>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, WE JUST FINISHED THE MEETING IN THE
WHITE HOUSE WITH THE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE AND SINCE THE TIME,
WE HAVE MET DAILY AND WE WILL CONTINUE THAT EFFORT TODAY. WE
ADDED AHEAD OF THE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES AS WELL AS
ROBERT WILKIE WITH THE VA.
FIRST, A FEW BASIC FACTS AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE ABOUT ONGOING EFFORTS. AT THE PRESENT
MOMENT, WE HAVE 43 DOMESTIC CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND 48
CASES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES.
OTHER DOMESTIC CASES, 29 OF THE 43 ARE EITHER IN CALIFORNIA OR
WASHINGTON STATE AND WE HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE FACING
OF WHAT THE EXPERTS TELL US COULD BE A CLUSTER IN THOSE
COMMUNITIES. SADLY, TODAY, THERE WERE FOUR ADDITIONAL FATALITIES
RAISING THE NUMBER OF SIX AMERICANS LOSING THEIR
LIVES TO THE CORONAVIRUS AND ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT AND ALL
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WE EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES AND
SYMPATHIES TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE THAT WERE LOST. DESPITE
TODAY'S SAD NEWS, LET'S BE CLEAR. THE RISK TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE OF THE CORONAVIRUS REMAINS LOW ACCORDING TO ALL THE
EXPERTS THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT. THE
PRESIDENT HAS SAID WE ARE READY FOR ANYTHING
BUT THIS IS ALL HANDS ON DECK EFFORT AND TODAY'S ACTIVITY
REALLY REFLECTS THE PRESENT EFFORT TO BRING THE BEST MINDS
OF THE PRIVATE INDUSTRY TOGETHER AND THE BEST OF LEADERSHIP FROM
AROUND THE COUNTRY AT EVERY LEVEL.
WE HAD A GOOD MEETING THIS MORNING WITH GOVERNORS FROM 50
STATES AND THREE TERRITORIES. I WAS ABLE TO CONVEY TO THEM THE
GRATITUDE THAT THE PRESIDENT AND THE ENTIRE DEMONSTRATION FEELS
PARTICULARLY FOR GOVERNORS THAT ARE DEALING WITH THE CORONAVIRUS
IN THEIR STATE AND THOSE THAT HAVE TAKEN
REPATRIATED PERSONNEL. I CAN SAY THAT WHAT I HEAR FROM THE
NATIONS GOVERNORS IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SEAMLESS RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN ALL THE AGENCIES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATES
THUS FAR.
WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO HEAR THAT. WE ARE COMMITTED TO A FULL
PARTNERSHIP WITH STATE GOVERNMENTS AND TO THE HEALTH
OFFICIALS AND TO LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS GOING
FORWARD.
WE ALSO MET TODAY WITH SOME OF THE LEADERS OF THE TOP
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES
IN THE WORLD AND THE PRESIDENT SPOKE TO THEM NOT JUST ABOUT
VACCINES WHICH MANY OF THE COMPANIES ARE ALREADY BEGINNING
TO WORK ON BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THERAPEUTICS AND IT IS REMARKABLE TO THINK THAT THERE
MAY WELL BE A VACCINE GOING TO LOCAL TRIALS WITHIN THE NEXT SIX
WEEKS AND EXPERTS HAVE EXPLAINED TO US THAT THE VACCINE MIGHT NOT
YET BE AVAILABLE UNTIL LATE THIS YEAR BUT THE THERAPEUTICS GIVING
RELIEF TO PEOPLE COULD
BE AVAILABLE BY THIS SUMMER OR EARLY FALL. THE MOST ENCOURAGING
NEWS WAS THAT OUR
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES WHICH ARE RECOGNIZED AS THE GREATEST
IN THE WORLD, THEY HAVE ALREADY CONFORMED A CONTORTION TO
SHARE INFORMATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT IN THERAPEUTICS AND
VACCINES. A QUICK UPDATE YESTERDAY
, WE WERE FULLY IMPLEMENTING THE NEW TRAVEL ADVISORIES FOR
PORTIONS OF ITALY AND SOUTH KOREA AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
SCREENING OF PERSONNEL
FROM ACROSS THOSE COUNTRIES WHO ARE TRYING TO TAKE A DIRECT
FLIGHT TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I WAS PLEASED TO LEARN
THAT WITHIN THE NEXT 12 HOURS, THEY WILL BE 100% SCREENING AND
ALL DIRECT FLIGHTS AT ALL AIRPORTS ACROSS ITALY AND ACROSS
SOUTH KOREA.
