Corona in the USA: Trump promises 150 million rapid tests

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Donald Trump, President USA

"I'm excited to announce that we will be distributing 150 million Abbott Rapid Rapid Tests very, very soon in the coming weeks."

150 million rapid corona tests for the US population - a promise a good five weeks before the presidential election and just a few hours before the first TV duel against challenger Biden.  

Donald Trump, President USA

"100 million rapid tests are going to state and regional agencies so they can reboot the economy and reopen schools immediately."

The remaining 50 million rapid tests are to be sent to old people's homes, assisted living facilities and other particularly endangered institutions.

The tests come from the US pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories.

They deliver results in 15 minutes and cost the government $ 5 apiece.

However, critics point to a high error rate.

Apparently, Trump does not think so worth mentioning. 

Instead, the president highlights the supposedly great successes of his administration in the fight against the pandemic. 

Donald Trump, President USA

"In the past eight weeks, hospital admissions have dropped 48 percent, and they're just off their lowest level since March. Advances in treatment have made the deaths fall 85 percent since April. Our excess mortality was significantly lower than in." comparable countries. Excess mortality compares the total number of deaths during a pandemic to what we would expect in a normal year. "

Message: We have everything under control.

Trump had long played down the dangers of the virus.

The renowned US immunologist Anthony Fauci criticized the head of the Corona task force of the White House, Scott Atlas, in a CNN interview.

Fauci was concerned that the new advisor's information was "either out of context or actually incorrect".  

Anthony Fauci, immunologist

"There is so much misinformation going on in these very divisive times. And the public needs to know the truth."

With more than seven million corona infections and over 200,000 deaths to date, the USA is the country in the world most severely affected by the pandemic in absolute terms.