>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE
TODAY.
THIS BRIEFING FROM PRESIDENT
TRUMP'S CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE
AIMS TO DO TWO THINGS.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN
UPDATE ON THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
AND PROVIDE THE LATEST ON THE
EXTENSIVE AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS THE
PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN TO KEEP
AMERICANS SAFE AND RESPOND TO
THE OUTBREAK.
FOLLOWING MY REMARKS, YOU WILL
FROM DR. ROBERT REDFIELD THE
CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION.
DR. TONY FOUCHY, THE DIRECTOR OF
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES,
DEPARTMENT SECRETARY OF STATE,
STEVEN BEING AN, ACTING DEPUTY
SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY,
KEN AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
TRANSPORTATION JOEL ZABAT.
WE'RE JOINED BY HHS' ASSISTANT
SECRETARY FOR PREPAREDNESS AND
RESPONSE DR. ROBERT CADLICK.
FIRST, WE WANT TO SEND OUR
SYMPATHIES TO EVERYONE IN THE
UNITED STATES, IN CHINA, AND
ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD WHO HAVE
BEEN SICKENED BY THE VIRUS OR
SEEN LOVED ONES FALL ILL.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE HOW GRATEFUL
WE ARE TO THOSE RESPONDING TO
THE OUTBREAK IN CHINA AND AROUND
THE WORLD.
AS I. SAID LAST WEEK, WE ARE
WORKING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
ON THE MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS VIRUS.
THAT INCLUDES EXACTLY HOW IT
SPREADS, HOW DEADLY IT IS,
WHETHER IT'S COMMONLY
TRANSMITTED BY PATIENTS WHO ARE
NOT YET DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS, AND
OTHER ISSUES.
THERE HAVE NOW BEEN 12 CONFIRMED
CASES OF THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES
INCLUDING TWO CASES OF
TRANSMISSION TO PEOPLE WHO HAD
NOT RECENTLY BEEN IN CHINA.
RIGHT NOW, OUR SCIENTISTS AND
PUBLIC-HEALTH EXPERTS ARE TRYING
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VIRUS
USING THE DATA WE HAVE FROM
CHINA AND THE CASES WE HAVE.
IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, WE
HOPE, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO WORK
WITH THEIR CHINESE COUNTERPARTS
AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS
ON THE GROUND IN CHINA.
EVEN AS WE ENDEAVOR TO ANSWER
THESE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS, OUR
ASSESSMENT OF THE IMMEDIATE RISK
TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC FROM THE
VIRUS REMAINS THE SAME AS LAST
WEEK.
ALTHOUGH THE VIRUS REPRESENTS A
POTENTIALLY VERY SERIOUS
PUBLIC-HEALTH THREAT, AND WE
EXPECT TO CONTINUE SEEING MORE
CASES HERE, THE IMMEDIATE RISK
TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS LOW AT
THIS TIME.
NOW, AS WE SAID, OUR TOP
PRIORITY IS KEEPING THE RISK TO
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC LOW AND
WE'RE WORKING ON ALL FRONTS TO
DO THAT.
THE PRESIDENT TAKES HIS
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT, HHS AND
OTHER AGENCIES HAVE BEEN WORKING
TO HELP AMERICANS REPATRIATE
FROM WUHAN,E IF THEY DESIRE.
HERE AT HOME, STATE AND LOCAL
PUBLIC-HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE
WORKING WITH THE C.D.C. TO
FOLLOW THE PLAYBOOK FOR AN
INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESPONSE.
IDENTIFY, DIAGNOSE, ISOLATE,
TREAT, CONTACT TRACE.
THIS WEEK, THE FDA ISSUED AN
EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FOR
THE CDC DIG KNOWS TICK TEST AND
THEY ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR ORDER
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL REALITY
INCLUDING STATE, DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE LABORATORIES AND SELECT
INTERNATIONAL LABORATORIES.
ALL TOLD, 191 INTERNATIONAL
LABS.
SINCE LAST WEEK, WE'VE NOTE
FIGHT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
THOSE BILLING MEDICARE AND
MEDICATE ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW
CDC GUIDELINES FOR INSPECTION
CONTROL RELATED TO THE NOVEL
CORONAVIRUS.
OUR BIO MEDICAL ADVANCE RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OR
BARTA HAS EXPANDED ITS WORK WITH
A PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY AROUND
A CANDIDATE THERAPEUTIC FOR THE
CORONAVIRUS.
WHILE RESEARCH CONTINUES AT NIH
AND ELSEWHERE IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR.
OUR LONGSTANDING OFFER TO SEND
WORLD-CLASS ACTION PETS TO
CHERNOFF TO ASSIST REMAINS ON
THE TABLE.
THIS WEEK THE STATE DEPARTMENT
HELPED DELIVER 17.8 TONS OF
RELIEF SUPPLIES TO THE EPI
CENTER OF THE OUTBREAK.