THE PRESIDENT HAS DIRECTED US
TO BRING FULL RESOURCES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND TO BRING
THE BEST MINDS IN THIS COUNTRY TO BEAR ON THIS EFFORT AND
FINALLY
, I AM PLEASED TO WELCOME TO OUR WHITE HOUSE TEAM, A WORLD
RENOWNED
GLOBAL HEALTH OFFICIAL AND PHYSICIAN. SHE WILL BE MY RIGHT
ARM THROUGH THIS EFFORT AS THE PRESIDENT HAS TASKED ME TO LEAD
THE RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT AMBASSADOR
DEBORAH BURKS AND DR. DEBORAH BROOKS WILL BE ON OUR TEAM AND
SHE HAS ALREADY BEEN CONJURING SIGNIFICANTLY TO OUR
DISCUSSIONS. DR. BROOKS SIRS FOR COMBATING HIV AIDS GLOBALLY
AND HAS DEVELOPED AN INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION AS
THAT. SHE IS A SCIENTIST AND PHYSICIAN AND SOMEONE WITH THREE
DECADES OF PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTISE INCLUDING VACCINES AND
HAS VAST EXPERIENCE IN INTERAGENCY COORDINATION AND DR.
BROOKS AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BRINGING ALL
OF THESE VARIOUS ENTITIES TOGETHER
TO BRING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S VISION FOR A WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT
RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE DR.
DEBORAH BURKS AND THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP ALL MY TIME TO SERVE
OUR COUNTRY. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. VICE
PRESIDENT. IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE . EVERYONE TOOK GREAT
CARE OF ME AND I HAD COMPUTER AND PHONE RECORDS AND IT SHOWS A
LEVEL OF EFFICIENCY AND EXPERTISE HERE
AND IT IS CLEAR THAT THE EARLY WORK OF THE PRESIDENT BOTH IN
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND THE ABILITY TO QUARANTINE HAS
BROUGHT US TIME AND SPACE TO HAVE THIS TASK FORCE BE VERY
EFFECTIVE. I HAVE NEVER WORKED WITH SUCH INCREDIBLE SCIENTISTS
AND THOUGHTFUL POLICY LEADERS AND I GOT TO SPEND THE DAY WITH
THEM. I AM TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAYS OF WORKING TOGETHER TO END THIS
EPIDEMIC. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. VICE
PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO FIRST START OUT BY SAYING HOW
DELIGHTED WE ARE THAT
AMBASSADOR BURKS WILL BE LEADING AND CORRELATING THESE EFFORTS
ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT. DR. BROOKS AND I GO WAY BACK AND
BASICALLY EVERY LEADER AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES GO WAY BACK TOGETHER. WE ALREADY HAVE ESTABLISHED
RELATIONSHIPS. WHILE WE HAVE
PRODUCTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS AND I THINK WE WILL KEEP THIS
PROCESS WORKING INCREDIBLY SMOOTHLY AND AS THE VICE
PRESIDENT SAID, DR. BURKS HAS BEEN ALREADY BEEN ASKING THE
RIGHT QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGING AS ON ALL THE RIGHT POLICY
MATTERS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON. I WANT TO BEGIN BY RECAPPING
THE CURRENT SITUATION THAT WE HAVE FACED. AS THE VICE
PRESIDENT MENTIONED AS OF THIS MORNING, WE HAVE A 43 CONFIRMED
PRESUMPTIVE CASES OF THE VIRUS IN THE UNITED STATES EXCLUDING
THE REPATRIATED CASES AND 17 OF THOSE ARE TRAVEL RELATED IN ONE
WAY OR ANOTHER AND 26 ARE BELIEVED TO BE PERSON-TO-PERSON
SPREAD.
