The Trump administration plans to close 13 federally run coronavirus testing sites in five states at the end of the month. Critics at the state and federal levels say the shutdowns are a dangerous idea as infections surge in many states.
At a campaign event in Tulsa, Okla., Trump said that he had instructed officials to slow coronavirus testing across the country in order to give the appearance of a decline in the pandemic.
Critics at the state and federal levels say the shutdowns are a dangerous idea as infections are surging in many states and testing remains scarce in some places. Health officials are especially concerned about the repercussions of the closures in Texas, where seven of the sites are located, the infections are rising quickly.
"The pandemic is clearly getting worse in states nationwide—and instead of trying harder to stop it, President Trump is apparently trying harder to hide it," U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said in a statement Wednesday. Murray is the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. On Sunday, she and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote to the administration urging it to disburse nearly"It's completely unacceptable that while billions in federal dollars Congress passed to support testing sit unspent, this Administration is closing testing sites in states where new COVID-19 cases are rapidly on the rise," she added.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump administration ending support for drive-thru testing sitesThe federal government is ending its support for 13 drive-through coronavirus testing sites on June 30, urging states to take over their operations — even as cases spike in several parts of the country
Read more »
Trump administration says it will no longer directly run COVID-19 testing sitesThe Trump administration says it will no longer directly run virus testing sites, which it had been doing in hard-hit parts of the country, opting instead to 'transition' control of the last of its 13 sites to the states, including seven in Texas.
Read more »
Trump administration to end federal support for COVID-19 testing sitesThe Trump admin. is planning to end its funding and support at the end of the month for 13 coronavirus testing sites located in 5 states: Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Read more »
Trump Administration Price-Transparency Rule Covering Hospitals UpheldThe American Hospital Association lost its legal bid to stop the Trump administration from requiring hospitals to disclose secret rates they negotiate with insurance companies, a victory for President Trump’s health policy.
Read more »
Trump Administration Weighs Extending New START Nuclear TreatyThe Trump administration is keeping open the possibility of extending the New START arms control treaty with Russia, but the decision will be by influenced by three factors, including whether China joins the process, a U.S. official said.
Read more »
Trump administration sees no loophole in new Huawei curbThe U.S. government sees no loopholes in a new rule aimed at crimping global chip sales to China's Huawei and will 'aggressively' crack down on any bid to disobey the intent of the curb, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Tuesday.
Read more »