MEANWHILE, WE'RE WORKING
ON THE GROUND IN COUNTRIES
AROUND THE WORLD AS WE ALWAYS
DO.
IN AFRICA, ASIA AND ELSEWHERE,
TO ASSIST THEM THROUGH CDC
OFFICES, STATE DEPARTMENT
PERSONNEL, AND PIPS WE BUILT
THROUGH YEARS AND YEARS OF
PREPAREDNESS WORK.
THE FDA IS ACTIVELY WORKING TO
ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT AND
AVAILABLE OF COUNTER MEASURES
AND A SETS RISKS THAT THE
OUTBREAK COULD PRESENT TO THE
AMERICAN MEDICAL SUPPLY CHAINS
THAT INVOLVE CHINA.
FINALLY, WE'VE BEEN IMPLEMENTING
THE PRUDENT POLICIES TO REDUCE
THE RISK OF TRANSMISSION BY
TRAVELERS.
WE IMPLEMENTED TEMPORARY CARN
TEENS OF U.S. EXPERIENCE WHO
HAVE BEEN TO THE PROVINCE AND
WE'VE ASKED FOR VOLUNTARY
SELF--MONTERREY FOR U.S.
EXPERIENCE WHO HAVE BEEN
ELSEWHERE IN MAINLAND CHINA.
WE'VE REQUIRED THAT ALL OTHER
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RECENTLY
BEEN TO MAINLAND CHINA WAIT 14
DAYS, THE OUTER LIMIT OF THE
INCUBATION OF THE PERIOD BEFORE
COMING TO THE UNITED STATES.
THESE STEPS ARE AIMED AT SLOWING
THE VIRUSES SPREAD TO AND WITHIN
THE UNITED STATES.
GIVING OUR GOVERNMENT AND THE
GLOBAL COMMUNITY MORE TIME TO
TAKE PREPAREDNESS MEASURES,
UNDERSTAND THE HAVE I RUSS AND
DEVELOP MEDICAL COUNTER
MEASURES.
THESE POLICIES ARE CONSISTENT
WITH THOSE OF MANY OTHER
GOVERNMENTS, THEY'RE BASED ON
THE B CURRENT PUBLIC-HEALTH
SITUATION AND THEY'RE IN LINE
WITH THE ACCEPTED BEST PRACTICES
AND THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
REGULATIONS.
THE TRAVEL MEASURES COMPLIMENT
THE GENEROUS HELP WE'RE OFFERING
AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD AND
WE BELIEVE THEY WILL HELP SLOW
THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.
EVERY ARM OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THAT CAN HELP TO
PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAS
BEEN ENGAGE.
AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO TAKE NEW
STEPS AS DR. REDFIELD WILL
EXPLAIN.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
COORDINATE THAT WORK THROUGH THE
PRESIDENT'S CORONAVIRUS TASK
FORCE, AND I NOW WANT TO HAND
THINGS OVER TO DR. REDFIELD, WHO
CAN PROVIDE A MORE IN-DEPTH
UPDATE ON THE CDC'S WORK.
>> OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP IT THE
RISK LOW.
AS OF TODAY, THERE ARE MORE THAN
31,000 CASES ACROSS MAINLAND
CHINA AND THE DEATH TOLL HAS
RISEN OVER 600.
OUTSIDE CHINA THERE IS 300 CASE
THAT'S HAVE BEEN DETECTED IN 27
LOCATIONS INCLUDING THE UNITED
STATES.
MOST OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE A
CONNECTION IN CHINA AND IN
ADDITION, THERE ARE 14 LOCATIONS
WITH 69 CASES OF
PERSON-TO-PERSON TRANSMISSION
AND INDIVIDUALS THAT DID NOT
TRAVEL TO CHINA.
FROM THE ONSET, WE HAVE A
LAYERED RESPONSE AND OUR GOAL IS
CENTERED AROUND EARLY-CASE
RECOGNITION, ISOLATION, CONTACT
TRACING TO PREVENT FURTHER
SPREAD OF THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
IN OUR NATION USING EFFECTIVE
AND PROVEN PUBLIC-HEALTH
MEASURES.
OUR PUBLIC-HEALTH AND MEDICAL
COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL
IN IDENTIFYING CHARACTERIZING
THEIZ CONFIRMED CASES THAT WE'VE
HAD IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY
AND ARE CRITICAL TO OUR EFFORTS
TOTS CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF THIS
VIRUS.
TO DATE, 12 CONFIRMED CASES HAS
BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE UNITED
STATES.
WE'VE CONTINUED TO DO PERSISTENT
CONTACT TRACING OF THOSE 12
CASES AND IDENTIFIED TWO
ADDITIONAL CASES THAT DID NOT
TRAVEL TO CHINA BUT WERE CLOSE
SPOUSAL CONTACTS OF CONFIRMED
CASES THAT HAD RETURNED FROM
WUHAN.