BECAUSE OF THE STRONG LEADERSHIP AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT OUR
PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HAVE DONE AT THE LOCAL AND STATE AND
FEDERAL LEVEL, THE IMMEDIATE RISK TO ANY INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS
HAS BEEN AND IS CONTINUE TO BE LOW BUT THE RISK FOR PEOPLE WITH
POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO IDENTIFIED CASES CAN BE HIGH. WITH EVERY
ONE OF OUR EXPERTS AND LEADERS PAYING FOR MORE THAN A MONTH NOW
THAT THE DEGREE OF RISK HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE QUICKLY.
ESPECIALLY IF WE SEE SUSTAINED SPREAD OF THE DISEASE AROUND THE
WORLD WHICH COULD QUALIFY THIS DISEASE AS A PANDEMIC.
AS SAID THIS MORNING, WE WILL SEE MORE CASES OF COMMUNITY
SPREAD IN THE UNITED STATES. AS WE HAVE EMPHASIZED, WE ALL NEED
TO PREPARE
FOR THE POTENTIAL NEED TO PREPARE FOR THE WORST BUT HOPE
FOR THE BEST. IN SOME PLACES WE WILL HAVE TO USE THE RANGE OF
OUR MITIGATION EFFORTS AND WE ALREADY ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH
SANTA CLARA COUNTY AND THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND KING COUNTY TO
ASSIST THEM IN THINKING THROUGH SOME OF THE BEST PRACTICES
AS WELL AS LEARNINGS FROM SINGAPORE AND HONG KONG TO THE
MOST EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY MITIGATION EFFORTS SUCH AS
TEMPORARY SCHOOL CLOSURES OR EVEN MORE TITRATED RESPONSES
THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SUCH AS HAVING SCHOOL BUT PERHAPS NOT
HAVING ASSEMBLIES IN SCHOOL. THAT IS WHY THE PRESIDENT HAS
TAKEN AN UNPRECEDENTED HOLD OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO PROTECT
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE INCLUDING THE STEPS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS
TO RADICALLY EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE TESTING AND ACCESS TO
RESPIRATORS NEEDED BY HEALTHCARE WORKERS. THE VICE PRESIDENT
AND I SPOKE WITH ALMOST EVERY GOVERNOR THAT WE HAVE THIS
MORNING AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE CLOSE COOPERATION.
I ALSO WANTED TO INTRODUCE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO I ASKED THE VICE
PRESIDENT TO HAVE JOINED THIS TASK FORCE BECAUSE THE CENTERS
FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES PLAY SUCH A VITAL ROLE
WITH $1.3 TRILLION OF SPENDING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND
PROVIDING HEALTHCARE TO 60 MILLION AMERICAN SENIORS AND AS
WE HAVE SEEN, THIS DISEASE CAN HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT
ON THE ELDERLY AS WELL AS MEDICALLY FRAIL. OUR
ADMINISTRATOR HAS A VERY IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY IN
REGARD TO FUNDING
OF CARE WHETHER IT IS THERAPEUTICS OR VACCINES OR
DIAGNOSTICS OR SENIOR CITIZENS BUT ALSO A VITAL ROLE THAT YOU
MAY NOT KNOW OF
AND REGULATING LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES SUCH AS NURSING HOMES
AND OTHER HEALTHCARE FACILITIES WITH REGULATORY FUNCTIONS. I'M
DELIGHTED THAT THE ADMINISTRATOR IS FORMALLY JOINING THE TASK
FORCE TOLD ME TURN IT OVER.
>> THANK YOU SECRETARY AND FOR THE TRUMPET MENSTRUATION,
PATIENTS COME FIRST AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND WELFARE OF
AMERICA'S PATIENTS AND PROVIDER WORKFORCE IS OUR HIGHEST
PRIORITY. LET ME START WITH WHAT CMS AND THE SECRETARY SAID.
