Experts have said testing would need to be at least doubled from current levels in order to allow for even a partial reopening of America's economy.
Governors across the country on Sunday pushed back on the Trump administration's claims that states are conducting a"sufficient" level of coronavirus testing.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, told CNN that the"lack of testing" is"probably the number one problem in America, and has been from the beginning of this crisis." "So, look, I think they have made some strides at the federal level," Hogan said."I think states are all working hard on their own to find their own testing. Lab capacity has been increasing. But it's not accurate to say there's plenty of testing out there, and the governors should just get it done. That's just not being straightforward.
“There is a sufficient capacity of testing across the country today for any state in America to go to a Phase 1 level, which contemplates testing people that have symptoms of coronavirus, and also doing the kind of monitoring of vulnerable populations in our cities, in our nursing homes, that we ought to be watching very carefully for outbreaks," Pence told NBC's"Meet the Press.
But governors have said are short the necessary equipment to conduct widespread testing. Speaking with"Meet the Press," Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, said he"could probably double, maybe even triple testing in Ohio virtually overnight if the FDA would prioritize companies that are putting a slightly different formula together for the extraction reagent kit.
"The reagents and the swabs are absolutely essential," she said."You can't process all these tests if you can't take the sample and protect it. And move forward through testing. So while our capabilities are there, these important supplies are not."
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Governors say Trump's reopening plan missing a key component: nationwide testingPresident Donald Trump's plan to reopen the country lacks a strategy for nationwide testing, something he's long-resisted.
Read more »
Trump Jabs at Cuomo — Who Responds in Real Time on TV: 'Maybe He Should Get Up and Go to Work'President Donald Trump reignited his feud with Democratic state governors less than a day after claiming he's had a 'good relationship' with them.
Read more »
Governors Divide By Party On Trump Plan To Reopen Businesses Shut By CoronavirusDemocratic governors say they want the federal government to play a stronger role in testing for infections, which they say is necessary to restore the economy. Republican governors are more bullish.
Read more »
Watch live: Coronavirus task force holds briefing as Trump pushes protests, spars with governorsMembers of the coronavirus task force are expected to hold a press briefing Friday as tensions between President Donald Trump and governors continues to grow.
Read more »