Washington (WBAP/KLIF) – As COVID-19 rates have increased in Texas, now over 1000 new cases in the past 5 days, a new unreleased White House report obtained by NBC News, shows coronavirus rates spiking in heartland communities. The report from by President Trump’s own White House COVID-19 Task Force shows the virus spreading far from the coasts, and contradicts the president’s claim that cases are falling everywhere.
The report shows surges of 72.4 percent or greater over a 7-day span compared to the previous week in several areas, including Texas.
COVID-19 positives are on the rise according the report, with spikes seen several metropolitan areas and smaller communities nationwide. The White House pandemic task force is relying on the data to track rates of infection.
According to the leaked report, as reported by NBC “some parts of the country — rural counties in Tennessee and Kansas — have seen cases balloon by more than 1,000% in a matter of one week. Other counties in Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin saw increases of more than 400%.
The report was dated May 7 and clashes with comments made by Mr. Trump this week that “all throughout the country, the numbers are coming down rapidly.”
Meantime, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer urged Vice President Mike Pence to discourage the protests during a call with governors — according to audio of the call obtained by ABC News — in an effort to protect rural communities from potentially being afflicted by the large-scale gatherings that could increase the spread.
Pence reported addressed the concern by saying that the administration will “continue to emphasize to people the safe and responsible practices while we ll move toward re-opening.”
Also, Texas is starting widespread coronavirus testing in state prisons where at least 30 people have died. The announcement Tuesday came one day after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott also ordered widespread testing in Texas nursing homes. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice says more than 1,700 prisoners have tested positive.
(Copyright 2020 WBAP/KLIF 24/7 News. This report contains material from the NBC News)
