Donald Trump insists America will not lockdown again - despite cases soaring across the country.
The president does not have the power to stop individual states going into lockdown if they wish to do so to control cases.
The US on Wednesday reported more than 59,000 new infections as its death toll approached 217,000.
The spike has been driven by a resurgence of infections in the Midwest and other areas of the country.
“We’re not doing any more,” he said on Fox, when asked about the prospect of says of regional shutdowns.
Trump continues to trail his challenger Joe Biden by as much as 17 points in the national polls.
He admitted worry at the recent polls and acknowledged his concern during his latest rally appearance in Iowa.
"For me to only be up six [in Iowa], I'm a little bit concerned, I'll tell you that," Trump said.
In a further sign of his desperation, he later tweeted a plea to voters in the Democratic state of California
He posted: "People are fleeing California. Taxes too high, Crime too high, Brownouts too many, Lockdowns too severe. VOTE FOR TRUMP, WHAT THE HELL DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE!!!"
The President says he "feels good" after his recent coronavirus diagnosis.
During a rambling election rally speech at DSM International Airport earlier, the US President also referred to 14-year-old son Barron testing positive.
First Lady Melania - who had also been isolating at the White House after contracting the virus two weeks ago - revealed earlier in the day how the couple's teenager had fought off Covid-19.
The 74-year-old said: "Barron Trump, you know he had the corona 19, the China virus.
"It's got 20 different names, but to me Corona means Italy.
"China is China, and it came from China so he had the China virus, right?
"And he had it for such a short period of time, I don't even think he knew he had it.
"Because they're young and their immune systems are strong and they fight it off."
