US Health Secretary: "The Door to Controlling COVID Is Closing"

Contrasting Trump Administration's Claim of Control
Only Two States Show Decline in COVID-19 Cases in the US
Vice President Pence, Who Said COVID-19 Is Being Contained, Wears Mask While Traveling to Texas

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, expressed serious concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in the United States. Vice President Mike Pence wore a mask while visiting Texas, where COVID-19 is rapidly spreading.

Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services [Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

On the 28th (local time), Secretary Azar appeared on NBC's 'Meet the Press' and said, "The situation is very different from two months ago. The situation is very difficult now. The window for taking action to control it is closing."

Secretary Azar reminded that the U.S. response capability to COVID-19 has been greatly strengthened but expressed concern about the recent spread mainly in the southern region.

CNN evaluated that Secretary Azar showed a different view from President Donald Trump's thoughts on COVID-19. President Trump emphasizes that the increase in infections in the U.S. is due to expanded testing and that the mortality rate is decreasing. Vice President Pence also claimed at the White House COVID-19 Task Force briefing held on the 26th that the infection trend has slowed down.

However, Johns Hopkins University reported that as of the 26th, the number of new infections in the U.S. reached 45,000, setting a record high.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is wearing a mask after delivering a speech on the 28th in Dallas, Texas, where the spread of COVID-19 is severe.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Secretary Azar then emphasized the need for social distancing and mask-wearing.

Vice President Pence, who visited Dallas, Texas that day, attracted attention by wearing a mask except during his speech. President Trump and Vice President Pence have not worn masks in official appearances. Vice President Pence did not remove his mask even on the plane and when meeting Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who came to greet him.

Deborah Birx, White House COVID-19 Coordinator who accompanied Vice President Pence on his Dallas visit, also advised, "Using masks helps reduce infections in COVID-19 hotspot areas like Texas."

The COVID-19 infection situation in the U.S. is worsening enough to cause concern for Secretary Azar. CNN reported that among all 50 states in the U.S., only Connecticut and Rhode Island have a decrease in new cases. The number of states with increasing cases reached 36.

In particular, Florida reported 9,585 new cases on the 27th, the highest daily number since the COVID-19 outbreak. CNN pointed out that this is comparable to the daily new cases at the peak in early April in New York, which was the largest COVID-19 epicenter in the U.S. during the early pandemic.

As new cases soared, at least 12 states have halted or rolled back economic reopening plans to suppress the spread of COVID-19. Following Texas and Florida closing bars and banning drinking in bars on the 26th, Washington state postponed its reopening plan on the 27th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.