Presidential Memoranda

Memorandum on Providing COVID-19 Assistance to the Italian Republic

Foreign Policy

Issued on: April 10, 2020

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY

THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE

THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY

THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL

SECURITY AFFAIRS

THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR ECONOMIC

POLICY

THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY

MANAGEMENT AGENCY

THE PRESIDENT OF THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF THE

UNITED STATES

THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE UNITED STATES

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION

SUBJECT:       Providing COVID-19 Assistance to the Italian Republic

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.  Policy.  The Italian Republic (Italy), one of our closest and oldest Allies, is being ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has already claimed more than 18,000 lives, brought much of the Italian healthcare system to the brink of collapse, and threatens to push Italy’s economy into a deep recession.  The Government of Italy has requested United States assistance.  Although the United States Government’s first and foremost responsibility is to the American people, coming to the aid of Italy will help fight the COVID-19 outbreak and mitigate the impact of the crisis, while simultaneously demonstrating United States leadership in the face of Chinese and Russian disinformation campaigns, lessening the risk of re-infection from Europe into the United States, and maintaining critical supply chains.

Sec. 2.  Support by Public International Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations.  The Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID Administrator), in consultation with relevant United States embassies and missions, including the United States Mission to Italy, the United States Embassy to the Holy See, and the United States Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome, shall identify public international organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including faith-based organizations, that are positioned to support Italy and Italian communities with respect to the COVID-19 crisis in Italy, and prioritize agency action as the Secretary of State and USAID Administrator deem necessary and appropriate to implement this memorandum.

Sec. 3.  Contribution of Equipment and Supplies.  To assist with Italy’s urgent need for medical equipment and supplies to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, and excluding provision of items that the Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Secretary of Homeland Security determines are required for our Nation’s domestic response to the COVID-19 crisis:

(a)  the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and with the Secretary of Homeland Security, working through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall, if appropriate, facilitate contacts between Italian authorities and United States companies, and when appropriate, encourage United States suppliers to conduct commercial sales of items requested by Italian authorities or healthcare providers;

(b)  the Secretary of Defense shall identify available nonlethal excess supplies that could be transferred to the Secretary of State for distribution for humanitarian relief purposes in Italy;

(c)  the USAID Administrator shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, identify appropriate NGOs and public international organizations capable of providing supplies and equipment needed by Italy and prioritize agency action as the USAID Administrator deems necessary and appropriate to implement this memorandum; and

(d)  the Secretary of State shall encourage corporations and NGOs with a presence in Italy, including faith-based organizations, to donate medical equipment and supplies to Italy.

Sec. 4.  Using the Department of Defense’s Existing Presence in Italy.  In light of the more than 30,000 United States military personnel and dependents in Italy, the Secretary of Defense shall, without jeopardizing force readiness or health of the force, without detracting from our Nation’s domestic response to the COVID-19 crisis, and consistent with the policy limitations in this memorandum, make personnel and facilities available to assist Italy in its response to COVID-19 by:

(a)  providing telemedicine services to Italian hospitals;

(b)  facilitating transport and set-up of field hospitals and response equipment provided by non-United States Government sources;

(c)  facilitating the transport of supplies, fuel, and food;

(d)  treating, by referral, and in consultation with the medical treatment facility commander, Italian non-COVID-19 patients (with particular consideration given to military and civilian first responders) at United States facilities;

(e)  providing support to Italy’s Civil Military Operations Center in order to ensure a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and

(f)  offering, as appropriate, United States-operated military-to-military medical evacuation services for non-COVID-19 patients.

Sec. 5.  Technical Support.  In light of the ongoing partnerships between the Department of Health and Human Services and Italy’s health sector, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, in consultation with the United States Embassy in Rome, provide technical support, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to assist in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.

Sec. 6.  Support to Italian Businesses.  The Secretary of State, the USAID Administrator, and the President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation, may use available authorities to support the recovery of the Italian economy, as appropriate and consistent with the policy limitations in this memorandum.

Sec. 7.  Limitation.  All support and assistance addressed in this memorandum are subject to the limitation that they shall not be provided if they detract from domestic requirements that presently exist or that may arise in the future for responding to the spread of COVID-19 within the United States.

Sec. 8.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b)  This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c)  This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP

Statements & Releases

Readout from the Vice President’s Discussion with African American Leaders On COVID-19

Healthcare

Issued on: April 10, 2020

This morning, Vice President Mike Pence and Dr. Robert Redfield held a conference call with African American leaders to discuss the impact COVID-19 is having on the American people, specifically the African American community. African American leaders and organizations that participated in the call include: the NAACP, National Urban League, 100 Black Men of America, United Negro College Fund, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, National Medical Association, National Black Nurses Association, African American Mayors Association, and the Congressional Black Caucus. The Vice President provided an update on the Administration’s efforts to combat the virus and highlighted the importance of the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America: 30 Days To Slow The Spread. The Trump Administration is ensuring all Americans have access to equal and proper care in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, and will continue to fight for all Americans.

Remarks

Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing

Healthcare

Issued on: April 10, 2020

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

1:52 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much everybody, and good afternoon.  Today is Good Friday.  And this Sunday, millions of Christians celebrate Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  At this holy time, we pray that God will heal the sick and comfort the heartbroken and bless our heroes.  As American families look forward to Easter, we’re reminded that our story ends not in despair, but in triumph and renewal.  Very appropriate, isn’t it?

I’d like to provide Americans an update on our ongoing efforts in the war against the invisible enemy.  Before I do that, I’ll have a couple of notes.  The United States, in discussions last night with Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and –dealing with OPEC nations — we are trying to get Mexico, as the expression goes, “over the barrel.”  And Mexico is committing to do 100,000 fewer barrels.

The President and I spoke last night.  We have a great relationship, great friendship.  They’re helping us very much at the border.  They have 27,000 soldiers — Mexican soldiers — on our border right now, stopping people from coming into our country as our wall goes up.  We’re up to about 168 miles of wall.

And in speaking with the President, they have a limit.  The OPEC nations have agreed to a different limit: a reduction of about 23 percent.  So what I thought I would do — and I don’t know that it’s going to be accepted; we’ll find out — the United States will help Mexico along and they’ll reimburse us sometime at a later date when they’re prepared to do so.

And we had a great conversation, but we’ll find out how that all works out.  As you know, they’re trying to get rid of the glut of oil.  There’s a tremendous glut of oil.  And we don’t want anything to hurt our incredible industry.  We’re actually the largest producer in the world now, so we don’t want anything to hurt those jobs — those great jobs in Texas and North Dakota, in Oklahoma, and everywhere.  We have a tremendous energy — New Mexico — tremendous energy business.  And we want to keep those jobs.

So we’re — we’re working on it.  I think, eventually, it’s going to work out.  It may work out quicker than what most people thought possible.  And maybe it won’t, but it’ll work out eventually.

Our experts are monitoring the data from every part of our country having to do with the topic that we’re here to discuss.  In the midst of grief and pain, we’re seeing clear signs that our aggressive strategy is saving countless lives.  Tremendous progress is being made.  Although when you look at some of the numbers — I just spoke with Governor Cuomo; we had a good talk.  When you look at those numbers — the numbers of death, people that have died — it’s so horrible.

Now, on the other side, you have the numbers of beds being used, we were just saying, are substantially reduced.  That’s usually the sign that it’s heading in the downward curve.  So, New York, we know where that is.  But in the midst of all this grief and this pain, we’re seeing these signs and we’re seeing them very strongly.  And a lot of that has to do with the aggressive strategy in saving so many lives.  We’re saving so many lives compared to what it could have been.

So, nobody knows what the number is, but we had a number of 100,000 lives.  As many as that is, it’s impossible to even think of it.  And that was the low end with a tremendous amount of work and a tremendous amount of — you can call it many different things.  Our people had to be extremely strong and brave to be able to put up with what they’ve put up with.  But the minimum, if you did this social distancing at every other aspect — and I think I can say 90 percent, maybe even more than that, were able to do it — the minimum number was 100,000 lives, and I think we’ll be substantially under that number.

Hard to believe that if you had 60,000 — you could never be happy, but that’s a lot fewer than we were originally told and thinking.  So they said between 100- and 220,000 lives on the minimum side, and then up to 2.2 million lives if we didn’t do anything.  But it showed a just tremendous resolve by the people of this country.

So we’ll see what it ends up being, but it looks like we’re headed to a number substantially below the 100,000.  That would be the low mark.  And I hope that bears out.

The situation in Detroit and New Orleans appears to be stabilizing.  Detroit has really started to go up, and now it is stabilizing.  And New Orleans is a great place; I have so many friends there.  They can’t believe what’s happening, but it’s really stabilized.  I spoke with the governor of Louisiana.  And, as you know, we’re building them additional beds right now — the Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA — and that is going to be done.  And I hope they’re not going to be very well used because I think they’ve really — I don’t think they’re going to need them or certainly not very many of them.  We built them a big hospital of 1,000 beds and now we’re — we’re in the midst of doing another 1,000.  I don’t think they’re going to be using very many of them, and that’s a good thing.

There was a time, two weeks ago, where we said, “That’s not going to be nearly enough.  We’re going to have to build more.”  But we wanted to wait to see and I’m glad we waited.  It just looks like they’re doing really well.  Louisiana and the state of Michigan is doing, really, much better than we thought.

In Washington State, we’ve made enough progress that the governor is now able to return an Army field hospital, so we’re going to take that hospital.  We don’t think we need any more hospitals.  We built thousands of beds all over the country, and we think we’re probably not going to need that hospital anyway.  And if we do, we’re ready to move it to a different location.

In New York, we’re seeing hospital admissions declining very substantially, as I said.  And nationwide, the number of new cases per day is flattening substantially, suggesting that we are near the peak and our comprehensive strategy is working.

Over time, our guidelines to slow the spread are decreasing the rate of new cases very substantially and will result in fewer hospital admissions.  And we’re seeing that; it’s incredible.  I think, with no exceptions, it’s looking like it’s lower.  And again, that’s because of the people doing what they had to do.  Great people.  And working with elected representatives and — and the doctors, the nurses, and everybody — I mean, just everybody.  Everybody is so, so — has been so amazing.

I was told this morning again, “Please mention all of those people working in the grocery stores.”  And it’s true.  The checkouts and the clerks and the people that are really — and a number of those people have become infected.  So we want to thank them and a shout-out to them.

With the tireless devotion of American doctors and nurses and all of the medical people, we’ve kept our fatality rate very, very low compared to other countries.  My administration is closely monitoring the data on the virus’s impact on our cherished African American communities because they’ve been hit hard.  And the Surgeon General will be sharing more of that information right after we’re finished here.  He’ll be coming up and saying exactly what’s happening because it’s really — it’s very troublesome, I will tell you that.

I’d also like to provide clarity on the important point for many Americans on elective surgeries.  While we’ve asked hospitals to cancel surgeries and procedures that do not take place at this time, just not to do them now — the choice to delay any treatment still remains between the patient and their doctor.  We’re not advising Americans to postpone medical treatment that the doctor believes should occur now.  So it’s different kinds of surgery, obviously, but we’re really getting to the point where you can start to think about doing that surgery, if necessary, pretty soon, I think.  Pretty soon.

Yesterday, I directed Secretary of Agriculture Sonny to — Sonny Perdue to expedite aid to American farmers.  And Secretary Perdue will be using all of the tools at his disposal to develop a program — and very quickly — of at least $16 billion to provide relief for farmers, ranchers, and producers impacted by the coronavirus.

In this time of crisis, we must keep our supply chains moving from the beginning — right from beginning to end.  And we’re committed to supporting the amazing men and women who produce supply.  I did, last night, a statement on social media, and I said I have directed Secretary Sonny Perdue to expedite help to our farmers, especially to the smaller farmers who are very, very badly hurting right now.  I expect Secretary Perdue to use all of the funds and authorities at his disposal to make sure that our food supply is stable and safe, and our great farmers are prosperous and continue to be prosperous.

We’re working very hard to make sure our food supply chain is sound and plentiful, but we all know that that begins with our farmers, cattlemen, ranchers, and producers.  So we’re going to be working with the small farmers, the big farmers, the cattlemen, the ranchers — all of the producers.   We’re going to take care of them.  We’re working with them right now.  We have a lot of money that was put there through our use of tariffs and other means, and we’re going to help out our farmers.

And I don’t think — I tell you, I’ve been helping our farmers for a couple of years because they were targeted, as you know, by China and others.  And I think they’re very grateful to what — for what we’ve done.

On the medical front, the FDA — FDA has issued 47 emergency use authorizations for advancements and testing new ventilator designs, innovations, and personal protective equipment, and experimental medicines.  And Dr. Hahn is going to be talking about that.  We’ve cut through the red tape to give doctors and patients unprecedented freedom to make their own healthcare decisions, granting access to potential therapies and drugs.

Since Monday, we’ve deployed two major shipments of hydroxychloroquine from our National Stockpile.  And it’s going to various cities.

And we are also disposing and getting, as quickly as we can, portions of it to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.  And speaking of the Department of Defense, they’re going to be sending us 10 million N95 masks that they had.  And we’re in great shape in every way.  We’re in great shape with ventilators.  We’re in great shape with protective clothing.  We have additional planeloads coming in.

But we’re not getting any calls from governors at this moment.  I can speak, I think for — Vice President Pence will be talking in a little while.  We’re getting — we’re getting very few calls from governors or anybody else needing anything.  They’re in great shape for this surge that’s coming in certain areas in particular, and that’s a good job.  You’ve done a great job on that, Mike.  Really, a great job.  I appreciate it.  The whole country appreciates it.

More than 2 million coronavirus tests have now been completed, and we’re conducting approximately 100,000 more every day.  We’re also working to bring blood-based serology tests to the market as quickly as possible so that Americans can determine whether or not they have already had the virus and potentially have immunity.

They have immunity if they’ve had the virus.  A lot of them don’t even know if they’ve had it.  Sometimes it’s brutal.  You see the Prime Minister seems to be doing well now, I hope.  He had a rough go of it, and still is, but he’s doing better.  And then some people don’t even know they had it.  It could be sniffles.  It could be they don’t feel perfect, but they’ve had it.  And they’re the lucky ones.

The NIH, CDC, and FDA are currently validating these antibody tests to ensure that they are accurate, and they’re doing that at breakneck speed.  I think we can say that, Doctor.  And we’re going to get them approved very quickly — Dr. Hahn.

When validated, we’re confident that the production will scale up to tens of millions of tests very quickly.  We’re leading the world now in testing, by far, and we’re going to keep it that way.  Other countries are coming to us, and they’re wanting to know about our tests and can they buy the tests, and can they do whatever they have to do to get the tests.  And we’re going to make that — very soon, we’ll be in a position to make that possible because it’s important for them to have it.

And we’re going to have an announcement on the World Health Organization sometime next week.  As you know, we give them approximately $500 million a year, and we’re going to be talking about that subject next week.  We’ll have a lot to say about it.  We’ll hold it.

Every American should be proud of what our country has achieved in just a short period of time.  The U.S. military has deployed thousands of personnel to build 23 temporary hospitals with more than 16,000 beds.  And we have the potential to build many more if we needed them, but we’re all ready to go.  But I don’t think we’re going to need them, which is great — great news.

And we built those hospitals in 12 states and the District of Columbia using the Defense Production Act.  And we used it like a hammer.  A lot of the media said: Oh, we weren’t using it.  We used it like a hammer to a point where all we had to do was say the words and everybody gave us max.  And they’ve done a good job.  They really have done a good job, with few exceptions.

And we’ve harnessed the full power of American industry to produce ventilators and other essential supplies.  Right now, we’re making thousands of ventilators, many of which we won’t need, but we’ll use them in our stockpile.  And we’ll build that up.  We’ll also help build up the stockpiles, which they should have had in the states.  And so we’re working with governors on that, and we’ll also help other countries or countries that are calling us for help, if they need ventilators and they’re in no no position to build ventilators.  We are.  We have Ford and General Motors, and many, many companies are building ventilators.

So we’re going to be helping — at a not-too-distant point, we’re going to be helping quite a few of the countries.

Now, we’ve launched Project Airbridge to deliver nearly 300 million pieces of personal protective equipment from and around the globe.  We’re also shipping out 60 sterilization systems to 10 different cities that can each sterilize up to 80,000 masks each day, and I’m even hearing it can go up to 120,000 masks a day — certain equipment with certain additions.  It’s a company in Ohio that makes it.  It’s a great company.  Great — I hear it’s a great product.  It works very well.

I asked that question; I said, “How come we have to buy so many masks?  Why can’t we sterilize the masks that are being used?”  And the answer was, “You can.”  In this case, they say, up to 20 times.  So we can take a mask — certain types of masks — the N95s in particular — and we can sterilize them, make them very clean, up to 20 times.  That’s a great thing.

In addition, we passed the largest emergency economic relief package in American history to save the U.S. economy and protect the American worker.  As you know, this past week, which was four active days on the stock market — Good Friday today is not — is not included; the markets are closed.  In four days, we had the biggest market increase — stock market increase that we’ve had in 50 years.  That tells you that there’s a pent-up demand.  That tells you they want to get back.  There’s something good going to happen.  I really believe that.  There’s something very good going to happen.  We have to get back.

So think of it: In this horrible period, this horrible, dark period where this — this monster came and worked its horrible, horrible spell over the world — 184 countries as of this morning.  A hundred and eighty-four countries.

We’ve done well, and I guess the market thinks we’ve done well, because we hit the biggest stock market increase without one day — we’re talking four days instead of five — that we’ve had in 50 years.  Fifty years.  Think of that.  More than 50 years, actually.

In short, the American people have launched the greatest mobilization of our society since World War Two, deploying every scientific, governmental, medical, and military resource to defeat the virus.

So I want to just start then with — we’re going to answer questions later.  We’ll have time.  I think we have a lot of time today.  A lot of people are off, as they should be.  Good Friday.

But — so I’ll stick around, and we’ll answer questions later.  I want to start with Deborah Birx, please.  Dr. Birx.  And you can go over some of the numbers we just looked at, and that’d be great.

Thank you very much, Deborah.

DR. BIRX:  Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you for outlining how well we are doing in a series of metro areas.  What also has been encouraging, for those of you who are watching epidemic curves every day — and I’m sure you are, and lot — watching them in log phase, because that’s how epidemiologists like to look at their curves — you can see for the first time that, in the United States, we’re starting to level on the logarithmic phase, like Italy did about a week ago.  And so this gives us great heart on that — not only in specific places, but we’re starting to see that change.

Obviously, a lot of that is driven by the improvement in New York City.  Remember, for a long time, they were over 50 percent of our cases and 50 percent of our new cases.  That has dramatically changed because of the impact of what the citizens of New York and New Jersey and across Connecticut, and now Rhode Island, are doing to really change the course of this pandemic and really change the trajectory of new cases.

We’re seeing that what many states and metro areas were — experienced as twofold and fourfold — fourfold increases that went to twofold — that now those are going to eight days between the doubling rate.  Watching this every day gives us hope across these metro areas, from New York and New Jersey and all through Denver, and of course, through New Orleans.

We still see cases occurring in the Boston area and in Chicago, but their rate of increase seems to be stabilizing.  And we really want to call out the work of the mayors of Baltimore and the District and Philadelphia who have really brought all of their health — health experts together and, working with their communities, are starting to really change the curves in those areas.

What we’re seeing is we’re united in social distancing, and that’s been very encouraging to all of us, and it should be encouraging to the healthcare providers that are on the frontline, many of which are serving our Americans with such dignity and respect and ensuring that everybody gets optimal care.

And as the President noted, our mortality in the United States is significantly less than many of the other countries when you correct them for our population.  And that is really solely the work of our health — our frontline healthcare providers.

And so working with — you can really — hopefully you get the theme today that we are incredibly proud of our public health leaders at the city level, at the state level, at the federal level who are working together to really change the course of this pandemic, working with their citizens in their communities to make these changes, and the American public who has really taken all of this to heart and stayed home.

I know, last week, we really asked a lot of people in the Washington and Baltimore area to consolidate, not go out frequently to grocery stores or pharmacies.  You can really see that that’s having a huge impact.

So it’s really about the encouraging signs that we see.  But as encouraging as they are, we have not reached the peak.  And so, every day, we need to continue to do what we did yesterday and the week before and the week before that, because that’s what, in the end, is going to take us up across the peak and down the other side.

We continue to really applaud the work of California and Washington State and Oregon.  We’re learning from all three of those states, from their public health officials, about how they were able to keep the virus from ever becoming logarithmic.  And I think that’s an important lesson for all of us on how they did that, what the timing was, in case we ever have to face this issue in the future.

Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, Deborah.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Tony?

THE PRESIDENT:  Doctor, please.

DR. FAUCI:  Thank you very much, Mr. President.  So again, just keeping on the theme that Dr. Birx had mentioned, this is the end of the week — that famous week that we spoke about last weekend — in which we — what actually was predicted to happen, happened.  We’re starting to see the leveling off and the coming down that Dr. Birx had mentioned.

But it’s important to remember that this is not the time to feel that since we have made such important advance in the sense of success of the mitigation, that we need to be pulling back at all.  I was actually hearkened [sic] by the fact that we’ve been talking about the New York, New Jersey, New Orleans, and other areas where they have really big spikes, but there’s other parts of the country, in the middle parts of the country, where they’re concerned to make sure they don’t get those spikes.

And I really want to salute the governors of states throughout the entire United States, but particularly in the central part of the country because the governors after they see us in these press conferences.  And I’ve had calls over the last several days from several of the governors — you know, from Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Utah.  Just about an hour and a half ago, I spoke with the governors of Arkansas and Wyoming, who are really committed to make sure that they don’t get into the situation where they’re going to have spikes in their state.  And they’re doing the kinds of things that they don’t get recognized, because people don’t talk about them much.

But we have a big country.  We have 50 states.  And it’s not only the big cities.  So if we’re going to pull out of this, we’re going to pull out of it in the big cities and we’re going to pull out in those areas that aren’t as densely populated.

And I just want to give a shout out to them.  They’re doing an extraordinary job.  I was really pleasant- — I wouldn’t say “surprised,” because I expect it of this country — but to hear what they’re doing and the commitment that they’re putting into making sure that we don’t have the kinds of situations that we’ve experienced, unfortunately, in other areas — this is very important.

I just want to close by — one other thing, something I mentioned yesterday and the day before — that there are a lot of candidate interventions that are going into clinical trials.  For those of you who are interested in it, I recommend you go to ClinicalTrials.gov, and you’ll see the design of a clinical trial, and you’ll see that many of them are the randomized control trials that are the really gold standard of how you find out whether something really is safe and effective.  And as the weeks and months — and it’ll probably be months — sometime in the summer, we’ll start to see which are working, which are not.  And to focus on those that are — we’re developing and we’re working.

I’ll be happy to answer questions later.  Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Please, Doctor.

DR. HAHN:  Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

DR. HAHN:  The White House Task Force has been very focused on increasing the supply of personal protective equipment for our great providers.  I was one of those providers a few months ago and I can tell you nothing is more important than making sure they have what they need.

So, in order to increase the supply of N95 masks, FDA has worked with industry and has now authorized two companies who will supply machines to sterilize N95 masks.

Admiral Polowczyk and FEMA are purchasing, on behalf of U.S. government, 60 sterilization machines, as mentioned by the President.  And they will be positioned around the country to increase the amount of supply of N95 masks.

Each machine will be able to sterilize 80,000 95 masks [sic] — N95 masks per day.  And we hope to actually increase that further.

The Vice President and the White House Task Force challenged us yesterday, and we responded as a team.  FDA issued revised guidance regarding the laundering of gowns because gowns are another issue, in terms of supply, that we’re looking forward on.

This is not something that normally happens around the country, but issued this guidance.  It’s on our website now at FDA.  So there’s information about how hospitals can do that to increase the supply.

We’ve heard concerns that maybe hospitals might not want to do that because of regulations.  And I can — happy to tell you that Administrator Verma and I have worked on this — certified providers and suppliers who follow FDI [sic] — FDA guidance, as posted on the website, will be compliant with Medicare and Medicaid requirements.

And then finally, last week FDA provided guidance to manufacturers on manufacturing specifications for cloth gowns.  This is another attempt to increase the number of gowns.  Typically, it’s plastic or other types of materials.  And this guidance, if followed, can be used by manufacturers to actually make these gowns and no further regulatory red tape will be necessary.  They can go into circulation.

Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Please.

SURGEON GENERAL ADAMS:  Thank you, Mr.  President.  Good afternoon, everyone.  I started off the week talking about the challenges that lie ahead, and I want to finish the week just by reiterating what you’ve heard.  Mitigation works.  It definitively and quantitatively is working.  And I want to say thank you to America for your efforts to help flatten the curve and to save lives.

But, at the President’s direction, yesterday, I met with 2,000 Hispanic leaders from their communities.  And today, the Vice President led a phone call that I was on with hundreds of African American leaders, including the Reverend Jesse Jackson, including Derrick Johnson of the NAACP, including the National Medical Association and the Black Nurses Association, to talk about some of the alarming trends we’re observing regarding the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color.

And you’ve heard the stats in New York City: Hispanics represent the majority of deaths.  In Milwaukee County, blacks are 25 percent of the population but almost 50 percent of the cases and 75 percent of the deaths.  So what’s going on?  Well, it’s alarming but it’s not surprising that people of color have a greater burden of chronic health conditions.

African Americans and Native Americans develop high blood pressure at much younger ages, and it’s less likely to be under control, and does greater harm to their organs.  Puerto Ricans have higher rates of asthma and black boys are three times as likely to die of asthma as their white counterparts.  As a matter of fact, I’ve been carrying around an inhaler in my pocket for 40 years out of fear of having a fatal asthma attack.  And I hope that showing you this inhaler shows little kids with asthma all across the country that they can grow up to be Surgeon General one day.

But I — more immediately share it so that everyone knows it doesn’t matter if you look fit, if you look young.  You are still at risk for getting and spreading and dying from coronavirus.

The chronic burden of medical ills is likely to make people of color especially less resilient to the ravages of COVID-19.  And it’s possibly — in fact, likely — that the burden of social ills is also contributing.

Social distancing and teleworking, we know, are critical, and you’ve heard Dr. Birx and Dr. Fauci talk about how they prevent the spread of coronavirus.  Yet only one in five African Americans and one in six Hispanics has a job that lets them work from home.

People of color are more likely to live in densely packed areas and in multi-generational housing, which — situations which create higher risk for spread of a highly contagious disease like COVID-19.

We tell people to wash their hands, but as studies showed, 30 percent of the homes on Navajo Nation don’t have running water.  So how are they going to do that?

In summary, people of color experience both more likely exposure to COVID-19 and increased complications from it.  But let me be crystal clear: We do not think people of color are biologically or genetically predisposed to get COVID-19.  There is nothing inherently wrong with you.  But they are socially predisposed to coronavirus dispos- — exposure and to have a higher incidence of the very diseases that puts you at risk for severe complications of coronavirus.

But as the Vice President shared on the call this morning, this history — and I want you to hear me say this — it does not have to be our nation’s future.  We’re taking steps now, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, to reach, protect, and strengthen all communities impacted by this disease, and especially our communities of color.

More details will be forthcoming.  But we are actively working, as the Vice President and the CDC director laid out today, on data collection; targeted outreach to communities of color; and increasing financial employment, education, housing, social and health supports, so that everybody has an equal chance to be healthy.

And I want to close by saying that while your state and local health departments and those of us in public service are working day and night to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and to protect you regardless of your color, your creed, or your geography, I need you to know: You are not helpless.  And it’s even more important that, in communities of color, we adhere to the task force guidelines to slow the spread.

Stay at home, if possible.  If you must go out, maintain six feet of distance between you and everyone else, and wear a mask if you’re going to be within six feet of others.  Wash your hands more often than you ever dreamed possible.  Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.  And call your friends and family.  Check in on your mother; she wants to hear from you right now.

And speaking of mothers, we need you to do this, if not for yourself, then for your abuela.  Do it for your granddaddy.  Do it for your Big Mama.  Do it for your Pop-Pop.  We need you to understand — especially in communities of color, we need you to step up and help stop the spread so that we can protect those who are most vulnerable.

This epidemic is a tragedy, but it will be all the more tragic if we fail to recognize and address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 and an array of other diseases and risk factors on communities of color.  The task force and this administration are determined not to let that happen.  The President, the Vice President have said we will not let that happen.

We can’t fix these issues overnight, but I promise you we will work with your communities to quickly and meaningfully move the needle in the right direction.  Nothing less than the fate of our families and friends, my family and friends depends on it.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Great job.  Thank you.

Mike, please.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Mr. President.  Today, the White House Coronavirus Task Force met and — and heard from the President the gratitude then he and I and I know all the American people feel for all the dedicated workers at FEMA, HHS, U.S. Public Health Service, FDA, and all those that are literally working on your behalf around the clock to partner with states, to partner with local health officials.  And Mr. President, allow me to add my — my thanks and admiration to all of the entire team here at the federal level.

On this Good Friday, we — we remember those who’ve lost their lives to the coronavirus.  We remember their families, our dedicated healthcare workers, and our first responders.  And we do well, on this special day for Christians across this country, to remember them in our prayers.

But, as you just heard from Dr. Birx and from the experts, it’s also a good day to remember that Good Friday is always followed by Easter Sunday.  And there is hope.  There is hope in this moment that, thanks to what the American people are doing every day — adhering to the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America; thanks to the fact that Americans are listening to state and local leaders, and putting the health of their family members and neighbors first, we’re getting there, America.  We’re making progress.  But it’s imperative that we all continue to implement all of the guidance in the “30 Days to Slow the Spread.”

As the Surgeon General just attested, at the President’s direction, we engaged more than 400 leaders in the African American community today.  And allow me to express my appreciation for their leadership and their efforts in communicating to African Americans and other minority populations some of the unique challenges that those communities face in the midst of this epidemic.

And the CDC, as the Surgeon General said, is working on not only studying the issue, but very rapidly issuing new guidance.  And we’ll be communicating that new guidance to all of those great leaders.

On the subject of testing and supplies, the President gave a great amount of detail.  More than 2.1 million tests have been performed and we continue to work very, very closely with FDA and suppliers around the country to expand the ability of testing.  And you just heard Dr. Hahn reflect on the fact that very soon we will have an antibody test that Americans will be able to take to determine whether they ever had the coronavirus.

I spoke today to the governor of Colorado, Jared Polis.  And we’ve been in contact with Senator Cory Gardner about an outbreak at a particular meatpacking facility in the Colorado area.  And at this time, our team is working with the governor and working with the senator to ensure that we flow testing resources.  At this point, there are some 14 people hospitalized, maybe 2- to 300 of the workforce have been impacted.  And we spoke about providing those resources this weekend.  I want to encourage people in Colorado that we will — we will work to support that effort, but I also want to emphasize that all the people that are working in food supply — from farmers, to meatpackers, to distributors, to truckers, to grocers — continue to have our gratitude, as President Trump said just a few moments ago.

On supplies: More than 5 billion have been obligated to the states, 29,600 National Guard have been activated, and, at the President’s direction, more than 4,700 active duty military personnel have been deployed — medical military personnel — in nine states, focusing on the areas of the most significant epidemic.

Air bridge, its 26 flights have been completed.  Four flights are scheduled to arrive today, bringing a quarter million gowns, 25 million pairs of gloves.  Fifty-four more flights are scheduled, literally bringing in supplies from around the world.

Finally, let me say, as we go into this very special weekend — into Easter services.  I know I speak on behalf of the President when I say how grateful we are to all of the churches that have been there — and their ministries have been working under great difficulty — to continue to provide for the needs of your members.  There have been — there have been food drives, there have been phone calls, and ministry has continued.  And we are grateful for the role, on this Holy Week, that our churches, our synagogues, and all of our houses of worship have played.

On their behalf, allow me to remind you that even if you’re not in the pew this Easter Sunday, if you are able, it’s still a good idea to give, because those ministries continue to go forward.  And we encourage you — we encourage you to continue to support them.

We also want to say very respectfully to all of the — all the church communities around this country and all the places of worship to continue to heed the guidelines issued in the President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America.  We know it’s difficult in this time of year, particularly, Mr. President, to avoid gatherings of more than 10.  But we’re grateful that so many churches, synagogues, and places of worship have done just that, and we urge you to continue to do it.

And to my Christian brothers and sisters across the country, let me encourage you with the words we should all remember that Jesus said, “Wherever two or more are gathered, there He is also.”  And so you can worship, you can celebrate Easter, and know that you’ll be blessed in so doing.  And you’ll be serving the nation.

Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Great job.  Thank you.

Okay, it’s Good Friday.  Let’s be nice.  Okay?  Let’s be real nice.  Yeah, please.  Go ahead.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Can you clarify a little bit what the U.S. offer to Mexico, in order to agree to that oil deal?

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

Q    And then also go into detail about what you spoke about on oil with President Putin this morning?

THE PRESIDENT:  So all of the OPEC nations met, and others, and they’re all agreeing to cut back because there’s a tremendous glut.  We don’t even — we’re filling up our strategic reserves.  We don’t even have room to store it.  In fact, they’re using ships to store oil.  There’s never been anything like this.

It was being overproduced to start off with, and then you had the virus and that took off 40 percent right there.  So we have — there’s a glut of oil like nobody has ever seen before.  It’s good in many ways and, depending on where you are, who you are, it’s bad.  We have a tremendous energy business with hundreds of thousands of jobs.  We’re doing great.  Number one in the world.

So, they all got together and they said, “We’re going to cut it, because we have to get rid of this tremendous supply.”

Now, the good news is, gasoline prices — I’m seeing 90 cents, 85 cents, in different parts of the country, a gallon.  Nobody has ever seen that.  I guess you have to go back to the 1950s where they had the big large dollar bills, remember?  You don’t remember; you’re too young.  But the fact that you have to go back a long ways to see it.

So there’s some good.  The airlines are trying to come back, having low fuel costs is good for them — and other reasons.  Steel manufacturing — but a lot of the steel goes to building what we do for the oil and engineering firms.  So, you know, that’s a — that’s a double-edged sword.

But it’s — it’s — we want to keep our energy.  We want to remain independent.  We will remain independent, I think, regardless.  But we want to get rid of this tremendous overflow.  There’s no place to even store it.

So the OPEC nations met.  They’ve been meeting.  And, you know, I’ve hated OPEC over the years, absolutely hated them.  But obviously it broke down and we potentially have years’ worth of supply.  A long time before it ever can catch up, even if they do reduce it.

And they agreed, but Mexico didn’t agree.  It was one of the few countries that didn’t agree.  This is OPEC-Plus.  These are OPEC-Plus countries outside — you understand?  And Mexico didn’t agree.  And I understand the President very well.  He has a level when he came in, and he wanted to keep it at that level.  Oil is important for Mexico.  The problem is — and I explained it very strongly — you know, you’re going to be selling it for $5 or $10 a barrel.  So, in the end, it’s bad.

But he did have some political difficulty with it, frankly, and I understand that too.  And it’s a small amount for us.  It’s a large amount for Mexico, but it’s a very small amount for the United States, being the biggest producer.  So I agreed to pick up some of the slack.  So he was going to reduce it by 100,000 barrels — reduce his output by 100,000 barrels.  And I was going to pick up the slack and they would make it up to us at a later date.  They would make up what we’re doing at a later date.  It could be in a different form.

And I don’t know whether or not that’s going to be — for Mexico, it was acceptable.  I don’t know whether or not that’s going to be acceptable to the other oil-producing nations.  We’ll find out.  But it’s something that would certainly be acceptable to me to get it over the back.  So Mexico is going to reduce by 100,000 barrels, and that would mean that they’re 250 to 300 barrels short.  We’d make up the difference.  They would reimburse us at a later date.  Okay?

Q    You mean make up the difference by cutting U.S. production?

THE PRESIDENT:  By cutting some U.S. production.  Now, the U.S, production has already been cut, because we’re a market-driven economy and — and oil is very market driven.  They’ve been cutting oil all over the place.  We’re cutting it back.

And what does it mean really?  It means we have it in the ground.  We can use it.  Now we have a lot of — we have a lot of ground with a lot of oil in it.  I think we’re number one in that too.  We’re probably number one, especially with ANWR.  As you know, I got ANWR approved in Alaska.  That’s one of the biggest finds anywhere in the world.

So when you add it all up, I think we’re probably number one, even in what we have under- — we’re very lucky.  We were — we grew up in a land that was rich in a lot of ways, but it’s also rich because it has a lot of oil underneath — oil and gas.

And as, you know, natural gas — LNG — is all over the country now at a very low price.  And our carbon, our atmosphere, our — the level of environmental cleanliness is at its all-time best right now.  All-time best.  Because we are using a lot of natural gas.

But we have many forms of energy, including some of the newer forms that people want to see us go to.  We have a lot of different forms of energy.  We’re number one in the world.  We want to keep it that way.

So we’re helping Mexico out.  We will be reimbursed, in a form, sometime in the future.

