Biden and Trump on shutdowns
Biden responded to concerns that another shutdown could harm the economy, already hurting from closures caused by the pandemic.
"I'm going to shut down the virus, not the country," he said. "It's his ineptitude that caused the virus -- caused the country to have to shut down in large part. Why businesses have gone under, why schools are closed, why so many people have lost their living and why they're concerned."
After attacking Trump for golfing during the pandemic, Biden said he hadn't ruled out additional shutdowns if necessary.Â
"You need standards," he said. "The standard is if you have a reproduction rate in a community that's above a certain level, everybody says slow up. More social distancing. Do not open bars and do not open gymnasiums."
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In rebuttal, Trump criticized Democratic governors in several states for shutting down in response to the pandemic.Â
"They're shut down so tight and they're dying," he said. "They're dying. And he supports all these people. All he talks about is shutdowns. No, we're not going to shut down. And we have to open our schools."Â
In an example of how young people have better outcomes with coronavirus, the president mentioned his son Baron who tested positive.
"By the time I spoke to the doctor the second time, he was fine. It just went away. Young people -- I guess it's their immune system," he said.