Trump offers ‘heartfelt sympathy’ as toll in the US tops 100,000
THE US has become the first country whose coronavirus death toll has passed 100,000, a grim milestone that exceeded some of Donald Trump’s early estimates and triggered a wave of condolences from political leaders.
The president offered his “heartfelt sympathy and love” to those who had lost friends and relatives to Covid-19, while Joe Biden, the probable Democratic presidential nominee, called it a “heart-rending” point in US history.
The scale far exceeds an early estimate from Mr Trump that around 60,000 could die of the virus in America, though he has given out various numbers during the outbreak.
America has more than 1.7 million confirmed cases of Covid-19. While new cases continue to drop, they are rising in around a dozen states, includingin some that re opened for business early.
“We have just reached a very sad milestone with the coronavirus pandemic deaths reaching 100,000. To all of the families & friends of those who have passed, I want to extend my heartfelt sympathy & love for everything that these great people stood for & represent. God be with you,” Mr Trump tweeted.
Mr Biden tweeted: “There are moments in our history so grim, so heart-rending, that they’re forever fixed in each of our hearts as shared grief. Today is one of those moments – 100,000 lives have now been lost to this virus. To those hurting, I’m so sorry for your loss. The nation grieves with you.”
Washington DC today becomes the latest region in the US to begin opening up, with restaurants able to serve in outdoor spaces as lockdown begins to ease.
New figures published yesterday revealed another 2.1 million filed for unemployment benefits last week.
The president continued his back-and-forth with Mr Biden over mask-wearing in public. The president again tweeted a picture of Mr Biden, showing the Democrat’s face half covered by a black mask, writing: “He looks better!”