Please.

Q    Mr. President, I want to ask about the new federal projections in a moment.  But first, today, you tweeted “The Invisible Enemy will soon be in full retreat!”  Given it’s invisible, without widespread testing how would you know?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I think we’re going to have it in retreat.  Will it be today?  No.  Tomorrow?  No.  But it will be — at a certain point in the not-too-distant future, it will be gone.

Q    But how do you know that without the widespread testing is specifically my question.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, we’ll know.  We’ll know because people aren’t going to go to the hospital, people aren’t going to get sick.  You’re going to know that without — but we’re going to do very substantial testing.  We’re doing more testing right now than any other country in the world by far.

Q    But it’s still fewer than 1 percent of our population —

THE PRESIDENT:  And if you’d like to have that question answered, I’ll have the professional answer it.  Deborah, perhaps you could come up.  We are doing tremendous testing, but you’ll know.  You’re going to know before anybody, because you’re going to see nobody’s getting sick anymore.  It will be gone, and it won’t be that much longer.

Go ahead.

Q    I’ll ask about the projections after.  Thanks, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Go ahead.

DR. BIRX:  Thank you, Mr. President.  So, the testing, I want to reemphasize about what kind of testing we’re talking about.  This is RNA diagnostic testing.  That is the platform that was built to respond to this epidemic.  It is the same platform that we utilize for HIV viral loads, and so many HIV clients have also given up their space on the machines to have these tests run for all of Americans.

This assay is complicated.  It’s not like an assay that you have for your other diseases — your strep test or other diseases like that.  This is a very complicated assay that requires a lot of technical oversight and it’s part of the reason why not all 100 percent our machines are running at full capacity.  But we had great discussion with the lab directors about that.

Every day, more are brought online.  And so — but I think we have to create expectations of what the daily test rates will be.  Last year, we probably did 3 million HIV viral loads or 4 million HIV viral loads as a country.  We’ve done over 2- — almost 2.2 million in four weeks.  So this is unprecedented in what we have to do.

I think that’s why we’re working very hard for two pieces.  And I want to make sure that people understand: Testing is just part of our strategy.  The other part of the strategy has to be this syndromic and influenza-like illness, where there’s an alert to an illness.  And so that we’re surveying where we know the most vulnerable cases have appeared.

And the great call that I had with the mayors and with the health officials yesterday and mayors today — a lot in the rural areas, their primary — and as it was in Washington and California — it was at the nursing homes.

So the issue is to build a testing strategy that speaks to our strengths of laser focusing a strategic approach to testing when we know what our volumes are — and they increase every day, but we have to be realistic about what the volumes will be a week, two weeks, three weeks from now — and combine that with strategic surveillance so that we’re testing symptomatic people and their contacts very quickly — to go back to contact tracing, utilizing our complete strategy.

And I think we’re very much interested — and it’s why the President, three weeks ago, really put us on getting an antibody test.  And I think — I called from the podium for our university colleagues and unive- — and hospitals to begin an ELISA-based test, because that’s a blood draw.  But we really wanted a finger prick to make it easy and deployable.

That’s what’s being worked on now.  Of course, we don’t want to promise until we have it because I think we deserve that, the American people deserve that: to have a test that is efficient to let people know who has been positive for immunity.  That’s critical to epidemiologists and public health officials to know what the penetrance of a virus was into a community, when all you’re seeing are the serious cases and testing the most symptomatic.

And so that’s a question that we still have: Is this the tip of the iceberg or is this half the iceberg or three quarters of the iceberg — what we have seen to date?

And we have — I just want to complete the thought by saying: In the areas where we had an outbreak, these large metros — Louisiana, Denver, Detroit, Chicago, New York, New Jersey — but, per capita, we’ve done more tests than any other place in the world.  That was intentional.  We focused the tests where the need was the greatest and the burden of disease the greatest.  And now we’re trying to really see how strategically that very valuable resource can be utilized around the country to create a mosaic of testing combined with surveillance.

Q    Can I ask about the new federal projections?  There’s new reporting today — the new federal projections suggest —

THE PRESIDENT:  Let you ask who?

Q    I’d like to ask you, if I can, about the new federal projections that suggest lifting the 30-day shelter-in-place orders would lead to a spike in infections.  Have you seen those new projections from your Department of Homeland Security and HHS, first of all?

THE PRESIDENT:  I have not.  When did they say this would take place?  When?

Q    They said that it would take place if the 30-day shelter-in-place were to be removed.  They’re three different example —

THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, well, we’ll talk about that.  Doctor, would you like to talk about that?

Q    So does that impact your thinking though that those —

DR. BIRX:  We haven’t seen the documents.

THE PRESIDENT:  I haven’t — they haven’t seen it.  I guess, you’re seeing — I guess they leaked it to NBC.

Q    They didn’t leak it to us.  It’s being reported by others.

THE PRESIDENT:  Nobody has it.  And they’re the ones that do it, so.

Q    It’s your administration, so I asked.  It’s from the HHS and DOJ.

Q    I’ll circle back in a sec- —

THE PRESIDENT:  We’ll find out about it.  They don’t know about it.

Q    So in terms —

THE PRESIDENT:  Do you want to say something, Tony?  Go ahead.

DR. FAUCI:  First of all, Peter, I haven’t seen that, so I can’t quote on that.

Q    But New York Times just reported it with the last four hours.

DR. FAUCI:  That’s okay.  I still haven’t seen it.  I’ve been here all day.  (Laughter.)

Q    I understand.  I’m just saying it wasn’t leaked to me; I’m just telling you what I’ve seen.

DR. FAUCI:  So, what I think — what — that they’re talking about is that whenever you pull back, you would expect that you might start seeing cases.  And what we’ve been talking about — what Dr. Birx has just mentioned — is that when you see that, that’s where you want your resources to be able to very efficiently, in real-time, identify, isolate, and contact trace.

So, don’t let anyone get any false ideas that when we decide at a proper time when we’re going to be relaxing some of the restrictions, there’s no doubt you’re going to see cases.  I would be so surprised if we did not see cases.  The question is how you respond to them.

I think that’s what they were referring to.

Q    I guess, the question, Mr. President: Should Americans have to decide between staying healthy and going back to work?

THE PRESIDENT:  Look, I think we’re going to do both.  We’re going to go back to work and we’re going to stay healthy.  And staying healthy is also a proportion.  If you look at what we’re doing, we’re looking at a date — we hope we’re going to be able to fulfill a certain date — but we’re not doing anything until we know that this country is going to be healthy.  We don’t want to go back and start doing it over again, even though it would be in a smaller scale.

Yeah, Jeff.  Go ahead.

Q    Thank you, sir.  Just a follow-up on the oil question.  The President of Mexico said that you had agreed that the U.S. would cut production by 250,000 barrels per day.  Is that what you agreed to?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, we would — which we’ve already done, by the way.  But we would agree to a reduction cut; they would agree to do something to compensate us in the future.  Okay?

Q    Did you make any assurances to Saudi Arabia that you, the United States would not bail out oil drillers here?

THE PRESIDENT:  We didn’t discuss that with Saudi Arabia.  We just discussed the numbers and we discussed who is opposed and who is not.  And pretty much everybody is in favor of it, because they’re getting clobbered.  They’re all getting clobbered.  All of those countries are having problems.

If you look at Saudi Arabia, that’s their source of income — primary source of income, by far.  So they want to do it. Russia wants to do it.  The OPEC nations want to do it.  They all want to do it.  So we’ll see what happens.  There’s a difference between wanting to do it and doing it.

Yeah, go ahead.  OAN, in the back.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  This is a national security question, back to Venezuela and China.  This morning —

THE PRESIDENT:  Venezuela.  Go ahead.

Q    Your administration has placed a $15 million bounty on Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro.  And we have news this morning that President Xi is talking with Nicolas Maduro, expressing his financial support for Maduro.  So, two questions: One, have you discussed with Dr. Xi — President Xi the U.S. policy on Maduro?  And two, are — how does this affect U.S. policy with regards to its war on anti-narcotics?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.  We will not be happy if that takes place.  I have not spoken to President Xi of China about Venezuela — about that aspect of Venezuela.  But if that took place, we will not be happy.  Okay?  I will not be happy.

Q    Are you concerned that he is opening up another financial avenue with him?

THE PRESIDENT:  I’m concerned about everything.  I’m concerned about everything.  That’s why I don’t sleep a lot.  I get myself concerned about everything.  But I would not be happy about that.  Go ahead.

Q    Mr. President, getting back to Peter’s question — a variation of that question.  Your doctors who are gathered here seem to be in doubt as to whether or not the country could reopen on May the 1st.  If they come to you before May the 1st and say the country is not ready or huge parts of the country are not ready to reopen on May the 1st, will you listen to them?

THE PRESIDENT:  I listen to them about everything.  I think they’re actually surprised.  I have great respect for these people.  All of them.  You, look —

Q    But those — that recommendation in particular —

THE PRESIDENT:  And others that are working with us.  I have great respect for this group.  In fact, I told Tony Fauci — I said, “Why don’t you move to New York, run against AOC?  You will win easily.”  But he decided that he’s not going to do that, okay?  I kid.  By the way —

Q    Some of your allies have been bashing these doctors.  Some of your allies have been bashing —

THE PRESIDENT:  — you know that —

Q    Some — some of your allies have been bashing these doctors.  Would you tell them to cut it out?

THE PRESIDENT:  I can only say this: I have tremendous respect for these people and we’ve done very well.  And when you look at us compared to others — we’re a big nation.  When you look at us compared to others, when you see how we’ve taken testing from a broken system that I inherited to having the best tests that anyone has made anywhere in the world — and other countries are calling us, wanting to use our technology.  I have great respect for these people.

Q    But if they come back to you, sir —

THE PRESIDENT:  I’m never saying bad about these people.

Q    If they come back to you, sir, and say, before May the 1st, “We can’t open on May the 1st,” do you listen?

THE PRESIDENT:  I will certainly listen.  I will certainly listen.

Q    Will you take that advice?

THE PRESIDENT:  There are two sides.  Remember, there is — I know — I understand the other side of the argument very well because I look at both sides of an argument.  I will listen to them very carefully though.

Please.  Go ahead.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  You may have seen this, but JPMorgan came out with a forecast about GDP growth in the second quarter, and they’re saying a 40 percent decline in the second quarter of this year.  Do your economic advisors share that view?

THE PRESIDENT:  I think my economic advisors are interested in the third quarter and really the fourth quarter.  And I think we have a chance to do record fourth quarter numbers, because there’s a tremendous pent-up demand.  And you see it this week — I mean, what reason would there be, other than faith in us and in this country?  Faith in this group — and me, and our Vice President, and everybody.  Governors, perhaps.  You can add them into it also.  What reason would that be for — in a shortened week, four days instead of five — to have the biggest stock market gain in over 50 years?  So, I think that — you know, to me, there’s a sign.

Hey, look, with all we’ve been down — I mean, we’ve — we’ve never been hit — I don’t know, has this country ever been hit like this?  Probably not.  1917, but that was different, and it was a different time, and, frankly, Europe took the brunt of it.  We didn’t, but it was a terrible time also.  But, probably, never been hit like this, right?

Somebody was saying — in fact, I was speaking with Governor Cuomo about it.  Because we were in New York City — a place we love, New York State — with the World Trade Center.  And that was approximately 3,000 people.  Well, we’ve doubled that.  In this same area, we’ve doubled that — more than doubled it, substantially more.  And it’s obviously going.  You know, we had our highest number yesterday and the day before.

Okay.  With all of this news, what would lead you to believe that we’re going to have the best stock market week — shortened week — in 50 years?  Almost broke the all-time record.  You know what that is?  That’s a pent-up demand.  Now, that’s my opinion.

The other thing is we’re doing tremendous stimulus plans.  And despite what you’re reading — you know, there’s back and forth, but we are getting along with the Democrats.  They want to see something happen.  We have to help our workers.  We have to help our small businesses.  We have to help — we have to help our restaurants.  I think deductibility will be great for entertainment, restaurants, all of it.

Look, I think, with the stimulus, with the people, with what we’ve got going, with all of the things — we’re going to be meeting with the airlines over the weekend.  We have a great plan for the airlines.  We’ve got to keep the airlines going.  You know, it’s never been a great business, but it’s a very vital business for the country.

We’re going to be meeting with Boeing.  We’re going to be meeting with a lot of companies that are great companies and were great companies a short while ago.  I mean, we can’t let anything happen to Boeing.  It’s, you know, got so much potential.  You talk about potential — can anything have more potential than that?

So, we have a lot of very exciting things taking place.  We have tremendous plans.  We have tremendous stimulus.  And I think we have a chance to do really well.

So this quarter isn’t the quarter I’m looking at.  Third quarter, we start to think about it.  And I think fourth quarter is going to be at a level that, maybe, we haven’t seen before.

I think our country — with the stimulus, with all that we’ve been through — we’ve learned a lot.  Don’t forget, we’ve learned about pandemics and epidemics.  We’ve learned a tremendous amount.  And with all that we’ve learned — as an example, we’re making ventilators.  We have thousands of them being delivered in the very near future.  We have countries calling us: “Can we have ventilators?”  That would have been an unthinkable call.  I’d be — I wouldn’t know what to say.  They have people dying, but we needed them for ourselves. We have plenty before the surge.  In New York, they need far fewer hospital rooms or far fewer hospital beds, in particular, than we thought.

And I have to say, Dr. Birx told me that four weeks ago, six weeks ago.  I remember you said, “That number is too high.  We don’t need that many.”  And based on what she said, and others, we did what we had to do.  We actually gave the maximum.  We built Javits.  We sent the ship in.  We then made the ship COVID, because, you know, there weren’t a lot of people on the roads; you didn’t have the accidents that we thought — other unrelated accidents.  There’s nobody driving.  You know, normally you have a lot of car accidents.  You have a lot of motorcycle accidents.  You have people going to the hos- — we didn’t have that.  We had almost none of it.  So, a lot of things have happened.

I think we have a chance to be stronger than before.  I really do.  I think the stimulus is very important.  What we’re doing — I think it’s very, very important.

Q    Can I ask —

THE PRESIDENT:  Please, go ahead.

Q    Mr. President, may I ask you about credit and debt as well?  Many American individuals, families have had to tap their credit cards during this period of time.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

Q    And businesses have had to draw down their credit lines.  Are you concerned, Mr. President, that that may hobble the U.S. economy — all of that debt, number one?  And number two, would you suggest to credit card companies to reduce their fees during this time?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, it’s something that we’ve already suggested.  We’re talking to them.  Business interruption insurance.  I’d like to see these insurance companies — you know, you have people that have paid — when I was in private, I had business interruption.

When my business was interrupted through a hurricane or whatever it may be, I’d have business where I had it.  I didn’t always have it.  Sometimes I had it; sometimes I have a lot of different companies.  But if I had it, I’d expect to be paid.  You have people — I speak mostly to the restauranteurs, where they have a restaurant, they’ve been paying for 25, 30, 35 years — business interruption.  They’ve never needed it.  All of a sudden, they need it.  And I’m very good at reading language.  I did very well in these subjects.  Okay?  And I don’t see the word “pandemic” mentioned.

Now, in some cases, it is.  It’s an exclusion.  But in a lot of cases, I don’t see it.  I don’t see a reference, and they don’t want to pay up.  I would like to see the insurance companies pay if they need to pay, if it’s fair.  And they know what’s fair and I know what’s fair.  I can tell you very quickly.

But business interruption insurance, that’s getting a lot of money to a lot of people.  And they’ve been paying for years.  You know, sometimes they just started paying.  But you have people that have never asked for business interruption insurance, and they’ve been paying a lot of money for a lot of years for the privilege of having it.  And then when they finally need it, the insurance company says, “We’re not going to give it.”  We can’t let that happen.

Please, go ahead.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  On March 6th, you said anyone who wants a test can get a test.  Now you’re saying that there — that you would be open to reopening the government without having a national testing system.  How do you square those two statements, given that there’s still issues with testing going forward?  And how can you tell people —

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, there’s not a lot of issues with this.

Q    — that they’re not going to have their lives put at risk?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.  I got it.  There’s not a lot.  And it’s a good question.  There’s not a lot of issues with testing.

Certain sections of the — if we go to Iowa, we go to Nebraska, we go — and interestingly, Idaho is very interesting because they had a few breakouts, small breakouts.  But they’re very, very capable states and they’re big distances.  A lot of land.  A lot of opening.  You don’t need testing there, you know, where you have a state with a small number of cases.  Some states with almost none.  West Virginia hung in for a long time, as you know, with none — for a long time.

So when you have that, you don’t need testing.  You don’t have to test every person in the state of Iowa, as an example.  You don’t have to test every single person to say, “Let’s open up and let’s get the tractors moving, and let’s get the corn,” and let’s open up all of the different things they do in that great state.  You don’t need that.

With that being said, if there’s a little hot corner someplace, we’ll be testing.  But I think Deborah speaks to this very well.  Same thing in New York.  That’s what we talked to Governor Cuomo about this morning.  We have the Abbott test, which is very quick and very easy.  It goes very fast.  Then we have a lesser test that we talked about where we can talk about a larger area.

But you’re going to know — so we’re going to do testing, but you don’t need to test 325 to 350 million people, because, number one, it’s unnecessary.  Vast numbers — vast areas of our country don’t need this.  I think you agree with me on that.  You just don’t need it.

Now, we have certain hotspots.  So, Louisiana is a hotspot.  New York is a hotspot.  Detroit is a hotspot.  And then you have certain areas in certain hotspots that you have to even go more so.  And we’re doing all of that.

Remember this: We’ve done more testing than any country in the world.  And we have the best tests.  And we’ve developed this over a very short period of time.

Please.  Go ahead.

Q    Can I ask you also about the African American disparity?  Because I have a —

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

Q    — question for you and a question for the Surgeon General.

THE PRESIDENT:  Sure.

Q    For you, Mr. President: We know that these health disparities have existed for a long time among African Americans, Latinos, and other people of color.  Why didn’t the administration possibly have a plan directed at those communities to prevent high death rates, knowing that the health disparities were there?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, we do have a plan.  And one of the things I’m most proud about is what I’ve been able to do for the African American community: the lowest job numbers in the history of our country.  This was —

Q    I’m talking about for the virus, of course.

THE PRESIDENT:  Excuse me.  Yeah.  Just before the virus came — well, I’m just saying, because you know, this has been here for three weeks, right?  So, just before, African American community had the lowest unemployment, the best employment numbers.  More African American people and communities have been thriving.

If you look at our Opportunity Zones and what we did — Tim Scott, who’s fantastic, a fantastic senator, came to me: Opportunity Zones.  More jobs for African Americans than ever before.  Better healthcare than they’ve ever had before.  All of these things.

The Surgeon General spoke to it, and he spoke to it, I thought, really brilliantly.  I found it very interesting what he said.  And I’d love you to come up and answer the second part of her question because I think you’re — you would do a much better job than I would.

Please.

Q    Thank you, Mr. Surgeon General.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you very much.

Q    Thank you.  I have a quick question for you.  You — you’ve said that African Americans and Latinos should avoid alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.  You also said, “Do it for your abuela and do it for Big Mama and Pop-Pop.”  There are some people already —

SURGEON GENERAL ADAMS:  I said “granddaddy” too.

Q    There’s some people online that are already offended by that language and the idea that you’re saying behaviors might be leading to these high death rates.  Could you talk about whether or not people — could you, I guess, have a response for people who might be offended by the language that you used?

SURGEON GENERAL ADAMS:  Well, I used that language because that’s the language — I’ve been meeting with the NAACP, with the National Medical Association, with others.  I actually talked with — with Derrick Johnson multiple times this week, the head of the NAACP, and we need targeted outreach to the African American community.

And I used the language that is used in my family.  I have a Puerto Rican brother-in-law.  I call my granddaddy “granddaddy.”  I have relatives who call their — their grandparents “Big Mama.”  So that was not meant to be offensive.  That’s the language that we use and that I use.

And we need to continue to target our outreach to those communities.  It is critically important that they understand it’s not just about them, and I was very clear about that.  It’s not just about what you do, but you also are not helpless.

We need to do our part at the federal level.  We need people to do their parts at the state level.  And we need everyone — black, brown, white, whatever color you are — to follow the President’s guidelines, the coronavirus guidelines, and do their part.  Because when I talked to the NAACP three weeks ago, it’s important to note that one of the things they asked me was, “Can you help dispel the myths in this community that people actually can’t get coronavirus if they’re black?” That was a myth that was out there that’s actually very important for us to squash here.

Q    So do you recommend that all Americans avoid tobacco, alcohol, and drug use at this time?

SURGEON GENERAL ADAMS:  Absolutely.  It’s especially important for people who are at risk and with comorbidities.  But, yes, all Americans.

So, thank you, and I will clarify that.  All Americans need to avoid these substances at all times.  I’ve put out a smoking cessation report in January.  I put out a advisory against youths and pregnant women using marijuana last year.  And that was not directed towards any one race.  That’s everybody needs to do everything they can to be as healthy as possible at this critical time.

Dr. Fauci, would you add anything?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

DR. FAUCI:  No, I think you said it perfectly, Jerome.  Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Would you like to add anything to it?  Because you are really — you expressed it very beautifully before.

DR. FAUCI:  No, I mean — Jerome, you did it beautifully.  (Laughs.)  I can’t do it any better than that.  And I know Jerome personally, and I can just testify that he made no — not even a hint of being offensive at all with that comment.  I thought that was appropriate.  Thanks.

THE PRESIDENT:  And I can tell you Jerome has done a fantastic job — our Surgeon General.  I just hope nobody steals him and he goes to one of these big companies for a fortune.  Don’t leave us.  Right?  Don’t leave us, Jerome.  Please.

SURGEON GENERAL ADAMS:  I’m happy serving the people, sir.

THE PRESIDENT:  He’s doing a great — you are happy and you’re doing a great job.  And everybody — everybody tells me that too.  So we appreciate it.

Please.

Q    Thank you.  So Google and Apple have announced that they are jointly enabling contact tracing on their mobile phone operating systems.  And I was wondering if this is something that you would consider or maybe the doctors would consider for —

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, that’s individual freedoms, problems and —

Q    — the federal government.

THE PRESIDENT:   — a lot of other things.  Is it something we’re going to look at it?  Certainly.  And we know they’ve done that.  And it’s highly — it’s very new.  New technology.  It’s very interesting.  But a lot of people worry about it in terms of a person’s freedom.  We’re going to take a look at that.  A very strong look at it.  We’ll let you know pretty soon.

Q    And I have another question.

THE PRESIDENT:  Brand new.  Yes, please.

Q    So can you explain why it is appropriate, in the middle of a pandemic, to be talking about cutting or eliminating funding for the World Health Organization?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, we’re going to talk about the WHO next week in great detail.  I didn’t want to do it today — Good Friday.  I didn’t want to do it before Easter.  I also didn’t want to do it before we have all the facts.

But over the years, many years, we’ve been paying them from 300 to 500, and even more, million dollars a year.  China has been paying them less than 40 over the years.  So we’re paying them more than 10 times more than China.  And they are very, very China-centric, as I said during the week.  China-centric.

China always seems the to get the better of the — the argument, and I don’t like that.  I really don’t like that.  I don’t think that’s appropriate.  I don’t think it’s fair to the American people.  And, you know, I tell that to President Xi.  I tell that to Dr. Tedros.  I spoke to him one time.  I think he’s a very nice man.  I liked him.

But we’re going to be talking about that next week in great detail.  We’re looking at it very, very closely.  We want to make sure money is properly spent.

But again, why is the United States paying $500 million a year?  It’s a lot.  And why is — okay?  That’s a lot.  And why is China paying — last year, this year — $42 million?  But generally under $40 [million].  So it’s in the 30s.

So we’re at 500, 452, 400, 401 — different amounts, different years.  And they’re at 40, 38, 36, 35, 32, 31.

Q    But why now —

THE PRESIDENT:   No, no.  But — but you have to ask yourself that question.  And then the answer always turns out to be in China’s favor.  Well, I have the same thing with the World Trade.  Isn’t it interesting?  World Trade.  So we have World Health and we have World Trade.  So we have the World Trade Organization.  And until I came along, we were losing cases — so many cases.  It was ridiculous.  We were always losing these cases.  I mean, almost every case.  And now we’re winning cases.  We just won $7 billion because they know I’m not going to put up with it.

China has been — unbelievably taken advantage of us and other countries.  You know, for instance, they’re considered a developing nation.  I said, “Well, then make us a developing nation too.”  They get big advantages because they’re a developing nation.  India, a developing nation.  The United States is the big developed nation.  Well, we have plenty of development to do.  Okay?

And now we’re winning cases because they know that if we’re not treated fairly, I’m going to pull out.  Now, you never heard this before because nobody ever talked about the World Trade Organization.  But the World Trade Organization has treated us very unfairly.  But they know I’m not going to put up with it because all of these countries are taking advantage of the United States.

Now, in the courts and the court system, we’re not approving new judges over the last year.  We’re not going to approve them.  And Bob Lighthizer is working very hard on that.

But we had always a minority position, meaning numbers of judges.  So we’d have a minority number of judges.  I said, “How do you win with a minority number of judges?”  But all of a sudden, we’re winning.  And the reason we’re winning is they know if they don’t treat us properly — and we won $7 billion just this very recently.  And the money is pouring in.  And we won other cases too.  We won a lot of cases.

But you know from covering it — I know you know — that the United States was taken advantage of by the World Trade Organization.

And, by the way, speaking of China: If you look at the history of China, it was only since they went into the World Trade Organization that they became a rocket ship with their economy.  They were flat-lined for years and years.  Frankly, for many, many decades.  And it was only when they came into the World Trade Organization that they became a rocket ship because they took advantage of all there is.  I’m not even blaming them.  I’m saying, how stupid were the people that stood here and allowed it to happen?  But we don’t allow that to happen.  And if they don’t treat us fairly, we’ll leave.  But now we’re starting to win cases.

How about somebody new for a change?  Come on.

Q    Hi, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Go ahead.

Q    As many schools and school districts are closing across the country, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has not ruled out closing — or opening up schools in May, saying that many kids are not vulnerable to this disease.  Do you agree with that assessment?   And do you believe that schools — would you recommend that schools open up?  And to those states that have a lot of cases —

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I have a lot of confidence in Ron DeSantis, a lot of faith in Ron DeSantis to make the right decision.  He’s doing a great job as governor.  Ron DeSantis, I had read where he’s thinking about opening up the schools earlier than the date — the end of the month.  I’d have to look at the numbers.

But again, you know, I like to allow governors to make decisions without overruling them, because from a constitutional standpoint, that’s the way it should be done.  If I disagreed, I would overrule a governor, and I have that right to do it.  But I’d rather have them — you can call it “federalist,” you can call it “the Constitution,” but I call it “the Constitution.”  I would rather have them make their decisions.

But he’s made a lot of good decisions.  And he hasn’t said he’s going to, but he’s thinking about it.  So I’ll take a look at it.

Q    I’m wondering if I can ask a follow-up to one of the doctors.  If you allow children back into schools, you know, wouldn’t that pose a threat to spreading the virus even further to some of those vulnerable people?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I think the answer is obvious, but if you want, either — would you want to just talk about that maybe?  Tony?

DR. FAUCI:  She kicks me up here right now.  (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT:  I know.  I can see.  (Laughs.)  I think — I think they know the answer to that.

DR. FAUCI:  Yeah, I mean, from — from pure public health issues is that, if you have a situation in which you don’t have a real good control over an outbreak and you allow children to gather together, they likely will get infected.  And if they get infected, the likelihood that they will bring the infection home.  So that really is a risk.

I don’t know the situation at all in any detail, and I’m not specifically speaking about Florida.  I’m just speaking generically about what happens when you have infections in the community, and you have a congregation of people, such as in classrooms, that that’s a risk.

Q    Has anyone under 25 died, Dr. Fauci, in the country?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Deb.

DR. BIRX:  Yes.

Q    The governor — the governor said —

DR. FAUCI:  Yes.

Q    — that no one under 25 has died.  And I guess you could clarify that people under 25 can die as a result of this.

DR. BIRX:  A community in Florida (inaudible).

DR. FAUCI:  Yeah, I’m not sure.  Again, I —

Q    In the country?

DR. FAUCI:  Okay, let’s do that, because I don’t want to have to be answering for —

Q    Fair enough.

DR. FAUCI:  — a particular state.  Yes, people under 25 have died of coronavirus disease in the United States of America.

THE PRESIDENT:  Go ahead, please.

Q    If you reopen the country in May and there is a new outbreak or a spike in infections, are you open to the idea of shutting the country down again?

THE PRESIDENT:  Depending on the outbreak, yeah. Depending.

Q    You would be open to it?

THE PRESIDENT:  And that’s happened, as you know, with a couple of countries.

You know what I’m doing?  I’m watching other countries.  In many cases, they’re ahead of us from the standpoint that it attacked them before us.  It hit them first.  And I’m watching what’s happening with respect to certain other countries — some of them obvious, some of them less obvious — and what they’re doing and the success that they’re having.  And that’s going to play a large part of the role.

I’m also — we’re also setting up a council of very, very great doctors and business people.   We’re going to be announcing it on Tuesday — of some great people.  The —

Q    Is this the economic task force?

Q    As a second task force?

THE PRESIDENT:  Beyond — this is beyond economic.  This is really — I call it, “The Opening Our Country Task Force” or “Opening Our Country Council,” so we don’t get it confused with Mike’s task force, which has done so great.  And we’re going to have the great business leaders, great doctors.  We’re going to have a great group of people.

We’ll probably do it by teleconference, because we don’t really want them traveling in, for their own purposes.  I don’t think it would look good, also.  But we don’t want them traveling in.  So we’ll do teleconference.

We did one the other day with the banks, and it was very successful — the teleconference itself.

And we’ll be announcing names on Tuesday, who’s on that.  And that’ll play a role.   But ultimately, I have to make that decision.  And then I’ll have to make a decision: Do we close a little area that’s a hotspot?

I do say this, Jim: I want to get it open as soon as possible.  This country was meant to be open and vibrant and great, not where people are, you know, staying in.

Q    Are you determined to do it by May 1st?

THE PRESIDENT:  No, I’m not — I am — I would love to open it.  I’m not determined anything.  The facts are going to determine what I do.  But we do want to get the country open.  So important.

So I’ll have a task force.  I’ll have a council.  It’s going to be announced on Tuesday with names that you have a lot of respect for, a lot of great names.  Different businesses, different people.  Top —

Q    Bipartisan?

THE PRESIDENT:  Bipartisan?  I didn’t even ask.  I mean, honestly, I think it’s bipartisan.  The one thing I didn’t ask, “Are you Republican or a Democrat?”  Hard to believe, but I didn’t ask.  So it would be.  And I want their views on what they think.

Also, very important, different parts of the country.  Because if you go to the Midwest, it’s different than perhaps the East Coast or the West Coast.  Now, the West Coast, those numbers are, really, pretty amazing on the West Coast.  It’s very interesting.

So we’re going to be announcing that in a very short while.  Probably Tuesday.

Go ahead.  Please.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Government officials in Latin American and in Caribbean nations — Bahamas, Cayman Islands — have been saying that U.S. authorities are blocking the shipment of PPE in certain cases.  And I’m wondering if you could speak to that, as (inaudible).

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, what we’re doing — we have a tremendous force out there — a naval force — and we’re blocking the shipment of drugs.  So maybe what they’re doing is stopping ships that they want to look.  We’re not blocking.  What we’re doing is we’re making sure — we don’t want drugs in our country.  And especially with the over 160 miles of wall — it’s getting very hard to get through the border.  They used to drive right through the border like they owned it, and in a certain way, they did.  They could drive right — they had human trafficking.  They had — all of a sudden, they have a powerful wall up, and they’re not driving through that wall.  That wall is tough and it’s also loaded up with equipment — cameras and sensors and everything you can think of.  On top of that, we have drones flying back and forth over it.  So — so it’s in very — a very powerful — it’s a very powerful barrier between Mexico and the United States.

A lot of people though — what they’re doing now is they’re trying to come in through the waterways, whether it’s the Gulf or the ocean itself.  And what we’re doing is we’re being very tough.  And we’re being tough because of drugs and also human trafficking.

And remember, the human trafficking is mostly females.  It’s mostly females.  It’s horrible.  And what we’re seeing is horrible.  But you have a big — we have a human trafficking — human trafficking problem worldwide, the likes of which — you know, you think of it as an ancient thing.  It’s not ancient.  It’s bigger now than it’s ever been before, over the last 10 years, because of the Internet.  The Internet made human trafficking to the extent that it is now, which is massive.  The Internate [sic] — the Internet made it so big.

So, we are — we have a big naval force that’s stopping.  So maybe when you mention that, maybe their ships are getting caught.  But we are — we’re stopping a lot of ships, and we’re finding a lot of drugs.

Yeah, please.

Q    Thank you, sir.  On the additional money for small —

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I meant you, but that’s okay.  Go head.  We’ll do this.

Q    I’m sorry.

THE PRESIDENT:  Go ahead.

Q    On the additional money for small business, apparently Treasury Secretary Mnuchin is speaking with the Democrats in Congress.

THE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

Q    Are you allowing him to —

THE PRESIDENT:  You’re talking about the new —

Q    Yeah, on the new $250 billion.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, 250.

Q    Are you willing to give into Democratic demands for, you know, additional money for hospitals, states, and cities in that interim round of money?

THE PRESIDENT:  I’d rather have that be in phase four.  I don’t deny it; I think it’s fine.  But I think it should be in phase four.  And I think we should have infrastructure, and I think we should have a payroll tax moratorium, because that’s something that, over a period of time, the workers get, you know, sort of semi-immediately.  It’s over that period of time.  It starts immediately, but it’s over a period of time.

I mean, there are a lot of people — I’m one of them — that would have liked to have seen the payroll tax cut as a permanent cut.  But we should do the double-edged — meaning, business-employee payroll tax cut.  So we’re talking about that.

And I’m certainly okay with helping the states and helping the hospitals.  I just think — because, look, the hospitals need help; you see what they’ve gone through.  And the states need help.  Some states in particular need help.  They need big help.  I’m willing to look at that very strongly.  But I like looking at it in phase four.

The 251 is actually — the plan is working out well.  The banks are getting started with the distribution.  They’ve taken hund- — thousands and thousands of applications.  The numbers aren’t even believable, the number of applications.  They’re swamped.  But Bank of America and Wells Fargo, and, I guess,

Citi — Citibank is just now kicking in.

And also what nobody is talking about, the commercial banks — the community banks.  Everyone is talking commercial banks.  The community banks are doing tremendous volumes.  And they’re probably doing them faster, from what I understand.  I hear the community banks, frankly, are the easiest ones in terms of getting the money out.

So the money is getting out.  The applications are far beyond what we ever anticipated.  And that’s what we’re — that’s why we’re going.  Because this is money that goes, essentially, to the workers.  We want the businesses to hold on to their workers, because once they lose the workers, they’re never opening again.  It’s not going to happen.

Okay, in the back.

Q    Yes, sir.  Gordon Lubold from the Wall Street Journal.  I wondered if you could expand a little bit on your — like the form that Mexico would take the reimbursements.  Like, what form would that take?  Do you essentially to the tab for the wall that you mentioned?  And I have a second question, if I may.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, there’s no real cost because we’re agreeing to produce a little bit less.  So, number one, it’s staying in the ground.  You have it.  You have it for another day.  It’s actually cheaper than storing it, where you take it out and you deliver it to a massive well, like the Strategic Reserves — our National Strategic Reserves where it has to be brought there.  And that’s, you know, an expensive process in itself.

But oil is getting to a point where, I mean, there are some areas — some people would say the water is more valuable than the oil.  You never thought you’re going to see that.  You never thought having covered — I know you cover it — you never thought you’d be seeing oil at $20 a barrel, but how about $10 a barrel?  That, you never thought you’d see.

So we are looking at it very strongly.  There is no real cost.  I was helping Mex- — I want to help Mexico out.  We have a great relationship with Mexico, a great relationship with the President.  I really like him a lot.  He’s been terrific to us on the border because he stopped — he stopped — you don’t see the caravans coming up anymore.  You don’t see all the problems.  When I took office, it was unbelievable what was going on.

And they are really — they have been helping us a lot, and we’ve been helping them a lot.  You know, they make product for us, they sell it to us, and it’s fine.  It’s a good relationship.  It’s — and sometimes it’s a great relationship.

So, he could not have done any more than that.  And I think there was political reasons for that — for him — that other — other nations don’t have.  They don’t have that.  You know, the nations that we’re talking about — the 22 other nations that we’re talking about — they just don’t have that problem.

So, it doesn’t cost us anything, and yet it’s very valuable.  We will be reimbursed in the future — maybe in the near future, maybe in the more distant future.  But we’ll be reimbursed by Mexico in a certain way, and it’ll be fine.  But we get Mexico over the hump.

