(Relevant) On Saturday, the U.S. reported nearly 300,000 new cases of COVID-19, a new single-day high for the U.S. There were also 2,398 COVID-related deaths reported, which is still tragic but fell short of the December 30 high of 3,750 deaths.
President Donald Trump railed against the official numbers, baselessly claiming that they are being exaggerated. “The number of cases and deaths of the China Virus is far exaggerated in the United States because of @CDCgov’s ridiculous method of determination compared to other countries, many of whom report, purposely, very inaccurately and low,” Trump tweeted. “‘When in doubt, call it Covid.’ Fake News!” But the nation’s top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci pushed back on Meet the Press “The numbers are real,” Fauci said. “We have well over 300,000 deaths. We’re averaging 2-3,000 deaths per day. … Those are real numbers, real people and real deaths.”