This archive report was first published on 23 May 2020.
Published on May 23, 2020, the United States was grappling with the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University, the country recorded a further 1,260 deaths from the virus on Friday, bringing its total to 95,921 since the global pandemic began.
The number of cases in the US continued to soar, with over 1.6 million cases logged, far more than any other nation. This alarming trend came as US President Donald Trump faced an uphill battle to be re-elected in November and continued to pressure state and local governments to reopen the American economy.
Trump demanded that state governors classify churches, synagogues, and mosques as "essential services" on the same level as food and drug stores, and immediately allow them to hold services despite Covid-19 restrictions on public gatherings. "The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now, for this weekend," said the president.
Trump also warned that if governors did not comply, he would override them, stating, "If they don't do it, I will override the governors. In America, we need more prayer, not less."