WE ARE THE LARGEST COVERING OVER 130 MILLION AMERICANS BETWEEN
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND THE INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE MARKET.
SOME OF THESE ARE THE NATIONS MOST MOLDABLE POPULATIONS AND
THOSE IN PUBLIC AND ELDERLY AND SO FORTH. WE DO HAVE A
REGULATORY RESPONSIBILITY
OR PRETTY MUCH EVERY HEALTHCARE INSTITUTION IN AMERICA AND THIS
INCLUDES FACILITIES SUCH AS HOSPITALS
AND CRITICAL ACCESS AND NURSING HOMES AND HOME HEALTH AGENCIES
AND DIALYSIS FACILITIES AND THE LIST GOES ON. THAT GIVES US A
CRITICAL ROLE IN ADDRESSING THE CORONAVIRUS. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR ENFORCING THE QUALITY GUIDELINES BASED ON INFORMATION
WITH PARTNER AGENCIES LIKE THE CDC.
LET ME STRESS THAT CMS HAS LONG-STANDING INFECTIOUS DISEASE
POLICIES
ALREADY IN PLACE THAT WE HAVE USED EFFECTIVELY FOR OTHER
OUTBREAKS SUCH AS INFLUENZA. HEALTHCARE FACILITIES ALREADY
HAVE THESE PROCEDURES IN PLACE AND ARE PREPARED FOR WHAT THEY
MAY SEEM. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROACTIVELY UPDATE OUR
REGULATIONS AND WE WILL BE WORKING WITH CDC AND RIGHT NOW
THOSE ARE ALREADY IN PLACE AND IT IS OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THE
HEALTHCARE FACILITIES ARE EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTING
THOSE GUIDELINES AND WE WILL WORK WITH THE CDC TO DETERMINE
WHETHER WE NEED TO UPDATE OR CHANGE THOSE. ALSO, WE ARE
LOOKING AT WHAT WE COVER AND CLARIFYING THE TYPES OF PRODUCTS
AND SERVICES THAT OUR PROGRAMS WILL BE ABLE TO PAY FOR IN TERMS
OF MEDICAID AND MEDICARE. >>
THANK YOU. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR
TEAM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THREE COMMENTS AND
POINTS AND FIRST OF ALL TO UNDERSCORE WHAT THE VICE
PRESIDENT AND THE SECRETARY LIAISON SAID. WE HAD AN
EXTRAORDINARY MEETING WITH THE CEOS OF RIDING WITH INDIVIDUALS
IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOTECH BUSINESS AND SEVERAL OF
THEM IN THE ROOM, PEOPLE WERE ALREADY ACTIVELY COLLABORATING
WITH AND THEIR ENTHUSIASM ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED IN HELPING US
ALONG WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRODUCTS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF
PRODUCTS THE VACCINES
FOR OTHERS IT WAS VERY GRATIFYING. SECOND, I AM PLEASED
THAT THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT WILL BE VISITING AND
WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW FIRSTHAND THE KIND OF
THINGS WE ARE DOING AND FINALLY JUST ONE COMMENT ABOUT INVESTOR
DR. BURKS. A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID THEY GO BACK A LONG
TIME WITH DR. BURKS BUT NOBODY GOES BACK AS LONG AS I GO. SHE
WAS A FELLOW IN MY PROGRAM AS A TRAINEE AND SHE KNEW HER WE KNEW
SHE WAS A STAR THEN BUT NOW SHE HAS BECOME A SUPERSTAR.
TOGETHER, WE WERE INVOLVED IN VACCINE TRIALS THAT WAS THE
FIRST SUCCESSFUL TRIAL OF HIV AND HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER OR HAD
THE PRIVILEGE AND THE HONOR AMONG OTHERS OF PUTTING TOGETHER
THE PROGRAM FOR PRESIDENT BUSH AND SHE WAS THE INVESTOR IN
CHARGE OF THE PROGRAM SO I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM TO
FINALLY ONCE AGAIN GET BACK TO BE A PART WITH DEBBIE BURKS.
