Trump: rallies to start up ‘soon’
President Donald Trump has increased pressure to reopen the United States by declaring he will resume political rallies ‘‘maybe next week’’ despite confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country passing two million.
With 22 of the 50 states recording higher numbers, the forecast for US coronavirus deaths by August has increased by 5000 to almost 146,000, the University of Washington’s institute for health metrics said.
The World Health Organisation said that Sunday was the worst day of the crisis globally, with more than 136,000 new confirmed cases. While cases were generally declining in western Europe, it said complacency was ‘‘the biggest threat’’.
The US experiment in reopening, led by state governors and mayors and encouraged by Trump, has coincided with the stock market returning to prepandemic levels and millions flooding the streets for demonstrations over the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.
Infectious diseases experts have warned that the protests will lead to a rise in cases.
More than 113,000 people have died in the US, giving it the fifthhighest per capita mortality rate among the 20 most-affected countries
– a table led by Britain, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Trump, 73, has taken the protest crowds as a sign that Americans are ready to return to the political rallies that were the lifeblood of his reelection campaign before the virus struck.
The president retweeted a journalist who wrote: ‘‘Given recent gatherings, seems reasonable time for President Trump to resume holding rallies. Could be held outside. Give out masks at entrance, encourage use. Mass gatherings are now OK. [Joe] Biden could re-start, too, of course.’’
Trump responded: ‘‘BIG DEMAND! Starting up again soon, maybe next week!’’
Brad Parscale, his campaign manager, said he presented Trump with plans for a schedule of rallies this month, saying: ‘‘The great American comeback is real and the rallies will be tremendous. You’ll again see the kind of crowds and enthusiasm that sleepy Joe Biden can only dream of’.’’
The University of Washington gave its estimate on the day that Texas reported its highest number of cases in hospital, while sharp increases occurred in Michigan and Arizona. Fourteen states, including California, Florida and Texas, recorded their highest seven-day average of new virus cases.
Republican-governed Texas and Florida have been bullish about reopening businesses while Democrat-run California has been cautious. – The Times, London