Trump: "The COVID-19 Situation Will Worsen Further" (Summary)

COVID-19 Task Force Briefing Resumes with Practical Approach
Emphasizes Need for Mask Use, Demonstrates Directly
No Specific Government Response Measures Mentioned

U.S. President Donald Trump is showing a mask during a briefing.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Donald Trump, who previously said "Wearing a mask is patriotic," has now issued a warning that the resurgence of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) could worsen further. Despite earlier ignoring warnings about the spread of COVID-19, President Trump has recently made statements acknowledging the reality.

On the 21st (local time), during a coronavirus task force (TF) briefing resumed after three months since late April, President Trump commented on the recent resurgence of COVID-19, saying, "It's a shame. Unfortunately, the situation could get worse before it gets better." He added, "The government will not stop doing anything to save lives."

President Trump's remarks that day contrast with his claims just a few days earlier that "the virus is under control." CNN reported that Trump's statements were aimed at cultivating an image as a "trustworthy leader" based on advice from his aides.

At the briefing, President Trump praised masks. He took a mask out of his pocket during the briefing and said, "I have worn a mask when social distancing is not possible, such as in elevators," and expressed willingness to continue wearing one. He especially emphasized, "Masks are effective."

President Trump concluded the briefing in 26 minutes "without controversy." In the past, his briefings sparked controversy due to claims not based on facts, but this time he maintained a cautious tone throughout. Also, no experts accompanied him. Regarding this, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), claimed in an interview with CNN that he was not invited to the briefing.

President Trump also criticized China, but the tone was not severe. He said, "The virus will disappear. China should have stopped the virus."

However, U.S. media evaluations of the briefing were not high. CNN pointed out that President Trump did not mention specific government measures.

The increase in new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. slowed somewhat that day. According to Johns Hopkins University data, the number of new cases on the 20th was about 61,400, the lowest in the past week. However, California, the most populous state in the U.S., surpassed 400,000 cumulative cases, nearing to overtake New York, which currently has the highest number of infections in the country.

According to the international statistics site Worldometer, as of the 22nd, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has risen to 15,082,244. This marks an increase of 5 million cases just 25 days after surpassing 10 million.

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