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Coronavirus US live: Trump blames states for lack of supplies Coronavirus US live: Trump blames states for lack of supplies
(32 minutes later)
‘Those states should have had the equipment’, the president said‘Those states should have had the equipment’, the president said
Fact check: Flatliners
Trump referred to states with “no bump” as “flatliners”, apparently arguing residents in some states have done a better job staying home than others, thereby flattening the curve.
However, it’s difficult to tell whether those states are, in fact, experiencing fewer cases, because of the huge difference in how states are testing. For example, Arizona has tested only 13 residents per 100,000, compared to New York, which is testing 627 residents per 100,000.
Trump also repeatedly referred to states with fewer cases, and states where the number of cases has increased slowly as “flatliners”.
“Flatliner” is a term for patients who show no sign of a heartbeat or brain activity, meaning they are dying or have died.
Fact check: California
Donald Trump said that California is “very flat” referring to graphs showing the increase in the number of reported infections. In fact, California is one of the worst affected by the pandemic, with cases sharply increased over the past week – resulting in a very steeply curved “line” on a graph.
Moreover, California has lagged in testing. Public health experts expect that the state will see many more cases as more people are tested for the disease.
Jared Kushner denied that he was running a shadow task force, complicating the work of public health experts.
“Everything that I am doing is at the direction of the Vice President,” the president’s son-in-law said. “ I talk to the VP sometimes five times a day. I also talk to Dr. Birx and Dr. Fauci.”
Kushner earlier mentioned that he was able to secure PPE for a New York hospital after a friend of the president complained about a lack of supplies.
Fact check: 85% of states have stay at home orders.
Trump said 85% of states have issued stay-at-home orders.
There are 50 states and 11 have not issued statewide stay-at-home orders. That means 78% of states have stay-at-home orders.
Dividing any number of states by 50 wouldn’t produce 85%.
Jared Kushner’s best words, from earlier in the briefing:
Fact check: Travel restrictions
The president touted the administration’s travel restrictions in response to criticisms that the administration was late to act on the coronavirus crisis.
“I cut off China very early,” Trump said. “I cut off Europe very early.”
In fact, the administration’s travel restrictions did not “cut off” travel — from Europe or China. The policies included several exemptions for American citizens and other groups of travelers. The administration’s restrictions came too late to make a significant difference, epidemiologists told the Guardian, as they were enacted after the virus was already spreading within the US.
Still, the president boasted, “ee had bans long before we thought of bans,” referring to prior travel bans on mostly Muslim counties. “We’re looking at a lot of things and a lot of different bans.”
The climbing rate of infection in the US compared to the rate of infections in Italy is worrying, Dr. Birx said.The climbing rate of infection in the US compared to the rate of infections in Italy is worrying, Dr. Birx said.
“I can tell by the curve as it is today that not everyone is following the social distancing guidance,” Birx said. “We can bend our curve, but everyone has to take responsibility as Americans.”“I can tell by the curve as it is today that not everyone is following the social distancing guidance,” Birx said. “We can bend our curve, but everyone has to take responsibility as Americans.”
The newly approved coronavirus tests that can provide results within 15 minutes are being sent to Indian country and rural areas, according to Dr. Birx.The newly approved coronavirus tests that can provide results within 15 minutes are being sent to Indian country and rural areas, according to Dr. Birx.
A total of 18,000 tests going to be sent out, she said, to areas with limited infrastructure and ability to process tests, that are set away from big processing centers.A total of 18,000 tests going to be sent out, she said, to areas with limited infrastructure and ability to process tests, that are set away from big processing centers.
Fact check: Scarves are better than masksFact check: Scarves are better than masks
A reporter asked whether the White House would recommend all Americans wear face masks, such as N95 respirators. In response, Trump said Americans could decide for themselves, and added: “In many cases the scarf is better, it’s thicker”.A reporter asked whether the White House would recommend all Americans wear face masks, such as N95 respirators. In response, Trump said Americans could decide for themselves, and added: “In many cases the scarf is better, it’s thicker”.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers bandanas and scarves a last resort measure. Their efficacy is not studied. They do not come standard, like N95 masks, which under ideal circumstances are fitted specifically to people’s faces. They should not be considered an effective way to prevent coronavirus infection. They should be used only when there is no other option.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers bandanas and scarves a last resort measure. Their efficacy is not studied. They do not come standard, like N95 masks, which under ideal circumstances are fitted specifically to people’s faces. They should not be considered an effective way to prevent coronavirus infection. They should be used only when there is no other option.
“We don’t want people to get a false sense of security.” from masks, said Dr Deborah Birx. Masks are good for protecting others, Birx said – but they aren’t as useful for protecting yourself.“We don’t want people to get a false sense of security.” from masks, said Dr Deborah Birx. Masks are good for protecting others, Birx said – but they aren’t as useful for protecting yourself.
Social distancing, and maintaining a 6ft distance between yourself, washing and disinfecting hands are much better ways of keeping safe, she said.Social distancing, and maintaining a 6ft distance between yourself, washing and disinfecting hands are much better ways of keeping safe, she said.
