PRESIDENT Trump has accused New Yok Gov. Andrew Cuomo of "exaggerating" his state’s need for coronavirus ventilators.
The president said he doesn't think some hard-hit areas need the tens of thousands of machines requested to treat COVID-19 patients, while the Surgeon General agreed some of the numbers were "off."
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Speaking with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Trump said: “I have a feeling that a lot of the numbers that are being said in some areas are just bigger than they’re going to be.
“I don't believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators. You go into major hospitals sometimes, and they’ll have two ventilators.
"And now all of a sudden they’re saying, ‘Can we order 30,000 ventilators?’”
Trump's words were seemingly targeted at Cuomo who recently claimed his state needed 30,000 ventilators.
The latest developments are:
- A second US child has died from the disease
- Bill Gates has warned the lockdown could last 10 weeks
- 80,000 Americans could die says report
- New York continues to be coronavirus epicenter
- New Orleans could overtake Big Apple with Mardi Gras to blame
- New 15 minute test is being sent to FDA for approval.
But Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams agreed some of the projections were "based on worst-case scenarios" in a CBS interview with Gayle King on Thursday morning.
"If you talk to experts, Dr. Fauci, Dr. Birx and others, the models in many cases are way off," he said, highlighting New York, where there were "1,000 ventilators sitting in a warehouse that haven't been used."
Adams claimed the resources in that state were not being distributed properly, citing western areas in-state where they are furloughing nurses, compared to people in NYC "who are suffering."
New York is the epicenter of the outbreak in the US and has more than 38,000 confirmed cases of the killer virus as the death toll tops 400 as of March 27.
Hospitals in the city have claimed they have been swamped with critically ill patients who need ventilators to stay alive.
It's already feared as the situation gets worse medics will be forced to ration the machines and choose which patients receive them.
Trump said although he is "getting along with Governor Cuomo" he told the Gov. he believes the worst-case scenario in New York is improbable.
"I think that a lot of things are being said that are more, I don't think certain things will materialize, a lot of equipment is being asked for but I don't think they'll need," he added.
The president also slammed two Democratic governors, Jay Inslee of Washington state and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, after they criticized the federal government's response to the spiraling pandemic.
"We have people like (Washington state) Governor Inslee – he should be doing more," Trump said.
Trump labeled Inslee a "failed [2020] presidential candidate" who is "always complaining."
Inslee pleaded with Trump during a private conference call to ramp up production of much-needed medical equipment, reports say.
But Trump said the federal government is merely the “backup.”
“I don’t want you to be the backup quarterback, we need you to be Tom Brady here,” Inslee reportedly said.
Trump then hit out at Michigan's Whitmer, telling Hannity he believes "she's not stepping up."
"I don't know if she knows what's going on but all she does is sit there and blame the federal government," Trump said.
"She doesn't get it done and we send her a lot.
"Now she wants a declaration of emergency and we have to make a decision on that. But Michigan is a very important state."
Earlier this week, Whitmer called for "clear directives and guidance from the federal government" over the coronavirus crisis.
The interview came as it was revealed the United States now has the largest number of reported cases in the world.
The country has now passed Italy and China, where the virus originated, with more than least 85,000 cases as of Thursday – though the president questioned the accuracy of the figures coming out of Beijing.
Trump also revealed he spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping about the coronavirus on Friday.
“Just finished a very good conversation with President Xi of China," he tweeted.
"Discussed in great detail the CoronaVirus that is ravaging large parts of our Planet.
“China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the Virus.
"We are working closely together. Much respect!”
Xi told Trump that cooperation between their countries was the only correct to deal with the coronavirus and China was willing to support the United States, the Chinese side said.
Earlier the President had questioned figures which place China now behind the US when it comes to the number of cases.
He said the U.S. is "testing tremendous numbers of people and every day" and "I'm sure you're not able to tell what China is testing or not testing. I think that's a little hard."
The news comes after new research predicted the virus could kill more than 81,000 people in the United States in the next four months and may not subside until June.
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