily infections is increasing in more than half of all US states, with Arizona, Nevada, and Texas having just notched up single-day records for new coronavirus cases.
