Trump and NY Guv Cuomo lock horns over 'opening up US' as New York sees 671 COVID deaths

While Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in US continue to rise - totalling 5,63,009 cases, President Trump, on Monday, took to Twitter to assert that 'it was President's decision to open up states, t state goverrs'. He ded that his ministration was working closely with Goverrs and will anunce a decision soon. Trump has t anunced a nationwide shutdown to deal with Coronavirus n has threatened to slash funding to WHO claiming it was 'biased towards China'.

Trump: 'Decision of President to open up US'

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Cuomo: 'Plan to reopen must be based on data, t politics'

On or hand, New York Goverr Andrew Cuomo said that decision must be based on 'data and experts, t opinion and politics', at his daily press briefing. New York has seen 671 deaths in past 24 hours, with state tally at 10,056 deaths (1,89,415 cases). Cuomo, who has extended lockdown in New York State till April 29, has maintained that state has started finally 'flattening curve' - ding that worst of coronavirus pandemic 'is over'.

New York state virus death toll passes 10,000: goverr

Trump and Cuomo lock horns

Cuomo has often locked horns with Trump, criticising his delayed response to pandemic. While Cuomo h publically appealed US government to provide 30,000-40,000 ventilators, Trump has rubbished it by saying, "You go into major hospitals sometimes, and y’ll have two ventilators. And w all of a sudden y’re saying, ‘Can we order 30,000 ventilators?’". New York is one of worst-hit spot in US and has w become epicenter of disease.

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Trump and Coronavirus

Trump who h earlier downplayed Coronavirus's effects - terming it a 'Chinese virus', has w called it 'worst thing to hit US'. USA which has overtaken China in number of positive cases has emerged as epicenter of pandemic with 5,66,654 cases and 22,877 deaths. While initially, Trump claimed to have country 'up and running by Easter', he extended its social distancing restrictions till April 30. White House, which has forecasted over 1,00,000- 2,40,00 deaths in US, stopped federal funding to states for testing but reversed it after facing a severe backlash.

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