Trump says he has 'good relationship' with Fauci

U.S President Donald Trump says he has a "very good relationship" with Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, who has been sidelined by the White House after sounding the alarms about the spread of the virus.

"I find him to be a very nice person," Trump said, adding "I don't always agree with him."

The resurgence of the coronavirus in the United States ignited fierce debate Monday about whether to reopen schools, as global health officials warned that the pandemic will intensify unless more countries adopt comprehensive plans to combat it.

The president continued to insist Monday that tested in the United States was contributing to the high number of cases.

"We have a lot of cases because we have a lot of testing," Trump said during an East Room event Monday.

Debate over the risks the virus poses, and how best to fight it, were spotlighted in Florida after it shattered the record among U.S. states for the largest single-day increase, with more than 15,000 newly confirmed cases.

The president also said that Phase One of the trade deal with China would go ahead.

"What they did the world should not be forgotten," Trump said.  "But it is intact, they are buying."