Now with all of that being said, that doesn’t mean the deal is going to happen anyway, because they still have a lot of different states.  But this was one of the stumbling blocks.  Okay?

Go ahead.

Q    If I may, China and some other countries that have been particularly active — seen as maybe taking advantage of the U.S. during this process, during this period.  China particularly acted in the South China Sea.  Got a carrier down, obviously.  What’s your message to some of these adversaries and competitors?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, look, the way I view it is this: China has taken advantage of the United States for 30 years.  Okay?  I mentioned the World Trade Organization.  China has taken advantage of us through that and using rules that are unfair to the United States.  And they should have never been allowed — this should have never been allowed to happen.

When China joined and was allowed to join under those circumstances — the World Trade Organization — that was a very bad day for the United States because they had rules and regulations that were far different and far easier than our rules and regulations.  Plus, they took advantage of them down to the last — and you know China and you studied China and you know what I mean.  They took advantage of them like very few people would even think to take advantage of them.

And again, they are considered — right? — a developing nation.  We are not considered a developing nation.  They’ve given advantages.  Okay.

For many years, China has ripped off the United States.  And then I came along.  And right now, as you know, China is paying 25 percent, and we’ve taken in billions and billions and billions of dollars in tariffs from China.  And I know a lot of the people kept saying, “Oh, no.  We’re paying.”  Well, we’re not paying.  You know, countries are different.  Not every country is China.  But China would devalue their currency, and they’d also pour out money.  And they, essentially, were paying most of those tariffs, not us.

And, as you know, we’ve taken in tens of billions of dollars.  They targeted our farmers.  But we took in so much money that I was able to give back.  One year it was $12 billion.  One year was $16 billion.  I was able to give back our farmers the money that they were targeted — hurt.

China bought $12 billion and bought $16 billion — one year, 12; one year, 16.  I was able to give them back the 12, and then give them back the 16 — the farmers.  And they weren’t targeted, and they’re all in business.  Now we’re doing it because they got targeted in a different way.

Now, I’m going to be very interested to see.  So we signed a deal with China.  And under that deal, they’re supposed to buy substantially in excess of $200 billion from us.  That’s not only farm product, it’s manufacturing product, it’s lots of different things.  They’re going to buy a lot.  I just want to see if they live up to that deal.

I know President Xi.  I would say he would live up to the deal.  But remember this: I never took off the tariff.  It’s still 25 percent.  That’s a big — 25 percent of $250 billion dollars.

So, for the first time — and you saw also — now again, I’m going before the virus hit.  Because that’s sort of like — that’s like, “Let’s start all over again.”  Okay?  I can’t tell you that yet, because that chapter hasn’t been written yet.  But go up a few weeks ago, the deficit with the United States and China was coming way down.  Nobody has seen that.  Nobody has ever seen that before.  But the deficit has come way down.

So, now we start a new chapter.  And I can only tell you, if a smart person is standing where I’m standing, we’re going to do very well with China.  Okay?

And I think it’s — I have to also say this: I think our relationship, and having the relationship I have with China is a good thing.  But for the first time, we’re benefiting instead of being the sucker that could — you know, that got taken advantage of for years.  Nobody.

You know, I said to China, “How did this ever happen?”  I got to know them very well.  I said to them — representatives of China at the top level, you know who I’m talking about — I say, “How did this ever happen?”  They looked at me and they said, “But nobody ever called us.”  We didn’t have a deal.  It’s not like we had a bad deal.  We had worse: We didn’t have any deal at all, so they just took advantage.

Think of it: $500-billion-a-year deficit.  Not — $500 million is a lot of money, right?  It’s not — everyone thinks I’ve made a mistake when I say “$500 trillion.”  “No, you mean $500 million.”  “No, I said 500-billion-dollar-a-year deficit with China for a long time.”  But it was 200.  It was 300.  It was 400.  It was 500 — 556 billion, 507.  Five-hundred-billion-dollars-plus-a-year deficit with China.  Now I’m charging them tariffs.

And, you know, it’s very interesting.  A lot of people that don’t want to do that — they all agreed because China has taken advantage of this country like nobody has ever taken.  We have built China with the money we gave them.

Now, I give them a lot of credit.  Okay?  I give them a lot of credit.  They did it.  But you know what?  We made it a hell of a lot easier.  We gave them a fortune.

Go ahead.  How about you in the back?  Yes.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  I’m Deborah Saunders with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and I’m here today as the print reporter — the print pooler.

THE PRESIDENT:  Good.

Q    So, I’d like to ask you a question, and then ask a question from one of the reporters who couldn’t be here because of social distancing.

THE PRESIDENT:  Sure.  Go ahead.  A little louder, please.

Q    Thank you.  I was wondering if you have been tested for antibodies?  If you’ve taken the antibody test.

THE PRESIDENT:  Have I been tested for antibodies?

Q    Yes.

THE PRESIDENT:  Not that I know of.  I’ve had some tests.

Q    Has anybody else here been tested?

THE PRESIDENT:  No?  They tell me “no.”  I’ll accept it.

Q    Has anybody else on the task force been tested for antibodies?

DR. BIRX:  We don’t have a test yet.

Q    You don’t have a test?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We don’t have a test yet.

THE PRESIDENT:  That’ll come out.  They’ve just developed those tests.  They’re sort of new.

Q    Okay.  Good to know.  So, this question is from Andrew Feinberg with Newsweek.  A significant amount of federal aid was made available to Boeing in the recently signed CARES Act relief package.  But according to sources, Boeing executives are still planning a round of layoffs.  So, should Boeing or any company that accepts federal aid to stay in business during this pandemic be penalized for laying off workers after doing so?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.  Well, the aid hasn’t been given yet.  But they will be asking, in my opinion.  They haven’t even asked yet.  Boeing has not asked for aid yet.  But I think they probably will.

Now, at the same time, they do have to run a company.  You know, this isn’t a great time to sell airplanes.  Let’s not kid ourselves, okay?  If you’re a businessperson.  Boeing makes airplanes.  They had a big problem with one, but they make the greatest airplanes.  They make the best airplanes in the world.  They had the problem with one.  They got it too complex.  It becomes so complex you have to be number one in your class at MIT to be able to fly it.  It’s a mistake.  Every two years, they want to make it more and more.

I mean, they had great success with the 737 — the Boeing 737.  Then, all of a sudden, they do the Max.  And they say, “Let’s make it more complicated.  Let’s put on different engines.  Let’s do this.  Let’s do that.”  It was not exactly a good decision.  A bad decision.  Very, bad — a horrible decision.  Number one, human lives.  And number two, horrible what’s happened to the company.

Here’s a company — from a business standpoint, it was like probably the greatest company in the world, in my opinion.  I think it amounts to 1 percent of GDP.  Some people say it’s a half.  I think it’s 1.  But here’s one of the greatest companies anyway in the world.  Maybe, the greatest.  And boom.

Now, on top of what happened there with the two planes — and they say they have that fixed.  That’s good.  They say they have it fixed undisputably.  In fact, somebody said — they gave me something — I said, “You should say it that way.”  They said, “Sir, this is now the safest airplane in the air.”  I said — “That’s what you should say.  That’s a very good statement: It’s the safest airplane in the air.  That’s a very good statement.  You should use it.”  I said, “By the way, are you changing the name?  But whether you do or not, you should use that.”  But he said that.  A Boeing person said to me, “It’s the safest airplane in the air.”  That’s a great thing.

But we know they’re going to need help.  Now, does that mean they’re going to need help, and they should keep people that they absolutely don’t need?  That business is a very cyclical business, like many businesses, frankly.  So that determination hasn’t been made.  They have not spoken to us, yet.  I think they will be.  Maybe they won’t need help.  That’ll be great.

Look, Boeing made so much money — who would’ve — who would’ve thought they could have made all of those planes that are parked all over the place?  In many cases, I guess payment is not made.  But who would have thought they could do that and they’re still a solvent company, okay?  I mean, what a tragic thing — happened in numerous ways, but also economically.

So, when they see us, making sure that Boeing is strong again is very, very powerful and very important.  And we’ll do whatever is necessary to do.

Please.

Q    Thank you.  A quick one and then a longer one.  First of all, have you had insurance —

THE PRESIDENT:  Should we keep this going, everybody?

Q    You’re the President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Jim wants to leave.  (Laughter.)  Keep it going for a while, yes?

Q    Are you sure?  Yeah.

THE PRESIDENT:  If we have time, if you want.  Should I — you’re not going to criticize me that the conference was too long?

You know, if I leave short — yesterday, I left short.  “It was too short.”  If stay too long, they say, “It was too long.” Someday, we’re going to get it just right.  Okay.  Should we continue?

Q    What do you make of the Republicans who say that?

THE PRESIDENT:  Should we continue?  Yes?

Q    Well, at least answer my question —

THE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Let’s at least do your question.  (Laughter.)

Q    Have you had a chance to speak to —

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s not a bad point.

Q    Have you had a chance yet to speak to Boris Johnson since he came back from intensive care?

THE PRESIDENT:  I have not.  No.  I have a call, just to wish him well to his — to his group.  No, I don’t want to be calling him now.  I want him to get better.

He’s a great guy.  He’s become a friend of mine — a real friend of mine.  You know, he has a great feeling for our country.  For — obviously, for his country.  He loves it.  He’s — he’s a tremendous guy.

Q    And a slightly more complicated one.

THE PRESIDENT:  He’s become — I think, he’s probably, right now — he was very high to start.  I think he might be 100 percent popularity right now.  I think he’s — you know, when they talk about approval polls, right?  You ever hear that term?  I’m sure you never heard that.  I hear it all the time.  His approval rating must be about 300 percent.

But he’s a — he’s a great guy.  He was a great guy before and I think people see what he’s been through.  What he has been through is incredible.  And they say a “big turn.”  So let’s see what happens.  Let’s hope.

Q    And, if I may, where do you see the use of something like immunity certificates or documents or passports, when we get to anti-body testing?

THE PRESIDENT:  Something like — excuse me?

Q    Immunity certificates — once we get to anti-body testing, whether this would be a useful way —

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I see a lot of — yeah.  I see a lot of different things.  We’re going — we have to be very careful for who comes into the country.  Look, my opposition party wants to have open borders.  This is a case where I’m very glad that my position is: I don’t want open borders.  I want very strong borders.  That includes not only on the southern border — our southern border with Mexico, and you could also say our northern border with Canada — but we want to have strong borders.

And, I think, this is maybe one of the learning points.  We learned something about borders.  We need borders.  A country needs borders to be a great country.  And this is, I think, this is a great point.

Go ahead.  Do you have something else?

Q    Yeah.  I wasn’t just thinking about for borders.  I just thought for ordinary Americans who are currently stuck at home.  If they’re tested for antibodies, it turns out they’ve had the disease and therefore shouldn’t be infected again — some sort of documentation that would allow them to go back to work safely.

THE PRESIDENT:  You mean, once they get better?

Q    Yeah, or people who might not (inaudible).

THE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  So, they have the disease and they’re better and they have the immunity now.  They have — supposedly, according to what I am hearing, it could be for a long period.  It could be for a lifetime.  It could also be for a for a year or two, I’m hearing, Tony.

So nobody has told me yet if it’s for a year, if it’s for two years, or if it’s for a lifetime.  Like chickenpox — they say if you have chickenpox, you have immunity, they say, for a lifetime.  I hope that’s true.

But — but nobody has actually told me with certainty, maybe because they don’t know yet —

DR. FAUCI:  We don’t know yet.

THE PRESIDENT:  You don’t know yet.  Because it’s new.  You know, this came upon us.  Nobody knew.  We just — we’re just — they do know you have it for a period of time and it’s strong for a period of time.  They don’t know — and that’s, hence the antibodies that we’re making.

I saw somebody who was really sick, and he got better — a young person, a relatively young person — 35 and physically fit, you know.  And he — he got better.  He made it.  Barely, but he made it.  His first thing that he did when he was better is, “I want to give — I want to give whatever I can give to help other people because nobody should go through it.”  It’s a tough — it’s a tough thing.

So we don’t know yet how long — if you’d like to add anything to that.  But we don’t know yet.  Is it a year?  It will be a year.  But is it more than a year?  And only time is going to tell.  Okay?  Thank you.

Q    Can I just ask one more question?

THE PRESIDENT:  Go ahead.  Try one more.

Q    Will you have governors, mayors, members of Congress on the Open the Country Council that you talked about a minute ago?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, I think so.  I think we’re going to put some governors.  I’ve gained great respect for governors, both Republican and Democrat.  I’ve actually become friends with some of the Democrat governors that I wouldn’t have really had the privilege of getting to know.

And Governor Murphy of New Jersey is a very liberal guy.  I’m not.  But we’ve had a great relationship.  John Bel, as you know — I call him “John Bel” — John Bel Edwards.  People call him “John Bel.”  It’s sort of a cool name — from Louisiana.  I have a very good relationship with him.

Gavin Newsom.  Honestly, I think we’ve fight on every — hey, we’re fighting right now.  I want automobiles to be made cheaper and safer and stronger.  And — but you save three, four thousand dollars per automobile.  And environmentally equal, or better, maybe.  And we’re fighting on that.  We’re fighting a lot of different things.  We fight on the border.  He wants open borders.  I want — I want people to come into our country legally.  But I’ve gotten very friendly with Gavin Newsom.  He’s done a very good job here.

I think I’ve gotten very friendly.  I mean, he’s been, I think, sort of a friend of mine for a long time.  Don’t get to see him much.  But Governor Cuomo of New York — we talk all the time.  I told you, I spoke to him literally the last call, just before walking in here.

I’ve gotten to — I’ve really developed a lot of good friendships with the governors and, including governors of (inaudible.)  I think — Mike DeWine, Republican, but I think he’s done a great job in Ohio.

So, yeah, I want to put on both parties.  I want to have some governors.  I’m not going to have all of the governors, but I’d like to put some representative governors on the council.  Yes, I would like to do that.

Q    And have you asked any to serve yet?

THE PRESIDENT:  I have.  I’ve asked a couple of them.  They’ve all said yes.  So far, everyone said yes.  I think everybody would like to be on that council.  That’s a very important council.

Go ahead, in the back.  You haven’t gone yet.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Two questions, if I may.  Do you have a message to those pastors who are still planning to have Easter services, defying the Public Health’s guidelines?

THE PRESIDENT:  You’re going to have to say it louder.  To those what?

Q    To those pastors who are still planning to have Easter services in person.

Q    Pastors who are defying —

THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, the pastors.  I didn’t understand your word.  Okay, you have a very nice voice but it’s a little bit low, and you’re far back.

I’ve had talks with the pastors, and most of the pastors agree — and this is a very complex subject, let’s face it, you know, for the obvious reasons.  I don’t have to go into it.  And most of the pastors agree that they are better off doing what they’re doing, which is distancing.  They feel that, “Let’s get this over with,” and they want to get back to church so badly.

I mean, can you imagine?  We have Easter Sunday and I’m going to be watching Pastor Robert Jeffress, who’s been a great guy, that I tell you.  He’s been a great guy, and I’m going to be watching on a laptop.  Now, a laptop is not the same as being in his church or being in another church.  It’s not, no matter what you say.  You know, we can say, “Oh, isn’t it wonderful?”

But I’ve done this for three weeks, and they’ve had tremendous — I let people know who it is.  They’ve had the biggest audiences they’ve ever had.  They have millions of people now watching, and people are really liking what they’re hearing.

So I’m going to be with, on Easter, Pastor — I don’t even know if he knows it yet, but he will soon.  I think he will in about two minutes.  Pastor Robert Jeffress.  And he’s a terrific guy, a terrific man.  I’ve gotten to know him very well.  He’s a man of great compassion.  He loves our country.  And I’m going to be with him on Easter — meaning I’m going to be with him, watching on a laptop.  Doesn’t sound good, but it’s, you know, it’s one of those things — it cannot be church.  You know, I’m not going to get into it.  It cannot be church.

Most pastors and most people of faith — people that we listen to and respect and admire.  Franklin Graham is a person I have great respect for.  Most people will — and who’s done an incredible job in New York on Central Park, where they put up Samaritan’s Purse.  He’s done an incredible job.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Incredible.

THE PRESIDENT:  The son of the late, great Billy Graham.  His family is incredible.  He’s incredible.  Franklin Graham, the job he’s doing on — I mean, he loves to do it.  He has such a passion.  And that’s why he’s so good at it.  He does it with — with incredible love.

And he will tell you — we’re all saying, “We’ve got to get our country cured.”  I know there are some pastors and ministers and others that want to get together.  I would — and I have great respect for them.  Two of them I know.

But I would say first heal — I’m a Christian — heal our country.  Let’s get healed before we do this.  And there’s time to do that.  We’ll do it for hopefully the rest of our lives.

Please.

Q    Thank you.  The Mercy and the Comfort seem to be underutilized —

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

Q    — in Los Angeles and New York.  Is there any consideration either to sending the medical units into the cities to — to help —

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

Q    — the hospitals there or to —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  In the hotspots.

Q    — or to moving the hospital ships?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.  So the Mercy and the Comfort were sent when projections were much higher.  And I say it — Tony backed it up, Deborah made the statement — they said you’re not going to need these many rooms, but we wanted to be prepared.  I mean, you know, we had the ship.  They did an incredible job with — the Comfort was supposed to be in maintenance for a period of four weeks and they hadn’t done in three and a half, four days.  And it came up.  And so we had it there.

If there was a disaster from the standpoint of you needed all of the — now, I’ll tell you, the Javits Center — Andrew will tell you, we were ready to go.  It’s incredible, the job they did.  But they’re — they’re using less beds.  This is a good thing, not a bad thing.  They’re using less beds.

Now, Javits has been pretty busy over the last couple of days.  And the death numbers are horrific.  But you go back now and you’re finding they’re going to start to come down very substantially just based on the fact that the bed usage, the number of beds are much, much less.  Much, much less.

So the Mercy and the Comfort were there in case they needed them.  Los Angeles, where you have the one and New York where you the other, they just don’t — fortunately, we haven’t hit numbers where they would have need, they would have been used.  They’re always going to be sort of overflow because they’re on the edges.  You know, they’re not as convenient as certain places.  But the people were ready, willing, and able.  They were ready to go.  They were going to do a great job.

But fortunately we don’t need — just like we didn’t need as many ventilators.  When they were asking in New York for 40,000 ventilators, I had experts — these people, I listened to them — they said you’ll never need that many.  And they were right.  And New York now has it’s — and I dealt really well Mayor de Blasio.  We got him a lot of ventilators.  We got Andrew a lot of ventilators.  But we never felt you needed the numbers that you were talking about and we were right on that.

Now, with all of that being said, we have a lot of ventilators ready to go.  We have almost 10,000 in the stockpile.  That 10,000 can move rapidly.  We can be within 24 hours almost anywhere.  And hopefully we’re not going to have to be but it’s just — it’s really — this has been a great military operation.  It hasn’t all been military because we’re dealing with great companies.  We have companies that are making masks.  We’re — and we’re all set up in the masks too.

I just told you we have an order coming in soon: 500 million masks.  500 million.  We have companies — you know the story with GM — or 3M — also GM, but 3M is doing a great job.  I spoke to the CEO the other day.  We settled it out.  We had a dispute with them.  And it’s now all settled.  And I think they’re trying to show the country something — maybe me, but the country something.

So, we’ve done, you know, I think — and not me.  I’m not talking about me.  This country, our country, the people that are doing it: Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, these people sitting right here, people that we have in the back that are watching every word that we’re saying — they’ve done a fantastic job.  They really have done a fantastic job.

Please.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  I wanted to ask you a question about testing.  You’ve mentioned the impossibility of testing the entire American public.  So has —

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, what do we have —

Q    — the Surgeon General — hold on —

THE PRESIDENT:  What do we have?  350 million people?  You’re going to do $350- —

Q    Three hundred fifty million.  That’s not what I’m getting at.  What I’m getting at is priorities.  And Dr. Birx has mentioned how there have been priorities in certain regional parts of the country.  And I wanted to ask you specifically about one industry in particular, and that’s food-processing plants.  Is there a priority to get testing at food-processing plants all across the country?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, you’re asking that because of what happened — it’s a fair question, too — what happened in Denver.  Because in Denver, I’ve never seen — I said, “What’s going on?”  We’re looking at this graph where everything’s looking beautiful and it’s coming down and then you got this one spike.  It’s — I said, “What happened to Denver?”

And many people, very quickly, and they — by the way, they were on it like, so fast, you wouldn’t believe it.  They knew every aspect.  They had people go and — not only testing, “Who did you see?  Where were you?  How many people did you meet?  Were you out to dinner in somebody else’s home?  Where were you?”  Where did — where did this number of people come from?  How did — they are totally on it.

Now, this just happened.  I just saw it this morning.  I’m looking at everything smooth, going down, topping out.  And then you have this one spike in Denver.  It’s like, where did this come from?

So we’ll be looking at that.  And we don’t want cases like that happening.  This was — but this — this is the kind of thing can happen.  This is very complex.

This is a very brilliant enemy.  You know, it’s a brilliant enemy.  They develop drugs like the antibiotics.  You see it.  Antibiotics used to solve every problem.  Now one of the biggest problems the world has is the germ has gotten so brilliant that the antibiotic can’t keep up with it.  And they’re constantly trying to come up with a new — people go to a hospital and they catch — they go for a heart operation — that’s no problem, but they end up dying from — from problems.  You know the problems I’m talking about.  There’s a whole genius to it.

We’re fighting — not only is it hidden, but it’s very smart.  Okay?  It’s invisible and it’s hidden, but it’s — it’s very smart.  And you see that in a case like a Denver.

But, you know, I think we’re doing well, and they’re on Denver like you wouldn’t believe.  I came in this morning; it was a flurry.  I said what’s going on?  They said, “Denver.”  I said, “What happened to Denver?”  Because Denver was doing pretty well.  And they’ve got that under control.  But, yeah, that would be a case where you do some very big testing.

Peter.

Q    Mr. President, we’ve learned that more than 16 million Americans filed for unemployment over the past three weeks.  It’s Good Friday.  It’s payday.  We are seeing troubling, paralyzing lines at food banks around the country.  What do you say to those Americans in need right this moment?

THE PRESIDENT:  Number one, I love them.  Number two, we’re working really hard.  It wasn’t their fault, what happened.  Sometimes they don’t do a good job and they lose their job.  That’s one thing.  This is a case where we take the strongest economy in the history of the world, which is what we had.  More people working in the United States, Peter, than ever before.  Almost — I mean, look at the numbers: 160 million people, almost.  Just short of 160.

Q    (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Excuse me.

So, we have the greatest economy we’ve ever had.  And, by the way, black unemployment, Hispanic unemployment, Asian unemployment — the best numbers we’ve ever had in virtually every way.  And then you get hit like this, and it’s traumatic.

People that had great jobs, that went out to dinner, and they didn’t have any problems, they’d take their family, they were making good salaries, all of a sudden — you know, you use the term, “cold turkey.”  It’s cold turkey.  They go from that to having no money and waiting for their checks, which are being processed very rapidly.  But they still — they have to go out and look for money.

It’s a terrible thing.  All I say is: We love them, we’re working so hard, and they’re going to be back.  And I hope they’re going to be back even stronger than before.

Q    Let me ask you about that, if I can, just to follow up then.  You chose not to do a national stay-at-home order.  Now that you say you want to reopen parts of the economy, what authority do you have to do that?  Isn’t that ultimately up to the states to do that?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.  Yeah — no, it’s really — the states can do things if they want.  I can override it if I want.  But the national stay-at-home — just so you understand, 95 percent of the country is stay-at-home.

Like, as an example, I was speaking with the great governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, the other day.  He has a stay-at-home.  A lot of people didn’t even know it, but he had a stay-at -home.  Some people reported Texas wasn’t.  He had a very strong — actually, a very strong stay-at-home.

Ninety-five to ninety-six percent in South Carolina, as you know, has it, which at one point, a week ago, they didn’t have.  South Carolina — another great governor — McMaster.

No, 95 percent of the country is covered.  Now, the states that aren’t — and again, constitutionally, from a federalist standpoint, if I thought there was a problem, if I saw a state with a problem, I would absolutely demand it.  But they’re doing great.  And the states that aren’t are states that have not had a big problem.

Q    What authority do you have to reopen right now?  The same way that it’s up to the states to shut it down, it’s up to them to reopen.  What authority do you have?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, I have — I have great authority if I want to use it.  I would rather have the states use it.  I would rather —

Q    What does that look like?

THE PRESIDENT:  And this is so shocking for me.  A lot of people are saying, “Wow, he’s really very reasoned, isn’t he?”  A lot of people are shocked.  They think I do a — I have absolute authority to use it.  But, so far, our relationship with governors and the job they’re doing, I haven’t had to do it.  Would I do it if I saw a state that was out of control and they didn’t have the stay-at-home policy?  I would do it in a heartbeat.

Jeff.

Q    Mr. President, there’s obviously a lot of interest in how you’re going to make that decision.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

Q    What —

THE PRESIDENT:  It’s a very big decision.

Q    What metrics —

THE PRESIDENT:  I don’t know that I’ve had a bigger decision than that, when you think.  Right?

Q    I would think —

THE PRESIDENT:  I mean, think of that decision.  Somebody said, “It’s totally up to the President.”  I saw it this morning.  It’s totally up — and it is.  I don’t know that I’ve had a bigger decision.

But I’m going to surround myself with the greatest minds.  Not only the greatest minds, but the greatest minds in numerous different businesses, including the business of politics and reason.  And we’re going to make a decision, and hopefully it’s going to be the right decision.

I will say this: I want to get it open as soon as we can.  We have to get our country open, Jeff.

Q    Can you say, sir, what metrics you will use to make that decision?

THE PRESIDENT:  The metrics right here.  (Points to head.)  That’s my metrics.  That’s all I can do.  I can listen to 35 people.  At the end, I got to make a decision.  And I didn’t think of it until yesterday.  I said, “You know, this is a big decision.”  But I want to be guided.  I’m going to be guided by them.  I’m going to be guided by our Vice President.  I’m going to make a decision based on a lot of different opinions.  Some will maybe disagree, and some I’d love to see it where they don’t disagree.

Will there be risks?  There’s always going to be a risk that something can flare up.  There’s always going to — look, look at what’s happening where countries are trying to get open and there’s a flare-up and they’ll go.  But I’d like the flare-up to be very localized so that we can control it from a local standpoint without having to close.

It’s — it’s — there’s always a risk.  This is a — this is genius that we’re fighting.  You know, we’re fighting this hidden enemy, which is genius.  Okay?  It’s genius, the way it’s attacked so many countries at so many different angles.  And — I mean, you take a look at what’s going on.

And the greatest doctors in the world — I think they’re close, by the way, but they haven’t figured it out yet.  Look what it’s done to some people.  I mean, some people it’s grabbed, and it’s a — it’s a horrible — it’s a horrible way to go, if you want to know the truth.  It’s a horrible — and then other people, it hardly has an impact on.  We talked about it; it’s the sniffles.  It’s less.  They don’t even know they had anything.

And some people — I looked at New York this morning, and I look at what’s happening and the amount of people that are dying and dying — violently dying.  It’s — it’s a — it’s a very tough adversary.  But we’re going to win, and we’re going to win it — we’re going to win it very decisively.

I’m going to have to make a decision, and I only hope to God that it’s the right decision.  But I would say, without question, it’s the biggest decision I’ve ever had to make.

Q    A quick follow-up for the doctors, if I may, for Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx.  The models, as I understand them, are based on social distancing continuing through May.  Is that correct?  And if you were to open the economy on May 1st or sometime during that month, would that impact the models in terms of the deaths that you expect?

THE PRESIDENT:  Want to answer that?

DR. BIRX:  We’re taking turns today?

DR. FAUCI:  Yeah.

DR. BIRX:  Good.  That’s good.

So the model — the IHME model — does state that it’s through May.  Every — we’ve had these model discussions, haven’t we, for weeks now?  So the models are informed by the data, and you can see how much that model has shifted on the amazing work of the American people.  So I think that’s what we’re evaluating right now.

Remember when — when I talked yesterday — I’ve been in public health a long time.  I have never — except for Ebola, where we worked very closely with the communities about specific issues — we’ve never taken a country-wide or a global-wide approach to mitigation.  This is unprecedented.

I will tell you there is nothing in the literature about specifically what to expect, and I think that’s why the models continue to modify themselves based on what actually has happened with social distancing and handwashing and all of the pieces that the American people are doing — the decreasing, the closing of the bars, the closing of the restaurants, no communal eating.  That was thought to be a very big issue in many of the other cultures that went through this virus.

So the models continue to evolve based on the impact.  And so, therefore, it makes it very difficult to interpret each component of social distancing and which ones are absolutely critical.

Now, there’s a way to do that in multivariate analysis, potentially.  Now, I want to — I want everyone to understand, there are states that are testing.  There are states that are doing contact tracing.  So, I mean, it’s — I think sometimes we get — you know, we look at what New York is doing and Detroit, and we forget that there’s a Utah and New Mexico and North and South Dakota and a whole series of states that have been doing testing and contact tracing, and have been testing at rates higher than that per capita rate that we all have discussed.

So we’re looking at that: What did they do?  Where are the most vulnerabilities?  Where are the outbreaks most likely to occur?  And that’s why I’ve been talking about nursing homes, because we do believe that there’s a relationship between age and seriousness of disease.  Not to say that there can’t be young people with serious disease, but proportionally, it’s a smaller piece with serious disease.

And so when you have that kind of spectrum where the older and the more complicated, the higher the severity, you get the impression that there may be more asymptomatic in younger age groups.  And that’s where the antibody test comes in.

So when you put all these pieces together, you’re trying to understand where is — where would be the first signals.  So we have surveillance out there right now with the CDC’s influenza-like illness.  I hope you’re all tracking that.  It is showing these small changes.  I think we can believe in that as a surveillance tool, married with their syndromic piece, giving us the insight about where to test and then where to proactively test in the nursing homes and other vulnerable groups.  Because that has been the signal in a series of the states that have very, very low prevalence and incidence of disease.  So that’s the kind of factors we’re putting altogether to really define the best way forward.

And we have superb roadmaps.  I hope you all have seen them.  There’s been about six different roadmaps to opening that people have put online.  And again, there’s no literature that you can cite and said, “Well, we did this 20 years ago and what really worked.”  There’s — there isn’t that.  There’s brilliant public health people giving us their insights.

Q    I guess the core of the question is, because those are the models you’ve been using, if you do go with opening up — starting to open up the economy again on May 1st, doesn’t that lead to more deaths?

DR. BIRX:  Well, look at how much it changed with mitigation.  And now we’re looking at those state by state.  And there’s some states in there that are still in contact tracing.  So we’re looking at the impact of that model and what that model predicted, based on the type of contact tracing — less mitigation; more contact tracing.

Are we — are you getting what I’m talking about?

Q    No — (inaudible.)

DR. BIRX:  Okay, so there are states that didn’t stay-at- home orders, but were doing contact tracing from outbreaks.  So we’re looking at them and how they have done, and we’re looking at certainly what’s happened in the big metro areas.  And we’re integrating all of that data together to make a plan going forward.

So I can’t tell you — because look at how much the model has changed in just a week.  Remember, just a week ago it was 80,000.  Now it’s 60,000.  So — and the curves — I’m sure you’re all watching it — the curves are getting much broader confidence intervals.

There is still the dotted line, but the confidence intervals around the dotted line are getting bigger.  When you see that, you know the model has a bit of instability, and so that’s why Tony and I base a lot of our decision and discussion on cases and what physically is happening in that county, in that state, at the same time not ignoring the models but integrating the models as one piece of our thought process.

Do you want to come up here and say what you think about models?

Q    Dr. Birx, can you update us on that Abbott Lab test?

THE PRESIDENT:  I just want to say that, you know, you talked about, “Couldn’t it lead to death,” meaning, if you open up, it could lead to death.  And you’re right.

Q    (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  But you know what?  Staying at home leads to death also.  And it’s very traumatic for this country.  But staying at home — if you look at numbers — that leads to a different kind of death, perhaps, but it leads to death also.  So it’s a very big decision.  As I say, it’s the biggest decision I’ll ever make.

All right, we’ll do a couple of more and we’ll go.  Thank you.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Before you came out here, you said one of the last people that you talked to was Governor Cuomo.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

Q    And at his news conference today, he said that he was asking you to use the Defense Production Act to require companies to make more tests, to streamline testing.  Is that something that you would consider?  Because you’ve considered it with ventilators and masks.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, you know, the other side seems to keep using that.  And I have used it.  You know, I’ve enacted it, you do know.  And I’ve used it — some people thought viciously.  Just ask a couple of companies.  If you want, you can just look up the names.

And I’m surprised that he would have said that.  We actually have great tests.  We have others under development.  You don’t need full testing, as the doctors have been talking about ad nauseam.

So I would be surprised that he would have said that, meaning it that way.  If he — if he did, I’d have a much different type answer.

Go ahead.

Q    You all didn’t talk about it over the phone?

THE PRESIDENT:  We talked about testing, yeah.  We did talk about testing.  And one of the things I did was I put the two doctors in charge of that call.  I said, “You know what, Andrew?  I have two very talented people standing here.  We’re getting ready to go on.  Let me put them and let me have them talk to you.”  And they talked to him, really, at length.  And I think by the time they finished, he understood what he was — what we were saying.  He understood it very clearly.  Okay?

Q    One more question, please.  You’ve talked a lot this week about holding the World Health Organization responsible —

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

Q    — for its response to the coronavirus.  I’m curious if you’ve given any more thought to holding China financially responsible for the part that it played and —

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, I understand.

Q    — the economic toll that it’s taking on the American people.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, I understand the question very well.  Look, nobody has done to China, or treated China as strongly as I have.  I use the word “strongly.”  As you know — you’ve reported on it — billions and billions of dollars is flowing into our Treasury, because of what I’ve done with China.

I think it’s a very sad thing that happened.  And I think if people knew, including the World Health Organization — and I do believe they knew, but they didn’t want to tell the world.  And we’re going to get to the bottom of it.  And we’ll have reports on all of this.  And we are — we are not happy about it, but I wanted to leave the World Health for later.

And I can tell you that we’re constantly in touch with China.  We’re talking to China.  And we’ve expressed how we felt.  We’re not happy about it.  We’re not happy about it at all, Kristen.

Okay, one or two more.  Yeah, Jim.

Q    Mr. President, we hear from a lot of people who see these briefings as sort of happy-talk briefings.  And —

THE PRESIDENT:  No happy talk today.

Q    — you and some of the officials paint a rosy picture of what is happening around the country.  If you look at some of these questions: “Do we have enough masks?”  “No.”  “Do we have enough tests?”  No.”  “Do we have enough PPE?”  “No.”  “Do we have enough” —

THE PRESIDENT:  Why would you “no”?  Look, the answer is “yes.”

Q    — “medical equipment?”

THE PRESIDENT:  I think the answer is yes.  I think the answer is yes.  Who — who said no to that?

Q    I — I’m saying this is what —

THE PRESIDENT:  No, no, you’re saying no, but who said no?

Q    We hear — we hear from —

THE PRESIDENT:  But you asked, “Do we have enough masks?”  Yes.

Q    We hear from the doctors.  We hear from health experts.

THE PRESIDENT:  No, you didn’t say that.  You said, “Do we have enough masks?”  Yes.

Q    Does the country?  Does —

THE PRESIDENT:  “Do we have enough tests?”  Yes.  Plus, we’re developing new tests.

Q    But they’re not —

THE PRESIDENT:  “Do we have enough — do we have enough ventilators?”  Yes.  “Do we have enough hospital beds?”  Yes.  We’ve built 20,000 hospital beds.  We have enough hospital beds.

Go ahead, Jim.  Let’s go.

Q    So what do you say to — I mean, you watch the coverage.

THE PRESIDENT:  You know what I say?

Q    You’ve been watching a lot of the coverage.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, a lot of it’s fake news.

Q    These doctors who — no, no, no.  Not —

THE PRESIDENT:  A lot of it’s fake news.  A lot of it’s fake news.  Let me just tell you —

Q    When the doctors and the medical experts come on our air and —

THE PRESIDENT:  The governors — the governors reported —

Q    — say that we don’t have enough tests, we don’t have enough masks.”

THE PRESIDENT:  The governor — yeah, depending on your air, they always say that, because otherwise you’re not going to put them on.

Let me just tell you something: The governors have said — last night, they had a group of governors, 14 governors.  They were together someplace, and they said, “It’s been unbelievable what’s happened.”

We’ve been totally responsive.  Ventilators — everyone has the ventilators they need, to a point where we’re getting calls from foreign countries saying, “You have all the ventilators.  Can we get some?  And we’re going to try and help some of these countries.

These people have done an incredible job.  This is not happy talk.  Maybe it’s happy talk for you.  It’s not happy talk for me.  We’re talking about death.  We’re talking about the greatest economy in the world.  One day I have to close it off.  And we did the right thing, because maybe it would have been 2 million people died instead of whatever that final number will be, which could be 60, could be 70, could be 75, could be 55.  Thousands of people have died.  There’s nothing happy about it, Jim.  This is sad talk.

