U.S. to extend Texas testing capabilities as long as state leaders want: Pence

[June 29, 2020]    (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Pence on Sunday said the federal government would extend support for coronavirus testing in Texas as long as necessary amid a dangerous surge in new cases, after U.S. health officials had moved to curb some sites in various localities.

Ella Speer speaks with a doctor before getting tested in for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during an outbreak in Austin, Texas, U.S., June 28, 2020. REUTERS/Sergio Flores

Pence said the decision to transition from some federal testing sites was made "several weeks ago," before the latest rise in COVID-19 cases, telling reporters at a news conference in Dallas: "We'll be extending that every bit as long as Texas wants us to."

(Reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington and Maria Caspani in New York, Editing by Alistair Bell)

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