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Coronavirus: World Health Organisation reports largest single-day increase in cases
- White House adviser Navarro says Trump remarks on slowing down testing were ‘tongue-in-cheek’
- UN health body tallies more than 183,000 new infections in 24 hours; Brazil’s death toll passes 50,000
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The World Health Organisation on Sunday reported the largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases by its count, at more than 183,000 new cases in the latest 24 hours.
The UN health agency said Brazil led the way with 54,771 cases tallied. The Brazilian government has since announced that the country’s death toll has passed 50,000.
The US was next at 36,617 infections, while over 15,400 were in India. Experts said rising case counts can reflect multiple factors including more widespread testing as well as broader infection.
Testing continues to be a contentious issue in the US, with a White House aide defending President Donald Trump’s latest remarks on the issue.
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Trump had drawn criticism after saying at a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday that the US has tested 25 million people, but the “bad part” is that it found more cases.
“When you do testing to that extent, you’re going to find more people, you’re going to find more cases,” Trump said. “So I said to my people, ‘Slow the testing down, please’.”
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White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said on CNN that Trump was being “tongue-in-cheek” and made the comment in a “light mood.”
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