Q    But when you say there’s —

THE PRESIDENT:  This is the saddest — these are the saddest — these are the saddest news conferences that I’ve ever had.  I don’t like doing them.  You know why?  Because I’m talking about death.  I’m talking about taking the greatest economy ever created — we had the greatest numbers we’ve ever had in almost every aspect of economics, from employment, to companies doing — look at the airlines.  They were having the best year.  Now, all of a sudden, we have to save them.  Okay?

There’s no happy talk, Jim.  This is the real deal.  And I’ve got to make the biggest decision of my life.  And I’ve only started thinking about that.  I mean, you know, I’ve made a lot of big decisions over my life.  You understand that.  This is, by far, the biggest decision of my life, because I have to say, “Okay, let’s go.  This is what we’re going to do.”

Q    But when you have doctors, when you have hospitals administrators —

THE PRESIDENT:  Sure.  But you have many doctors that say “unbelievable job.”  I watched this morning, and I watched a certain network, and it wasn’t Fox, and you had doctors saying that we’ve done an incredible job.  You just read off these “no, no, no.”  Well, we have ventilators.  We have equipment.  We have beds.  How about beds?  I mean, Governor Cuomo just told me, a little while ago, he’s got plenty of beds.  In fact, they’re having a hard time filling Javits Center.  We built them 2,900 beds.

So that’s not a fair question.

Q    But when you’re — when you’re sanitizing masks —

THE PRESIDENT:  Jim, look — Jim.

Q    — and you’re talking —

THE PRESIDENT:  Jim.

Q    — about reusing —

THE PRESIDENT:  Jim.

Q    — PPE, obviously, you don’t have enough of —

THE PRESIDENT:  No, no.  No, excuse me.  We have masks.  We have everything.  And we were trying to get ready for the surge.  And a lot of people said it will never happen.  Deborah said it: “You’ll never need that many beds.”  They said we needed 40,000 ventilators.  Forty thousand.  It’s like building a car.  Forty thousand ventilators.  People said — I felt it too.  You’ll never need that many.

Guess what?  We have tremendous — we have — we’re the envy of the world, in terms of ventilators.  Germany would like some.  France would like some.  We’re going to help countries out.  Spain needs them desperately.  Italy needs them desperately.  Mexico needs them desperately.  He asked me last night, “Would it be possible to get 10,000 ventilators?”  Within a short period of time, I’ll be able to help out Mexico.

No, Jim — just the opposite of your question.  It’s not, “No, no, no.”  It’s, “Yes, yes, yes.”  We’re in great shape.  And you know what?  What’s happening now is those numbers are horrible, but take a look at the number of beds.  We have beds available all over New York.  New York really being the epicenter.  New York — New York has experienced something that has been absolutely horrific.

I saw Hart’s Island yesterday.  I saw those people being buried yesterday.  Fortunately, we have the beds.  And you can speak to Mayor de Blasio.  You can speak to Governor Cuomo.  People are — people can’t even believe the job we’ve done.  They can’t even believe it.

And I give tremendous credit to the military.  This has been a military operation, with private people.

Q    Do you —

THE PRESIDENT:  But wait a minute — wait, wait.  I give tremendous credit to our military, to the Army Corps of Engineers, to FEMA, to these people.  The job they’ve done is incredible.

And you shouldn’t be —

Q    But do you accept the criticism that —

THE PRESIDENT:  — asking that kind of a question.  Jim, honestly.

Q    — had the country been better prepared —

THE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Look, I really don’t believe you’re that bad of a guy.

Q    — onset of this —

THE PRESIDENT:  You shouldn’t be asking that kind of a question.  You should say, “You know what?  It’s been really incredible what’s been happening.”

Q    That’s the reality, Mr. President.  That’s the reality.

THE PRESIDENT:  Jim, nobody is asking.  What governor —

Q    You got 2 million tests.  That’s not enough —

THE PRESIDENT:  Let me ask you this: What governor —

Q    — tests for everybody around the country.

THE PRESIDENT:  We have more tests than anybody in the world.  We have every —

Q    But that’s not enough for what’s needed right now.

THE PRESIDENT:  We have virtually every country in the world calling us, asking us: “How do we get these tests that you have?  Your testing is the best in the world.  How do we get it?  They’ve done a fantastic job.”

And when you ask a question like that, it’s very insulting to a lot of great people.

Okay, one more, please.

Q    For the doctors —

THE PRESIDENT:  Please.  Go ahead.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  You may have seen how Sweden has responded to the pandemic.  The schools are open.  Bars and restaurants are open.

THE PRESIDENT:  Sweden is different.

Q    Do you — do you do you regret not following that approach?  Is that approach working?

THE PRESIDENT:  I think we could’ve followed that approach.

Q    Could we have that approach?

THE PRESIDENT:  And if we did follow that approach, I think we might have 2 million people dead.  And Sweden is having a lot of difficulty.  You know, look, I’m very friendly with the leadership in Sweden.  They took a different approach.  They’re a very disciplined country to start off with, but they did take a different — and, you know, other places tried it.

The UK tried it — the herd approach, okay?  Herd.  And they tried it, and you saw what happened in UK.  It set them back a lot — a lot of time.  It’s been — you know, they’re having a tough time.  Other countries have tried it.  And Sweden is suffering greatly.  I mean, Sweden is suffering greatly.

If we did the herd — if we went with the “herd,” as they say, we would have had potentially — I mean, you see the charts.  Nobody knows.  Nobody will ever know, fortunately.  Because we’re going to be substantially less than the minimum, I certainly hope, unless something happens.  That would be tragic.  So they had a minimum number, if we did.

One of the reasons we’re so far below that number is because nobody thought the American people could be so disciplined.  Nobody thought it was possible.  And, I guess, when they watched us up here every day, and they watched other people, and they listened to their representatives and governors — nobody thought that the American people could be so disciplined.  They’ve been unbelievable.

And because of that — so you have a minimum number of 100,000, and then you had the 2.2 number that, if we did nothing — if we did — just kept working, everybody go to work — people would be dropping dead on the subways.  No.

If we would have lost a million people — take the 2.2 million and cut it in half.  Make it — cut it in more than half.  Make it a million people, okay?  Now take that number and cut it in half.  Make it 500,000 people.  That’s if we did nothing, right?  It’s unacceptable.  It’s too many people.

So we have — we’ve spent more money on stimulus.  Who cares by comparison?  You take 2.2, you cut it in half, you cut it in half, you cut it in half — you keep cutting it in half.  I don’t care what number you choose — 500,000, 400,000.  Well, we’re going to have — we’re talking 50, 60, 65 [thousand].  Maybe.  Maybe.  But if we would have done what one country tried — and it has been very tough for them.  You know that.  Very, very nasty.  Very tough.  But if we would have done that here —

And again, you got to remember: UK tried it.  And I was a little surprised.  And I watched it.  They were going about — what, two weeks?  And they said, “We got to stop.”  Because it was — they were going to have a whole country infected.

So, with all of that being said, we got to get back to work.  We got to get — we got to get our country open.  But we could have lost 2 million people.  We could have lost 1 million people.  We could have lost a half a million people.

If we would’ve lost 500,000 people — and I’ll say this also: From the standpoint of being President and Vice President, and we’re up there and we’re doing that herd, and we’re going to bullet through — do you honestly think people like Jim and yourself and other people would’ve — Jeff — would have put up with it, as people are dying all over?  They would have said, “This man is crazy.”  Because the numbers, Tony, at a minimum, would have been many, many times greater than the numbers we’re talking about.

So I’m very honored by our decisions, all of us.  We talk about it all the time.  I said, “Do you want to let them just –you just ride it.  You just ride it right through.”  We would have lost potentially millions of people.

No.  It would have been unsustainable.  It would have been impossible to do.

And the American people have been so disciplined.  It’s been my honor to be their President.  I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, I’ll say it always: It’s been — it’s been my great honor to have been their President.

And I have a big decision coming up, and I only hope to God that it’s the right decision.  But it’ll be based on the input from a lot of very talented people, very smart people, and people that love our country.

Thank you all very much.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.

END

4:06 P.M. EDT

IT is RECOMMENDED Face Masks to keep us All Safe.

A Message From First Lady Melania Trump about Face Masks

Ivanka Trump: A Message to Small Businesses

Remarks by President Trump at America CARES:
Small Business Relief Update Meeting

ECONOMY & JOBS

Issued on: April 7, 2020

Roosevelt Room

3:05 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  I want to thank everybody for being here.  It is a great tribute to the banking business.  The money that’s been done, and the money that’s been essentially loaned — these are great loans for the banks and they’re great loans for small business, and we appreciate it.

We’re looking forward to speaking with the top CEOs from the banking industry and finance industry.  Some of you I know very well and great relationships with.  You do an incredible job.  Respected all over the world.  You’re the biggest and the best.

And we’re meeting to further deepen our partnership to help American families, workers, and small businesses during this pandemic, which is something that nobody ever dreamed of.

You know, I say it and I say it a lot: We had the greatest economy in history, the greatest economy that we’ve ever had, the greatest economy that anybody has ever had.  And then, one day, they said, “You got to close it down.  Close the country,” because we have to get rid of the plague.  And that’s exactly what we had, is a plague.

And it’s — it’s — we’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel.  You see it.  I see it.  And I think we’re going to go like a rocket ship once we get back to business.  There’s a lot of pent-up energy and demand.

But I also want to thank Secretary Mnuchin for the incredible job he’s done in conceiving many of these ideas.  We’ve talked late into the night.  And he and his staff have been incredible.  Administrator Carranza, Larry Kudlow, and my daughter, Ivanka Trump, who just wants to have people working.  That’s what — I gave her lots of options, and — “What do you like?”  And she created over 15 million jobs working with some of you, but working with the biggest companies in the world.  They were training and training like nobody has ever seen.  But she started off with a goal of 500,000 jobs, and now she’s up to over 15 million.

As our nation wages the war against the invisible enemy, we’re grateful for the many ways in which your companies have answered the call to join our national endeavor.  Thank you for donating tens of millions of dollars.

(Audio technical difficulties.)

Maybe it’s not good equipment.

But thank you very much for donating tens of millions of dollars for vital supplies and for supporting small businesses across the country.

America’s small businesses are the backbone of our communities.  When you look and we hear all about the big companies that we know so well, but the small companies, when added together, are actually a bigger force.  A lot of people don’t understand that.  You do.  We do.

Our nation’s 30 million small businesses employ nearly half of our workforce.  My administration will continue to take the boldest action in history to bring immediate relief to our small businesses.

So when we open up in a hopefully short — very short period of time, we just — we’re back into business.  That’s what we want.  And we have lots of stimulus.  So I think we can actually — with the stimulus and with the pent-up demand, I think we can really do numbers that are equivalent and maybe even better than we were doing before, within a fairly short period of time.  That’s what my hope is.  And that’s what the hope of many of you are too.

As you know, on Friday we launched the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses keep workers on the payroll.  As of today, SBA has processed over $70 billion in guaranteed loans, which is far greater than we would have ever thought at this time, I think, Steve.  I don’t think we ever had any number like that in mind.  That will provide much-needed relief for the more than a quarter of a million businesses that have applied for these loans.  And these numbers will continue to rise quickly.  Again, far greater than anything we could have expected.

We thank you and we thank the thousands of employees for responding.  And, by the way, we’re going to be going for, it looks like, a very substantial increase in the number because we’ll be running out of money pretty quickly, which is a good thing in this case, not a bad thing.  And Steve will discuss it.  But we’re in talks to supplement the fund and do more money.  So it’s a — that’s the way it’s moving.

But we’re going to help those small businesses receive these loans in record time.  And we look forward to hearing about your incredible progress today, because many of you — and most of you — are going to be speaking for a couple of minutes, just to say what you’re doing.

And we have a lot of media present.  The room is loaded up with media, as much as they can, considering we have social distancing.  We’re practicing social distancing.  I don’t even know — when I’m looking, I’m not sure if they’re practicing it as hard as they should be, but they are practicing it.  And there’s a lot of media.

Our entire society has mobilized to defeat the invisible enemy, save lives, and save jobs.  Your companies are playing a vital role in this fight, and I’m very, very grateful to you.

And, with that, I’m going to ask Ivanka to start and then Secretary Mnuchin, Administrator Carranza, and Larry Kudlow say a few words quickly.  And then we’re going to get to you, if you have any questions or anything, it would be great.

As I said today, we just asked Congress to pass legislation to fund an additional $250 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program.  So we’re going to be raising it up to a new level.  And the way it’s going, we’re going to need that because it’s really going.  People are loving it.  They’re really loving it.

So I’ll start with Ivanka.  Thank you.

MS. TRUMP:  Thank you, Mr. President, for convening this incredible group of leaders in a socially very responsible way, via teleconference.  And we appreciate everything that you’ve been doing.  Anyone who knows you knows the heart you have for America’s small businesses — over 30 million amazing innovators and entrepreneurs that employ over 60 million people.  So, just absolutely incredible.

And you all have been so instrumental, those that are joining us today, in helping us not only execute, in an enormously swift fashion, the Paycheck Protection Program, but also answer the President’s call.

When we began making phone calls a couple of weeks ago to each of you, some of the largest lenders in the country — bankers, credit card companies — we asked you to provide additional relief, private-sector-driven relief to our incredible small businesses.  And you’ve answered that call.

Among the things we’ve discussed and that you’ll announce today include policies that will offer debt relief to your clients and your customers, payment deferrals, forbearance, loan modifications, and outright hardship relief.

So we’re incredibly excited to have you share these initiatives today.  And with that, I’ll turn it over to Secretary Mnuchin and Administrator Carranza and Larry Kudlow to share a little bit about the Paycheck Protection Program and the unbelievable lift that your teams have undertaken in just the past week to make it as successful as it is today.

SECRETARY MNUCHIN:  Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, Ivanka.

First of all, I want to thank the broad number of banks.  We have over 3,000 banks that have been participating since last Friday.  That’s a combination of community banks, regional banks, and large banks.

I just want to thank the SBA and the Treasury.  This is a brand-new program.  It got up and running in less than a week.  And last Friday, we saw the incredible response.

I spoke to the President over the weekend.  I told the President, you know, it was so successful that we were concerned we’d run out of money.  The President made very clear that we should go back immediately and ask for more money to make sure we can support small business.

Every single one of these people that’s employed by a small business is one less person that’s out of work and on unemployment insurance, and it’s one more person that’s part of a business so that when we’re ready to reopen, 50 percent of America’s workforce is in small business.

I had the opportunity this morning to speak to Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, and Kevin McCarthy.  I urged them, at the President’s request, that they get us another $250 billion approved.  And we look forward to the Senate passing that on Thursday and the House passing that on Friday.  This is much-needed support.

And we want to make sure that every single small business can participate.  And we want to assure the workers that if you don’t get the loan this week, there’ll be plenty of money for you next week.  And this isn’t just small businesses; it’s charities, it is independent contractors, sole proprietors.

So, again, I just want to thank everybody for their broad participation.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, Steve.  Thank you.  Please.

ADMINISTRATOR CARRANZA:  Very quickly, Mr. President.  Small Business Administration has a mission of strengthening the economy by assisting small businesses.  And, Ivanka, you mentioned we have 30 million.  Absolutely.  And I think they’re all approaching our phone lines as we speak.

But we’re also committed to sustaining their resiliency, as well as increasing the number of employees they keep on payroll.  And so that’s been our mission.  And we have not been shy of accelerating and incorporating and also partnering with not only the lenders that are on this teleconference, but many of them.  We have over 3,000 — 3,200 banks — as the Secretary has mentioned previously, and we have about 300 new lenders.  So I’m very proud of the lending community and their partnership.

So, thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you.  And it’s true; the community banks have been incredible.  It’s really amazing the way they stepped up.  I’m very happy.  And they know many of the people that we’re dealing with, so it’s really terrific.

Larry Kudlow, please?

MR. KUDLOW:  Thank you, sir.  I’ll just be brief.  I will say that, as our mitigation policies have taken hold successfully in dealing with the virus, and we move to what we believe can be a reopening of the economy in the weeks ahead, we started with a strong foundation, as the President mentioned, and there’ll be some — there’ll be some transitions.  But I see no reason why the second half of the year cannot resume a strong, solid growth rate.

I think that’s an important point, and I think I want to stay as optimistic as possible on that possibility.  And we are coming down, I think, the home stretch.  That’s what the health specialists are telling us.

And I want to add one more thing.  The President’s whole program — first time in history — it’s the largest relief assistance program in American history, by far, and his program has been based on a government-public-private partnership, every step of the way.  We’ve had everybody here or on these teleconference calls, video calls, whether it’s retailers, biotech, farmers, bankers, transportation, you name it.  And that’s characteristic of President Trump’s own philosophy that has given us a strong economic foundation.

And once we can reopen this thing, I think it’s going to be very successful, sir.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Larry, very much.  And, as you know, our dollar — our currency has remained very, very strong.  Other currencies are not doing well at all.  But our currency has done incredibly well.  Very, very strong.  A lot of it — assets to that.  And sometimes it makes life a little more difficult for going outside of the four walls.  But it’s — it means that everybody wants to be in.  And we find anytime we go out, they just want to jump into our currency.  There’s nothing like it, and I don’t think it’s ever been any stronger or better or more powerful, especially relative to other currencies and other nations.  I think that’s a great thing.  It’s great for all of you — that, I know.

Ivanka, please.

MS. TRUMP:  Absolutely.  I think the foundation of our economy was so incredibly strong until this virus hit.  And this is something you recognize.  This is something we’re hearing from small businesses across the country.  This was no fault of their own, and we’re going to carry them through this really devastating time.  And it will be brighter on the other side because of commitments such as this public-private partnerships, and because we will come out of this hopefully sooner rather than later.

So, with that, I’d love to start with Brian Moynihan, the CEO of Bank of America, who is one of the SBA’s first partners in implementing the Paycheck Protection Program.

Brian, would you like to share with us some thoughts and what you’ll be announcing today?

MR. MOYNIHAN:  Sure.  Thank you.  And, Mr. President and Ivanka, Secretary Mnuchin and Secretary Kudlow, and — we are fast at work doing what we said we’d do.  On March 11th, we met with you and a group of banks in the White House.  We talked about consumer relief, mainly; deferral payments on loans for people with small businesses that our company (inaudible).  We have 700,000 requests that have been processed since that time, in a few weeks.

Secondly, as we talked about the time — and my colleagues have had the same experience — in the month of March, our company extended $70 billion in commercial loans during the month to help companies of all sizes make progress.

But Ivanka talked to us.  Their question was, “What else can we do that’s discrete for small businesses?”  And so one of the programs we announced last week — late last week — was — we worked with a group called Community Development Financial Institutions — CDFI, so-called.  We did two things there.  We’re one of the largest supporters of these organizations, which makes loans into communities throughout the United States.  We gave them $10 million in needed operating funds so that they could scale their business to help make loans.  And then we added $250 million to our $1.5 billion outstanding in capital for these enterprises, bringing our capital commitment to $1.75 billion.

When we moved to the PPP, Secretary Mnuchin and I had many conversations, as our colleagues have, to get this program up and running from the start — Friday morning, around 9:30 or 9:45 — whenever it was.  We’re up to about 250,000 applications at our company.  We are beginning to process those through to the SBA.  It will take an automated fee, which the SBA team is working hard to get set up because when this starts coming, it’s coming with a lot of volume.

We have 3,000 people working to make sure the customers that we serve have the clients — have the documents needed to ensure they use the proceeds in the right way, for the right purpose, in the right amounts.  And we’re putting that all through.

And we thank both the SBA and the Treasury, how they worked on the program and streamlined it so we could actually get it done faster.

The numbers you gave before I don’t think include, for us, a modest amount of loans.  But they’ll build, and it might (inaudible) that total.  We continue to get several thousand applications every hour, and we’re not yet to the second part of the program, which you spoke about earlier: the sole proprietors and the extension.

We are prioritizing our work to make sure we serve the clients who have a money relationship with us and a deposit relationship with us.  And that is keeping us plenty busy, but we’re here to continue to support this effort.  There’s a strong effort, and we also are ensuring our clients understand the commitment they’re making to use these funds for the right purposes and keep the employment in America as high as we possibly can during this difficult time.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, Brian, you’ve been fantastic, and Bank of America has been incredible.  You were right out there, right at the beginning, and we appreciate it.  You probably noticed I mentioned your name a few times two day ago, when it all started.  So we appreciate it very much.

Thank you.  Thank you very much.

MR. MOYNIHAN:  Thank you.  Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.  And a really great job.

And Goldman Sachs — a friend of mine for a long time, David Solomon.  Please, David, go ahead.

MR. SOLOMON:  Thank you, Mr. President.  Thank you for convening this meeting today, and thank you for what you and your administration are doing to support small businesses.

I also want to thank Ivanka for generously spending time with many of our small-business graduates, particularly focusing on minorities and women-owned businesses, which comprise 66 percent of all our participants.

In 2009, Goldman Sachs launched 10,000 small businesses to help thousands and thousands of small businesses across the country grow their businesses and create new jobs.  At that time, we made the largest private-sector investment in vocational colleges and made the largest single commitment at the time to Community Development Financial Institutions.

In the last 10 years, we’ve built a best-in-class education model that has reached 9,700 businesses who collectively added $12 million in revenues and have created over 175,000 jobs in the United States.

And network — our businesses singlehandedly built up their communities brick by brick — business owners like Angelica Rivera with Colmex Construction in hard-hit New Orleans.  Angelica helped New Orleans come back after Katrina, and now she’s part of the New Orleans COVID-19 story.  She’s taking care of her parents, her children, her business.  And she is applying for a PPP loan and working hard to keep her employees.  She represents the very real struggle that every small business in America is facing.  And we know we need to act now to get capital to business owners like Angelica.

Just last week, we announced that Goldman Sachs will work with the Small Business Administration and CDFIs across the country.  And today, we’re proud to double our capital commitment to $500 million and announce a total of $550 million in COVID-19 relief efforts.

We’ve partnered with CDFIs and other mission-based lenders for over a decade, helping to deliver small businesses the capital and support they need to fuel their growth.  Businesses need the support urgently, and we know that the expertise and experience of CDFIs will be crucial.  They provide the far reach that’s needed to rural areas, to big cities, to underserved areas, and, importantly, the many businesses who don’t have a relationship with the traditional banking system.

While we do not have direct small-business customers as a firm, we are acutely aware of the power of small business and have worked hand in hand for over a decade with 10,000 women and 10,000 small businesses.  In addition to loan capital, we’ll provide grant funding to enable CDFIs to hire necessary staff and set up additional operations to help as many businesses as possible.  We’re working with the SBA and Administrator Carranza to swiftly mobilize this capital to those who need it most.

Before I close, we would like to respectfully request housing modification, which I think also fits with your design, Mr. President, to increase the amount of money available, to make sure it does not run out before most of the community-driven lenders can access it to serve these underserved borrowers.

We believe the Treasury should work with the SBA to provide a designated tranche of the money that’s being earmarked for CDFIs and other mission-driven lenders.  We believe this can occur through new guidance.  Otherwise, the businesses served by CDFIs will continue to face an uphill battle receiving the capital they so desperately and urgently need.  We’d be happy to work with the Treasury on this, if you and the Secretary concur.

THE PRESIDENT:  Good.

MR. SOLOMON:  Thank you for having me today.  I appreciate the opportunity to participate.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, David, that’s fantastic.  It’s $550 million.  I hope the media understands what that is.  That’s a lot.  And we are going to work on that.  We think you’re right.  And we appreciate it.  And thank Dina Powell for me, please.  She has been fantastic.  A friend of ours for a long time.  And we appreciate it.  Great job, David.  Great job.  Thank you.

MR. SOLOMON:  (Inaudible.)  Thank you, Mr. President.  Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.

And Darrin Williams of Southern Bancorp — CEO.  Hi, Darrin.

MR. WILLIAMS:  Hi, Mr. President.  Thank you very much for having us today.  I really appreciate you including the voice of small America, of rural America in this call.  At Southern Bancorp, we are a 1.5-billion-dollar Community Development Financial Institution.  Just one of those organizations that both Mr. Moynihan and Mr. Solomon were just talking about.  And we serve the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta.

Mr. President, this Paycheck Protection Program is a bold and aggressive program, and it’s doing exactly what it’s intended: It is putting Americans back to work.  And in places we serve, that is desperately needed.  And we appreciate it very, very much.

As a CDFI, 60 percent of our lending activity must take place in low- and moderate-income communities.  These communities are hurting.  People are laid off and they often lack sufficient savings.  Now, typically, in an economic downturn, cuts in lower-wealth communities are deeper and last longer than the wealthier communities.  My bank and other CDFIs across America have been working day and night since the program opened on Friday, processing applications for both customers and non-customers.

Southern Bancorp has submitted over $16 million in applications to SBA ourselves, and we began cutting checks to businesses on Friday, and we have hundreds and hundreds of more in the queue.

On Saturday, we processed an application for a small business in northeast Arkansas with less $2,000 was their loan amount.  Now, I know this may seem very, very small to many, but it was a lifeline for the employees of that small business.  And we have countless more examples of small businesses in rural America that need this support.

And as you continue to push for additional support, let me thank you for your announcement today for pushing for an additional support of $25 billion for the PPP.  Please — as Mr. Solomon suggested, please consider a carve-out for CDFIs — that would include MDIs and other small community banks — because we have a proven track record of promoting economic stabilization, job preservation, and job creation in some of the hardest-hit rural, urban, and Native American communities.

And finally, one question to Administrator Carranza, on behalf of the small colleges who are looking for guidance — and I will — must acknowledge Congressman French Hill, who is my congressman, who’s been very helpful on this issue.  We’re looking for — to determine whether work-study students count against the 500 limit of the PPP program.  Of course, that’s a financial aid program and most students are not intended to be employees, but unless we get some guidance on that issue, we’re not exactly sure what to do.

So, in closing, again, Mr. President, let me say thank you on behalf of America’s small businesses.  This program has been a lifeline for them.  We appreciate you and the tremendous effort your administration put forth in such a small amount of time to get this program launched and off the ground.

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank.  Thank you very much, Darrin.  Great job.  Appreciate it very much.

We have Gordon Smith of JPMorgan Chase.  Thank you.

MR. SMITH:  Mr. President, thank you very much.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

MR. SMITH:  And thank you very much for including JPMorgan Chase today.  I also just want to start by thanking the Treasury and the Small Business Administration.  We have been working seven days a week, late, late into the night, in very close partnership to make sure that we could deliver the program.  So just a huge thank-you to everything that you and your teams have been doing.

We’re trying to get the money out to small-business owners as quickly as possible.  And because of that, we’re focusing primarily on our existing customers.

As of about 1 o’clock today, we’ve had 375,000 requests to apply from small businesses in the United States.  That will range plus or minus $40 billion in total loans.

To give you a little bit of the sense of the loans we’ve seen so far today, they tend to be, at a minimum end, $4,000, and the largest loan of $2.6 million.

We also have (inaudible) — Brian Moynihan mentioned this earlier — working very closely with the SBA to build a digital connection, which I think we’ll literally hours away from.  That will continue to accelerate the progress that were able to make in terms of getting money out for small businesses and quickly into the economy.

In addition, we continue to lend money aggressively.  Revolving credit facilities, so far this year, have increased by $57 billion.  We have lent an additional $40 billion to consumers and small businesses since the start of this crisis in February.  We also announced the $50 million in philanthropic support to address the immediate needs of health and long-term economic challenges for small businesses.  And today, we’re going to announce an additional $150 million of lending capacity to the CDFIs that we’ve heard spoken about today.

And in addition — we spoke about this down at the White House, Mr. President, just a few short weeks ago — we are providing 90-day payment and interest deferral for credit lines, for home loans, for auto loans, for both consumers and for small businesses.  We’re deferring payments.  We’re waiving fees.  We’ve increased all of the limits that allow a customer to deposit checks electronically, to avoid them having to come to a bank branch and have them to be able to do that from home.

And as we speak, in addition to the work streams that I just articulated around small business, we’re preparing for all of the work that, Mr. President, you have in line for the consumer side of the transaction over the course of the next two to three weeks.  So a great deal of technologists are working on preparing for those checks and direct transfers to be made to U.S. domestic consumers.

So, again, thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, Ivanka, for including JPMorgan Chase today.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you very much, Gordon.  And that’s a fantastic job.  That’s some number of loans.  How you people do it, I don’t know, but you do it.  And a really great job.  Thank you very much, Gordon.

And Wells Fargo?  Charles?  Are you ready Charles Scharf?

MR. SCHARF:  Yes.  Thank you very much, Mr. President.  And I also want to make sure that we thank Treasury and the SBA for all the work that they’ve done tirelessly over the last couple of weeks and moving the PPP program, (inaudible) the administration.

I’d like to take the opportunity today and share a few of the things.  We’ve already provided substantial amounts of credit and liquidity to our customers to help them weather these times, which we all know were not predicted and caused great deal of uncertainty.  So as we think about all that we can do as we look across all our businesses, and ask that question every single day.

In March alone, we extended nearly $70 billion to our customers to help support them in terms of getting through this environment.  So far, we’ve deferred more than 790,000 payments, representing over $2 billion to those who have requested it because they’ve been impacted by this virus in some way.  And we’ve provided over 750,000 fee waivers.  And all of these numbers will continue to grow as we take calls from our customers, and we’re doing everything we can to make sure that they understand that we’re here to support them.

We also — we’re proud to participate in PPP and providing all the support that we can.  As you know, the need expressed by our customers has been huge.

We specifically are focusing on two segments.  We’re focusing on not-for-profits and small businesses with less than 50 employees.  Small businesses with less than 50 employees represent approximately 17 million of the small businesses in the U.S.  As we all know, they’ve been particularly hard hit and very often have fewer resources to help manage (inaudible) this environment.

We also made the decision that we would not be keeping the fees on the program.  We will be contributing all the fees received to not-for-profits that support small businesses.  It’s just another thing that we think we can do to help the small-business community out there.

So beyond that, we stand ready to continue to serve our customers and our branch (inaudible) digitally.  As my friends have said, we stand ready on the additional programs that are coming down the line so that we’re ready to support our consumers, small businesses, and middle-market companies, as well, in the programs that we’ve outlined.  And we’ll continue to help any way that we can.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, Charles.  Great job you’re doing.  Appreciate it.

Grand Rapids State Bank CEO, Noah Wilcox.

MR. WILCOX:  Good afternoon.  Thank you, Mr. President.  I’m a proud fourth-generation community banker from northern Minnesota.  I’m also the current chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America.

As you know, during these unprecedented times, our nation’s community banks — and my bank, Grand Rapids State Bank and Minnesota Lakes Bank — stand should to shoulder with their small-business customers, their consumers in the communities that we serve.

We’ve been doing modifications for our customers for weeks, doing interest-only, doing payment deferrals, and reinvesting and donating to local communities that we operate in.  Despite some difficulties during the first couple of days — getting into the system for some banks that had an impact on small businesses that anchor our economy — we’ve worked through the nights and we’ve worked through the weekend to secure as much funding for those in need and those that qualify, and especially for those that are willing to continue to keep their workforce on the payroll, working to support what is an otherwise strong underlying economy.

We know from an informal survey that about one third of all community banks still do not have access to the system.  And that means those community banks have been boxed out and unable to serve their communities and their customers.

And just imagine the awesome power and the difference the community banking industry could make if we had all 100 percent of those banks with access to the system.

ICBA remains steadfast in this mission to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish.  Part of that has been maintaining strong local communities with strong local businesses.

I want to thank you, Mr. President, Secretary Mnuchin, SBA Administrator Carranza for working to make these funds authorized by the CARES Act available to the small businesses of our great nation.  And I ask that if the need to expand that amount comes more than what we’ve already allocated as a country, that it is done so expeditiously.

And I appreciate your earlier comments, Mr. President.

So thank you for the opportunity to be here today to represent the nation’s community banks.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, Noah.  We’ll get that done, and we’ll get it done rapidly.

Visa CEO Al Kelly.

MR. KELLY:  Mr. President, thank you.  We’re a little bit different type of financial institution than these terrific banks partners of ours.  But we can do a lot to try to help them.  We are and will.

Yesterday, we announced two grants, totaling $210 million to small business.  One of them aligned with our long-term focus on women’s economic empowerment and economic development, and a second to help with short-term needs that have been caused by the spread of COVID-19.

We’re doing all kinds of other things.  We’ve frozen in our system at a time where we typically don’t because we want to make sure that it’s stable and resilient and secure at this important time in the U.S.  We are working to make sure that we can help distribute funds to small-business owners as quickly as possible.

Today, we distributed $2 billion in real time, immediately to small businesses.  And we want to work on broadening that capability.

We’re waiving monthly fees for the next few months for people who need to get online, small businesses that want to create an e-commerce gateway.  We’re working with — we have a Back to Business platform, which we’ve used during natural disasters, where we provide an online directory informing Americans what businesses are open.  And we’re going to expand that as this economy opens back up after we get past the buildup of COVID-19.

We also believe, Mr. President, that we could play a very big role in the actual recovery.  I have a team that’s working on business process and marketing plans to help small businesses and, for that matter, the travel industry, which brings many, many people here to America and brings our citizens to the cities and other countries around the world.

So again, thank you for all you’re doing.  And I want to thank the Secretary, who has done a terrific job; Larry; Ivanka, who’s done a great job on this, as well as workforce board that I’ve sat and — had the privilege of sitting on with her.  And thank you, Administrator Carranza, as well for all you’re doing.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, Al.  And bringing back the travel is going to be a very big thing.  We’re working with the airlines.  And we’re going to bring them back.  I guess they need help, Steve — right? — at a high level.  But we’re going to being them back.  They’re ready to go.  So thank you very much for what you said and for the great job you do, Al.

Citibank.

MR. CORBAT:  Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  How are you, Michael?  Hi.

MR. CORBAT:  Good.  Hi, sir, how are you?

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s good, Mike.

MR. CORBAT:  Thank you.  Thank you, Mr. President.  Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Great job.  Thank you.

MR. CORBAT:  Thank you, Mr. President.  Thank you, Secretary Mnuchin and Ivanka, for the opportunity for Citi and me to have the ability to talk about our efforts to help consumers and small business weather this crisis.

Mr. President, when we met in the White House in March, I told you that we were here to help support the American economy and American workers.  And we’ve been working relief with our customers for more than a month now.

On March 6th, we announced assistance measures for retail bank customers and small businesses in the U.S. who have been impacted by COVID-19.  Today, we expanded that assistance through a range of new measures, including credit card payment deferrals and additional fee waivers.  We’re now offering to waive late fees and defer minimum payments for 60 days for our credit card customers.  And we know that our credit card — many of our credit card customers are small business owners, using our products to meet expenses.

For retail bank customers, we’re now offering fee waivers on non-Citi ATM usage.  And we’re also extending our earlier fee waivers for consumers and small business.

And we continue to meet the large and urgent demand of small business across the country with our after-hours and weekend support.

Over the past weeks, our bankers have been engaging with many of our small businesses to assess their needs and to deliver critical financial solutions.

Now, as part of the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program, we’re going to be able to help a lot more of our small business customers.  These SBA-guaranteed loans will provide a bridge to the other side of this health and economic crisis for many small businesses that are doing everything they can to retain their people, their employees, and their customers.

We started to take a limited number of applications to test our process and origination capabilities.  And, so far, we’ve originated about a half a billion dollars of loans through the program.  And we want to make sure that our process is as smooth as possible for our clients as we move from a pilot to a large-scale program.

And I got to say that Citi is proud to participate in this unprecedented and much-needed effort.  Thank you again, Mr. President, Mr. Secretary, and Ivanka for having me today.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.  Great job.  Thank you very much, Michael.  We appreciate it.  And, really, a wonderful job you’ve done.  Remember when banking used to be a nice, simple business, fellas?  You remember that?  Nice and simple.  Not simple anymore, is it?  Thank you very much, Michael.

MR. CORBAT:  Not as simple as it used to be.

THE PRESIDENT:  (Laughs.)  The Community Spirit Bank CEO, Brad Bolton.

MR. BOLTON:  Good afternoon.  Thank you, Mr. President, for allowing me to be a part of this event.  You know, being accessible and responsive to our customers is what community bankers do.  And I’m proud to wear the title of a community banker.

I’m also proud to represent Community Spirit Bank.  (Inaudible) in 1908, we have a long history of serving our customers through good times and bad.

We come to you with a rural perspective, as we are a 150- million-dollar institution, serving four rural counties in northeast Mississippi and northwest Alabama.

Our bank, like banks across the country, we’ve been working proactively with our customers for weeks, allowing accommodative 90-day or more modification and deferment programs, (inaudible) our consumers and small-business owners.

We make sure that our customers’ priority is on their health and that of their families, and we’ll worry about taking care of their loans down the road.  That’s what community banks does across the country.

