President Donald Trump on Monday said he will not shut down the United States to curb the spread of the CCP virus, saying that doing so would cause more harm than good.
Governors initially shut down states in an attempt to prevent COVID-19 patients from overwhelming hospitals and medical staff and also to allow scientists and doctors to ascertain the impact of the virus, including using treatments to fight it, the president said.
“Lockdowns do not prevent infection in the future. They just don’t. It comes back many times, it comes back,” Trump said.
California reported about 9,032 new cases, and Florida reported 7,084 cases on Aug. 1, according to the researchers’ data.
Trump, meanwhile, called on Americans to remain “vigilant” against the virus, while noting that 18 states have reported lower cases. They include New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York, which were once considered the CCP virus hotspots earlier this year.
“We must focus on protecting those at highest risk while allowing younger and healthier Americans to resume work and school with careful precautions,” Trump said. “Ideally we want to open those schools. We want to open them.”
A day before that, top White House COVID-19 expert Dr. Deborah Birx said that there is now widespread cases being reported.
“What we are seeing today is different from March and April. It is extraordinarily widespread. It’s into the rural as equal urban areas,” she said in an interview on Sunday.
Americans should follow health care professionals’ recommendations, including practicing social distancing and wearing a protective mask, she said.