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March 25, 2020

Defying Medical Advice, Trump Calls for Return to Normal and "Packed Churches" on Easter Sunday
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As U.S. coronavirus cases continued to grow on an exponential curve
Tuesday - with the number of known cases topping 54,000 - President
Donald Trump said he hoped to reopen the U.S. economy and end
restrictions aimed at slowing the spread by Easter Sunday - less than
three weeks from now.

President Donald Trump: "So, I think Easter Sunday, and you'll have
packed churches all over our country. I think it would be a beautiful
time."

Trump's Easter Sunday deadline defies the advice of all of his medical
advisers. In Virginia, Christian evangelical leader Jerry Falwell Jr.
defied calls for the closure of Liberty University, where he serves as
president, welcoming thousands of students back from spring break and
ordering faculty members to report to campus. Falwell is one of
President Trump's most prominent supporters.

In Florida, Republican Governor Ron De Santis asked people over 65 and
anyone who has traveled from New York state over the last three weeks to
self-isolate for 14 days. Governor De Santis has not ordered a statewide
lockdown, and some Florida beaches remain open.


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