Mr. President, community bankers and Main Street customers that we serve are so thankful for your leadership in the passage of the CARES Act, and in addition to Payroll Protection Program.

And although my bank was locked out of the program until Sunday night, we worked through the weekend (inaudible) applications — again, submitting loans.  And as soon as we gained access, we started submitting those loans.

As a matter of fact, I was up three nights, up to 2:00 a.m. submitting loans to get the money flowing.  And as of today, we’ve gained approval for loans as small as $7,000, and our average loan size is around $82,000.  So this is real money.  It’s about to begin flowing back to small businesses and their employees.

Mr. President, I know that you are a problem solver.  No challenge is too big for your leadership.  But I also want you to know that many of my community bank brethren do remain on the outside looking in, unable to gain access to the SBA E-Tran system.

I ask you to deploy the resources to get every community bank in this country in this system, because, Mr. President, community banks who represent the only banking presence and one-third of all U.S. counties make over half of small-business loans.  And I’m confident, if we can unleash the full power of those community banks, including the one third listed in a recent survey by ICBA who are unable to gain access to the systems, small businesses will be restored, paychecks will be restored, and our communities can begin to restore and begin flourishing again.

Mr. President, I thank you and your administration for what you’re doing during this crisis.  I pray for you daily.  I pray for your administration and for my fellow community bankers and the small businesses they serve.  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of today.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, Brad, that’s really nice.  I think you’re the only banker that will pray for me daily.  But I’m not too sure about some of those New York guys sitting there, if they pray for me.  But they like me, but I don’t know if they pray for me.  So, I appreciate that very much, Brad.

Michael, you’re up.  Mastercard.  Terrific job.

MR. MIEBACH:  Thank you, Mr. President.  The actions that you’re taking, like the PPP, we think are set up to provide not only relief, but actually ensure that the economy is going to come roaring back as we get through this.

Now, we’re really grateful you included us today.  Ivanka and Mr. President, distinguished group of colleagues here from the sector: Everybody is stepping up, as Mastercard is.  But as Al Kelly was saying earlier, we’re a little bit different in this since we don’t operate directly in lending.

Now, what we do is we enable commerce.  The way we do it is we connect banks.  We connect merchants.  We connect other financial institutions here in the United States and around the world.  And we basically enable that the everyday person can buy goods and services.  So, today, that is buying your groceries online because that’s what most people are doing these days.

Now, when you asked the question, “Where are these purchases taking place?” — they’re taking place at small businesses.  So, if small business suffers here in the U.S., the economy suffers, commerce suffers, and the whole nation suffers.

So we have a longstanding commitment to the small-business sector.  There’s lots of products and solutions out there that we bring to the market with our banking partners.

Now, today, though, I’m going to make a very specific commitment to help this situation at this very needed time.

So, I want to take us back just three years for a moment.  In 2017, the administration put forward the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act.  At that time, Mastercard decided to take a step back and say, “What do with these funds that are now available to us?”  We made the commitment to put half a billion dollars into inclusive growth, which includes a good focus on small business.

Now, today, we are announcing that we are taking $250 million out of that commitment and directing it very specifically to the small-business sector.  That will include data.  That will include financial resources, tools, services, insights — whatever gets the small businesses back on track to grow their business and serve their customers.

Now, I give you one very specific example that is ready to go, as we speak, to help small businesses out there.  Now, in this conversation the Small Business Administration is guaranteeing loans, and the banks that we have just heard from are facilitating the loans.  Mastercard stands ready to support small businesses as they’re trying to use those funds.

Many of these businesses are shifting the business online these days because physical interaction is just limited.  That exposes vulnerabilities to cyber risk.  It exposes vulnerabilities to identity theft and so forth.

Our solution in this space will be made available for free for the 30 million small businesses that are under the program and their 16 million employees.  Two hundred and fifty million dollars very specifically targeted to the small-business sector over the next five years.

Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, that’s fantastic, Michael.  I appreciate it.  And that really is very generous.  It’s going to be very good for you too.  We really appreciate it.  Thank you.

MR. MIEBACH:  Thank you very much.

THE PRESIDENT:  This is the last, and then we’re going to say a few closing remarks.

And Live Oak Bank, Chip Mahan.  Is Chip there?  Chip Mahan.  Chip?  Live Oak.

SECRETARY MNUCHIN:  I think they’re so busy making loans they — (laughter) —

THE PRESIDENT:  I think they’re too busy, yeah.  They’re doing a lot of loans.  That’s all right.  We’ll miss them desperately.  Everybody wants to hear about Live Oak.  But thank you anyway, Chip.  Good job.  You saved us a little time.

I want to finish off — just, I want to ask Ivanka to say a few remarks, and then Steve.  And then I’ll say something.  But I — we really appreciate what you’re doing.

Ivanka, please.

MS. TRUMP:  Thank you.  Well, you had mentioned the pledge earlier and how we had called upon the private sector to step up and train America’s current and future workforce for the job vacancies that existed in this country, and we were overwhelmed by the success of that initiative.  So this was really born out of the same concept.

We are all in this fight together, as a country and as a nation.  And so we called upon each of you to do more and to assist us in what is a really herculean effort.

So we’re appreciative of what you’ve done.  Stay safe.  Stay healthy.  Stay supportive of one another.  And, really, thank you for doing your part and making these very substantial announcements today.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, honey, very much.

Steve?

SECRETARY MNUCHIN:  Mr. President, again, thank you.  You’ve instructed us to move very fast, and we’re doing that.  We’re making sure that we get the $2 trillion into the economy for American business and American workers.  And we are working full time with the Fed for our other facilities; that could be as large as another $4 trillion.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, Steve.  An incredible job.  And I hope the media here can see what an incredible job the banks have done, all of the people we’ve just heard from have done, and that the Treasury and all of you — the small business — you’ve never been so busy in your life.  You’re setting records every day.

But it’s really a tribute to government — really well-run government.  And there are few glitches.  Very few.  Any little glitch, we had worked out within minutes, within hours.  And there were a couple of — a little on applications, and they wanted to work it a little bit differently.  Banks had some suggestions.  And it was all done — probably, I would say 100 percent of it — in the first day.

I just want to congratulate everybody.  This has become so popular.  It’s so good for business.  It’s so good for our country.  And it’s the engine of our country.  Small business: the engine.  They need a little help, and we’re going to give them a little help, and it’s going to be good for you all.  So, it’s good for our country.  That makes it good for you.

So I just want to thank you.  You’re friends.  So many friends up there.  I’m looking at this beautiful screen and so many familiar faces and people I respect and very much admire.  And just keep up the great work.

And any time you’d like, I’m here.  I’m in the White House.  I suggested maybe that, in about a month from now — maybe when things calm down a little bit, with respect to our hidden enemy — Steve will set up a meeting and we’ll meet with some of the banks and we’ll discuss what we can do for you to make it just go — not just this program, but other programs that you want or that you have, or if you have ideas for us to make the country hum.  And that’s what we’re going to do; we’re going to make it hum.

So you think of some ideas.  Whether it’s a month or two months, we’ll meet at the White House and it’ll be a very productive meeting.  So, Steve will set it up.

Thank you all very much.  Congratulations on this success.  Thank you.

PARTICIPANT:  Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.

Q    Mr. President, how quickly can you move on that —

PARTICIPANT:  Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.

Q    Mr. President —

PARTICIPANT:  Thank you.

PARTICIPANT:  Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.

Okay.  Please.

PARTICIPANT:  Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thanks.  Thanks.

Okay.  Yes?

Q    How quickly can you move on that $250 billion supplemental?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, it’s moving now.

SECRETARY MNUCHIN:  Mitch McConnell is prepared to bring it up on Thursday.  And if it passes with unanimous consent, which we would expect it will, then it’ll go to the House on Friday for the same approval process.

Q    And would that be in addition to a second round of direct payments?

THE PRESIDENT:  Separate.

Q    Separate.

SECRETARY MNUCHIN:  That would be a separate issue.  So we’re right —

Q    And how quickly would that move?

THE PRESIDENT:  Totally separate.

Q    How quickly would that move?

SECRETARY MNUCHIN:  Well, we’ll come back on that issue.  Right now, we’re focused on execution and making sure small businesses have all the money they need.

THE PRESIDENT:  It just shows you, though, how positive it is.  I mean, they’re looking at a unanimous vote, and that’s something.  And then we’re talking about we’re negotiating a phase four.  We’ll see how that all works out.  But this would be separate.

Q    And also, Mr. President —

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, we’re going to have a news conference in a couple of minutes, so we’ll do that.  Okay?

Q    Very quickly: Did you see Peter Navarro’s memo that he wrote, warning about the coronavirus on January 29th?

THE PRESIDENT:  I know all about it.  We’ll talk about it at the press conference.  Okay?

Q    Can you tell us if (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  I want — I want this — I’d like you to focus on this because this has really been a tremendous success.  And then what we’re going to do is we’re going to have a press conference at about 5 o’clock, 5:15.  And we’ll talk about that.

Q    Sir, a question on this.  You heard from a couple of the community bankers that were asking — they were saying that one third of community banks were having issues accessing the system.  What’s the holdup there and what are you working on to fix it?

SECRETARY MNUCHIN:  There’s just a lot of — 30,000 new users coming onto the system.  So they’re all getting authenticated.  We’ll get everybody approved.

Thank you, everybody.

END            3:55 P.M. EDT

Sources: White House, wikipedia, youtube, yahoo,
catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, February 14th, 2020 Rev. February 20th, 2020,

Statements & Releases

Presidential Message on National Financial Capability Month, 2020

Economy & Jobs

Issued on: April 1, 2020

During National Financial Capability Month, we recognize the importance of financial literacy to a free and prosperous society, and we commit to ensuring that all Americans have the resources they need to make informed financial choices and provide opportunities for a brighter and more secure future.

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and workforce.  As we continue to face the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, my Administration is working tirelessly to ensure that individuals and business owners have the information they need to overcome recent hardships.  I am continuing to take concrete actions to protect the American economy and the hardworking men and women of our Nation.  Last week, I signed legislation to provide historic economic relief to small businesses and workers, including $350 billion in job retention loans that will be forgiven if workers are paid.  Additionally, at my instruction, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is actively working to respond to and assist small business owners in alleviating their financial burdens to help them and their employees recover from this pandemic.  From providing targeted financial assistance to supplying helpful tips and best practices, the SBA is helping America’s small businesses navigate this pandemic and ultimately thrive.

Furthermore, to ensure that Americans have financial flexibility for the next several months, the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service are moving this year’s Tax Day from April 15 to July 15.  All taxpayers, individuals, and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties.

This month, as we continue to come together as one Nation, we will use every tool at our disposal to create an economic environment that will benefit all Americans.  There are resources available to you and your family through the Department of the Treasury’s website that will help you make sound financial decisions in these uncertain times.  Financial literacy is critical throughout all stages of adulthood, especially during crises and unexpected life events.

Throughout this National Financial Capability Month and in the months ahead, I encourage all Americans to seek ways in which they can further develop and enhance their financial skill sets and position themselves for success.  Together, we will improve our personal financial literacy and help secure a brighter, more prosperous future for all generations.

Proclamation on National Doctors Day, 2020

Healthcare

Issued on: March 30, 2020

Our Nation is tremendously grateful for all Americans who have chosen the noble profession of healing and caring for others.  This is especially true as our extraordinary doctors and other talented medical professionals have collectively risen to the challenge of combating the coronavirus pandemic in communities large and small across the United States.  This year in particular, on National Doctors Day, we recognize the remarkable men and women who treat their fellow Americans, find cures for the diseases and illnesses we face, and never waver in their efforts to treat every patient with the dignity, respect, and empathy they deserve.

As our Nation continues to combat the novel coronavirus, the tireless work and dedication of our medical and healthcare professionals is evident in the hospitals and treatment centers where they care for the sick, inside the labs and research facilities where vaccines and treatments are being developed, and from the podiums where they have continuously reassured and informed the American people.  These brave patriots on the frontlines of the war against this invisible enemy are the most talented, innovative, and hardworking medical professionals in the world.  Thanks to their incredible, life-saving work, no country is better prepared to fight this pandemic than the United States, and we remain confident that their steadfast resolve will see our Nation through to victory over this disease.

This National Doctors Day, we express our immense gratitude to the men and women who are caring for and treating patients across our country and whose commitment to serving others has never been clearer.  Their contributions to the health and well-being of every American are immeasurable.  As one Nation, we pray for their continued health and strength, and we ask God to bless them with the wisdom and resolute spirit to care for all those who need healing.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 30, 2020, as National Doctors Day.  I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fourth.

DONALD J. TRUMP

Remarks by President Trump in a Meeting with Supply Chain Distributors on COVID-19

Healthcare

Issued on: March 29, 2020

Cabinet Room

4:06 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you very much.  First of all, I’d like to congratulate the Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA and everybody else in the federal government, working with state government, but on the incredible job that the Army Corps and FEMA did on building the hospital in New York at the Javits Center.  Two thousand nine hundred beds.  They built them ahead of schedule.  They did it in four days.  And these are mobile hospitals that are very complex and very good.  Highest level.

I want to thank, in particular, General Semonite, who many of you know, and Admiral Polowczyk, who’s right here; he’s with us.  Admiral, that’s a fantastic job that you’re doing, just generally.  And what you’re doing here is unbelievable.  So we really appreciate it.  And I’m going to have you say a couple of words in a minute.  But we really do, Admiral.  The whole military — the way they’ve stepped up is just great.

So we did a 2,900-bedroom hospital.  We’re also doing something in New Jersey.  We’re going something in Louisiana.  We’re going — we’re actually now occupying all 50 states.  Some of them need little work, but some of them need a lot of work — more work than anybody would have ever dreamed of.  Nobody could have imagined a thing like this — a tragedy like this would have happened: the invisible enemy.

We will open — they’ll be opening the hospital tomorrow, in New York.  And I just wanted to — tonight, when they go to bed, if they go to bed — they probably won’t bother because they’re not sleeping at all, but they’re going out to build a lot of additional mobile hospitals.  And to get hospitals built in three days and four days — top-of-the-line facilities too.  When you look at them, they’re really incredible.

So, thank you very much, General Semonite.  And, Admiral, thank you for the work you’re doing over here.

Today, we’re glad to be joined by leaders of America’s medical supply and shipping companies.  They’re big people.  I know their names very well, from watching business and studying business all my life.  We’re waging a war against the invisible enemy.  We are grateful for your tremendous partnership — it’s been incredible — and the work you’ve done so far.  And I know you’ve not only — so far, you’re geared up.  I know that for a fact.

And we thank you for the amazing job you’re doing and your amazing workers and truckers for delivering record amounts of lifesaving equipment.  We’ve set every record you can set.

The federal government has done something that nobody has done anything like this other than perhaps wartime.  And that’s what we’re in: We’re in a war.

My administration has mobilized our entire nation to vanquish the virus.  We’re working across government and private sectors to get our heroic doctors, nurses, healthcare workers and — medical supplies they need.  We’re getting them tremendous amounts of supplies.

We do have a problem of hoarding.  We have some healthcare workers, some hospitals, frankly — individual hospitals and hospital chains — we have them hoarding equipment, including ventilators.  We have to release those ventilators, especially hospitals t                hat are never going to use them.  They have to release them.  You know, it’s no different than people going into grocery stores and hoarding certain products.  We have to release the ventilators.

I spoke to a couple of people today, and I don’t want to mention their names, but there is hoarding going along.  And it’s not really something that you wouldn’t understand.  They don’t want to lose their ventilators in case they need them.  But these are areas, in some cases, that probably will not need them, and in some cases, even if they do, they have too many.  So they have to release ventilators, if they have them.  They have to release certain medical supplies and equipment.

My administration has done a job on really working across government and with the private sector, and it’s been incredible.  It’s a beautiful thing to watch, I have to say.  Unfortunately, the end result of the group we’re fighting — which are hundreds of billions and trillions of germs, or whatever you want to call them — they are bad news.  This virus is bad news and it moves quickly, and it spreads as easily as anything anyone has ever seen.

FEMA and HHS have shipped or delivered — delivered 11.6 million N95 respirators, 26 million surgical masks, 52 million face shields, 43 million surgical gowns, 22 million gloves, and 8,100 ventilators just over the last very short period.  We’ve shipped many ventilators.  We shipped many to New York.  We just shipped some new ones to New York City, for the mayor.  We’ve just shipped a lot of — a lot of ventilators to Louisiana, New Jersey.  We’re shipping a lot of ventilators.  We’re grabbing them and getting them, and we’re doing it any way we have to, whether we use the Act or we just use the Act as a threat.

Yesterday, I visited Naval Station Norfolk to see off the USNS Comfort, which will arrive in New York on Monday.  It’s very exciting.  I think the governor will meet it, greet it.  It’s stocked with equipment and goods and all sorts of — anything medical, they’ve got.  And, as you know, they’re not going to be using that for COVID.  They’re going to be using that for other people so that room is made for COVID.  So we’re not going to have COVID patients — COVID-19 patients.  We’re going to have people that will unoccupy hospitals on land, and then those hospitals are going to be filled up with COVID-19 patients.

So I just want to thank all the people.  As you know, the USNS Mercy is now in Los Angeles, and the governor has been very terrific to us.  Governor Gavin Newsom, he’s been very nice.  And we’re working together really well on this.  Very important.  But the Mercy arrived, and the Comfort will be arriving on Monday.  And it will be hopefully greeted with great fanfare, because it’s three weeks ahead of schedule.

As you know, we formed a historic partnership with your companies to bring massive amounts of medical supplies from other countries to the United States.  And you bring in big amounts.  This morning, our first project — and we call it “Airbridge.”  It’s “Airbridge.”  That’s the name.  And it was a flight that landed at JFK and contains nearly 2 million masks and gowns, over 10 million gloves, and over 70,000 thermometers.

This is the first of 50 flights.  We’re going to have a total of 51 flights.  And that will probably increase substantially.  But at this moment, it looks like about 51 flights.  And these are big, great planes, and they are bringing a lot of equipment into our country.  And also, inter-country things too, but these are the 51 from outside.

In the next 100 days, America will make or acquire three times more ventilators than we normally do in an entire year — and far more than that, depending on what happens with the Defense Production Act.  And some of the companies where we’re using it or threatening to use it have been really responsible and stepped up.

But I want to thank General Motors.  As you know, we called General Motors for the Defense Production Act deeds, and they really seem to be working very, very hard.  I think I’m getting very good reports about General Motors.  And they’re carrying out contracts to build ventilators, and they’ve started already; they’ve opened a big plant.

Boeing, Ford, Honeywell, Hanes also, and many others are repurposing factories to produce respirators and protective masks and face shields.  Plus, we have many other people.  Even — even Mike, the “Pillow Man,” right?  (Laughter.)  Mike is great.  He’s great.  He’s amazing.  He’s doing a good job.  He closed one of his buildings, and he’s doing face masks.

We are testing nearly 100,000 people a day, which is more than any other country in the world.  And the reason we have more cases than anybody is because we’re finding more people because we’re testing much more.  So when the fake news goes and says, “Well, we have more,” the fact is that if you look at other countries — you have countries with 1.5 billion people — those countries, if they tested everybody, you know, it’d be a whole different story.  But we’re fine with it.  We’re testing tremendous numbers of people.

And, as you know, we have a test coming out on Monday or Tuesday that we just — a company came up with the idea.  I’m going to let somebody talk about it in a second.  But that’s a fantastic thing.  You’ll be able to get almost instantaneous results instead of waiting for a day, two days, three days to get it from labs and hospitals.

I look forward to hearing directly from you about what you’re doing, what you’re experiencing, how well we’re doing, and if any country is causing you problems.

We’re also — where we have excess, we want to give it to other countries.  We’re working along with Italy, we’re working along with France.  They have massive problems.  We’re working along with Spain.  I spoke with Angela Merkel yesterday.  Spoke with — as you know, I spoke with the leaders of most of the countries over there.  They’re having a tremendous — they’re having a tremendous problem.  They’re doing a great job, but they’re having a tremendous problem.

So it’s a very sad thing.  We’re up to 151 countries, as you people know.  A hundred and fifty-one countries.  Nobody would have thought this was possible.

So with that, I think I’d like to start with the Admiral, and you can tell us a little bit about what’s happening.  And then we’ll go around to some of the executives, if that’s okay.

Admiral?

REAR ADMIRAL POLOWCZYK:  Yes, sir.  Thank you, Mr. President.  Thank you for allowing me to bring this group in.  On the Supply Chain Task Force, you gave us one metric: Get more to the hospitals for our healthcare workers.

THE PRESIDENT:  Right.

REAR ADMIRAL POLOWCZYK:  And that’s what — that’s what we’re doing.

Four lines of effort: We’re going to figure out how to preserve and make things last longer that we have; accelerate, find stuff and get it here, and that’s what this group is doing; find ways to make more in America, and then this group is helping for that; and also make better allocation decisions.  This group is giving us their data — what they have, where it is — marrying that up with state needs.  So this — this group of industry — government-industry partnership is key to that.

One of the first things that we worked on was — these are the supply chain experts for the medical supply chain.  I heard their ask, and worked with us to get product that they’re sourcing and get it here faster.

So the air bridge is designed to beat the 37 days that it normally takes to get from that part of the world to here.  It’s been a very collaborative relationship with all rowing to do one thing: Get more for our healthcare workers.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I think you’re doing a fantastic job. Is he doing well?

MR. KAUFMANN:  Fantastic.

THE PRESIDENT:  If he’s not, you let me know.  (Laughter.)  Okay, we’ll reduce his rank by one notch.  (Laughter.)

So could I ask Gina Adams of FedEx to say a few words, please?

MS. ADAMS:  Yes, Mr. President — I’m here.  How are you?

THE PRESIDENT:  How are you?  Thank you, Gina.

MS. ADAMS:  I just want to say on behalf of our 475,000 FedEx employees, that we’re very proud to be a part of helping to keep the supply chains open.  I think you know that we’ve been working with the administration — HHS and FEMA — from the very beginning.  And so we’re proud to do that.  We’re proud of our employees.  And we’re definitely here to help.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Great.  And say hello to Fred for me.

MS. ADAMS:  I will.  Absolutely.

THE PRESIDENT:  He’s doing a fantastic job.  Tell him we appreciate it very much.

Mike Kaufmann from Cardinal Health.  It’s, I think, the biggest or one of the biggest certainly, Mike, right?  Where do you stand in the chain of —

MR. KAUFMANN:  One of the biggest.

THE PRESIDENT:  Okay, you’re one of the biggest.

MR. KAUFMANN:  Yeah, both on the medical side and the pharmaceutical side.

THE PRESIDENT:  Sure.  Thanks, Mike.

MR. KAUFMANN:  Yeah.  First of all, thank you so much for your leadership on this.  Because of that, the folks in our industry have been working together incredibly well with FEMA, the CDC, HHS.  It’s just improved immensely over the last several weeks.  We’re under — we’re identifying the hotspots.  We know where the product needs to go.  And it really shows how well the supply chain is working.  And so we really appreciate the efforts that we’ve seen from the Admiral and others and —

THE PRESIDENT:  So you’re finding good coordination?

MR. KAUFMANN:  Very good coordination.  Always things where there’s a little bumps in the road, but the good news is we all get together.  There’s calls every single day, and sometimes multiple times a day.  And people sit down, talk about it, solve it, and we move forward.  So, really good.

THE PRESIDENT:  I appreciate it.  Thank you very much, Mike.

Please.  Please, go ahead.

MS. LANE:  So I’m Laura Lane with UPS.  And what you didn’t know is that you have another branch of service.  It’s the “Brown Army” and we’re ready to deliver everywhere.

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s what it is.

MS. LANE:  Yep.

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s what it is.

MS. LANE:  And in terms of our support for that air bridge, we’ve seen almost 50 percent increase in the cargo that’s being loaded out of Asia and bringing that here so that it can be distributed to the places that’s needed.  We’ve got great partners in Cardinal and McKesson and Henry Schein.  We couldn’t ask for better partners in terms of getting the products to where they’re needed.

And I’m just going to let you know we’re —

THE PRESIDENT:  Great job.

MS. LANE:  — we’re going to do what you need.

THE PRESIDENT: I know you are.  Thank you very much.  Appreciate it.

Bradford, please.

MR. CONNETT:  Yeah, please.  Well, Henry Schein is really honored —

THE PRESIDENT:  Good.

MR. CONNETT:  — to work with your administration.  Thanks.  There’s a lot of stuff going on.  I won’t repeat the things that we collectively are doing, but the PPE distribution is key.  We have our a hundred percent focus on that.

Kind of outside the four walls of the hospital, we need to get these products also into the frontline care providers that are taking care of the spread and stopping it.  We’re into the — working with your administration on buying America, and that’s a key initiative I won’t get into today.

But what you touched on, on testing, is very near and dear to our hearts.  We’ve brought, and announced Friday, two products into the market, which is a rapid test.  It doesn’t require machine, doesn’t require molecular.  We do need more rapid tests in this country.  We need to catch it and get people back to work.

THE PRESIDENT:  Right.  Right.

MR. CONNETT:  It’s a great test.  We’ll be working closely with your administration to get it through and (inaudible) the healthcare providers out there, because —

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

MR. CONNETT:  — this will get Americans back to work faster.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Bradford.  Appreciate it.

If I could, Brian Tyler from McKesson — great company.

MR. TYLER:  Thank you, Mr. President.  Thank you for having us here, today.  I’ve spent most of my career in the pharmaceutical and medical supply chain, and it’s been the rare day that our products were front and center.  We’re usually behind the scenes, always on utility, making sure healthcare works.  I think we do a terrific job in this room.

THE PRESIDENT:  You do.

MR. TYLER:  The issues recently has not been the supply chain per se, but it’s been supply.  And I would love to compliment the Admiral, FEMA, the teams that we’re working with at HHS, and really all across the administration, for the energy, the communication, the facilitation, and the willingness to listen.  Because I know I speak on behalf of all of the associates represented by the companies in this room, and particularly our warehouse workers, our transportation drivers who are right next to the frontline of the caregivers we all spend most of our time thinking about — that we’re ready, willing, and able to bring the collective resources of this industry to help address that.  And the Admiral and his team has been a very big part of our early successes.

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s great.  Thank you very much.  I appreciate it.

Ed, please.

MR. PESICKA:  Sure.  First of all, Mr. President, thank you.  Thank you for everything that your administration has done.  Thank you for your leadership.  And thank you for what you’re continuing to do.  You have enabled us to work closely as an organiz- — or as a group.  In addition to that, do what we need to do, which is get those products to those on the front line.

In addition to that, you’ve enabled us to continue to leverage our manufacturing capabilities in America, specifically in Lexington, North Carolina.  And I want to thank the administration for, you know, helping us and assisting us as we’ve gone through the process with FDA approval at record time of additional approvals of equipment there to make it work.

THE PRESIDENT:  They’re going fast.

MR. PESICKA:  Working — I mean, the barriers that have been eliminated are significant.

THE PRESIDENT:  What about the sterilization of masks?  Because I’m hearing that that’s a process that absolutely can happen if they have the right equipment.  How is that going?  Sterilization of masks.

MR. PESICKA:  So the sterilization of masks is in process.  You know, from that aspect of it, it’s really, you know, getting the masks from the facility back and then having those people, who are experts in the sterilization, help that to extend the life of the mask.

THE PRESIDENT:  But they can do that.  And for —

MR. PESICKA:  They can.  Sure.

THE PRESIDENT:  — some reason, they’re not doing that.  I don’t know why.  There’s some companies that make the equipment to do it.  They can sell it directly to the hospital, and bring it.  I don’t care — bring it directly.

REAR ADMIRAL POLOWCZYK:  Sir, that’s a —

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  Please.

REAR ADMIRAL POLOWCZYK:   Sir, that’s in the preservation line of effort.  And we will be bringing to the White House Task Force, early this week, ways to go accelerate that to make a mask be five masks.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I spoke with the great governor of Ohio — who’s doing a fantastic job, by the way — and he said there’s a company in Ohio that can do 10,000 masks, but they want to do eight- — 80,000 masks, but they need approval from the FDA.  And I’d like to get them that approval, assuming it’s good.  I’d like to get them the approval immediately.  That would be a tremendous thing.  They make machinery to sterilize masks, and they can’t get the approval for more than 10 [thousand].  And, you know, it sounds to me like something.

So I spoke to the head of the FDA, Steve Hahn — Dr. Hahn, who’s doing a fantastic job — and I think he’s working on — could you push that for me?

REAR ADMIRAL POLOWCZYK:  Sure.  That’s —

THE PRESIDENT:  Because that’s a — that’s a game changer, in a way.

REAR ADMIRAL POLOWCZYK:  This group brought that together, and I wrote that down, and we’ll go knock down that barrier.

THE PRESIDENT:  They’ve been approved to 10 [thousand], but they’d like to be approved for 80,000.  Okay?  That’d be great.

Please.

MR. MILLS:  Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

MR. MILLS:  We are actually reprocessing now about 100,000 masks a day.

THE PRESIDENT:  Good.

MR. MILLS:  And we think we can go to about triple that —

THE PRESIDENT:  Good.

MR. MILLS:  — in the next few months.  We do have sterilization capacity.  We also distribute other PPE.  We’ve started manufacturing hand sanitizer.

And then a lot of our other business is medical but not related to this.  So as that drops off, hopefully this will pick up and take the slack, and we’ll have the capacity to do a lot of other things.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you, Charles.  Good job you’re doing too.  I appreciate it.  I love what you said about the masks because it never made sense.  I look at those — you know, some of these things that at a certain level are very sophisticated, and they’re not just cloth.  Cloth is different.  But I look at it and I say “Why aren’t they just reusing them?  Sterilize them and reuse them.”  It just seems to make sense.  And it can be done.

MR. MILLS:  We believe so.  Yes.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, I think that’s fantastic.

Media, thank you very much.  Appreciate it.  Thank you.  Thank you.

Q    Mr. President, you signed an executive order regarding hoarding — the hoarding of medical supplies.  I wanted to ask you about that, sir.

THE PRESIDENT:  I don’t want people to hoard.  Okay?

Q    Okay, thank you, sir.

END            4:25 P.M. EDT

Remarks by President Trump at Naval Station Norfolk Send-Off for USNS Comfort | Norfolk, VA

Healthcare

Issued on: March 28, 2020

Norfolk, Virginia

1:52 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, Mark.  And you’re doing a fantastic job, and our country appreciates it very much.

And thank you, everybody, for being here.  Today, I’m deeply honored to be at Naval Station Norfolk — the largest naval base anywhere in the world, and the home to the most powerful fleet that has ever sailed the seas.  I just passed some of the most beautiful and, frankly, the most highly lethal ships that I have ever seen in my life, and there are a lot of them.  And they’re in better shape now than they have been for many, many decades, with what we’re doing.

We’re grateful to be joined by Commander of the U.S. Fleet Forces, Admiral Christopher Grady, and Commander of the U.S. Second Fleet, Vice Admiral Woody Lewis.  Thank you both for being here.  We appreciate it very much.

As we gather today, our country is at war with an invisible enemy.  We are marshalling the full power of the American nation — economic, scientific, medical, and military — to vanquish the virus.  And we will do that.

Today, I’m here to express my profound gratitude to the dedicated service members who will soon be on the frontlines of this fight.  In a few moments, the crew of the Navy Hospital Ship USNS Comfort — which is really something — will embark for New York City, where they will join the ranks of tens of thousands of amazing doctors, nurses, and medical professionals who are battling to save American lives.

This great ship behind me is a 70,000-ton message of hope and solidarity to the incredible people of New York — a place I know very well, a place I love.  We’re here for you, we’re fighting for you, and we are with you all the way, and we always will be.  You have the unwavering support of the entire nation, the entire government, and the entire American people.

After being rushed out of maintenance with historic speed — it was supposed to be here for four weeks, and they did it in four days — the Comfort will arrive at Pier 90 in Manhattan on Monday, three weeks ahead of schedule.  Its crew will begin treating patients on Tuesday.  It will be met in New York Harbor by Governor Cuomo, who I just spoke with; he’s very excited — and they need the help.

The skilled sailors and civilian mariners aboard this ship will provide a critical surge capacity for the New York metropolitan area.  Their mission will be to care for New Yorkers who do not have the virus but who require urgent care.  In other words, they’ll be using this — people will be coming out of hospitals who don’t have the virus, and they’ll be on the ship where they have great operating rooms and great facilities.  And the places inbound, on land, will be where people that have the virus will be.  So the people with the virus will not be on ship.  The ship will be used for people having operations and other things other than that.

By serving these emergency patients away from the hospitals, beds will be opened up all over the city for those who are infected.  This ship can handle a lot of people, so it will open capacity all over the city.  And it will be ready to address any life-threatening medical emergency.  It is stocked.  It’s stocked to the brim with equipment and medicines and everything you can think of.  Importantly, by treating non-infected patients remotely on the ship, it will help to halt, very strongly, the transmission of the virus.

The Comfort’s sister ship on the West Coast, the USNS Mercy, arrived ahead of schedule, substantially, in port yesterday.  Governor Gavin Newsom was very thankful for it.  They’re working very hard in California.  It’s performing a similar mission for the people of Los Angeles and the people of California.

As the USNS Comfort gets underway, it is fully loaded with 12 operating rooms — and they are fully equipped — 1,000 hospital beds, a medical laboratory, a pharmacy, an optometry lab, digital radiology, a CAT scan, two oxygen-producing plants, and a helicopter deck, which will be used very actively.

It also bears our military’s greatest weapon of all: a crew of nearly 1,200 outstanding members of the United States Navy.  And I thank them very much.  Among the sailors departing today are some of the finest doctors, nurses, technicians, orderlies, and medical staff anywhere in the world.  These are true professionals.  And no one performs better under pressure when lives are on the line.  These are incredible people.

We will stop at nothing to protect the health of New Yorkers and the health of the people of our country in their hour of need.  I also want to remind everyone about the CDC’s latest guidance: If you are from the New York metropolitan area and you travel elsewhere, we need you to

self-quarantine for 14 days to help us contain the spread of the virus.

And I am now considering — we’ll make a decision very quickly, very shortly — a quarantine, because it’s such a hot area, of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.  We’ll be announcing that, one way or the other, fairly soon.  This does not apply to people such as truckers from outside the New York area who are making deliveries or simply transiting through.  It won’t affect trade in any way.

The Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA are racing to build temporary hospitals — which are now completed, by the way, in record time — four hospitals, four medical centers.  And in speaking with the governor this morning, we’re giving them an additional four large tents, which they need very badly.  And the emergency medical stations in New York are top of the line.  You have them in not only New York, but in California and Illinois.  We’ll be adding some to other states also.

I’ve empowered our nation’s governors with the resources to call up the National Guard and authorized the activation of Ready Reserves.  Two big words: Ready Reserves.  FEMA has shipped or delivered 11.6 million N95 respirators, 26 million surgical masks, 5.2 million face shields — and a lot are being  made of all of the things I just named right now; we have millions and millions of new medical items being made as we speak, and purchased — 4.3 million surgical gowns, 22 million gloves, and 8,100 ventilators.

We have moved rapidly to mobilize every instrument of American power.  This week, I invoked the Defense Production Act to compel General Motors to carry out federal contracts for ventilators.  And I think they’re going to do a great job; I have to say that.

We’re also working with the major ventilator companies in the United States — all big name companies, all companies that do ventilators, so they won’t need extra time, and they’re gearing up and they’ll be working 24 hours around the clock, and they have been; they’ve been doing a fantastic job — to accomplish a historic ramp-up, and a ramp-up in the kind of numbers that we’re talking about.

And if we make too many, that’s going to be okay, because I spoke with the Prime Minister of the UK yesterday, Boris Johnson.  He tested, as you know, positive.  And before I even was able to get a word out of him, he said — I said, “How are you doing?”  He said, “We need ventilators.”  The UK needs ventilators.  A lot of countries need ventilators badly.  It’s a tough thing to make.  It’s a very complicated and expensive piece of equipment.  I would say more so than a car.  You’re talking about expensive, complicated equipment.  So I hope we, soon, will have enough that we can help other countries with ventilators.  A lot of countries need them.

In the next 100 days, America will make or acquire three times more ventilators than we do in an entire year.  We are so geared up.  At Boeing, Ford, Honeywell, 3M, Hanes, and other great American companies, factory floors and manufacturing lines are being converted to produce the respirators, protective masks, face shields, and other vital equipment.  And those companies have been amazing.  And Boeing is giving us their cargo-moving planes.  They’re the biggest cargo movers anywhere in the world, and we’re going to be using them to ship certain types of equipment to various states.

Hundreds of millions of Americans are also making tremendous sacrifices on the home front.  In a historic drive to support our great workers and businesses, I signed into law the single-largest economic relief package in American history.  You saw that yesterday.

