Donald Trump has put a distinctive spin on his country's coronavirus catastrophe, saying if the US stopped testing it would have 'very few cases, if any'.
The president was mocked on social media, where it was pointed out that even with no testing the number of infections would be the same.
According to Johns Hopkins University, 116,000 people in the United States, and 2.1 million have tested positive for COVID-19 across the country.
Speaking in the Cabinet Room with members of the media, the president asserted that: "If we stop testing right now, we'd have very few cases, if any."
READ MORE: Donald Trump says he has 'tested positively toward negative' for coronavirus
Our testing is so much bigger and more advanced than any other country (we have done a great job on this!) that it shows more cases. Without testing, or weak testing, we would be showing almost no cases. Testing is a double edged sword - Makes us look bad, but good to have!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2020
The president, on social media, called “testing a double-edged sword” that makes the country “look bad” but is “good to have.”
Vice President Mike Pence also commented that “positivity test rate remains very stable in the country” except for a very few states. He added: “Overall, the American people are to be commended” for taking steps to allow states to reopen amid the pandemic.
READ MORE: Donald Trump tweets bizarre edited clip of himself giving Independence Day speech
US regulators have revoked emergency authorisation for malaria drugs promoted by Donald Trump for treating Covid-19 amid growing evidence they do not work and could cause serious side effects.
The Food and Drug Administration said hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are unlikely to be effective in treating coronavirus. Citing reports of heart complications, the FDA said the drugs’ unproven benefits “do not outweigh the known and potential risks”.
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