Vice President Mike Pence is visiting Dallas Sunday, where he’ll join Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for a meeting and news conference on the coronavirus pandemic. He’s also giving remarks at First Baptist Church in downtown Dallas.
Pence’s appearance at First Baptist is part of annual patriotic service to “celebrate freedom,” according to church officials. Housing Secretary Ben Carson traveled aboard Air Force 2 to Dallas, along with Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator.
Abbott is expected to attend the service, too. Abbott, along with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, greeted Pence on the tarmac. Pence, Carson and the four Texans wore face coverings.
“Vice President Pence’s speech to the First Baptist Church is another example of the Trump Administration’s ongoing commitment to protecting religious freedom for all Americans,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Samantha Cotten said. Trump had tweeted earlier: “Have a good time this morning at First Baptist Dallas Church.”
Pence’s Sunday stroll in Dallas comes as Texas is beset by a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic that health experts warn could cripple hospital systems and stall the economic recovery.
Even as COVID-19 cases surge in Texas and many other states, Pence has been optimistic about where the nation stands in its struggle against the virus. At a news conference of the coronavirus task force that he leads, Pence appeared overly positive about the country’s fight against the pandemic.
“We slowed the spread. We flattened the curve. We saved lives,” Pence said, though case counts in Texas and other states show he’s incorrect.
Health experts and national and local Democrats have criticized President Donald Trump and Abbott’s handling of the pandemic.
Texas has 143,371 reported COVID-19 cases, with at least 2,366 deaths because of the virus.
The state’s positivity rate, which is the percentage of coronavirus tests administered that produce a positive result, dwindled to under 5% last month, after a high in mid-April of 13.86%. On Thursday, the seven-day average positivity rate was 11.73%.
On Friday Abbott took steps to stem a tide of coronavirus infections. He closed bars, ordered restaurants to return to 50% capacity, shut river-rafting outfits and gave local officials more control over large gatherings ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
Last week Dallas County saw its largest single day increases of COVID-19 cases ever, including a staggering 561 new infections on Saturday and an additional 7 deaths. As of Saturday, Dallas County has had 19,595 COVID-19 cases, and at least 351 county residents have died from the virus.
Health experts and national and local Democrats have criticized President Donald Trump and Abbott’s handling of the pandemic.
Texas has 143,371 reported COVID-19 cases, with at least 2,366 deaths because of the virus.
The state’s positivity rate, which is the percentage of coronavirus tests administered that produce a positive result, dwindled to under 5% last month, after a high in mid-April of 13.86%. On Thursday, the seven-day average positivity rate was 11.73%.
On Friday Abbott took steps to stem a tide of coronavirus infections. He closed bars, ordered restaurants to return to 50% capacity, shut river-rafting outfits and gave local officials more control over large gatherings ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
Last week Dallas County saw its largest single day increases of COVID-19 cases ever, including a staggering 561 new infections on Saturday and an additional 7 deaths. As of Saturday, Dallas County has had 19,595 COVID-19 cases, and at least 351 county residents have died from the virus.
“At the beginning of May, our governor said hold my beer. And let me take this over,” Jenkins said. “No more requirements, everybody do what you want to do, everything that doctors and business are telling you, these are only recommendations.”
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/06/28/mike-pence-heading-to-dallas-as-texas-struggles-with-coronavirus-surge/