The $2.2 trillion — and think of that: $2.2 trillion, but it goes to $6.2 trillion, depending on what we decide.  This legislation delivers job retention loans for small businesses to help them keep workers on payroll, expanded unemployment benefits, and direct cash payments to American citizens.  And these are very substantial payments.  A family of four will be getting approximately $3,400.

This legislation also provides massive increases in funding for hospitals who need it, for Disaster Relief Fund, and critical life-saving medical supplies.  We’re spending a tremendous amount of money on medical supplies.  We’re trying to get it to the point needed directly, as opposed to our supply lines, so it can go directly to where they need it without having to go through a long process.  I don’t want to say “bureaucratic,” but we have not — this group of people has worked so incredibly hard, and the energy and the speed with which they’re delivering everything has been really admired by everybody.  Everybody is talking about it — the job they’re doing.

My administration has also taken action to dispend [sic] — and suspend federal student loan payments.  So we’re suspending — and that means suspending, in every sense of the word — student loan payments so that the students that are not able to take advantage of what’s going on, obviously — for obvious reasons — they will be — the payment suspended.

We’ve temporarily stopped federal evictions and foreclosures.  We’ve postponed Tax Day until July, which is a big thing; first time that’s happened.  And waived regulations to speed new treatments to the market.  And we have new treatments coming on rapidly.  We’re doing very well, we think, with the vaccines, and we’re doing very, very well with, hopefully, or potentially, cures.  We’re looking at a lot of different alternatives, a lot of different medicines.  That would be game changer.

The battle in which we’re now engaged has inflicted many hardships on our nation and our families — tremendous hardship on some families — and much death.  Much death.  But through it all, the world has witnessed the unyielding resolve of our incredible American people.  We are not only a country of vast resources; we’re a nation of colossal strength, towering spirit, soaring patriotism, and exceptional character.  And you’re showing it to the entire world.

At this moment, there are 151 countries throughout the world that are under attack by this horrible, invisible enemy.  One hundred and fifty-one countries.  And we’re in touch with a lot of them.  Our professionals are the best in the world.  But who would ever think 151 countries are under attack?

We are one family, bound together by love and loyalty — the eternal traits so perfectly embodied by the extraordinary men and women aboard this ship, and the men and women at this beautiful, scenic, but really tough base.  This base is something.  Thank you very much.  This base is something very, very special.

With the courage of our doctors and nurses, with the skill of our scientists and innovators, with the determination of the American people, and with the grace of God, we will win this war and we will win this war quickly with as little death as possible.

And when we achieve our victory — this victory, your victory — we will emerge stronger and more united than ever before.  We are going to be at a level of preparedness in case something like this should ever happen again — and, God willing, it won’t.  But we are prepared.  What we’ve done in building systems, we’re now the number one tester anywhere in the world, by far.  We’re testing more in one day than other countries are testing in weeks, in months.

We’ve learned a lot.  And I cannot be more thankful to the American people.  And I can say this, and I can say this from the bottom of my heart: I am very proud to be your President.

Thank you very much, and God bless you all.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  (Applause.)

END

2:08 P.M. EDT

Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate

Healthcare

Issued on: March 27, 2020  

Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

In accordance with section 23006 of the Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Health Response and Agency Operations (division B of H.R. 748, the CARES Act; the “Act”), I hereby designate as emergency requirements all funding so designated by the Congress in the Act pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as outlined in the enclosed list of accounts.

The details of this action are set forth in the enclosed memorandum from the Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Sincerely,

DONALD J. TRUMP

Fact Sheets

President Donald J. Trump Is Providing Economic Relief to American Workers, Families, and Businesses Impacted by the Coronavirus

Healthcare

Issued on: March 27, 2020

The legislation developed in the Senate is the first step to restoring confidence and stability to America's economy.

President Donald J. Trump

SECURING EMERGENCY RELIEF: President Donald J. Trump is signing bipartisan legislation to provide relief to American families and workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

The President worked with Congress to secure bipartisan legislation that will provide emergency relief to families and small businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus.

This unprecedented relief package totals more than $2 trillion.

The CARES Act provides much needed economic relief for American families and businesses who are hurting through no fault of their own.

This legislation will provide assistance to America’s heroic healthcare workers who are on the frontlines of this outbreak.

$100 billion will go to healthcare providers, including hospitals on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

$27 billion will go to bolstering life-saving capabilities, including developing vaccines and the development, purchase, and distribution of critical supplies.

$45 billion will go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Relief Fund, more than doubling the amount available to support the President’s Emergency and Disaster Declarations to empower State, local, and tribal leaders to effectively respond.

SUPPORTING FAMILIES: This legislative package brings security to American families by providing them with economic assistance during this time of crisis.

This legislation provides tax free payments—treated as a refundable tax credit—to Americans, giving families the immediate financial support they need.

Couples earning up to $150,000 will receive $2,400, plus an additional $500 for each child.

Individuals earning up to $75,000 will receive $1,200, plus an additional $500 for each child.

These payments will phase out for those earning over $75,000, $112,500 for head of household filers, and $150,000 for married couples filing joint tax returns.

The legislation provides much needed assistance to Americans out of work.

The CARES Act allows States to temporarily increase unemployment benefits and receive Federal reimbursement for the additional amount.

Encourages States to waive the typical one week waiting period and provides an additional 13 weeks of benefits

Creates a new program to assist the self-employed and independent contractors who are unemployed due to the pandemic.

The legislation provides relief for homeowners and renters, ensuring that Americans’ homes are not threatened by the coronavirus.

Enables payment forbearance for federally backed mortgages, requires a foreclosure and eviction moratorium for homeowners with such mortgages, and imposes an eviction moratorium for renters in federally supported housing.

Suspends penalties for withdrawing up to $100,000 from retirement accounts.

Allows a high-deductible health plan with a health savings account to cover telehealth services prior to a patient reaching the deductible.

The legislation provides $3.5 billion in emergency funding to our child care providers to stay open, keep payroll, and prioritize the child care needs of healthcare, emergency, and sanitation workers all across our country.

BOLSTERING THE ECONOMY: This legislation will strengthen our economy by providing needed financial assistance to America’s small businesses and workers.

Small businesses that have been hurt by coronavirus will receive the help they need to survive and prosper.

This legislation provides small businesses and nonprofits comprised of 500 or fewer employees with almost $350 billion in partially forgivable loans.

The maximum loan amount for 7(a) business loans will be temporarily increased.

This legislation also provides $17 billion to forgive 6 months of payments on any existing Small Business Administration non-disaster loans.

The CARES Act provides critical payroll tax relief for small businesses.

The legislation expands the emergency disaster loan program by funding $10 billion in advances on loan applications to rapidly help small businesses cover expenses including sick leave, payroll, and rent.

Businesses adversely affected by the coronavirus are eligible for a tax credit of $5,000 for wages paid to each employee.

The CARES Act includes $500 billion for the Treasury and Federal Reserve to provide liquidity and purchase business, municipal, and State debt.

If needed, the Federal Reserve can leverage funds of more than $4 trillion in financial support during this time of disaster.

Sources: White House, wikipedia, John Hopkins, youtube, yahoo,  WHO
catch4all.com, Sandra Englund,  March 27, 2020, Rev. March 28th, 2020

3/25/20:White House Members of the Coronavirus Task Force Hold a Press Briefing.

As of 25 March 2020, a total of 467,594 cases were confirmed with 332,643active cases and 21,18 deaths in 181 countries and territories, including five cruise ships.

Currently, Washington State confirmed cases 2,580 and death numbers are 132.  31,712 tested Negative and 2,580 have been tested positive as of March 25th, 2020.

Statements & Releases

President Donald J. Trump Approves
Washington Disaster Declaration

Healthcare

Issued on: March 22, 2020

Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Washington and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic beginning on January 20, 2020, and continuing.

The President’s action makes Federal funding available for Crisis Counseling for affected individuals in all areas in the State of Washington.

Federal funding is also available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, for all areas in the State of Washington impacted by COVID-19.

Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Michael F. O’Hare as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV

Current Situation in Washington risk posed by a virus outbreak depends on factors including how well it spreads between people, the severity of the illness it causes, and the medical or other measures Washington State have to control the impact of the virus (for example, vaccine or treatment medications).

COVID-19 is spreading in several communities in Washington, the risk of exposure is increasing for people who live in our state.

Healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 are at elevated risk of exposure.

Those who have had close contact with persons with COVID-19 are at elevated risk of exposure.

Travelers returning from affected international locations where community spread is occurring are at elevated risk of exposure.

Washington State report shows that COVID-19 is still rapidly evolving. The risk assessment will be updated as needed.  Meanwhile  Gov. Jay Inslee spoke directly to Washingtonians announced that  he will sign a statewide order that requires everyone in the state to stay home.

The order will last for two weeks and could be extended.

This Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is similar to orders that other governors, in places such as California and New York, issued last week.

This proclamation will:

Require every Washingtonian to stay home unless they need to pursue an essential activity.

Ban all gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational purposes.

Close all businesses except essential businesses.

“The less time we spend in public, the more lives we will save,” Governor Jay Inslee said.

The proclamation states it’s still safe for people to go outside as long as they remain at least six feet from each other. Grocery stores, doctor’s offices and other essential businesses will remain open. People can still participate in activities such as bike rides, gardening, and dog walking — as long as they follow social distancing rules.

This order builds on the early and unprecedented steps the state took in the past few weeks to protect Washingtonians. These included closing schools and restaurants, entertainment venues and other businesses where people congregate.

“We’ve been very clear on the need for everyone to stay home,” Inslee said. “And, while most Washingtonians are doing their part, some still don’t grasp the seriousness of this pandemic.”

Bans on gatherings and going out take effect immediately.

This order applies to private and public gatherings. These include some of the most deeply meaningful gatherings in communities, such as weddings and funerals.

Along with other public places, non-essential businesses with in-office personnel functions must be closed.

Inslee said it’s crucial to reduce social interactions where this highly contagious virus can spread.

Business closures must happen 48 hours after Inslee signs the order.

Many businesses can, and should, continue using telework.

All grocery stores, pharmacies, childcare facilities, gas stations, food supply chains and other things that offer people basic, crucial needs will remain open. Inslee expects businesses and residents to voluntarily comply. He will discuss possible enforcement mechanisms in the coming days if residents and businesses do not comply.

Industries that can argue they are essential can request a special designation as an essential business. Businesses and entities that provide essential services must implement rules that help facilitate social distancing of at least six feet.

“We know life will look different tomorrow in Washington,” Inslee said. “And we know tonight’s announcement affects millions of our livelihoods. But these necessary restrictions will protect us and our loved ones so that we have a livelihood to come back to. We will keep working until this is defeated.”

Food security

We want to remind people that the food supply operations — including hunger relief and nutritional support services — are essential services that will remain open and operational through this crisis; this order does not ban people getting access to food.

Remember:

Food banks and food pantries are essential services that will remain in operation through this restriction.

You can still go to a food pantry to pick up groceries but check the hours before you go. Hours of operation may vary and many hunger relief organizations are moving to new ways to distribute food, such as home delivery and drop-off sites.

Food bank volunteers may continue to go to work at food pantries.

Meanwhile Washington State for March 23rd shows with the following:

According to WHO (World Health Organization) have confirmed as of March 22nd, 

2020

WHO reported that 334,981 confirmed cases 14,652 deaths 189 countries, areas or territories with cases around the world.

State & Territorial Health Department Web sites provided by CDC The resources below link to health departments in all 50 states, 8 US territories and freely associated states, and the District of Columbia. States                     Alabama Department of Public Health                    Alaska Department of Health and Social Services                    Arizona Department of Health Services external                    Arkansas Department of Health                    California Department of Public Health                      Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment                    Connecticut State Department of Public Health                      Delaware Division of Public Health                      District of Columbia Department of Health                      Florida Department of Health                      Georgia Department of Public Health                      Hawaii State Department of Health                      Idaho Department of Health and Welfare                      Illinois Department of Public Health                      Indiana State Department of Health                      Iowa Department of Public Health                      Kansas Department of Health and Environment                      Kentucky Department for Public Health                      Louisiana Department of Health                      Maine Department of Health and Human Services                      Maryland Department of Health                      Massachusetts Department of Public Health                      Michigan Department of Health and Human Services                      Minnesota Department of Health                      Mississippi State Department of Health                      Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services                      Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services                      Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services                      Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health                      New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services                      New Jersey Department of Health                      New Mexico Department of Health                      New York State Department of Health                      North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services                      North Dakota Department of Health                      Ohio Department of Health                      Oklahoma State Department of Health                      Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division                      Pennsylvania Department of Health                      Rhode Island Department of Health                      South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control                      South Dakota Department of Health                      Tennessee Department of Health                      Texas Department of State Health Services                      Utah Department of Health                      Vermont Department of Health                      Virginia Department of Health                      Washington State Department of Health                      West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Public Health                      Wisconsin Department of Health Services              Wyoming Department of Health

On March 21st, WAR AGAINST CORONA VIRUS  Members of the Corona virus Task Force Hold a Press Briefing

Sources: White House, wikipedia,  youtube, yahoo,
 ,, State of Washington Governor site, CDC, WHO
catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, March 22nd, 2020,

Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing

HEALTHCARE

Issued on: March 15, 2020

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

5:15 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Beautiful day outside.  And I think we have some great things to talk about.  I’ll start by discussing the Federal Reserve.  As you know, it just happened minutes ago, but, to me, it makes me very happy.  And I want to congratulate the Federal Reserve.

For starters, they’ve lowered the Fed rate from what it was, which was 1 to 1.25.  And it’s been lowered down to zero, to 0.25 or .25.  So it’s 0 to .25.  That’s a big difference.  It’s quite a bit.  It’s about a point.

And, in addition, very importantly, the Federal Reserve is the — going to be purchasing $500 billion of treasuries and $200 billion of mortgage-backed securities.  And that number can increase.  But they’re going to start with that, and that’s really good news.  It’s really great for our country.  It’s something that we’re very happy.  I have to say this: I’m very happy.  And they did it in one step; they didn’t do it in four steps over a long period of time.  They did it in one step.

And I think that people in the market should be very thrilled.  And that brings us — we’re the strongest country in the world, by far, financially and every other way.  And that brings us in line with what other countries are.  They’re actually — they actually have negative rates.  But, look, we got it down to potentially zero.  So that’s a big step, and I’m very happy they did it.

And you will not hear anything bad about me unless it’s about a month or two from now.  So I congratulate the Federal Reserve.  I think it’s terrific.  It just came out, just as we spoke.  I wasn’t going to mention Federal Reserve or anything else, but this came out as we were walking up.

I want to thank the people at Google and Google Communications because, as you know, they substantiated what I said on Friday.  The head of Google, who’s a great gentleman, said — called us and he apologized.  I don’t know where the press got their fake news, but they got it someplace.  But as you know — this is from Google — they put out a release.  And you guys can figure it out yourselves.  And how that got out — and I’m sure you’ll apologize.  But it would be great if we could really give the news correctly.  It would be so, so wonderful.

I just had a phone call with very impressive people — the biggest in the world, in the world of stores and groceries and all.  And I’ll give you the names:

Dave Clark, Whole Foods.

Mark Clouse, CEO of Campbell Soup Company.

Brian Cornell, CEO of Target.

Randy Edeker, Chairman and CEO, President of Hy-Vee.

Jeff Harmening, CEO of General Mills.  A great company.

Kevin Hourican, President and CEO of Sysco.

Craig Jelinek, CEO of Costco.

Todd Jones, CEO of Publix Super Markets.

Donnie King, Tyson Foods.

David MacLennan, Chairman and CEO of Cargill.

Rodney McMullan, CEO, Chairman of Kroger — a big company.

Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart.  He’s been fantastic.  Doug was here, as you know, on Friday.  And he watched the market go up 2,000 points.  On Friday, it went up 2,000 — almost 2,000 points.

Todd Vasos, CEO of Dollar General Corporation.

And Vivek Sankaran, President and CEO of Albertsons.

So these are all phenomenal companies.  These are great companies.  We had a long conversation with them.  And they’ve — they’re going to work 24 hours around the clock keeping their store stocked.

I would like to say that people shouldn’t go out and buy.  We’re going to all be great.  We’re going to be so good.  We’re going to do — what’s happened with the Fed is phenomenal news.  What’s happening with all of these incredible companies is phenomenal news.

But you don’t have to buy so much.  Take it easy.  Just relax.  People are going in and they’re buying more.  I remember — I guess, during the conversation, Doug of Walmart said that they’re buying more than they buy at Christmas.  Relax.  We’re doing great.  It all will pass.

The folks that we spoke to, they’ve done a fantastic job.  They’re going to meet the needs of the public.  They’re going around the clock, if they have to.  And they’re committed to the communities where they’re serving and which they serve so beautifully and have for a long time.  And they’re buying a lot of additional things to sell.

But again, they — they actually have asked me to say, “Could you buy a little bit less, please?”  I think — I thought I’d never hear that from a retailer.

All of them are working hand-in-hand with the federal government, as well as the state and local leaders, to ensure food and essentials are constantly available.  And they’ll do it.  There’s no shortages.  We have no shortages — other than people are buying anywhere from three to five times what they would normally buy.  It’s going to be there for a long time.

We’re doing numbers, and there’s a pent-up demand that’s incredible.  When this passes, when this goes through, you’re going to see numbers — I think, I predict; I guess I’m allowed to predict just like Wall Street people are allowed to predict, and they’re pretty much in agreement — you’re going to see there’s a pent-up demand like — like a lot of people, including me, haven’t seen before.  But this has to get through.

They know they’re getting through the crisis and will require an all-of-America approach, and that’s very important.  They’re committed to remaining open during this crisis.  Totally open.  They have to stay open.  Those stores have to stay open.  They supply our country.

Our supply chains in America are the most powerful in the world, and they’re all working very hard.  They’re working around the clock.  And the stores are stocking up at a level that’s beyond Christmastime.  And it’s — it’s great.  It was very reassuring speaking to these people.  They have it totally in hand.

There’s no need for anybody in the country to hoard essential food supplies.  They said to me, “Could you please tell them just go and buy, enjoy it.”  Have a nice dinner.  Relax.  Because there’s plenty. But you don’t have to the quantities because it’s hard to refill the stores on a basis as rapid as they’re refilling them.

And we’re using the full power of the federal government to defeat the coronavirus, and we will do whatever it takes.  And we’re doing, I think, really, really well.  A lot of good things are going to happen.

I want to thank all of the people standing behind me.  You know, these are phenomenal people, and we have some of them right over here.  But the people behind me have been working around the clock, and they’re doing an incredible job.

We see what’s happening.  We see what’s going on in other countries.  We’re looking at — we’re learning from watching other countries, frankly.  This is a very contagious — this is a very contagious virus.  It’s incredible.  But it’s something that we have tremendous control over.

I think, very important, the young people and people of good health, and groups of people, just are not strongly affected.  Elderly people that are not well, or not well in certain respects, are, really, a very dangerous group.  We have to watch them.  We have to protect them very much.  We have to really watch over them and protect them because they are very vulnerable.

And with that, if it’s okay, I’m just going to go and make some calls.  I’m talking about Federal Reserve.  I think it’s a tremendous thing that took place just now.  I didn’t know I’d be surprised on a Sunday.  I don’t know if that’s ever happened on a Sunday before.  But I would think there are a lot of people on Wall Street that are very happy.  And I can tell you that I’m very happy.  I didn’t expect this, and I like being surprised.

So our Vice President, who’s doing an incredible job, is going to take over.  And I will see you probably tomorrow.  Thank you very much.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you, Mr. President.  And good afternoon.  With more than 2,900 cases of coronavirus in 49 states across the country, I want to assure the American people that this administration, all of our partners at the state level, and local health officials have no higher priority than the health and safety of the American public.

And at the President’s direction, we will continue not only a whole-of-government approach, but as we’ll discuss today, we’ll continue to build on a whole-of-America approach to confront the coronavirus across the country.

The health experts continue to confirm to us that based on the latest information, for the American people as a whole, the risk of serious illness remains low.  But because the risk is heavily weighted to the most vulnerable — to people with immunodeficiencies and to people who are elderly with serious underlying chronic health conditions — our administration and, I know, state administrations will continue to focus on the most vulnerable.  And we will continue to urge every American to be vigilant in practicing good hygiene and taking the advice of the CDC and local health experts to keep those most vulnerable safe.

I know I speak on behalf of the President and our entire team when I say how grateful we are for governors all across the country and the seamless partnership that we have forged with them and with state health officials, with our federal team.

I spoke today to Governor Pritzker of Illinois, and we are in continuous communication with governors a phone call away.  They know that they can contact us and address even the smallest need, because as a — as a former governor, I know firsthand that when it comes to health challenges in America, our states are on the ground in the lead, our local health organizations.  And we’ve built a great partnership.

We also want to express great appreciation to the American people.  Not surprisingly, it is inspiring to see the way tens of millions of Americans are responding with compassion, with common sense.  And we want to express particular gratitude to communities of faith that participated in today’s National Day of Prayer.  We’ve seen places of worship implementing policies to keep those most vulnerable safe.  And also, we’re seeing communities of faith already stepping forward to support and to encourage those most vulnerable.

I heard tell of a church back in Indiana that’s actually no longer having services until April 10th, but in the meantime they’ll be offering daycare to the children of healthcare workers in Central Indiana.  And churches all across the country are taking the opportunity to reach out and put feet on their faith, and it’s truly inspiring.

As the President mentioned today, he spoke today to leaders in the grocery store industry and where people buy our food.  And we heard, and we’re reminded, that America has the most efficient and effective supply chain in the world, and it’s working just fine.

As the President said, he received a commitment from those grocery store executives that stores will stay open throughout the days that lie ahead.  We were told that hours may be reduced to allow for cleaning and to resupply, but American families can be confident your local grocery store is going to be open; it’s going to be well supplied.  And they specifically asked us to encourage Americans: Just buy your weekly needs and grocery, because the grocery stores will remain open.

Also, very movingly, those same executives all reiterated their commitment to continue to support local food banks in the way that our grocers continue to do around America.

Tomorrow, the President and I will be briefing all the nation’s governors from states and territories, and the District of Columbia, to be speaking about the progress that we’re making.  And we’ll be speaking to them specifically about our widening partnership on expanding testing to the American people.

So allow me to speak to that issue, and then I’m going to recognize Admiral Brett Giroir, who will describe for us the excellent work the Public Health Service is doing.  Dr. Birx will describe the importance of the new national public-private partnership for diagnostic testing that is going to open the door to thousands of more tests in real time for the American people in the days ahead.

First, some fundamentals.  As the American people know, testing is now available in all 50 states.  Either state labs are either conducting the tests themselves, or the CDC is processing tests.  They’re using the traditional manner of a manual test that allows for 40 to 60 tests a day.

It is among the reasons why the President, several weeks ago, tasked this group at the White House to reach out to commercial labs around the country and forge that public-private partnership that would bring the high-speed — or more accurately, the high-throughput testing for coronavirus available in real time.

And based on the unprecedented speed of the FDA, which last week approved high-throughput coronavirus testings for Roche and Thermo Fisher, we will now have access in the days ahead to more than 2,000 labs across the country that have the equipment today to process coronavirus tests much more rapidly and a much higher volume for the American people.

In terms of delivering those services, more than 10 states — in addition to CDC labs, public health labs, and labs that states can now authorize in their states — more than 10 states have implemented their own drive-through testing sites.  And we want to commend New York, Colorado, Delaware, Washington State, Texas, and others that have implemented these on-site places where people can obtain tests.

Most are using the current CDC testing, the manual testing, but we are working closely with our governors, as you will hear momentarily, to make sure that the new testing regimen is available for their remote sites as well.

As I mentioned, as of Monday, we will have more than 2,000 labs coming online with the high-speed testing, and we are connecting states to those testing methods.

We’re also working with a number of retail partners to add to the work that states are doing around the country, working to set up parking lot testing centers outside of stores.  And Admiral Brett Giroir will detail the progress that we’ve made over the last 72 hours.

Following the President’s declaration of emergency, the Admiral and our Public Health Service have forged a partnership now with FEMA, made possible by that declaration.  And they’ve reached out to all 50 states to create a process that will enable all Americans who need to be tested to go to a community-based testing site outside of usual healthcare facilities.

The focus of these tests, as Dr. Birx will describe momentarily, will be on those most in need.  A priority will be placed on healthcare workers and first responders who are out there coming alongside people that are being impacted by the coronavirus.  We want to make sure they have access to the testing as a priority.

And then, Americans 65 or over with a cough or a fever or other symptoms will be prioritized over other tests that are extended.

As I mentioned, Admiral Giroir will describe the progress that we’ve made in just a few moments, but we’re going to continue to work very diligently — hour by hour, day by day — in the days ahead to expand testing around the country and access to this extraordinary and unprecedented national public-private partnership for diagnostic testing.

With regard to testing: As we expand testing, we’re so pleased that Congress joined with our administration to make sure that cost is never going to be a barrier to anyone getting a coronavirus test.

As you recall, several weeks ago, the President directed a change in our Medicare and Medicaid programs to ensure the coronavirus testing was included.  Health insurers were brought in; they all agreed to waive co-pays.  But because of the good bipartisan work done in the House of Representatives, now all coronavirus testing is free, and it’s free for every American, including uninsured Americans.  And we continue to urge passage of the legislation that will be considered by the Senate this week.

Let me say one final word about the testing issue, and that is that we — as the President often says, we’re all in this together.  And it’s absolutely important that as we expand testing resources across the country, beginning by prioritizing the areas that CDC and our state leadership tell us are most important, it’s important that the tests are available for people that are most in need and for our healthcare workers and first responders that are — that are helping them and supporting them.

As Dr. Birx will describe, the testing that is available should only be done if for any reason you think you may have the coronavirus.  We encourage people to consult their doctor.  And if you’re — if you’re symptom-free, we encourage you to work with us to make sure that testing is available for people that are experiencing symptoms.

It’s extremely important that we have the continuing cooperation of every American as we expand testing and make it available during this challenging time in the life of our nation.

With that, I’m going to ask Dr. Birx — oh, excuse me, I’m going to ask Admiral Brett Giroir of the Public Health Service and leader of this great Commissioned Corps behind me to come up and describe the extraordinary work that they have done over the last 72 hours and will be doing each and every day, in conjunction with our states, to expand testing to community-based testing across the country for the American people using this new public-private partnership diagnostic testing.

Admiral?

ADMIRAL GIROIR:  Thank you, Mr. Vice President.  And thank you for your personal interest in support of our team over the last 72 hours as we worked on this critically important project.

So as the Vice President said, over the past 72 hours, we have developed and are beginning to implement now a process and a program of testing that will enable Americans who are in need of coronavirus testing to be tested effectively and efficiently according to a few principles:

Number one, we want to assure that those most vulnerable and those impacted are able to be prioritized.

Number two, we don’t want to do testing that in any way threatens the acute care system.  In other words, we don’t want people going to hospitals and acute care clinics where, number one, they could infect other people or subject themselves to infections.

And number three, we want to balance the needs across the entire healthcare system among diagnosis but also treatment.  In other words, we want to balance the stress on the Strategic National Stockpile and all our commodities so that everyone gets all the materials they need.

So what do we do?  Because, as the Vice President said, last week’s historically fast approval of high-throughput testing, we are now in a new phase of testing.  And you’ve heard Dr. Fauci talk about the new phase.

So we’re going from somewhat manual, relatively slow phases, to a testing regimen that we can test many tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of individuals per week and maybe even more.  We will have 1.9 million of these high-throughput tests available this week with numerous labs, up to 2,000, starting to turn the lights on beginning this week and rolling out over the week.  That is really a game-changer for us because the back-of-the-shop testing capability is there.

The front of the shop is what we’ve been really working on.  In order to get a test there, you’ve got to be able to swab individuals, get them into the system without completely paralyzing the entire healthcare system as we know.

So, with the emergency declaration, this was very, very important to us because it really enabled the historically effective processes of working and empowering states — federally supported, state-led efforts — through the normal FEMA mechanisms.

So for the last 72 hours, representatives of FEMA from across the government and our Commissioned Corps have been working on joining the unique and unprecedented public health mission with the historically successful mission of personal — of distribution centers, places for distribution — the pod system of FEMA.

Our Public Health Service — we’ve already deployed over a thousand officers in support of the coronavirus missions.  That includes to the Diamond Princess, to the borders, to the quarantine stations, to the acute care settings where we’re caring for nursing home residents in Seattle.  So we have a very experienced group, and we brought these together.

So what we’ve really designed in how we’re working with the states: We have contacted all 50 states through the FEMA system — every single region, every single state — to understand where they are.

As the Vice President said, some states are rolling out some of their own community-based testing.  They need to be augmented.  We believe we’ve created a model, based on the Public Health and the FEMA system, that is optimized, that can be used for drive-through or potentially walk-through.  Each of these pod-based units, we believe, can screen 2,000 to 4,000 individuals a day for testing, with all the appropriate personal protective gear, all the appropriate backend and linkage to the public health system, including testing.

We know that we have the logistics to do that.  We know we have the materials to do that.  And again, this is federally supported state-led efforts.  Many states need the full meal deal.  They want dozens of Public Health Service officers to work in protective gear to actually test.  They need supplies, like protective gear; they need swabs; they need the logistical supports.  Other states only need a fraction of that.  They may have all the personnel, but they really need the knowhow, the template, and some of the gear that we provide.

We are going to start implementing this system, this week, in a number of states, primarily those that are the hardest hit right now or are on the rise and the CDC advises us that that’s when they need the testing.

I want to emphasize, again, that we’re focusing on two very important groups — and you’ll hear this said three or four different ways — and the groups that really can be the most impacted or impactful in our outbreak.

Number one is healthcare workers and first responders.  This is very important for two reasons.  Number one, we have to take care of the healthcare workers and responders, because when America needs them, they need to be available and healthy to provide the care that we all deserve.  But it’s also important that if they feel they have a risk of having contacted [sic] coronavirus, that we test them so they cannot spread that, for example, in long-term care facilities where the elderly are.

And the second group would be the elderly.  And we are classifying that, according to risk, is those 65 years of age or older who have a respiratory symptom and a fever of 99.6.  That’s a lower number than you’ve seen before because those who are older do not spike high fevers, like children do — 104, 105.  So you set the bar just a little bit lower.

We do that because we know that they’re at high risk of bad consequences.  And if they test positive, they could engage with their practitioner, telehealth provider, or get in the system to make sure they have just an outstanding outcome.

So that is really where we are.  We’ve made really unprecedented progress.  You will see these sites rolling out progressively over the week.  This is not make-believe.  This is not fantasy.  We’ve developed the model.  We’ve talked to the states.  We’re focusing in on specific locations now.  We will start shipping gear, stuff, tomorrow.  We will start deploying officers tomorrow and Tuesday.  And we’ll begin seeing these sites, in addition to the ones that are springing up now, implemented during this week.

We will have the capability of testing tens of thousands of additional people through these sites every week, in addition to all the capability that’s now going to be distributed in the 2,000 laboratories and the major central, core laboratories.

And I know you have a number of questions that hopefully in the question-and-answer session we’ll be able to answer for you.

But I think this is just a great linkage.  I’m a pediatric ICU doctor.  I take care of sick people.  I know what happens when you get respiratory illness.  The Surgeon General is an anesthesiologist who takes care of people who have respiratory difficulties and manages that.

So we know how this — we know how this works.  We’ve been there.  The most important thing we’ve worked on right now is making testing accessible because of the advances of the FDA and private industry to make these high-throughput tests.  Now we can work on the front end.

With the emergency declaration, we have all the tools, and all of government has really come together with industry, not just government and states.  It’s really been private industry, the manufacturers, to bring the swabs, the personal protective gear, the laboratory testing, the shipping, the fronts with Walgreens and Walmarts working as potential sites.

This has been something, in my mind, that has been unprecedented, the entire society approach working so intensely over the past — certainly over the past weeks, but incredibly on this project over the past 72 hours.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Admiral.  And let me say we are moving out, now that we have the public-private partnership with the major commercial labs.  And now you have our Public Health team as well as FEMA moving out, connecting to the states, to deploy these point-of-distribution community centers.

We’ll also be working closely with members of the media and individual jurisdictions, as well as we’re working with Google and other tech companies to make sure that there’s online resources where people will be able to readily access a questionnaire that will walk them through the symptoms and whether or not a test might be indicated.

And also, in the days ahead, we look forward to that same website being able to direct people to the nearest community center or drive-through center that’s available.

But let me — me let me introduce Dr. Deborah Birx to speak about that — that patient experience — and about the importance of the right people seeking the testing in the days ahead.

Doctor?

DR. BIRX:  Thank you.  Thank you, Mr. Vice President.  Let me just start by recognizing the men and women of the military who are serving us every day.  They are my brothers and sisters.  I was privileged to serve alongside them for quite a long time.

But, critically, I just want to recognize at this moment the Public Health Commissioned Corps behind me.  The Vice President — although he didn’t speak to this — actually went to see them yesterday at the place where they were working, so that we wouldn’t disturb them, because of their level of dedication and work through the last, really, 48 hours non-stop.

So, thank you.  Thank you for your work, and thank you for the work that you brought together.  And thank you, Admiral, for explaining it so quickly.

Let me just go back to the way laboratory work is done in the United States.  I think all of you know, when you go to your doctor, and you need a lab test, it is either done in your doctor’s office, or it’s done in the lab that they send you to.

When we started this emergency response to this virus, we started with what we knew, and that was the flu platform that we use for surveillance.  It wasn’t set up in your doctor’s office.  It wasn’t set up in our hospital laboratories.  It was set up in state and local labs and at the CDC.

Over the last two weeks, we’ve been working with the groups that have served you for decades — the commercial laboratories that you don’t see, but your specimen goes to — to ensure they had the full capacity to meet the needs of the American people. Because it wasn’t going to be 50 to 100 to 1,000 tests; it was going to be tens of thousands of tests that would be needed to be done.

And so, the last two weeks has been spent on really getting what you are used to: the full force of the clinical laboratories and service.

At the same time, what you heard described here is how do we serve the needs of the people in the community where they reside; where we know when we’re talking about people with vulnerable conditions, immunosuppression medical conditions, or the elderly, that we don’t want them having to sit for long times in doctor’s office and hospitals’ waiting rooms.

And you see what state and local governors have done to move past what we would normally do — a referral to your doctor’s office and to your hospital — but really providing community-led services to provide this testing.

What the federal government is doing is augmenting that — augmenting the innovation that existed in South Korea, brought here to the shores of the United States and brought in our own novel way, but utilizing our healthcare delivery system, which is different than South Korea, and adapting our work to our system

So, to the hospitals and to the laboratories: We know that there will be pent-up demand for this.  Make sure every hospital and every laboratory — I’m speaking to my — the people who work in labs, like I did myself.  Make sure you have enough pipette tips, pipettors, and all of the equipment that you need to run this laboratory.

You know what you need.  Make sure you have that and have that available for these tests — because we know with this increased sampling, this increased ability to have community access, additional samples will be going to these laboratories. They can manage the high throughput, but they need all of the supplies that they would normally need to run these tests.  Think of it — if you’re doing HIV viral load, same thing: just what you need.  You know what you need; make sure you have that.  That will be run.

And the most important thing, I know, for each and every one of you is how am I going to get my results.  And so we’re making sure also that the end of reporting is also there; that the reporting is available to you, to your doctor, and also to the state and local governments and the federal government, not with your personal identifiers, but to really understand where there are positives, where there are negatives, so we can ensure that healthcare providers have what they need to meet the demands of the American people and their health needs when they’re there.

Now, let me just say one bit about reporting.  So you will notice, as these tests roll out over this next week, we will have a spike in our curve.  For those of you who watched China and China reporting, remember when they changed their definition and all of a sudden there was a blip in their curve?  We are going to see that.  We are going to see a spike as more and more people have access.

And I want to finish by, again, reminding people how important it is.  I know everybody is going to want to go to these drive-throughs.  But if we could prioritize, like we have asked you to prioritize the care of every person with a preexisting condition and immunosuppression, and the elderly with existing conditions — we’ve asked you to prioritize them and we ask you to prioritize them in the lines, so that our first responders and our healthcare providers and everybody who has difficulty to get to doctors’ offices can utilize this system while we bring all the other traditional systems that you’re used to and have availability for you online over the next few days and weeks.

So, thank you.  Thank you for constantly reminding us how important.  It’s a response of all of America for Americans.  All of America for Americans.  It’s a privilege to be part of this solution and be part of this team.

And again, I want to close by recognizing the Commissioned Corps.  They have spent — I’m not sure they had anything but pizza to eat for the last two days, but we appreciate grat- —

ADMIRAL GIROIR:  Donuts.

SURGEON GENERAL ADAMS:  Apples and bananas.  Apples and bananas.

ADMIRAL GIROIR:  Donuts.

(Laughter.)

DR. BIRX:  All right, don’t follow their guidance.  (Laughter.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Dr. Fauci?

DR. FAUCI:  Thank you, Mr. Vice President.  I’ll be very brief.  I just want to say, listening to the description of Admiral Giroir, I’m very pleased to see how things have evolved.  I think we could describe this as entering into a new phase in the testing space available here in the United States.

