President Donald Trump continues his push to reopen the country despite the risk of death. On Tuesday, he said Americans should return to work, even if it means more sickness from the pandemic.
While speaking in Phoenix during his first trip away from Washington in over a month, Trump said he is prepared for “phase two” of the United States’ response to COVID-19.
This includes disbanding the White House task force, removing Anthony Fauci and Deborah Birx.
He also admitted that reopening the economy will lead to more sickness and suffering.
“Will some people be affected? Yes. Will some people be affected badly? Yes,” said Trump. “But we have to get our country open, and we have to get it open soon.”
During their visit to a Phoenix-based Honeywell International Inc. factory that produces medical masks, Trump and other White House officials wore only eye protection. Although the government has recommended that Americans wear masks for safety, they declined to wear them while touring the plant.
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Trump said that Americans should think of themselves as “warriors” when they leave their homes. Trump also expressed frustration with having to close down the nation, putting Americans out of work. He said doing so was “the biggest decision [he’s] ever had to make.”
Trump also acknowledged that despite the certainty of suffering, he is resolute about his decision to reopen the nation.
“There’ll be more death,” said Trump. “The virus will pass, with or without a vaccine. And I think we’re doing very well on the vaccines. But, with or without a vaccine, it’s going to pass, and we’re going to be back to normal. But it’s been a rough process. There is no question about it,” he said.
During the tour, Trump said that doctors had advised him to close America’s economy for a couple of years.
“I created, with a lot of other very talented people and the people of our country, the greatest economy in the history of the world. The greatest that we’ve ever had,” said Trump. “And then one day they said, ‘We have to close our country.’ Well, now it’s time to open up.”
While some Americans are taking this time for personal projects, like learning how to get rid of bed bugs, others are concerned with getting financial help during the pandemic. It’s a troubled time for many, and people are eager to get back to work.
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However, public-health officials have repeatedly warned that reopening too soon risks a second wave of infections. This could result in another round of economic damage and shutdowns.
Trump dismissed two new projections of what could happen as a result of the country reopening too soon. He said that if coronavirus cases were to rebound, it would be like a “fire” that could be extinguished “fast.”
One of the new projections by Johns Hopkins University shows that deaths could reach 3,000 a day by June 1. Another projection by the University of Washington shows the U.S. death toll reaching 135,000 by the beginning of August.
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