>> FINALLY, CDC
. >> THANK YOU, MR. VICE
PRESIDENT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS RECOGNIZE THAT CDC
CONTINUES TO WORK AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE BACKBONE OF OUR
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM WITH THIS NATION WHICH IS THE STATE AND
LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. THESE TEAMS CONTINUE TO WORK TO
IDENTIFY NEW CASES AND ISOLATE CONTACT AND TO WORK TOGETHER TO
TRY TO LIMIT THE TRANSMISSION OF THE CORONAVIRUS. WORKING WITH
THE PUBLIC HEALTH PARTNERS, WE CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY
NEW COMMUNITY CASES AS THE SECRETARY SAID
WE ALWAYS ANTICIPATED AND USE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH ASSETS TO
AGGRESSIVELY CONFIRM THOSE CASES AND ISOLATE NEW CONTACT AND USE
OUR PUBLIC HEALTH TOOLS TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS. I WANT
TO ECHO WHAT WAS SAID BY THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THE SECRETARY
THAT DESPITE SEEING THESE NEW COMMUNITY CASES, THAT SHOWS YOU
WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY ACROSS THIS COUNTRY IN
ACTION AND THE REST OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS LOW. I ALSO
WANT TO ADD
AND I KNOW MY ENTIRE AGENCY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PRESIDENT
AND VICE PRESIDENTS AND THE SECRETARIES VISIT TO COME ON
FRIDAY AND GET TO MEET A LOT OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT HAVE FORM
THE BACKBONE OF THIS GREAT AGENCY. THANK YOU.
>> STEVE HOLLAND .
>> BASED ON WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN SO FAR, HOW QUICKLY DO YOU
EXPECT THE VIRUS TO SPREAD? >> LET ME REFER THAT TO THE
EXPERTS. >>
I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS THE SECRETARY SAID FROM THE
BEGINNING THAT WE HAVE ANTICIPATED TO SEEK COMMUNITY
CASES
AND THAT THEY WILL POP UP AND WE HAVE A NUMBER AND THE HEALTH
DEPARTMENT ARE AGGRESSIVELY EVALUATING TO SEE IF THEY CAN
UNDERSTAND THE LINKAGE
AND WHO ARE THE CONTACTS AND HOW IS THE VIRUS SPREADING. I THINK
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SHOULD REST ASSURE THAT WE HAVE WON THE BEST
PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STATE
AND LOCAL TERRITORIES
THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THESE CASES AS A CONSEQUENCE OF
THEM DOING THEIR JOB AND WE WILL USE PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES
THAT WE CAN TO LIMIT THE TRANSMISSION. I THINK WE SHOULD
FOCUS ON THAT RIGHT NOW. WE ARE STILL WORKING VERY HARD AND
TRYING TO CONTAIN THE COMMUNITY OUTBREAKS BUT AS THE SECRETARY
HAS SAID, WE ARE PLANNING THAT WITH STRATEGIC MITIGATION
STRATEGIES. >>
THERE ARE TWO ASPECTS OF THIS WITH CASES COMING IN AND
CONTROLLING THE SPREAD OF WHAT IS ALREADY IN HERE AND THERE ARE
TWO THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH RESTRICTIONS OF TRAVEL AND
AREAS THAT ARE HOTSPOTS IN THE REST OF THE WORLD JUST LIKE THE
ORIGINAL TRAVEL HERE WITH CHINA, I THINK THAT WILL MITIGATE
AGAINST THE QUESTION OF WHAT IS SPREAD AND
THE ISOLATION THAT IS AGGRESSIVELY GOING ON. YOU CAN
NEVER PREDICT 100% OF ANYTHING BUT I THINK WHAT IS GOING ON
WITH THE CDC WITH STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES WILL
GET US THROUGH THIS. >> SOMETHING THAT I LEARNED
ALONG THE WAY IS WE HAVE CASES WITH STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH
OFFICIALS, CDC IS ON THE GROUND IMMEDIATELY HELPING TO IDENTIFY
HOW THAT MIGHT HAVE ORIGINATED WITH THE INDIVIDUAL TO FIND OUT
WHO THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO. WE KNOW THERE WILL BE MORE CASES
AND THE PRESIDENT INITIALLY TOOK ON UNPRECEDENTED ACTION AND
GOING INTO THE COUNTRY NOW WE ARE FOCUSED
ON MITIGATION OF THE SPREAD AS WELL AS TREATMENT OF THE PEOPLE
THAT ARE EFFECTIVE. IT'S KRISTEN FISCHER HERE? SHE WALKED OUT?
