U.S. Congresswoman Cindy Axne

U.S. Representative for Iowa’s Third District Cindy Axne (D) says she’s concerned about statements President Donald Trump has made about COVID-19 after contracting the virus last week.

President Trump has been quoted this week telling the American people to “not be afraid” of COVID-19, and that his infection was a “blessing in disguise.” Congresswoman Axne says she is glad that the President and the First Lady have recovered from COVID-19, but she’s afraid that the President’s statements will cause citizens to act more carelessly about the pandemic. Axne tells Raccoon Valley Radio medical experts have said that even holding large events outside where people are not wearing masks or social distancing raises the risk of spreading the virus dramatically. She says she’s especially concerned as we head into the influenza season, “It’s unfortunate, but the minor inconveniences of not being able to shake a hand or fill a rally hall are a lot better alternative than where we are now. So it’s regrettable that he said that and until a vaccine is medically approved and widely available we cannot let our guard down. We gotta make sure this pandemic is in the rearview mirror and no one should be making statements like that.”

Over 210,000 Americans have died because of COVID-19-related illness, with over 1,400 of them from Iowa. You can hear more from Axne during our monthly Let’s Talk Guthrie County program.