You’ve heard me, on many of these briefings, talk about the multifaceted armamentarium that we have to address the crisis of what the world is seeing and the challenge that we’re seeing right here in the United States.

I mean, obviously, the travel restrictions have been, in my mind, a very, very positive way that we have prevented more of the input from outside in that would seat us and make our job more difficult.

And then we have, as I mentioned, the containment and the mitigation from within.  You’re going to be hearing more about advanced guidelines about that, more precise instructions of how we can implement this mitigation within the community.

But now that we have a situation that is going to be rolled out — and remember, I want to emphasize what was just said: We’re not going to go from here to there overnight.  It’s going to be a gradual ratcheting up that I believe is going to happen quickly so that then we can start talking about things and put behind us the multiple understandable questions about testing and move on to see how we can make this multifaceted approach really work for us.  Because as I’ve said many times, and I’ll repeat it: The worst is, yes, ahead for us.  It is how we respond to that challenge that’s going to determine what the ultimate endpoint is going to be.

We have a very, very critical point now.  If you look at the curves that I’ve described multiple, multiple times, this window that we’re in is going to be very important for us to stay ahead of this curve.  Thank you.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Doc.  Stay close.

Questions?

Q    Mr. Vice President, we’ve seen a number of communities across the country.  They’re starting to either close restaurants; some are even doing curfews.  Do you envision this happening, kind of, nationwide where you’ll see some rules come to effect saying, “You know, we don’t want people out at places that are not essentially a Walmart or a grocery store or some kind of a testing center”?

And then also, I would be curious to see — we’ve also heard so many — from travelers today that were coming back from these airports, people that were flying back; they were so concerned.  I’m sure the Secretary will address it.  But these folks that are wondering, now, did they catch it because they were stuck waiting in line for hours and hours in customs — your thoughts on that, sir?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, we will have updated guidelines tomorrow morning for you that are being vetted now with CDC and all of our top healthcare experts.  But what I would just recommend to the American people is to review those federal guidelines and know that we’ll also respect and defer to decisions that are made by governors, by state health departments about what’s best for that community.

What my healthcare team — some of the best people in the world — tell me very regularly is that it’s very important that you follow the data, you make decisions based on the circumstances that are taking place in that community.  And — but we’ll have more broad-based recommendations for the American public tomorrow.

And let me say, I’m going to ask the Secretary to come up and speak about the screening issue.  The President made a decision to suspend all travel from Europe.  That is underway now, and as of midnight Monday night, we will be suspending all travel from the UK and Ireland as well.  But Americans may come home, but out of an abundance of caution, we are engaging in healthcare screenings at 13 different airports around the country.  We’re working diligently in that regard to put the safety of the American public first.  And we’re asking returning Americans to self-quarantine for 14 days if they’ve been in those countries in Europe and, as of Monday, the UK and Ireland that are being impacted by the coronavirus.

But as the Secretary and I spoke this morning — I spoke with Governor Pritzker and Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois this morning about some challenges at O’Hare Airport, and I’m going to let the Secretary speak to how we are addressing those going forward.

Mr. Secretary?

ACTING SECRETARY WOLF:  Thank you.  Well, yesterday, we began processing, again, the travel restrictions from passengers from the Schengen area, which totaled more than 40,000 passengers yesterday.  So to give you an idea, in one day, we processed over half of the total number of individuals we have processed — medical screening — since February 2nd.  So that is an enormous challenge that we have placed on our officers and contract medical staff at airports.  And they are stepping up.

But to be clear, the lines, again, that we saw overnight at a limited number of airports, including Chicago, are unacceptable.  Acting Commissioner — CBP Commissioner Morgan also believes they’re unacceptable and has personally engaged leadership at all 13 funneling airports.

We did make the necessary adjustments at 12 of the funneling airports; however, again, at Chicago, those adjustments were not made quick enough, but we have course corrected.  We’ve adjusted our processes, we continue to surge personnel, and we are certainly glad to see certain airports and certain airlines step up, partner with us, and help address this unprecedented situation.

As I walked in here today — so far, today, at all of our funneling airports, to include Chicago, we have an average wait time of 30 minutes.  So we addressed the problem — we identified the problem, addressed it, and we have fixed it.  And we look forward to, again, accommodating passengers this evening as well.

Let me — I understand the frustration that some passengers who are returning to the U.S. might have with some of these procedures.  But I would just say, and rest assured, that we are continuing our strict protocols of looking at individuals as they come into the country, make sure that they are medically screened, make sure that we are capturing the information for the public health officials, the state and local officials.  And we’ll continue to do that. and we’ve done that specifically at the President’s request.

Thank you.

Q    Mr. Secretary, has there been any talk, sir, of any sort of shutdown of domestic air travel at all?

ACTING SECRETARY WOLF:  Well, we continue to look at all options, and all options remain on the table to address.  And we’ll certainly adjust as the medical professionals at CDC address the medical situation.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Very good.  Good job.

Q    Mr. Vice President, Dr. Fauci this morning said that the federal government should do whatever it takes to increase Americans’ social distancing and encourage that practice.  He didn’t rule out the possibility of a national lockdown.  If Americans don’t take those steps on their own, is that something that the federal government is prepared to do?

And secondly, I’d also like to know — you know, the President — we just heard him say, “Americans should relax.”  Why aren’t we hearing more from him about what Americans can do as they are seeing this huge impact on their daily lives, whether it’s at airports, or at restaurants, or other places around the country?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, everything that the White House Coronavirus Task Force does is at the direction of the President of the United States.  And all the efforts of all federal agencies, in cooperation with state governments and local health officials, is reflective of the decisive leadership the President has brought this early on.

It’s important to remember that the President, on January 31st, suspended all travel from China.  I said to Dr. Fauci — who I’ll call up to address your other question in a moment — I said to Dr. Fauci today, as we look at Europe now being the epicenter of the coronavirus, that — I asked him, if we had not suspended all travel from China, what our circumstance would be.  And he essentially said, “We’d be where Europe is today.”

And the President also took the actions with regard to Europe and recently expanded those.  So the American people can be confident that President Trump is going to continue to act without hesitation on the advice of our healthcare professionals to put the health and safety of the American people first.  But with regard to the statement that you made, I’m going to let Dr. Fauci address that as well.

DR. FAUCI:  Yeah, I meant everything I said this morning, on the shows: that, really, to protect the American people, we’ll consider anything and everything on the table.  You’re going to see some advanced and updated guidelines tomorrow.  They’re going to address some but not all of the questions and concerns.

But on a day-by-day basis, we look at this and, literally, we will do everything that we can to make sure we safeguard the health and the wellbeing of the American people.  And that means everything and anything we’ll consider.

Q    For Dr. Fauci, could you give us some examples?  You say “anything, everything.”  Like what?

DR. FAUCI:  Like — like — like —

Q    Like what Europe is doing?  No bars, no restaurants?

DR. FAUCI:  That could be.  Absolutely.  I mean, that could be.

Q    But if new guidance is coming tomorrow, can you give us a more concrete idea right now?  You must know what it is.

DR. FAUCI:  I don’t want — no, what I don’t want to do is I don’t want to, you know, jump ahead of the guidance.  I promise you: Let the guidance come out; we’ll be here every day.  I’ll answer the question after the guidance, I promise you.

Q    Mr. Vice President, what is your plan to build more hospital beds so tens of thousands of Americans don’t die?  And how many more ventilators are you looking at ordering so people don’t suffocate?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, let me let the Secretary step up.  I know that there’s long-term planning that takes place at HHS for those circumstances.  And when I traveled to HHS yesterday, we reviewed all the numbers about stockpiles, everything from masks to ventilators to gowns.

Mr. Secretary, you might just speak about capacity issues.  And let me say it’s — it’s a very good question on your part.

Right now, our focus, as the White House Coronavirus Task Force, is to have widespread testing across the country, using this new partnership with our commercial labs that the President has forged, and work with states to make those tests available.

We’re also going to continue to work every single day to promote best practices for mitigation, working closely with and supporting state governments for decisions that they’re making on mitigation to prevent the spread.  But the whole issue of personal protective equipment and supplies and the capacity of our healthcare system is in the forefront of what we’re talking about every day, and the Secretary can address it.

SECRETARY AZAR:  Thank you very much.  First, being here at the podium, I just want to especially talk about the people in blue behind me.  These are the leaders of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps that I am incredibly privileged to lead — over 3,000 of them.  America’s public health warriors.

Whether it’s going into the Eastern Congo or Western Africa to fight Ebola, or if it’s staffing the nursing home in Kirkland, being on the World Health Organization team in China, or helping to facilitate community-based testing, these are America’s public health heroes.

And I just — they rarely — in fact, I doubt that there has ever been a time in American history where the leadership of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps has had the privilege of standing here on this stage behind the President and Vice President of the United States.  I just wanted to — wanted to commend that.

In terms of our capacities in our healthcare system, any pandemic like this runs the risk of exceeding our healthcare system capacity, and we must acknowledge that.  That is precisely why the President and Vice President’s strategy is as Dr. Fauci has repeatedly spoke: to delay and flatten the curve.  The point of this is, instead of a spike of the curve, to delay and flatten that curve with the hope that you can keep the utilization of resources to be within the healthcare system’s capacities.

In addition to that, the entire point of our pandemic planning, over the last 15 years, has been to put extra flex into our healthcare system.  That’s why we have hospital preparedness grants that we fund every year through our preparedness program.  That’s why we have in our Strategic National Stockpile ventilators, field hospital units — like MASH units, if you’ll remember those — that have capacity for hundreds of individuals.

In terms of supplies, obviously this is an unprecedented challenge.  Unprecedented.  And so we will work to increase the supplies of personal protective equipment, of ventilators, of field medical unit hospitals that we can deploy.  We have tremendous supplies, but we want to acquire more.  And that’s thanks to the bipartisan work of Congress funding the emergency supplemental that gives us the money to scale up production here and abroad.  And we’re doing that.

We don’t disclose concrete numbers on particular items for national security purposes, but we have many ventilators — thousands and thousands of ventilators in our system.  We have received, so far, only, I think, one request for just several ventilators.

One of the things in terms of hospital capacity that’s going to be really important — it’s a really good learning from China that we got from the World Health Organization team that went there — is if we have communities where we have enough capacity where we can put people who are positive with COVID-19 and have them be exclusively reserved for individuals who are positive for COVID-19, this reduces our need to try to protect our patients from other patients, because they’re all positive already.

We need to protect our healthcare workers and our service workers in those facilities.  This gives us reduced burden on personal protective equipment, but it also can give us greater capacity as we put field medical shelters up, as we consolidate into single facilities, as we don’t need individual rooms, negative airflow, isolation, et cetera.  A vastly more efficient utilization of our healthcare system.  This is all part of the planning work that we’ve done and are promulgating throughout our healthcare system.  So that’s our strategy.  We’re going to keep building that capacity, though.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Very good.  Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

Go ahead.

Q    Mr. Vice President, you talked briefly about trying to make information more accessible online.  So can you give us a timetable for when you think a website will be available based on your conversations with Google?

And secondly — and this might be to the broader team — can you also talk specifically about how many of these tests have been sent out to states and how many you still have to send out?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, let me — let me say that we’re working — we’re working with Google, but we’re working with many other tech companies.  And we’re truly grateful for the efforts of tech companies in disseminating best practices and guidance for citizens online, all over the country.  And today, those resources are available and it — we’ve literally heard not only from Google, but from Facebook and Amazon.  And the public spiritedness that’s been reflected there is a credit to those great companies and a credit to all the dedicated Americans who work there.

Our best estimate — and, literally, the team has been working around the clock since Friday — is that at some point, early in the week, that we will have a website that goes up, the purpose of which will be for people to go and first fill out a questionnaire so that they can identify whether they fall in the category that Dr. Birx described would indicate the need to have a test.

And then, once they go through that questionnaire, then our objective is: As more and more of these sites come online — run by state governments, working in cooperation with our team, our Public Health Service team, and FEMA, and also working in cooperation with local businesses and retailers — that people will know how to not only find it, but also the objective would be for them to literally be given a time that they can go and report for the test.

But let me — let me let the Admiral speak to the timing on the testing and unpack that for you.

ADMIRAL GIROIR:  So in our design, I just want to emphasize, we talk about testing and we talk about so many things, but we’re really talking about people.  And we’re trying to make this a very person-centric experience to easily access the system, to give clear guidance about how to go, when to go — information that, even if you’re not really indicated for testing, information you need to help protect yourself and your family.  And then on the back end, very customized reporting, and we’re talking, literally, about having telephonic services to call individuals who’ve been tested, let them know “yes,” “no,” and what the next steps are.  So we’ve tried to really envision this through a patient experience.

Now, let me talk about the testing.  Progressively over this week, there will be rollout to different laboratories of approximately 1.9 million tests.  There are many centralized laboratories, the behind the curtain that you never see after you give your blood.  And you saw some of the CEOs in the Rose Garden last week, like Quest and LabCorp, that are fully able, ready to run — they have been testing already — but fully able, ready to run, within the first part of this week, the very high-throughput testing.

The 2,000 laboratories that are around the country that have a different platform, one that’s amenable to so many labs — not the big, hugest, highest output, but very high-throughput laboratories — are progressing.  They have to adapt the test slightly to their — to the machines and get used to this.  They will start lighting up Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.  I can’t give you the precise timeline, except it has been an absolute priority of the laboratory associations, of Thermo Fisher, the company that made this test.  You heard the President predict that it might be approved within 24 hours, on Friday.  I think it was five hours after that, in the middle of the night, that the FDA approved that.  And that’s the one that’s going to be widely disseminated — a high throughput that’s going to be available.

So I know you want a specific time when.  These will light up progressively over the week.  When that happens, there will be a centralized opportunity, like in the Quest and the LabCorp.  There will also be distributed opportunities, like in all the major hospital systems and labs that are in your area.  And then that number of 1.9 million goes up dramatically in the weeks coming forward.

I’m not going to say that the lab testing issue is over because it’s not.  It’s entering the next phase.  But the much higher priority now is now that we have the testing available, how do we get people into the system to be tested in the appropriate prioritized way.  And that’s what we’ve really been focused on: information; website; points-of-distribution model that are tried and true; enabling the state, providing them with equipment, supplies, know-how and Commissioned Corps officers as needed to help man these or staff these as we move forward.  So you’ll see this rapidly developing over the week.

Q    Mr. Vice President, market futures are down despite the dramatic move from the Fed that the President applauded, which suggests that there’s still concern about — that we haven’t done enough to respond to the economic impact of this deal — or of the coronavirus.

I’m wondering when specifically we’re going to hear from the White House about how you’re going to impact — or help impacted industries, from the airlines to the cruise ships.

And then, secondly, I wanted to talk about the legislation that came out.  The White House fought to exclude workers at larger corporations from paid sick leave.  And so I’m wondering what you say to, you know, somebody who flips burgers at McDonald’s or works at one of these large chains that’s worried about staying home and potentially missing a paycheck.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, first, let me say we strongly support the house legislation, which while it gives some flexibility to small businesses — which will be reflected in the regulations going forward — no American workers should worry about missing a paycheck if they’re feeling ill.

And if we can’t say often enough to our fellow Americans: If you’re sick with a respiratory ailment, stay home.

And as you’ve heard here today, over the course of this next week we’re going to see testing become much more widely available, beginning in the areas the CDC will focus us as the highest priority.

But working with members of Congress, we’ve made sure that not only is testing free, but we have every confidence that the extension of paid and family leave to Americans will be extended in a way that it’ll — it should give every American that confidence.

And let me say — let me say with regard to the economy as a whole: I think the Treasury Secretary has been working very diligently on the President’s behalf.  We had the supplemental — $8.3 billion bill.  The House has now acted on important legislation that we fully support, and we hope the Senate takes it up this week.

But whether it be the airline industry or the cruise line industry or the hotel industry, as the Secretary said recently, we are in just the first few innings of this effort.  And the President has directed us to bring the full weight of the federal government to bear to confront this crisis, first and foremost, on behalf of the health and safety of the American public.

But strengthening our economy, ensuring that those vital industries will be able to find their way through and grow strongly once this coronavirus has passed will be a priority.  And we’re already in discussions with members of Congress in both parties about that next phase of the support.

But let me say, as I close, we will be back in the morning tomorrow for a briefing.  And also, we’ll have a health briefing in the afternoon.

But again, I know I speak on behalf of the President when I say how grateful we are for all the governors in the country, for all the local health officials — everyone that’s coming alongside Americans.  We encourage every American to continue to use best practices and common sense.  Even if you’re not in a high-risk category, as the vast majority of Americans are, remember those people around you who may well be.  Remember those seniors with underlying health conditions.  That’s the reason why you need to keep washing your hands, you need to keep practicing good hygiene, cleaning those counters and surfaces to make sure that we don’t convey the coronavirus to them.

And finally, let me also just — let me add to all the wonderful accolades of the Public Health Service personnel behind me.  These are all heroes.  And I have to tell you, having been over at HHS yesterday, having seen the way these people drop everything and are rolling into this effort to expand testing across the country, it’ll be these people in these blue uniforms that you see at an awful lot of these points of distribution, these community centers around the country.

And for all they’re doing today and for all each one of them have done throughout their career, I know they have the thanks of this President, his Vice President and the American people.

Thank you.

END

6:14 P.M. EDT

Interim Guidance for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Guidance as of 3/15/2020

Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.

Therefore, CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.

Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing.  When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.

This recommendation does not apply to the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses. This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus.  This recommendation is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials.

HRSA (DATA Warehouse) provided Health (You can type your  zipcode and find your health care service) centers where you can fine for all.  Health centers are an important component of the national response to the COVID-19 virus. Call your nearest health center to find out the availability of COVID-19 screening and testing.

Health Centers can assess whether a patient needs further testing, which may be done over the phone or using telehealth. Individuals may also receive primary health care services at their local health center at a reduced cost or free of charge depending on their economic status.

3:30 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, everyone.  Thank you.  Thank you.

A beautiful day in the Rose Garden.  Appreciate everybody being here.  Today, I’d like to provide an update to the American people on several decisive new actions we’re taking in our very vigilant effort to combat and ultimately defeat the coronavirus.

We’ve been working very hard on this.  We’ve made tremendous progress.  When you compare what we’ve done to other areas of the world, it’s pretty incredible.  A lot of that had to do with the early designation and the closing of the borders.

And, as you know, Europe was just designated as the hotspot right now, and we closed that border a while ago.  So that was lucky or through talent or through luck.  Call it whatever you want.  But through a very collective action and shared sacrifice and national determination, we will overcome the threat of the virus.

I also announced Wednesday night, following the advice of our medical professionals who are doing a tremendous job — and we appreciate it very much — that we’re suspending the entry of foreign nationals who have been to Europe in the last 14 days from entering the United States.  Citizens, permanent residents, and our families — and even the families returning from Europe, will be subject to extra screening as well self-isolation for a period of 14 days.

As the World Health Organization confirmed today, many of the things that — what we said were 100 percent correct, including our designation, before them, of Europe.  Like our earlier, very aggressive actions with China, this measure will save countless lives.  I appreciate a number of the folks behind me.  A number of the people behind me said that that saved a lot of lives, that early designation.

But it is only the beginning of what we’re really doing, and now we’re in a different phase.  We had some very old and obsolete rules that we had to live with.  It worked under certain circumstances but not under mass circumstances.  They were there for a long time; they were in place for a long time.  And we’re breaking them down now.  And they’re very usable for certain instances, but not for this.

To unleash the full power of the federal government in this effort, today I am officially declaring a national emergency.  Two very big words.  The action I am taking will open up access to up to $50 billion of very importantly — very important and a large amount of money for states and territories and localities in our shared fight against this disease.

In furtherance of the order, I’m urging every state to set up emergency operation centers effective immediately.  You’re going to be hearing from some of the largest companies and greatest retailers and medical companies in the world.  They’re standing right behind me and to the side of me.

I’m also asking every hospital in this country to activate its emergency preparedness plan so that they can meet the needs of Americans everywhere.  The hospitals are very engaged.  New York and various other places are also various engaged.  I just spoke with Governor Cuomo; we had a very good conversation.  And we’re working very strongly with many states, including New York.

The emergency orders I am issuing today will also confer broad new authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.  The Secretary of HHS will be able to immediately waive provisions of applicable laws and regulations to give doctors, hospital — all hospitals — and healthcare providers maximum flexibility to respond to the virus and care for patients.

This includes the following critical authorities:

             The ability to waive laws to enable telehealth, a fairly new and incredible thing that’s happened in the — in the not-so-distant past.  I tell you, what they’ve done with telehealth is incredible.  It gives remote doctors’ visits and hospital check-ins.

            The power to waive certain federal license requirements so that doctors from other states can provide services and states with the greatest need.  Number two.

            The ability to waive requirements that critical-access hospitals limit the number of beds to 25 and the length of stay to 96 hours.

            The ability to waive the requirements of a three-day hospital stay prior to admission to a nursing home.  Big thing.

            The authority to waive rules that hinder hospitals’ ability to bring additional physicians on board or obtain needed office space.  They can do as they want.  They can do what they have to do.  They know what they have to do.  Now they don’t have any problem getting it done.

            The authority to waive rules that severely restrict where hospitals can care for patients within the hospital itself, ensuring that the emergency capacity can be quickly established.

We’ll remove or eliminate every obstacle necessary to deliver our people the care that they need and that they’re entitled to.  No resource will be spared.  Nothing whatsoever.

Ten days ago, I brought together the CEOs of commercial labs at the White House and directed them to immediately begin working on a solution to dramatically increase the availability of tests.  Other countries have called us and worked with us, and they’re doing similar things or will be doing similar things.

As a result of that action, today we’re announcing a new partnership with private sector to vastly increase and accelerate our capacity to test for the coronavirus.  We want to make sure that those who need a test can get a test very safely, quickly, and conveniently.  But we don’t want people to take a test if — if we feel that they shouldn’t be doing it.  And we don’t want everyone running out and taking.  Only if you have certain symptoms.

Using federal emergency authorities, the FDA approved a new test for the virus.  We did this within hours after receiving the application from Roche — a process that would normally take weeks.  We therefore expect up to a half a million additional tests will be available early next week.  We’ll be announcing locations probably on Sunday night.

I want to thank Roche, a great company, for their incredible work.  I’d also like to thank Thermo Fisher.  The FDA’s goal is to hopefully authorize their application within 24 hours — it’ll go very quickly; it’s going very quickly — which will bring, additionally, 1.4 million tests on board next week and 5 million within a month.  I doubt we’ll need anywhere near that.

At the same time, we’ve been in discussions with pharmacies and retailers to make drive-thru tests available in the critical locations identified by public health professionals.  The goal is for individuals to be able to drive up and be swabbed without having to leave your car.

I want to thank Google.  Google is helping to develop a website.  It’s going to be very quickly done, unlike websites of the past, to determine whether a test is warranted and to facilitate testing at a nearby convenient location.

We have many, many locations behind us, by the way.  We cover the — this country in large part.  So the world, by the way — we’re not going to be talking about the world right now.  But we cover very, very strongly our country.  Stores in virtually every location.

Google has 1,700 engineers working on this right now.  They’ve made tremendous progress.  Our overriding goal is to stop the spread of the virus and to help all Americans who have been impacted by this.

Again, we don’t want everybody taking this test; it’s totally unnecessary.  And this will pass.  This will pass through, and we’re going to be even stronger for it.  We’ve learned a lot.  A tremendous amount has been learned.

I want to thank Deborah Birx, and I want to ask her maybe to come up and say a few words as to what’s happening.  Dr. Birx is a highly respected person.  I’ve gotten to know her very well over the last six days.  And what we’ve done is rebuild something that was very old, very old-fashioned, somewhat obsolete.  Certainly obsolete when it comes to the kind of numbers that we’re talking about.

Dr. Birx, please.  Thank you, Deborah.

DR. BIRX:  Thank you, Mr. President.  It’s a pleasure to be here with all of you.

I think you know — at the beginning of this epidemic, HHS, through CDC, proactively developed an assay built on the existing flu surveillance system.  That surveillance system was then converted to diagnostic system.

But last Tuesday, seeing the spread of the virus around the globe, the President realized that our current approach to testing was inadequate to need — to meet the needs of the American public.  He asked for an entire overhaul of the testing approach.  He immediately called the private sector laboratories to the White House, as noted, and charged them with developing a high-throughput quality platform that can meet the needs of the American public.

We are grateful to LabCorp and Quest for taking up the charge immediately after the meeting and within 72 hours bringing additional testing access, particularly to the outbreak areas of Washington State and California, and now across the country.

We are also very grateful to the universities and large hospital systems that took up the charge to develop their own quality tests made available by new FDA guidance.  This has resulted in expanded testing across New York, California, Washington, Colorado, and you see sometimes those drive-thru options that have been made available through these high-throughput options.

Following the meeting last week, major commercial laboratory equipment and diagnostic companies took immediate action to adopt and develop new testing systems.  Last night, the initial company, Roche, received FDA approval, moving from request to development to approval in record time.

This innovative approach centered fully on unleashing the power of the private sector, focusing on providing convenient testing to hundreds of thousands of Americans within short turnaround times.  In less than two weeks together, we have developed a solution that we believe will meet the future needs — testing needs of Americans.

I understand how difficult this has been.  I was part of the HIV/AIDS response in the ‘80s.  We knew, from diag- — from first finding cases in 1981, it took us to almost 1985 to have a test.  It took us another 11 years to have effective therapy.  It is because of the lessons learned from that that we were able to mobilize and bring those individuals that were key to the HIV response to this response.

I understand that a lot of this behind-the-scenes action over the last couple of weeks was invisible to the press and the American people.  But this intense effort has not only resulted in innovative solutions, but an automated high-throughput system, bringing the availability of these quality coronaviral testing to the American people at unprecedented speed.

Finally, I want you to know: In South Korea, they did have large number of tests available over the last several weeks.  Their positivity rate is between 3 and 4 percent.  With LabCorp and Quest expanded testing, their positivity rate is between 1 and 2 percent.

So we want to also announce this new approach to testing, which will start in the screening website up here, facilitated by Google, where clients and patients and people that have interest can go, fill out a screening questionnaire — move down for symptoms or risk factors, yes.  They would move down this and be told where the drive-thru options would be for them to receive this test.  The labs will then move to the high-throughput automated machines to be able to provide results in 24 to 36 hours.

That is the intent of this approach.  We have seen it work just in our own United States, and we want to bring this across the continent.

Thank you very much.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, Deborah.  Great.

I’d like to maybe have Tony — do you want to come up?  You’ve become a — I think everybody out here knows you pretty well.  But Tony has been doing a tremendous job working long, long hours.  And you’ve seen a lot happen, but this has been — it’s been a great experience, and working with you has been terrific.

Tony, please.

DR. FAUCI:  Thank you very much, Mr. President.  This is an example of — another example of what I’ve been referring to in my discussions with many of you in the audience as a proactive, leaning-forward, aggressive, trying to stay ahead of the curve.

And what you’re seeing now with this order is that we’re going to be able to remove the constraints so that people at the state and the local level — the individual physician all the way up through the federal government — will have as many constraints as possible removed for them to do everything they possibly can so that we can implement the things that we’ve been talking about — the containment, the mitigation — so that, as I’ve said many times, that curve that I referred to that goes up, we don’t want to have that curve.  We want to suppress it down to that small mound.

And I think what we’ve done today is something that is going to be a very important element in having us be successful in doing that.

We still have a long way to go.  There will be many more cases, but we’ll take care of that.  And ultimately, as the President said, this will end.  But what’s going on here today is going to help it to end sooner than it would have.

Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, Tony.

If I could, some of these folks we know; they’re celebrities in their own right.  They’re the biggest business people, the greatest retailers anywhere in the world.  And one of them is Doug McMillon from Walmart.  And I’d like to have Doug, if you would, say a few words, wherever you may be.

Doug, please.

MR. MCMILLON:  When we got the call yesterday from the White House, we were eager to do our part to help serve the country.  And given what we’re facing, that’s certainly important to do.  We should all be doing that.

So we’ve been asked to make portions of our parking lot available in select locations in the beginning, and scaling over time as supply increases, so that people can experience the drive-thru experience that the President described.

We’ll stay involved and do everything we can from a supply-chain point of view to be of assistance.

Thank you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, Doug.  Appreciate it very much.

I’ll just stay right over here.  And, Richard, if you could come up, please.  Richard, please.  Walgreens.  Thank you.

MR. ASHWORTH:  Thank you, Mr. President.  And similar to Doug and Walmart, we’re happy to stand in here and help in communities all across America.  Because a lot of times, when we have natural disasters, our stores are a beacon in the community, and this situation is no different.

So we look forward to partnering with the CDC, the administration, HHS, and the task force, and specifically to the Vice President, who’s doing such a fantastic job.  We’re ready to engage and help.

Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Great job.  Thank you very much.

Brian Cornell, Target.  Thank you, Brian.  Thank you.  Please.

MR. CORNELL:  Well, Mr. President, thank you for inviting us here today, along with our colleagues from Walmart and Walgreens and our partners at CVS.  Normally, you’d view us as competitors, but today we’re focused on a common competitor, and that’s defeating the spread of the coronavirus.  And we look forward to working with the administration to do our fair share to alleviate this growing threat.

So, thank you for including us today.  In the near term, we’re all committed to making sure we’re keeping our stores open to serve the American consumer who is rapidly stocking up on household essentials, key food and beverage items that they need during this time; making sure we run safe stores; and creating an environment that’s safe for our team members, making sure that they feel supported during this very critical time.

So thank you for including us.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Great job.

Is Tom here?  Tom Polen.  Tom?  Tom Polen.  Please.

MR. POLEN:  Thank you, Mr. President.  As CEO of Becton Dickinson, we’re one of the leading providers of medical devices as well as collection products for testing of coronavirus.  We’re ramping up our manufacturing capacity to ensure that the right collection devices and testing equipment are ready to address this issue.  Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, Tom.  Great job you’ve done.

Stephen Rusckowski, Quest Diagnostics.  Please.  Great job.  Thank you very much.

MR. RUSCKOWKI:  Thank you very much.  Thank you, Mr. President.

So, as mentioned, we were called, with the leadership of the Vice President, last week to come together as an industry.  And we took advantage of that opportunity to work with the FDA, to work with the Center for Disease Control.  And we are up and running with tests in a number of our facilities.

As the President mentioned, we now have capabilities from Roche diagnostics that we will bring into our facilities this weekend.  And I know myself and also my colleague at LabCorp will be doing the same, so the capacity available to the American public to support this action with consumers will be considerably increased in the next few weeks.

Thank you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  I appreciate it.

And Matt Sause, please, of Roche.  Matt?  Thank you, Matt.

MR. SAUSE:  Thank you, Mr. President.  So, from Roche, we want to thank the FDA for their rapid approval of our coronavirus test.  We really appreciate the partnership with the CDC and the FDA to get that to market as fast as possible because it’s critical for us to make that available to help patients in need, and working with laboratories to get it up and going in the near future, which will bring hundreds of thousands of tests available to patients in need in the United States.  So, thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  And you can do it.  You can do it.  A great company.

David Pierre of Signify — Signify Health.  Please.  Thanks, David.

MR. PIERRE:  Thank you, Mr. President.  We are the largest housecall provider in the U.S., and we go to the homes of the most vulnerable elderly.  And through our network and our logistics engine, we stand ready to help and provide our clinicians to be where they’re needed, whether they’re in retail clinics or in the home.  And we’re here to assist.

Thank you very much.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  And we’ll be changing a lot of the rules, regulations for future, should this happen in the future, which we hope it never does.  But it will, I guess — somewhere out there.  There are some bad ones over the years, and I guess that’ll continue to an extent, but we hope it never happens.  But we’re going to be changing a lot of the old rules and specifications and regulations.

Adam Schechter, who has really been of tremendous help.  LabCorp.  Please.   Adam?

MR. SCHECHTER:  Thank you, Mr. President.  At LabCorp, we’re working every second of every day to increase the number of tests that we can run.  We’re working with academic medical centers, with our colleagues at Quest, with other hospital and other laboratories to ensure that we do everything we can to increase the testing as we move forward.

And I can tell you we understand how important the testing is, and we are committed to doing everything possible.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Great job.  Thank you.

Thomas Moriarty, CVS.  We all know CVS.  Thank you.

MR. MORIARTY:  Thank you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Thomas.

MR. MORIARTY:  Thank you, Mr. President.  We have been focused, since the start, of making sure our patients and the customers we serve have the information they need and the safety they need as well.  We are committed to working with the administration and local public health officials to make this work as well.  And thank you, sir, for the honor.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Thank you, Thomas.  Thanks.  Great job.

And Bruce Greenstein, LHC Group.  Tremendously talented people.  Thank you very much.

MR. GREENSTEIN:  Mr. President, thank you for the honor of being here.  And the home health industry has been treating patients and seniors in the safety and comfort of their own home for decades.  We’re very proud to be part of the equation for testing in their own home.  For Americans that can’t get to a test site or live in rural areas far away from a retail establishment,  we’re here to help and to partner with our hospitals and physicians, as well as the people we have here today that will be doing testing around the country.  Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Fantastic.

(Mr. Greenstein gives the President an elbow bump.)

MR. GREENSTEIN:  Oh, we’ll practice that.

THE PRESIDENT:  Okay, I like that.  That’s good.

We’re also announcing the following emergency executive actions today:

To help our students and their families, I’ve waived interest on all student loans held by federal government agencies, and that will be until further notice.  That’s a big thing for a lot of students that are left in the middle right now.  Many of those schools have been closed.

Based on the price of oil, I’ve also instructed the Secretary of Energy to purchase, at a very good price, large quantities of crude oil for storage in the U.S. Strategic Reserve.  We’re going to fill it right up to the top, saving the American taxpayer billions and billions of dollars, helping our oil industry and making us even further toward that wonderful goal — which we’ve achieved, which nobody thought was possible — of energy independence.  It puts us in a position that’s very strong, and we’re buying it at the right price.  And that’s something that would have not even been possible a week ago.  The price of oil went down quite a bit, so we’re going to fill it up.  This is a good time to fill it up.

I’d like to ask Mike Pence to say a few words, please.  VP.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Mr. President.  It is — this day should be an inspiration to every American, because thanks to your leadership from early on, not only are we bringing a whole-of-government approach to confronting the coronavirus, we’re bringing an all-of-America approach.

Mr. President, from early on, you took decisive action.  You suspended all travel from China.  You created travel advisories — South Korea and Italy.  We screened all travelers from all airports in both of those countries.  And on the unanimous recommendation of your health experts, you, at midnight tonight, will effectively suspend all travel from Europe.  And Americans that are returning will be screened and asked to voluntarily participate in a 14-day quarantine.

Throughout this process, Mr. President, you’ve put the health of America first, but you brought the best of America to address it.  And it’s not just at the federal level.  As you said, Mr. President, we’ve been working with states across the country.  We issued broad guidelines from CDC for every American.  But this week, at your direction, we tailored specific recommendations from CDC for New York, Washington State, California, Massachusetts, and Florida.

And we’ve been in continuous contact, as you said, with governors around the country.  And, Mr. President, you have forged a seamless partnership with every state and every territory in this country to put the health of our nation first.

But today, I trust that people around the country that are looking on at this extraordinary public and private partnership to address the issue of testing with particular inspiration.  After you tapped me to lead the White House Corona Task Force, Mr. President, you said this is all hands on deck, and you directed us to immediately reach out to the American business sector commercial labs to meet what we knew then would be the need for testing across the spectrum.  And today, with this historic public-private partnership, we have laid the foundation to meet that need.

And for Americans looking on, by this Sunday evening, we’ll be able to give specific guidance on a — on when the website will be available.  You can go to the website, as the President said.  You’ll type in your symptoms and be given direction whether or not a test is indicated.

And then, at the same website, you’ll be directed to one of these incredible companies that are going to give a little bit of their parking lot so that people can come by and do a drive-by test.

Mr. President, I want to join you in thanking Walmart and CVS and Target and Walgreen.  These are companies that are synonymous with communities large and small, where people come together.  And now they’re going to come together to meet the needs of the American public.

These commercial laboratories — LabCorp and Quest and Roche — have just done an incredible job stepping forward and are going to literally make — literally make hundreds and thousands of tests available and being processed with results to patients in the very near future.  But it’s all a result of you tasking us with bringing together not just government resources — which all state labs can now test across the country; CDC is testing — but you said, Mr. President, that we wanted to bring all the resources of the country together, and that’s what this partnership really means.

You know, the truth is that we have coronavirus cases now in 46 American states.  And while the risk of serious illness of the coronavirus remains low, we want to encourage every American to practice common sense, practice good hygiene, go to the CDC’s website to see what the guidance is for your community or for the American people broadly.

