Donald Trump says US has flattened Covid curve even as total cases near 1.25 million

Asserting that United States has flattened curve on coronavirus, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday country is w in next st of battle, which is a "very safe phased and gradual reopening".

"Thanks to profound commitment of our citizens, we have flattened curve and countless American lives have been saved. Our country is w in next st of battle. A very safe, phased and gradual reopening of our country," Trump said in his remarks at Honeywell International in Phoenix. According to John Hopkins University, which tracks coronavirus patients, by Tuesday, more than 71,000 Americans had died due to deadly virus and over 12 lakh had tested positive.

However, re has been a sharp decline in number of new cases and deaths in country in last one week, prompting Trump to say that country has been able to flatten curve. This pandemic, he said, has underscored vital importance of reassuring US supply chains and constructing a powerful domestic manufacturing base.

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"I have been talking about that for a long time. Oftentimes, you would see a plant like this at a different country doing work you can be doing, and you will do it better. United States declared its independence nearly 250 years ago, but in recent decades, Washington politicians allowed our independence to be offshored, outsourced and ceded to foreign countries. But we are taking it back and we have been taking it back. And you look at our job numbers, you knew that we were taking it back," Trump said.

As such his administration believes in two simple rules -- buy American and hire Americans, he added. " people of our country are warriors. With your help, we will vanquish virus and build a future of greatness and glory with American heart, American hands, American pride and American soul," he said.

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Trump threatens China 

US President Donald Trump on Friday reiterated that imposing an additional tariff on China for allegedly mishandling coronavirus outbreak is "certainly an option". Trump has repeatedly threatened China of consequences if it is found that China kwingly released virus. Last week, he said that US is doing "very serious" investigation against China. He has also halted US funding to UN body after alleging mismanaging coronavirus crisis. Trump has blamed WHO's "very much sided" approach to China on coronavirus crisis.

(with PTI inputs)

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