This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52553829

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Coronavirus: White House plans to disband virus task force Coronavirus: White House plans to disband virus task force
(32 minutes later)
US Vice-President Mike Pence has said the White House coronavirus task force could be disbanded this month because of the country's "tremendous progress". US President Donald Trump has confirmed the White House coronavirus task force will be winding down, with Vice President Mike Pence suggesting it could be closed within weeks.
He told reporters the task force may hand over US pandemic response to be led on an "agency-by-agency level" at the end of May or early June. The president it had done a great job but the response would take a new form.
"We are bringing our country back," Mr Trump said during a visit to a mask-manufacturing factory in Arizona. 
New confirmed infections per day in the US currently top 20,000, and daily deaths exceed 1,000.New confirmed infections per day in the US currently top 20,000, and daily deaths exceed 1,000.
US health officials warn the virus may spread as businesses begin to reopen.US health officials warn the virus may spread as businesses begin to reopen.
What did President Trump say?
During a visit to the factory in Phoenix, Mr Trump told journalists: "Mike Pence and the task force have done a great job, but we're now looking at a little bit of a different form, and that form is safety and opening. And we'll have a different group probably set up for that."
Mr Trump continued: 'We have now a different, a sort of a combination of safety and reopening. So we'll have something in a different form."
The president was asked if it was "mission accomplished", and he said: "No, not at all. The mission accomplished is when it's over."
The president was also asked if White House task force experts Dr Deborah Birx and Dr Anthony Fauci would still be involved in efforts to address the coronavirus. 
"They will be and so will other doctors and so will other experts in the field," the president answered.
He spoke after US Vice-President Mike Pence told reporters the task force could soon be disbanded.
What did the vice-president say?What did the vice-president say?
In a briefing with reporters on Tuesday, Mr Pence was asked about a report that the task force would soon wind down. In a briefing with reporters earlier on Tuesday, Mr Pence said the Trump administration was "starting to look at the Memorial Day window, early June window as a time when we could begin to transition back to having our agencies begin to manage, begin to manage our national response in a more traditional manner".
He said the Trump administration was "starting to look at the Memorial Day window, early June window as a time when we could begin to transition back to having our agencies begin to manage, begin to manage our national response in a more traditional manner".
He said it was "a reflection of the tremendous progress we've made as a country".He said it was "a reflection of the tremendous progress we've made as a country".
Mr Pence has led the task force, which reports to President Trump and co-ordinates with medical institutes, political staff and state governors.
The task force consulted with medical experts to formulate national recommendations on social distancing.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany later tweeted that the president "will continue his data-driven approach towards safely re-opening".White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany later tweeted that the president "will continue his data-driven approach towards safely re-opening".
What did President Trump say?
During a visit to a mask-manufacturing factory in Phoenix, Arizona, President Donald Trump told journalists: "Mike Pence and the task force have done a great job, but we're now looking at a little bit of a different form, and that form is safety and opening. And we'll have a different group probably set up for that."
Mr Trump continued: 'We have now a different, a sort of a combination of safety and reopening. So we'll have something in a different form."
The president was asked if it was "mission accomplished", and he said: "No, I wouldn't say that at all."
The president was asked, too, if White House task force experts Dr Deborah Birx and Dr Anthony Fauci would still be involved in efforts to address the coronavirus. 
"They will be and so will other doctors and so will other experts in the field," the president answered. "We are bringing our country back."