NY sees COVID-19 descent as Trump faces criticism over lockdown exit plan

New York state is cautiously optimistic that it has passed the peak of its coronavirus outbreak, while President Donald Trump faces criticism for his plan to end lockdowns and his support for anti-lockdown protests.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that New York's outbreak is "on the descent" but warned against complacency, as the state extends its lockdown until May 15.

The United States has exceeded 742,000 cases and 40,000 deaths, with Trump's handling of the pandemic drawing sharp divisions.

Trump clashed with state governors over the weekend regarding testing capacity, asserting that governors need to step up and that existing testing is sufficient for states to begin reopening.

However, some governors, including those from Virginia and Michigan, stated that testing capacity is inadequate and they require more federal assistance, with Virginia's governor calling the administration's claims "delusional."

Trump's encouragement of protests against lockdown measures in several states, particularly those led by Democratic governors, was met with strong disapproval from several Republican and Democratic governors.

Governors of Washington and Maryland criticized Trump's actions as dangerous and unhelpful, with the Washington governor stating it's "dangerous" for the president to encourage people to violate laws.

The dispute over testing and lockdown policies is seen as setting the stage for the upcoming November elections, with Trump aiming to mitigate damage to his re-election prospects.