US coronavirus cases rise to record levels; Trump in denial ahead of campaign rally

Days before US President Donald Trump's first campaign rally in over three months, multiple US states, including Oklahoma, have reported record number of new cases of coronavirus infection, but Trump keeps denying health concerns and instead accuses the media of "trying to Covid Shame” his election rally.

Trump’s political team continues with plans to hold the election campaign rally on Saturday in Tulsa — his first such event since stay-at-home restrictions were imposed across the country in March to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas reported record increases in their confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Oklahoma reported a record 259 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to Wednesday.

Florida reported more than 2,600 new cases and Arizona more than 1,800. The figures are the second-highest daily increases for those two states.

In Arizona, doctors, nurses and health administrators called for making face coverings mandatory statewide in public places.

Texas also reported 3,100 new cases on Wednesday, the biggest single-day tally yet.

Record spikes in new coronavirus cases, hospitalizations sweep parts of US

New coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in record numbers swept through more US states.

Nearly 2,800 patients have also been admitted to hospitals to be treated in Texas, making an all-time high for COVID-19 hospitalizations.

California also recorded more than 4,000 cases on Wednesday.

Los Angeles County alone reported its largest daily increase of over 2,100 new cases on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, US top public health expert advised people to avoid attending Trump’s campaign rally in Tulsa on Saturday.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, member of the White House coronavirus taskforce, said that he personally would choose not to attend Trump’s rally, due on Saturday, over the risk of contracting coronavirus.

“We are seeing infections to a greater degree than they had previously seen in certain states, including states in the south-west and in the south,” Fauci said.

“I don’t like to talk about a second wave right now, because we haven’t gotten out of our first wave,” he added.

Oklahoma health officials urged people to get tested before attending the rally and then to self-isolate afterwards and get tested again.

They warned that a crowd of 20,000 people, shouting and chanting inside an arena — particularly if many aren’t wearing masks — could turn the rally into a coronavirus “super-spreader event.”

“Ultimately, the president doesn’t ask for permission before he goes to places,” Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said on Wednesday.

Trump rejects Oklahoma rally health concerns as coronavirus warnings ratchet up

US President Donald Trump defies calls against holding an election campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma due to coronavirus risks, stressing that he wants to triple the crowd.

“So we found out that the president was coming, so we are going to make sure it’s the best and as safe as possible,” he added.

Trump and his Vice-President Mike Pence, however, claimed that the country has “slowed the spread,” and that the worrying increase in new cases is due to more testing.

The president’s rival and former vice president Joe Biden accused Trump of “surrendering” to the pandemic.

The US, which stands on the top of the list of the worst-hit nations in the world, has so far recorded some 2,163,290 known cases of infection, and at least 117,717 deaths. 

Millions of Americans found themselves unemployed as a result of the pandemic, Reuters said. Trump had previously touted the strength of the economy, making it central to his re-election bid in November.

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