DO WE GO WITH HALLIE JACKSON. >> TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU, SIR.
PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID THERE COULD BE NO NEW TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS.
CAN YOU ELABORATE ON WHAT COUNTRY YOU ARE LOOKING AT?
>> THE PRESIDENT IS VERY CLEAR THAT WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE
FACTS AND LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. THE
ACTIONS RAISING THE TRAVEL ADVISORY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
SHOULD KNOW THAT WE ARE SAYING THAT YOU SHOULD NOT TRAVEL TO
CERTAIN SECTIONS OF ITALY OR SOUTH KOREA. THOSE ADVISORIES
MAY EXPAND BUT WE WILL ALLOW THE CASELOAD IN THOSE COUNTRIES
TO DEFINE THAT. IN ADDITION TO THAT BY ESTABLISHING THE SPRING
PROTOCOL WHICH WILL BE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT WITHIN THE NEXT
12 HOURS IN BOTH COUNTRIES, WE WILL ENSURE THAT ANYONE
TRAVELING ON A DIRECT FLIGHT RECEIVES MULTIPLE SCREENINGS AT
ALL AIRPORTS BUT TO YOUR POINT, THE NATURE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
, THE TASK FORCE SPOKE TODAY ABOUT NEW CASES AND THERE WERE
SOME IN SEVERAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND WE ARE FOLLOWING
THAT VERY CLOSELY AND AGAIN WE WILL LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS AND
WANTS THE CASES
AND I KNOW THE PRESIDENT WILL MAKE DECISIONS WITH REGARD TO
TRAVEL ADVISORIES OR RESTRICTIONS ON THE BASIS OF
THOSE FACTS. >> DO YOU OR YOUR EXPERTS
BEHIND YOU CONSIDER THIS A PANDEMIC
AND ALL BUT DESIGNATION ONLY? >> I WOULD JUST REFER TO THE
EXPERTS AND OUR VIEW IS THAT WOULD BE FOR THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION TO DEFINE. OUR TESTS WERE SEEN IS BEHIND
AND THAT THE SECRETARY ADDRESSES AND THIS WASN'T SO MUCH ABOUT
SEMANTICS AND THE BRIEFING WASN'T MORE THAN 60 AT THIS
POINT SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE ALL THAT WE CAN DO TO
PREVENT PEOPLE COMING INTO THE COUNTRY AND MITIGATING ANY
SPREAD OF THE DISEASE AND TO PROVIDE TREATMENT.
>> I SPOKE WITH DR. TED ROSE WITH THE MANAGER ABOUT THIS
PRECISE QUESTION
SO TO GET A SENSE OF HOW THEY ARE ASSESSING THE PANDEMIC
STATUS AND I WILL LET THEM FULLY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES BUT AT THE
MOMENT WHILE WE ARE SEEING COMMUNITY SPREADING IN MULTIPLE
REGIONS OF THE WORLD,
THERE ARE MANY DEFINITIONS THAT PEOPLE USE AROUND PANDEMIC AND
ONE ISSUE THAT THEY ARE FOCUSED ON IS SHEER MAGNITUDE AND WHILE
WE HAVE HAD LARGE NUMBERS OF CASES SPREADING WITHIN CHINA,
THE ACTUAL ABSOLUTE NUMBER OF CASES WITH COMMUNITY SPREADING
ARE NOT OF THE PENTATEUCH COMPARABLE TO ANY EVEN THE
H1N!
