Trump Says U.S. Doesn’t Want All Americans Tested, Only Sick

(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump said he only wants Americans who have “a problem” to be tested for coronavirus and dismissed reports that many people who suspect they’re ill can’t obtain a diagnosis.

“We don’t want every American to go out and get a test,” Trump said a White House news conference on Friday, and complained that his administration had “inherited an obsolete, broken system” for testing that wasn’t prepared for the outbreak.

Asked about widespread complaints from Americans who suspect they’re ill but haven’t been able to receive a test, Trump replied: “I’m not hearing it.”

But Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, subsequently agreed with a reporter who asked whether it’s accurate that the availability of tests does not meet U.S. demand.

“The answer is yes,” Fauci said, with Trump standing next to him. “We are not there yet.”

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