US Secretary of Health and Human Services: "The Door to Controlling COVID-19 Is Closing" (Comprehensive)

"Situation Different from Two Months Ago"
Vice President Pence, Who Didn't Wear Mask, Wears Mask at Texas Event
Trump Decides to Attend Independence Day Fireworks Event... Concerns Over Infection Spread

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is wearing a mask after holding a press conference with Texas Governor Greg Abbott in Dallas, Texas, on the 28th.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) worldwide has surpassed 10 million, and the death toll has also exceeded 500,000. U.S. health authorities expressed concern over the increasingly difficult control of the spread, and the U.S. Vice President, who had been reluctant to wear masks, began wearing one in official appearances.

According to statistics from Johns Hopkins University on the 28th (local time), the total number of confirmed cases worldwide reached 10,114,726, and the death toll was 501,206 as of that day.

Although the number of infections has surpassed 10 million, the situation in countries including the U.S. is not improving. CNN reported that only two states, Connecticut and Rhode Island, among the 50 U.S. states, saw a decrease in new cases that day. Meanwhile, 36 states including California, Texas, and Florida experienced an increase in new cases. In particular, Florida reported 9,585 new cases on the 27th, the highest daily number since the COVID-19 outbreak began. CNN added that this figure is comparable to the peak daily new cases in early April in New York, which was the initial epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S.

Alex Azar, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, expressed concern about the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S., saying, "The door to control is closing." Azar appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" and said, "The situation is very different from two months ago. It is very difficult now."

On the same day, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, visiting Dallas, Texas, attracted attention by wearing a mask consistently except when giving a speech. Until now, President Donald Trump and Vice President Pence had not worn masks in official appearances. Pence also said, "We have encouraged everyone to wear masks in areas of infection."

On the other hand, President Trump is stirring controversy by planning to attend a fireworks event on July 3rd in front of the presidential face sculptures at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota to celebrate Independence Day despite the spread of COVID-19. The Washington Post expressed concern that spectators at this fireworks event could become infected with COVID-19.

In Europe, the resurgence of COVID-19 is also noticeable. German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged citizens to remain vigilant, saying, "The risk is still serious."

In Brazil, criticism has arisen that the government's economic-centered response has worsened the damage. The Brazilian daily Folha de S.Paulo reported that the Jair Bolsonaro administration's spending for COVID-19 response reached 398 billion reais (approximately 89 trillion won), of which 86% was invested in economic recovery. Meanwhile, only 13% of the spending, equivalent to 52.5 billion reais, was used in the health sector, and the remaining 1% (3.5 billion reais) was spent on other related areas.

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