AND THAT IS HOW THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS SO WE WILL
KEEP WORKING WITH THEM AND WE DON'T HAVE A VIEW AS TO WHETHER
WE SHOULD HAVE THE PANDEMIC OR NOT. I WANTED A SENSE OF HOW
THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT IT AND I ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD PUT OUT
SOME POINTS ABOUT HOW THEY ARE ASSESSING THE STUFF.
>> HOW ABOUT
BEN WITH ADC? >> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AND
WHO WILL BE CONDUCTING IT AND EXPANDING AND HOW MANY TESTS
HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED, WHAT IS THE UPDATE ON THAT?
>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS AT AN ENERGY AGENCY WORK THAT HAS
WORKED WITH BOTH ITALY AND SOUTH KOREA AND MAYBE ABOUT THREE
HOURS AGO FULLY IMPLEMENTED WITH THE SCREENING OF ALL AIRPORTS
AND AS I MENTIONED WITHIN THE NEXT 12 HOURS OR SO, ITALY WILL
HAVE IMPLEMENT OF THE SAME THING. IT WILL BE MULTIPLE
TEMPERATURE CHECKS IN THE AIRPORTS FOR PEOPLE BEFORE THEY
ARE BOARDING
AND WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY TO ASSIST THEM IN IMPLEMENTING
THAT BUT LET ME SPEAK ABOUT THE STATUS OF TESTS BECAUSE ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT I HEARD FROM GOVERNORS LAST WEEK
WAS THE WHOLE ISSUE OF TEST KITS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF TESTING
AND I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND DR. HAWN FOR SOME SWITCH WORK MAKING
MANY MORE TESTS AVAILABLE
AND MORE KIDS THAT INCLUDE MULTIPLE TEST AND AUTHORIZING
LOCAL TESTING
WHICH WILL NOW MAKE IT MORE POSSIBLE AS OUR EXPERTS TOLD US
TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL CASES. AS WE FIND MORE CASES, IT WILL MEAN
HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE DOING THEIR JOB IN LARGE PART AND THE
AVAILABILITY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.
>> AS YOU HEARD FROM THE CEMETERY AND VICE PRESIDENT THIS
WEEKEND, WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PERFORM BETWEEN 75,000 AND
100,000 TESTS ON SATURDAY WE ISSUED
NEW POLICY ALLOWING TO HAVE FLEXIBILITY AROUND THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE TEST
SO ACADEMIC CENTERS AND PRIVATE COMPANIES CAN DEVELOP THESE
TESTS AND TELL US THAT THEY VALIDATED THE TEST AND THEN
BEGIN TO USE THEM. THEY ALERT US OF THAT AND THEN LATER ON WE CAN
LOOK AT THE VALIDATION DATA
AND HAVING THE RESPONSIBILITY TO SHOW THOSE VALIDATIONS. WITH THE
NEW POLICY, WE HAVE HEARD FROM MULTIPLE ACADEMIC CENTERS AND WE
EXPECT TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK
AND THERE WILL BE -- THE ESTIMATES THAT WE ARE GETTING BY
THE END OF THIS WEEK ARE CLOSE TO 1 MILLION.
>> IF YOU TALK ABOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY THE RISK IS LOW. I THINK
THE POINT YOU ARE MAKING, SINCE WE HAVEN'T DONE YET, BUT WILL
HAPPEN REALLY SOON, THE TESTING INTO THE COMMUNITY, HOW DO WE
KNOW THE RISK IS LOW? I WOULD IMAGINE IT WILL STILL BE LOW
REGARDLESS. WHAT HAPPENS IN THE REASON WE DO THIS SO FREQUENTLY,
THINGS CAN CHANGE. RIGHT NOW ON THIS DAY, MONDAY, IF YOU LOOK AT
THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE THE RISK IS LOW.
