TOPLINE
After Dr. Anthony Fauci testified to Congress on Friday that the U.S. has continued to experience a surge in cases — while Europe has better tamed its outbreak — because the U.S. never completely shut down, President Trump called the nation’s top disease doctor “wrong” in a tweet on Saturday, again misleadingly claiming the U.S. has “more cases because we have tested far more than any other country.”
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 31: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press prior to a ... [+]
KEY FACTS
Trump replied to a video of Fauci testifying in front of Congress on Friday:
During the testimony, Fauci was asked why Europe has been able to tame its outbreak, while the United States has continued to see a dramatic increase in cases.
Fauci explained that Europe shut down 95% of its economy when the virus first spread while the U.S. “functionally” only closed about 50%.
Trump claimed Fauci was “wrong,” and repeated a misleading talking point that the surge in cases in the U.S. is due to increased testing.
While the U.S. has tested more than any other country in the world, the positivity rate — a statistic epidemiologists say is a better measure of the extent of an outbreak — has surged, indicating the virus is spreading rapidly.
Some European countries, such as France, have seen an uptick in cases recently, but it pales in comparison to the size of the outbreak in the U.S., while countries such as Germany have not needed to test as much as the U.S. because they were able to control their outbreak early.
Crucial quote
“I stand by my previous statement that the increase in cases was due to a number of factors,” including states reopening too quickly and people “congregating in crowds and not wearing masks,” Fauci said during congressional testimony Friday.
Key background
Trump has repeatedly claimed that the surge in coronavirus cases around the country is due to increased testing. During a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma last month, Trump claimed he told health officials to slow down testing. The White House later said he was speaking in “jest” but then the president said he doesn’t “kid.”
Tangent
While the U.S. is testing large amounts of people per day, the high demand is causing long delays in testing results.
Further reading
Fauci testifies 'highly contagious' virus won't disappear, as Trump jeers at Dems (ABC News)
Trump’s Coronavirus Testing Chief Concedes a Lag in Test Results (New York Times)
Fauci: ‘I Don’t Think You Can Say We’re Doing Great. I Mean, We’re Just Not.’ (FiveThirtyEight)
Amid White House Attacks, Polls Show Dr. Fauci Remains Nation’s Most Trusted Voice On Covid-19 (Forbes)