Mike Pence said that the task force has proposed using some of the $100bn allocated to hospitals, to compensate them for caring for uninsured payments. Of course, that’s not the same as directly providing funds to uninsured families, which is what Trump mentioned.Mike Pence said that the task force has proposed using some of the $100bn allocated to hospitals, to compensate them for caring for uninsured payments. Of course, that’s not the same as directly providing funds to uninsured families, which is what Trump mentioned.
The vice-president said that the government will “find a way” to pay for the coronavirus treatment of uninsured people, and more details are forthcoming. Simply reopening the exchanges to allow uninsured people to become insured still doesn’t seem to be under consideration.The vice-president said that the government will “find a way” to pay for the coronavirus treatment of uninsured people, and more details are forthcoming. Simply reopening the exchanges to allow uninsured people to become insured still doesn’t seem to be under consideration.
Trump said that he’s going to get a “cash payment” to people unable to buy into the Obamacare exchanges. The White House has resisted calls to reopen the healthcare exchanges to allow uninsured Americans get health care coverage during the coronavirus pandemic.Trump said that he’s going to get a “cash payment” to people unable to buy into the Obamacare exchanges. The White House has resisted calls to reopen the healthcare exchanges to allow uninsured Americans get health care coverage during the coronavirus pandemic.
Fact Check: The DOJ busted an N95 mask hoarder
Navarro said that the government had already cracked down on an equipment hoarder.
This is true. The Department of Justice confiscated 192,000 N95 respirator masks from a warehouse in New Jersey. Those supplies were then given to health departments in New Jersey and New York City. However, New York City’s expected need for N95 respirator masks at the peak of the crisis is expected to reach up to 70,000 per day, so busts like these will not be enough on their own to solve the lack of personal protective equipment.
“By the way, the states should have been building their stockpiles,” Trump said, reiterating that the federal government is “a backup.”
States are to blame for not buying up supplies, and keeping them. “Ideally those states should have had the equipment,” he said. “We’re (the federal government) a back-up not an ordering clerk”
Trade and economic adviser, and Defense Production Act policy coordinator Peter Navarro said that the bidding on supplies that governors is due to a “black market” of bidders driving up prices. He said domestic supplies are being bought up and sent abroad.
The administration will ask the post office and customs to stop the export of PPE, Navarro said, adding that the president will be signing an executive order to that he says will crackdown on the hoarding of equipment.
Fact Check: Masks are being sent to New York City
The vice-president, Mike Pence, said the federal government is sending 200,000 N95 masks to the public health hospitals in New York City, those most stretched by the Covid-19 crisis. There are 11 such hospitals in New York. However, that need will likely fall far short of what is needed. About two weeks ago, the New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, said the city is burning through roughly 40,000 N95 masks a day, and that need could increase to 70,000 a day at the peak. Nurses on the frontlines in New York have started protesting the lack of personal protective equipment across the country, including in New York City.
Context: Supplies
Addressing why most of the airlifted supplies that arrived in New York from China earlier this week are going to the commercial market, Admiral John Polowczyk said: “That’s normally how things work.”
“I am putting volume into that system,” he said, rather than sending supplies directly to Fema. Governors, including Andrew Cuomo, have complained that states have to bid against each other and against Fema to secure life-saving medical supplies.
Fact Check: “Greatest healthcare system in the world”
In extolling Americans to stay home, the vice-president Mike Pence said America has the “greatest healthcare system in the world”.
In fact, America has the most expensive healthcare system in the world, but by many measures is far behind the best. In a 2014 report from the Urban Institute, the US ranked dead last out of 11 countries overall, and last in four of six other metrics. Those metrics were access, efficiency, equity, healthy lives and health expenses.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the US struggled for months to launch accurate, effective and quick tests to the population, and still lags behind countries such as South Korea in per capita testing. “Everyone working in this space would agree that no matter how you measure it, the US is far behind on this,” Jen Kates, the director of global health and HIV policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation, told Vox about the US’s coronavirus response.
“I’ve known you for many years, but I never knew how bad a senator you are for the state of New York until I became president,” he wrote to the Senate minority leader. “No wonder AOC and others are thinking about running against you in the primary. If they did, they would likely win,” he added, referring to progressive freshman congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez.
Schumer has been critical of the president’s response to the crisis and has called on Trump to put a military czar to oversee the production of medical equipment.
In a scathing letter to the president sent earlier today, Schumer said that “the existing federal leadership void has left America with an ugly spectacle in which States and cities are literally fending for themselves, often in conflict and competition with each other, when trying to procure precious medical supplies and equipment.”
Kushner, a real estate developer with no medical expertise, has inserted himself into the federal government’s efforts to respond to the coronavirus crisis. He has become a point-person, acting as a middle between agency officials and the White House, according to reports.
The president’s son-in-law said the president asked him to “break down every barrier” to help the effort, he said. “The president wants us to think outside the box and get the best ideas to keep Americans safe.”
Trump repeated that he does not want states depending on the federal government. “We are a secondary source,” he said, adding that the federal government should be a last resort.
Of course, governors have said that they are desperate – they need to turn to their last resort.