>> GO AHEAD ASHLEY. >> ACROSS THE COUNTRY PEOPLE ARE
WORRIED ABOUT SPRING BREAK.
WONDERING IF THEY SHOULD BOOK TRAVEL OR CANCEL THEIR TRAVEL.
ONE OF THE EXPERTS ADVISED ON THE SPRING BREAK TRAVEL. WOULD
YOU YOURSELF FEEL COMFORTABLE BRINGING YOUR FAMILY RIGHT NOW,
ON A WEEKLONG TRIP TO MEXICO. >> I CAN SAY THERE HAS BEEN NO
RECOMMENDATION ABOUT ANY LIMITATIONS FOR TRAVEL WITHIN
THE UNITED STATES. LET ME LET THE EXPERTS SPEAK TO
RECOMMENDATIONS WITH REGARD TO TRAVEL.
I TRAVEL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY ALL THE TIME AND MY KIDS AS WELL.
THIS IS A TIME TO USE COMMON SENSE. THE TIME TO WASH HER
HANDS. BUT THIS TIME OF YEAR THAT IS ALWAYS A GOOD DECISION.
AS WE SAID THE RISK REMAINS LOW. WHILE WE HAVE HAD A TRAGIC LOSS,
THE REALITY IS,
29 THE 43 DOMESTIC CASES ARE IN CALIFORNIA AND WASHINGTON STATE.
CENTERED IN VERY SPECIFIC AREAS THAT WE ARE WORKING TO IDENTIFY.
BUT I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD CONTINUE TO USE COMMON SENSE
THIS TIME OF YEAR. BUT WITH REGARD TO INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL,
WE WILL LEAVE IT TO THE EXPERT. >> I WOULD ECHO WHAT THE VICE
PRESIDENT SAID, WE WANT PEOPLE TO GO ABOUT AND LIVE THEIR
NORMAL LIVES. THE SECRETARY IS RIGHT, EVEN BEFORE THE
CORONAVIRUS IF YOU HAD ASKED THE CDC WHAT YOU SHOULD DO ABOUT
PREPAREDNESS WE WOULD GIVE YOU THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL SHOULD
THINK AHEAD AND PREPARE WHETHER IT'S HURRICANE OR THOSE
RECOMMENDATIONS HAVEN'T CHANGED. I WANT PEOPLE TO REFLECT ON
THAT. THERE ARE NO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IN THE UNITED
STATES. THE CDC AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT TASK FORCE HAS WORKED
HARD TO RECOGNIZE THOSE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE
SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION WHERE WE GIVE YOU
ADVICE THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND YOU NOT TRAVEL.
WE NOW HAVE SOUTH KOREA AS A LEVEL III, ITALY, JAPAN AND
IRAN, LEVEL III, WE WOULD ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER. I WOULD ECHO
WHAT EVERYONE SAID, THE RISK TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AT THIS
POINT IS LOW. WE WILL INCREASE SURVEILLANCE SUBSTANTIALLY. SO
WE HAVE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS.
WITH DOCTOR HAHN AND THE FDA GETTING MORE AND MORE OUT .
THOSE WILL BE ACTIVATED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. WE WILL HAVE EYES
ON WHETHER THERE IS NEW EVIDENCE OF COMMUNITY POCKETS AROUND THIS
NATION. >> WITH REGARD TO INTERNATIONAL
TRAVEL, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE CASES, FOLLOWING THE
FACTS.
DETERMINING WHETHER ADDITIONAL TRAVEL ADVISORS OR RESTRICTIONS
ARE WARRANTED., THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL SLIP OUT. WE WILL BE
BACK, WE WILL BE BACK HERE IF I MAY. WE WILL BE BACK HERE EVERY
DAY, GET USED TO SEEING US, WE WILL BRING THE EXPERTS IN AND
MAKE SURE TO GIVE YOU THE BEST AND MOST HIGH-QUALITY REAL-TIME
INFORMATION. FROM THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. THANK YOU
ALL FOR BEING HERE.