And as the President has said, it’s especially important now that we look at senior citizens with chronic underlying health conditions.  Last week, the President directed the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services to raise the standards at our nursing homes, increase inspections at our nursing homes.  And today, we’re offering very specific guidance, which Seema Verma will articulate, about visitations at nursing homes.

It’s important to remember that they were there for us when we were growing up, Mr. President.  They helped us with our homework.  They tucked us in at night.  They cheered us on as we pursued educations, cheered us on in our careers.  And now it’s time for us to be there with them and to recognize that seniors with chronic health conditions are the most vulnerable, and Americans can make a difference.  So wash your hands, use common sense, look after the most vulnerable.

And, Mr. President, I know I join you in saying that every American should be proud of this incredible public-private partnership that’s going to speeding access of testing to millions of Americans in the weeks ahead.

And together, as you’ve said many times, together we’ll get through this.  Together, we’ll put the health of America first.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Mike.  Thank you very much.

Seema.  Where is Seema?  I’d like you to maybe take that a step further, please, on nursing homes.  Thanks.

ADMINISTRATOR VERMA:  Thank you.  Well, thank you to the President for the declaration.  It allows my agency, CMS — that runs Medicare and Medicaid and has oversight of all of the nation’s healthcare facilities — to suspend regulations that can get in the way of treating patients during this time.

These temporary national blanket waivers are reserved for the rarest of circumstances, and they represent a massive mobilization of our country’s resources to combat this terrible virus.  And the flexibilities we are offering will be a God-send to the providers, clinicians, and facilities on the frontlines of this fight.

And later, CMS is going to be issuing guidance directing nursing homes to temporarily restrict all visitors and non-essential personnel, with a few exceptions such as end-of-life situations.

We fully appreciate that this measure represents a severe trial for residents of nursing homes and those who love them.  But we are doing what we must to protect our vulnerable elderly.  Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much, Seema.

As I said in my address to the nation the other night, all Americans have a role to play in defeating this virus.  Our most effective weapon right now is to limit the damage to our people and our country, and slow the spread of the virus itself.

The choice we make, the precautions we put into place are critical to overcoming the virus, reducing its spread and shortening the duration of the pandemic — which is what it is.

The CDC has published guidelines on the Coronavirus.gov to enable — it’s Coronavirus.gov, and it’s very — very heavily used right now, I will say — to enable every American to respond to this epidemic and to protect themselves, their families, and their communities, while the risks to young and healthy Americans remains very low.  We’ve learned a lot about this over the last two weeks.  Anyone can be a carrier for the virus and risk transmission to older Americans and those with underlying health conditions and those who are most at risk.  They have not done very well.  Older Americans who are — especially, if they have a health problem, they have not done well.

We must take all precautions and be responsible for the actions that we take and that we see other people take.  We want to prevent the spread and transmission of the disease.

It’s incredible what’s — sports — what’s happening with the sporting world, where so many of the great sports that we’ve gotten so used to at this time of the year, they’re not going to be meeting.  And they’ve done a great service actually.  But that — would be another way that it could be — problems could be caused.

But this is why I outlined on Wednesday night my admiss- — administration’s — the fact that we’ve issued a requirement suspending all medically unnecessary visits to various places, but in particular, nursing homes.  We should all be working off the same playbook when it comes to protecting Americans.  We have to.

We need to be consistent in adopting measures to limit the spread of the virus.  The virus is the same, whether it’s spreading in cities, towns, or rural communities.  The tools and tactics for attacking it are similar no matter where you go.  No matter where you go.  You have some hotspots throughout the world right now that people would have never thought possible, and they’re being very seriously affected.

Key among these efforts are breaking chains of transmission between people.  These measures have been adopted by many companies, universities, and schools.  And we want to protect the safety and the health of their employees and their students.  I encourage everyone to follow the guidelines we’ve issued by CDC and these commonsense measures.  A lot of it is common sense.

For the areas where the virus is spreading, the CDC is advising communities to postpone large gatherings, postpone assemblies, social functions, and sporting events; stagger recess and lunch for schools that aren’t canceled; limit in-person meetings; increase scheduled cleanings; and cancel work-sponsored travel — among numerous other steps that can be taken.

Americans are the strongest and most resilient people on Earth, and in the coming weeks, we will all have to make changes and sacrifices, but these short-term sacrifices will produce long-term gain.

And again, I’ve said we’re learning a lot for the future and future problems like this, or worse.  Or worse.  It could get worse.  The next eight weeks are critical.  We can learn — and we will turn a corner on this virus.

Some of the doctors say it will wash through, it will flow through.  Interesting terms and very accurate.  I think you’re going to find in a number of weeks it’s going to be a very accurate term.

In times of hardship, the true character of America always shines through.  We live in the company of the greatest heroes and the most inspiring citizens anywhere in the world.  We want to take care of our people.  We want to draw on the strength of our history, draw on the strength of our people, and we will get through this all together.  We will just get through it.  So much progress has already been made.

And, frankly, the numbers — because of steps that have been taken — are at a level that a lot of people are surprised, especially when you compare them with other places with far smaller populations.

The spirit and the will of our nation is unbreakable.  We will defeat this threat.  When America is tested, America rises to the occasion.

And to those families and citizens who are worried and concerned for themselves and their loved ones, I want you to know that your federal government will unleash every authority, resource, and tool at its disposal to safeguard the lives and health of our people.

So we’re with you every step of the way.  No nation is more prepared or more equipped to face down this crisis.  As you know, we are rated number one in the world.

We’re also helping other nations — many other nations; we’re helping them a lot.  And they’re doing okay, in some cases.  In some cases, they’re not doing well at all.  But we’re working with a lot of groups of people and a lot of other nations.

With faith and heart and hope and love and determination, we will succeed.  We will prevail.  We will be very, very successful.  And we’ll learn for the future.

Thank you all very much.  If you have any questions, we can take some.

Go ahead, John.  Please.  And if you’d like to ask some of the folks up here, it would be fine.  Please.

Q    Sure.  Mr. President, where are you with the House bill?  Yesterday, we talked to you in the Oval Office; you were opposed to it.  What has happened since then?  And what’s the holdup on that?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, we just don’t think they’re giving enough.  We don’t think the Democrats are giving enough.  We’re negotiating.  We thought we had something, but all of a sudden they didn’t agree to certain things that they agreed to.  So we could have something, but we don’t think they’re giving enough.  They’re not — they’re not doing what’s right for the country.

Q    And if I could ask Dr. Fauci —

Q    (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Go ahead, please.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  You just mentioned waiving interest for student loans.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

Q    You talked about buying oil from the — from the SPR, or adding to the SPR.  What other specific targeted measures is your administration thinking about taking?  The Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin, said today that you’re just in the “second inning” of things that you might be undergoing.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, well, that’s true.  And we are looking at many different things, as you know.  You know some of them — they’ve been written about very widely.  But we’re going to be releasing a paper in about two hours stating quite a few other steps.  Very important ones.

Q    Mr. President —

Please, go ahead.

Q    Like what, sir, if you wouldn’t mind?

THE PRESIDENT:  Please, go ahead.

Q    Thank you so much, Mr. President.  I want to — I want to know if you are in contact with the Brazilian President, Bolsonaro, after a member of his delegation who was with you Saturday was tested positive.

And also Senat- — I want to ask another question, if you’ll let me.  Senator Lindsey Graham and also Senator Scott — Rick Scott — are self-isolating.  Are you planning to take any kind of precautionary measure to protect you and also your staff who was there with him?

THE PRESIDENT:  No, we have no symptoms whatsoever.  And we have — we had a great meeting with the President of Brazil, Bolsonaro.  Great guy.  Very — a very tremendous — he’s done — he’s doing a fantastic job for Brazil.

And, as you know, he tested negative — meaning, nothing wrong — this morning.  And we got that word, too.  Because we did have dinner with him; we were sitting next to each other for a long period of time.

Q    But are you in contact with him over the coronavirus crisis?

THE PRESIDENT:  No, we — we have.  We’re talking about it, country to country, but we did discuss if he had a problem.  It was reported that he may have it, and he doesn’t, fortunately.

Q    Thank you so much, Mr. President.  Dr. Fauci said earlier this week that the lag in testing was, in fact, “a failing.”  Do you take responsibility for that?

And when can you guarantee that every single American who needs a test will be able to have a test?  What’s the date of that?

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, no, I don’t take responsibility at all, because we were given a — a set of circumstances and we were given rules, regulations, and specifications from a different time.  It wasn’t meant for this kind of an event with the kind of numbers that we’re talking about.  And what we’ve done is redesigned it very quickly with the help of the people behind me.  And we’re now in very, very strong shape.

I think we’ll be announcing, as I said, Sunday night, and this will start very quickly.  And we — we’ll have — we’ll have the ability to do in the millions over a very, very quick period of time.  So, no.

And what we have done — and we are going to be leaving a very indelible print for the future, in case something like this happens again.  But it was a — and that’s not the fault of anybody.  And, frankly, the old system worked very well for smaller numbers — much smaller numbers — but not for these kind of numbers.

Tony, maybe you’d like to say something?

Q    By Sunday night, will you have —

THE PRESIDENT:  Tony, please.

Q    Yes, please.  By Sunday night, will every American be able to get a test?

DR. FAUCI:  So, just to reiterate what I said to many of you multiple times: It’s (inaudible) of a system.  This system was not designed — for what it was designed for, it worked very well.  The CDC designed a good system.

If you want to get the kind of blanket testing and availability that anybody can get it or you could even do surveillance to find out what the penetrance is, you have to embrace the private sector.  And this is exactly what you’re seeing, because you can’t do it without it.

So when I said that, I meant the system was not designed for what we need.  Now, looking forward, the system will take care of it.

Q    And, Mr. President, with respect, you’ve been —

THE PRESIDENT:  And, interestingly, if you go back — please — if you go back to the swine flu, it was nothing like this.  They didn’t do testing like this.  And actually, they lost approximately 14,000 people.  And they didn’t do the testing.  They started thinking about testing when it was far too late.

What we’ve done — and one of the reasons I think people are respecting what we’ve done: We’ve done it very early.  We’ve gotten it very early.  And we’ve also kept a lot of people out.

Q    Mr. President —

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, please.  Go ahead.  Please.

Q    Mr. President, the last administration said that they had tested a million people at this point.  You’ve been —

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, ask them how they —

Q    — President for three years.

THE PRESIDENT:  — did with the swine flu.  It was a disaster.

Q    But with respect, you’ve been President for three years —

THE PRESIDENT:  Next, please.  Next, please.

Q    — and Wuhan was suffering —

THE PRESIDENT:  They had a very big failure with swine flu.  A very big failure.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  I want to ask you about the European travel ban that goes into effect at —

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

Q    — midnight tonight and the exemption that you’ve offered to the UK.  There are 17 countries that are in the so-called “Schengen zone” that have fewer coronavirus cases than the UK.  And just in the past 24 hours, the UK has added 208 coronavirus cases to their total.  Why do they, Mr. President, deserve an exemption?  And would you consider adding them to this travel ban list?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, that was recommended to me by a group of professionals, and we are looking at it based on the new numbers that are coming out.  And we may have to include them in the list of countries that we will, you could say, ban — or whatever — it is during this period of time.

But, yeah, their numbers have gone up fairly precipitously over the last 24 hours, so we may be adding that, and we may be adding a couple of others.  And we may, frankly, start thinking about taking some off.

Go ahead.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  I’m a correspondent with Hong Kong Phoenix TV.  You have been mentioned — you have mentioned that the number in China has been decreasing and China has made tremendous progress in the past two weeks.

THE PRESIDENT:  It’s true.

Q    I’m wondering how much confidence does this give you to control the virus in the United States.  And do you see the data China has been sharing with the United States has been helpful?

THE PRESIDENT:  I think it has been helpful.  We’ve been working very much with China.  I’ve spoken, as you know, with President Xi.  They went through hell, and their numbers are starting to look very good.  They’re really — they’re really looking very good.  We’re very happy about that.  We are sharing data, yes.  In fact, we’re sharing quite a bit of data, including the fact that some of our pharmaceutical companies are working over there right now with large groups of people.

Yeah, go ahead.  Please.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  You spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau yesterday.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, I did.

Q    Did you discuss the potential closing of the border between Canada and the U.S.?  And, by extension, are you considering ways to salvage the $2 billion daily trade between the two countries?

THE PRESIDENT:  So we didn’t discuss the border.  We’ve had a very good relationship.  Just about finished with the USMCA, as you know.  He called — actually, he called me to tell me that.  I think that was the primary reason for the call.

At the time, his wife had not been diagnosed.  And she’s a lovely lady — wonderful lady, great lady.  And since then, I’ve heard — read that the result was that she has it.  And I was a little surprised.  I think he was surprised also.  We did discuss it prior to.  She’s going to be fine, but he thought that she would not, most likely, have the virus.  Unfortunately, she does.

But we didn’t discuss the border yesterday, no.

Go ahead, please.

If you have any questions for these great geniuses up here, you should — even a business question related to what we’re talking about.

Q    Mr. President, Ross Palombo from ABC News Miami.  As a relatively new Floridian, what is your message today to the cruise line industry and the travel industry that Florida depends upon?  And since Senator Rick Scott and Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez have the same exposure as you and they are self-isolating, what’s your message to them?  That they shouldn’t be?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I don’t know that I had exposure, but I don’t have any of the symptoms.  And we do have a White House doctor and, I should say, many White House doctors, frankly.  And I asked them that same question, and they said, “You don’t have any symptoms whatsoever.”  And we don’t want people without symptoms to go and do the test.  The test is not insignificant.

As far as the cruise line business, we’re with them all the way.  It’s a great business.  It’s a great U.S. business, frankly.  And I know how important they are to the country.  That includes airlines.  But the cruise line business, obviously, was hit very hard.

We had a tremendous success out in Oakland where we moved it.  Vice President Pence did a fantastic job with that.  We worked with UK.  We worked with Canada.  They took their people back.  And Canada has approximately 600 people; UK, likewise, took a large number of people back to the United Kingdom.

And we have people quarantined.  It was a big operation, and it worked out really — you don’t hear about it anymore.  It worked out really well.

Mike, you may even want to say something about that because that was really done properly.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you, Mr. President.  And that program with the Grand Princess, the ship, is continuing to be administered in the highest standards, orderly way, as the President directed.  And Americans that needed treatment have received them.

I spoke to the governor of Iowa today, and some of those who now have been cleared are able, in proper supervision, to be returning to Iowa, where they’re making arrangements for them to do that.  Others in Texas, others in Georgia.  Again, it’s another example of the extraordinary cooperation of Governor Abbott, Governor Gavin Newsom, Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia.

But to add to that, the President directed me last Saturday to travel down to Miami.  We met with all the leaders of the cruise line industry.  Several cruise lines have announced a 60-day pause in operations.  Our Department of Homeland Security has praised them for doing that because of the unique health challenges particularly presented to seniors with underlying conditions.

We have a proposal from the cruise line industry, but they’re currently considering what other steps that they might take, perhaps even similar to what those other lines have taken.  We’re anticipating some response on that in the next 24 hours.

But as the President said, the American people cherish our cruise line industry, the men and women who work on the ships, the men and women who work on the shore, all the economies that are so benefitted by a vibrant cruise line industry.

And what the President has directed us to do is, whether there — whether there is a pause in the moment, as some cruise lines are doing, and as we all continue to discuss, we want to work with the cruise line industry to ensure that when we come through this, that cruise lines and the medical services that are available, and for the passengers and all of the crew, that cruise lines are safer than ever before and can prosper for many years to come.

THE PRESIDENT:  Go ahead, please.

Q    This question is for Drs. Fauci and Birk [sic] — Birx.  Dr. Fauci, based on what you currently know, what is the trajectory for when this outbreak will peak?  How long will the American people have to remain on this emergency footing?

And for Dr. Birx, as the administration tries to get its arms around this test kit shortage issue, the next glaring need could be respirators and related hospital equipment.  So what is the administration doing right now to ramp up production of respirators and that kind of equipment should this outbreak persist?

DR. FAUCI:  So, when you have an outbreak like this, particularly if you’re trying to interfere with it, it’s really impossible to predict the time element of when it’s going to peak and when it’s naturally going to go down.

So if you look at the situation where countries really did not get to the point of trying to contain and mitigate very well, you see a peak over several weeks and then down again over other several weeks.  What we’re trying to do with the efforts that we’re doing is to blunt that peak.

And I mentioned it many times, and I think it’s important and appropriate for me to mention it again because it answers your question: When you talk about preventing infections from without in — which is the kind of travel restrictions we’re talking about — then how do you handle what you already have in your country?  You continue some sort of containment, but you also do mitigation and you try to proportion it to the areas where there are the most infections.

The success of that and how much you make this turn into this is going to give you the amount of time.  If we’re successful, it’ll be less.  If we’re not successful, it’s going to be more.  But these kind of things generally run out in a few months.  Hopefully, we’ll make it several weeks — eight, nine, whatever weeks.  But I can’t give you a number because it depends on how successful we are.

DR. BIRX:  Great, thank you.  It’s a great question, and Dr. Fauci and I have worked together a very long time and continue.  It’s a privilege to work with him every day.

So I think you can learn very — and I appreciate there were some graphics done by some of the reporting over the last several days.  If you align the data from China with the data with South Korea, you can start to see almost a complete overlay of that data.  And so that’s what we’re tracking very closely, as well as Italy.  But you have an excellent question.

I just want to make one note: In South Korea, I want to repeat, only 4 percent of the tests were positive.  That means 96 percent of the people had a different respiratory disease because we’re in the middle of flu season, cold season, and all of the other respiratory diseases that we get every day.

In LabCorp and Quest’s early data, they’re running about 1 to 2 percent positive.  That means that we have a lot more other respiratory disease out there besides the coronavirus.  And that’s why the screening is critical.  But even with the screening, we’re going to low — run what we think are very low rates.

Needless to say, though, we’re taking it extraordinarily seriously to plan for what could come.  Not what Dr. Fauci talked about — blunting the curve — that makes it much less high need at that peak of the curve that we’re all planning for.

So we’re in full inventory of all of our assets by the President unlocking and this emergency order, and the Secretary of HHS’s ability — it unlocks all of those stockpiles, those needs: what the VA has, what the DOD has, what the National Guard has, and what every hospital has.

And the hospital emergency preparedness plan allows them to defer elective issues to keep those hospital beds open for those who might need it.  So we’re in full planning mode for each of those things.

THE PRESIDENT:  And I might add that we’re in the process — and, in some cases, have already done it — ordered a large number of respirators, just in case.  We hope we don’t need them, but we’ve ordered a large number.

Yeah.  Go ahead, please.

Q    Thank you very much, Mr. President.  In your speech to the nation, you mentioned the situation in China and South Korea have improved, and you’re thinking about remove the restrictions, also the warning —

THE PRESIDENT:  Right.

Q    — in place right now.  When can we expect that announcement?  And how do you see the overall progress that Asian countries made?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, some are making progress; some are not, as you know.  But some are making progress.  And as they make progress, as they get down to the number that we all think is right — that they know is right, we know is right — we’ll be opening it up.  And some are really moving along rapidly.  We hope to be able to open things up as quickly as possible.

Go ahead, please.  Go ahead.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  I’d like to ask Secretary Azar and Dr. Fauzi [sic] just how —

THE PRESIDENT:  That was (inaudible).  (Laughs.)

Q    Dr. Fauci.  Okay?

THE PRESIDENT:  Right.  Better.

Q    All right.

THE PRESIDENT:   Better.  Not 100 percent, but 90 percent.

Q    Right.

THE PRESIDENT:  Go ahead.

Q    This affects the elderly, primarily.  And in that sense, it’s an unusual disease.  Is any specific research being done as to why it affects our senior citizens more than others?

DR. FAUCI:  So, I don’t mean to diminish your question, but we already know why it would affect senior citizens more, because when you talk about anything that requires a robust immune system — as you get older, your immune system is not as potent as it is when you were young.  And that’s the reason why, when you talk about even influenza, which we have extraordinary experience with over decades and decades, the people who are very vulnerable are the elderly and those with underlying conditions.

The same thing holds true for a variety of other disease. Why cancer is more prevalent in some — in mostly in older individuals — because the immune system that screens for it is less robust.  So it really is something that is kind of well-known over a lot of studies.

THE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  OAN, please.  OAN.

Q    Mr. President, the Chinese officials are expressing some tones of discontent with how — where the source of this virus has come from, and they’re spinning some odd narratives.  What are your response to the Chinese officials who are doing that?  And have they signaled any kind of resistance to upcoming trade talks in response to how we’re handling this virus?

THE PRESIDENT:  No, we have our deal with China.  They’re going to be buying $250 billion worth of goods and $50 billion from our farmers.  And that’s a great deal for our country; it’s about time somebody did that.  And, frankly, phase two, we’ll start negotiating.

I did read one article, but I don’t think that article was representative — certainly not of my conversations with President Xi — and they know where it came from.  We all know where it came from.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Yamiche Alcindor from PBS NewsHour.

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

Q    My first question is: You said that you don’t take responsibility, but you did disband the White House pandemic office, and the officials that were working in that office left this administration abruptly.  So what responsibility do you take to that?  And the officials that worked in that office said that you — that the White House lost valuable time because that office was disbanded.  What do you make of that?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I just think it’s a nasty question because what we’ve done is — and Tony has said numerous times that we’ve saved thousands of lives because of the quick closing.  And when you say “me,” I didn’t do it.  We have a group of people I could —

Q    It’s your administration.

THE PRESIDENT:  I could ask perhaps — my administration — but I could perhaps ask Tony about that because I don’t know anything about it.  I mean, you say — you say we did that.  I don’t know anything about it.

Q    You don’t know about the —

THE PRESIDENT:  We’re spending — I don’t know.  It’s the —

Q    — about the reorganization that happened at the National Security Council?

THE PRESIDENT:  It’s the — it’s the administration.  Perhaps they do that.  You know, people let people go.  You used to be with a different newspaper than you are now.  You know, things like that happen.

Q    But this was a — this was an org- —

THE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Please go ahead.

Q    This was an organization at the National Security Council.

THE PRESIDENT:  We’re doing a great job.  Let me tell you, these professionals behind me and the — these great, incredible doctors and business people — the best in the world.  And I can say that.  Whether it’s retailers or labs, or anything you want to say, these are the best of the world.  We’re doing a great job.

We have 40 people right now.  Forty.  Compare that with other countries that have many, many times that amount.  And one of the reasons we have 40 and others have — and, again, that number is going up, just so you understand.  And a number of cases, which are very small, relatively speaking — it’s going up.  But we’ve done a great job because we acted quickly.  We acted early.  And there’s nothing we could have done that was better than closing our borders to highly infected areas.

Please, go ahead.

Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Vanessa Jaklitsch for NTN24 for Latin America countries —

THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, sure.

Q    — and also for Spain, La Razón and Antena 3.  I would like to ask you two very brief questions.  One: For how long we’re going to have the emergency — I mean, the national emergency?  And —

THE PRESIDENT:  I hope not long, but it’s there now and it gives tremendous powers for things that we need.  Tremendous power, actually.  And the Stafford Act and various other things that we’re involved with and have studied and memorized in so many different ways and forms, it gives the kind of power that we need to get rid of this virus.

And we’re going to do it very quickly.  And I hope we won’t need it very long, but whatever it takes.

Q    So, for now, we still don’t know for how long?  And I — something very important I wanted to ask you is like, how do you think — do you really think it’s essential coordinating with other countries, and learning from the lessons that — they already suffer the same situation — countries —

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

Q    — of course, like China and South Korea, but now recently —

THE PRESIDENT:  Sure.

Q    — Italy and Spain.  And how —

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, Italy is having a —

Q    — is that coordination done?  Thank you so much, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT:  Italy is having a very — yeah — we’re in touch with Italy and, you know, it’s a — it’s a country that we love.  We have tremendous — millions and millions of people, originally — origins from Italy.  And we’re working with them.  They’re in a very — they’re in, probably, relatively speaking, the toughest position of all.

We’re in touch with everybody.  We’re in touch with — when I say “everybody,” we’re in touch with many of the countries that you know about, that you’re writing about.  And they’re calling us asking for advice.  They’re asking for the advice of the people behind me.

Italy has got a tough situation, but they’re — they’re really — they have really clamped down and I think they’re going to see some very good results.  It’s tough.  What they did — they really took their medicine, but they’re going to see some much better results.

Yeah, Jeff.

Q    Thank you, sir.  With regard to domestic travel: Should Americans feel safe or should Americans at all be traveling to states such as Washington State, New York, and other hotspots within this country?

And a follow-up on Brazil: You’re asking people who come back from America — from Europe — Americans who are coming back from Europe to self-quarantine for a couple weeks.  You were in a picture with somebody who now has coronavirus from Brazil, at Mar-a-Lago.  How is that different?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I’ll tell you, first of all, I’m not coming back from someplace.

Q    But you were exposed.

THE PRESIDENT:  We — and there was somebody that they say has it.  I have no idea who he is, but I take pictures and it lasts for, literally, seconds.  I don’t know the gentleman that we’re talking about.  I have no idea who he is.  I haven’t seen the picture.  I said, “There’s a picture of somebody,” but I take sometimes hundreds of pictures a day.  And that night I was taking hundreds of pictures.  So I just don’t know.

Now I did sit with the President for probably two hours, but he has tested negative.  So that’s good.

Q    It’s just a matter of —

THE PRESIDENT:  Please, go ahead.

Q    And the domestic travel, sir?

THE PRESIDENT:  Go ahead, please.

Q    The travel?  The first part of the question was domestic travel.

THE PRESIDENT:  I would say, if you stay home, it’s not bad.  It’s not bad.  Now, there are certain parts of the country that are — essentially, have no — have zero problem.  Washington has been very tough — in particular, a nursing home.  And, but Washington — the State of Washington has been very tough.  It’s been a big percentage of — when you talk about the 40 deaths, that’s been has been a big percentage of the deaths, as you know very well.  And they all came from a very certain area, unfortunately.

Please, go ahead.

Q    Mr. President —

THE PRESIDENT:  Go ahead.  Okay.

Q    Thank you very much, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes.

Q    Cordelia Lynch, Sky News.  You talked this week about the UK doing a good job in tackling coronavirus.  In light of the rising cases, are you changing your mind about that?  You also just spoke about possible travel restrictions.  Have you discussed when they might be put in place?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, in light of the results, as we discussed before — in light of the results, we’re going to be looking at it.  And I know the task force is looking at it very strongly — the Vice President, everybody.  It was looking good, but they’ve –the results have been building up pretty rapidly.  So we’ll — we’ll be taking another look at that.  Yes, absolutely.

Go ahead, please.

Q    Mr. President, thank you.  I want to first follow up on Jeff’s question, because the person you were standing next to, whether you know who he is or not, tested positive for coronavirus.   Dr. Fauci said this morning, “If you stand next to somebody who tested positive, you should self-isolate and get a test.”  You say your White House doctor is telling you something different.  Who should Americans listen to?

And my second question is —

THE PRESIDENT:  I think they have to listen to their doctors, and I think they shouldn’t be jumping to get the test unless it’s necessary.  But I think they have to listen to their doctors.  And I mean, I don’t know the — I haven’t seen the picture.  Somebody said there’s a picture with somebody taking a picture with me, but I haven’t seen it.  But I can tell you —

Q    Well, doctors have said you might have it even if you don’t have symptoms.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well —

Q    Are you being selfish by not getting tested and potentially exposing —

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I didn’t say I wasn’t going to be tested.

Q    Are you going to be?

THE PRESIDENT:  Most likely, yeah.  Most likely.

Q    When do you think that will happen?

THE PRESIDENT:  Not for that reason, but because I think I will do it any way.  Fairly soon.

Q    Will you let us know the results?

THE PRESIDENT:  We’re working on that.  We’re working out a schedule.

Q    My second question, Mr. President —

THE PRESIDENT:  You go ahead, please.

Q    That was a follow-up.

THE PRESIDENT: Go ahead.

Q    (Inaudible.)  (Off-mic.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

Q    I know there’s been a lot of talk about testing.  I just want to make sure we’re clear though, because we’ve been hearing from doctors who say, as of today, they still can’t get patients tested who need a test.  So, as of today, can everyone who a doctor wants to have tested get tested?  And if not, when?  When will doctors —

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, that’s been true for a while.  But I’ll let Mike — why don’t you answer that, Mike, please?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, as the President said and Dr. Fauci has articulated, the nature of our current system — where the CDC has sample sent and tests are performed or state labs perform tests or, in some cases, university and hospital labs perform tests — is generally adequate for an infectious disease or for people getting diagnostic work done.  But given the sheer scale of this, the President tasked us with bringing together this extraordinary public and private partnership.

Today, by some estimates, when you add all the labs together — and, today, the President made it possible for every state in the country and their state labs to authorize labs across their state to do coronavirus testing.

We — we’re estimating somewhere between 15- and 20,000 tests a day are able to be performed.  But very soon, with the program that was announced today, Americans will be able to visit one of the sites closest to them, as described on the website, if they’re symptomatic — if the questionnaire indicates it — to be able to have a test there.  And these incredible companies will process the test and they’ll receive that information.

But, for now, the best advice that we can give for people is to speak to their doctor, as the President just said.  And if the doctor indicates, that physician — if it’s not a university hospital or otherwise authorized lab — can contact the state lab.  And, again, every state lab in the country can perform tests today.

But what the President charged us with, when I was tasked to take over the White House Coronavirus Task Force, was: Open up tests all across the country.  And the President said, a few days ago, that we made it clear that any American that wanted to get a test would be able, clinically, to get a test.  Because I literally heard from the Governor of Washington State, who said the doctors in Washington State were saying that if you were only mildly symptomatic, they would not order a test.  And fortunately, the President directed CDC to clarify that.

Now anyone in consultation with their physician, regardless of their symptoms can request a test and their doctors will contact those agencies, those labs in their state.  But very soon, Americans will be able to go to these — these drive-in sites and be able to obtain and participate in a test.

Dr. Birx, is there more to amplify that?

DR. BIRX:  No, I think — I think that’s perfectly said.  I think, just to review one more time about the testing: With LabCorp and Quest — I think many of you have been to a doctor’s office and seen the little boxes outside — what they do is they deliver both the specimen collection piece — because, remember, it’s a nasal swab; it’s not a tube of blood.  So they’ve delivered that to doctors’ offices and hospitals, and then they will arrange to pick that up.

The important piece in this all is they’ve gone from a machine that may have a lower throughput, to the potential to have automated extraction.  I know you don’t want all of these details, but it’s really key for the laboratory people.  It’s an automated extraction of the RNA that then runs in an automated way on the machine, with no one touching it, and the result comes out at the other end.

So, sample to machine to results.  That cuts out a lot of the manual pieces that were happening that were delaying the test results.

Q    And so, with that, what’s the timeline — like from when you’re tested to when you get results?  Like, next week, what should people expect?

DR. BIRX:  Well, with the prior testing, it was taking several days because the test is slower.  We believe with this test, because of its throughput, that the testing can be from start — remember, it has to transport — to the laboratory that will run it.  And then we’re hoping that all can be finished within 24 hours, which is very similar to other tests that you receive today.

These are not point-of-care tests.  We are working on point-of-care tests, but we have to realize point-of-care tests take six months or more to develop.  So we’re not waiting for those.  We’re still diagnosing this on nucleic acid, so as an antibody.   This is actually the antigen — the actual virus in your nose that we’re amplifying.

THE PRESIDENT:  I think you have to remember, though: We’re working very closely with states, and you have a smaller form and more targeted form of government going in and doing it — like, in New York, where the relationship is very good; like Gavin Newsom, where he made some very complimentary — because that’s California — he made some really complimentary comments the other day about how we’re working together.  We worked on the ship together, but we worked on a lot of other things together, having to do with this.

And we’re — well, really, the relationship that we have — I can’t think of a bad relationship.  We’re helping them.  We’re funding them, in some cases, depending on what it is you’re talking about.  And we’re all working together very closely.  So we’ve done, really, I think a tremendous job of teamwork with the different states.

All right.  One or two more.  And if you have — if you have questions for these folks — does anybody have a question for the folks up here?  Who has a question up here?  You have?  Okay, go ahead.  If you have a question, go ahead.

Q    Thank you.  I have one for you as well.

THE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  I thought — I knew you would.

Q    (Laughs.)  No, but I do have one for them, because I haven’t heard this yet.

THE PRESIDENT:  I was waiting for that.  Go ahead.

Q    Because I haven’t heard this yet.

THE PRESIDENT:  Ask them first, please.

Q    Yes, I will.  Okay.  With regards to the CEOs, can you please tell us when you expect to see items like hand sanitizer that have been going out of stock very quickly back on the shelves?  There have been a lot of reports about that.

And, for you, Mr. President, could you talk about a potential bailout for the cruise industry?  You had suggested that could happen.  Is that something you’re still looking at?  And how much would that be?

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I didn’t suggest that it could happen, but I can tell you it’s an industry that was very badly impacted by what’s going on with the virus.  And it’s a great industry.  It’s a very important industry and we will be helping them.  And we will be helping the airline industry, if we have to — assuming we have to.

So far, people haven’t been asking.  But if they should be asking, we’ll — we want to make sure our airlines are very strong.  And then, one day — and one day, all of a sudden, it wasn’t looking so good.

Interestingly, we were just talking — I was talking to Doug, and the numbers they’re doing from the retailing standpoint — I guess, because of this, your business is like the opposite.  All of you have done — you’ve been selling a lot of — a lot of stuff.  Do you want to answer the question, as to the hand sanitizers?

MR. MCMILLON:  Sure.  Yeah, specifically the areas where we’re seeing pressure in the supply chain are surface cleaners, cleaning supplies, paper goods, in particular.  Hand sanitizer is going to be very difficult to have 100 percent in stock on for some time.  We’re still replenishing it and shipping it, but as soon as it hits the stores, it’s going.  The same thing is true for the categories I just mentioned.  So all of the retailers will be working hand-in-hand with the suppliers to bring that to the market as fast as we can.

Q    What is your advice though for Americans who are seeking those items?  What is your advice?  They’re selling out online.  They’re selling out in the stores.  What —

MR. MCMILLON:  I think — I think this team has given you other examples of what people can do to fight back against this virus, and you should look at the entire list.

THE PRESIDENT:  Please.

DR. FAUCI:  Please.  I mean, obviously, it sounds very simplistic, but wash your hands as often as you possibly can.  And I know you’re not always in a position to be able to wash your hands, but wash them as much as you can.  If you don’t have the alcohol wipes, try and get them.  If you can’t get them, just try as best as possible to do it.  I mean you got to do the best you can.

THE PRESIDENT:  Alex, please.

SECRETARY AZAR:  Well, just general preparedness.  You know, you want to wash your hands.  You want to keep distance from people.  And if you’re around someone sick, keep away from them.  Just basic, basic public health.

No, these guys are selling a lot of toilet paper.  I don’t know, there seems — Tony, do you need to give some guidance that toilet paper is not an effective protection against getting the coronavirus?  (Laughs.)  They’re selling out.  But the — soap and water.  Hot water, soap, 20 seconds.  That’s how you do it.

THE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  One more.  Go ahead.  Go ahead.  No.  Over here.  Behind you.  Behind you.

Q    Thank you very much, Mr. President.  You have a great team, of course.

THE PRESIDENT:  That’s true.  Thank you.

Q    My question is to Mr. President: Are you happy from the Chinese response?  What correctly really told you — what really happened those days?

And second, Prime Minister Modi, or India, have closed borders until April 15th.  If you have spoken with the Prime Minister of India, and if they have needed any help?

And finally, sir, any message for the small businesses?  Because they are losing some businesses because of this.  Thank you, sir.

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, on small businesses, the Small Business Administration is now stacked with money to help them, and we’re going to make the money readily available if they need it — small businesses.

We had a great time in India.  It was an incredible two days, and he’s a great friend of mine.  And he’s a friend of his people, because he was greeted incredibly warmly, as was I.  And that stadium — that was an incredible event.  And I loved being with him, so just say hello to him.  But we — we talked about everything.  We talked about far more than just borders.

And as far as President Xi —  likewise, he’s a friend of mine.  I believe that we are dealing in good faith.  And we just worked to, as you know, and as I just said — we just worked an incredible deal.  A big deal.  One of the biggest deals ever made of any kind.  Big even by the standards of some of the people here — the deal with China.  But I think that they want to get to the bottom of things also.

We’re working — our drug companies, our pharmaceutical companies are working very closely with China and with India, as you know, and with — all over the world.  And they’re all over the world.  These are magnificent companies that are very, very knowledgeable.

And it’s — we’re very lucky to have them, because I think you’re going to come up with — whether it’s therapeutic or whether it’s just help — helping getting better. And then ultimately, a vaccine, which takes a little bit longer because of the test periods and a couple of other reasons. You’re going to have it very quickly because of the great knowledge.  And they’ll have it very quickly.  They’ve made a tremendous amount of progress.

Thank you all very much.  We appreciate it.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.

END

4:42 P.M. EDT