WE HAVE CDC NOW MORE THAN 800
RESPONDERS WORKING IN SUPPORT OF
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WITH OUR
EFFORTS AT PORTS OF ENTRY,
MILITARY INSTALLATIONS AND STATE
HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.
CURRENTLY CDC IS WORKING IN
COORDINATION WITH THE STATE
DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS STATE
PARTNERS TO SUPPORT THE A RILE
OF THE NEW AMERICANS CITIZENS
FROM WUHAN.
WE'RE SCREENING, MONITORING,
ISOLATING AND REFERRING THESE
INDIVIDUALS FOR MEDICAL
TREATMENT AS NEEDED.
IN ADDITION, WE APPRECIATE OUR
PARTNERSHIP WITH CUSTOMS AND
BORDER PROTECTION TO SCREEN THE
AMERICANS ARRIVING AT OTHER
PARTS OF MAINLAND CHINA AND
THROUGH THE AIRPORTS.
CDC AND THE PARTNERS HAVE
SCREENED 17,000 PASSENGERS AND
WE'RE SCREENING 4,000 PASSENGERS
TODAY.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THESE
TRAVELERS FOR THEIR COOPERATION
AND PATIENTS AS WE EMPLOY
AGGRESSIVE PUBLIC-HEALTH
MEASURES TO CONFRONT THIS VIRUS,
STRENGTHEN OUR NATION AND
PROTECT AMERICA AND AMERICANS
AND THEIR FAMILIES.
TODAY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND SERVICE ISSUED A INTERIM
FINAL RULE TO AMEND QUARANTINE
REGULATIONS.
THIS WILL ENABLE CDC TO COLLECT
CERTAIN CONTACT INFORMATION DATA
REGARDING AIRLINE PASSENGERS AND
CREW WHO A ARRIVE FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES.
THIS ACTION IS PART OF OUR
MULTI-LAYERED APPROACH TO THE
U.S. RESPONSE AND DEMONSTRATES
OUR COMMITMENT TO TAKE ALL
NECESSARY ACTIONS TO PROTECT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
CDC WILL WORK WITH THE INNER
AGENCIES PARTNERS AND AIRLINES
TO IMPLEMENT THIS INITIATIVE.
FINALLY, WE EXPECT TO SEE
ADDITIONAL CASES OF THIS NOVEL
CORONAVIRUS IN THE UNITED STATES
FROM RETURNING PASSENGERS, AS
WELL AS THROUGH CONTRACT TRACING
TO DETECT HUMAN-TO
HUMAN-TRANSITION.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE AGAIN THAT
THIS IS A SERIOUS GLOBAL
PUBLIC-HEALTH SITUATION AND IT
CONTINUES TO EVOLVE RAPIDLY.
IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THAT
AMERICANS ARE CONCERNED.
BUT AGAIN, THE IMMEDIATE RISK TO
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS LOW AND
WE ARE VIGILANT IN OUR EFFORTS
TO CONFRONT THE CHALLENGES THAT
THIS NEW VIRUS PRESENTS.
THANK YOU.
>> LAST TIME WE HAD A BRIEFING
LIKE THIS I HAD MENTIONED TO YOU
THAT WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF
DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING AND
TESTING A VARIETY OF COUNTER
MEASURES IN THE FORM OF
DIAGNOSTICS, THERAPEUTICS AND
VACCINE.
EIGHT LIKE TO GIVE YOU A A UPDA.
YOU HEARD FROM THE CDC ON THE
BASIS OF EMERGENCY USE
AUTHORIZATION THAT THEIR
DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH THEY
DEVELOPED RAPIDLY IN THE
BEGINNING, HAS NOW BEEN
DISTRIBUTED TO HEALTH CLINICS
STATE AND OTHER LOCAL HEALTH
CLINICS THROUGH OUT THE COUNTRY
SO THAT DIAGNOSTIC WILL BE
AVAILABLE NOT ONLY IN THE CDC.
AT THE SAME TIME,
SIMULTANEOUSLY, WE, TOGETHER
WITH THE CDC, ARE WORKING ON
POINT OF CARE DIAGNOSTICS AND IN
PARTICULAR, ONE THAT WOULD BE
IMPORTANT WOULD BE DEVELOP
ANTIBODY TESTS SO YOU CAN DO
BROAD, ZERO SURVEILLANCE
SCREENING WHICH WOULD BE
IMPORTANT TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE
OF THE OUTBREAK.
NEXT IS THEY HAD YOU'D I CAN I .
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT NOW THAT ONE
OF, WHICH SHOWED ACTIVITY
INVITO, HAS NOW BEGUN IN A
RANDOMIZED, CONTROLLED TRIAL OF
TWO SEPARATE TRIALS IN CHINA BY
ONE OUR COLLEAGUES BIN COW, WHO
WE HAVE COLLABORATED WITH IN THE
PAST.
THEY'RE LOOKING IN A RANDOMIZED
TRIAL IS THE EFFECT OF THIS DRUG
IS EITHER THE DRUG PLUS STANDARD
OF CARE VERSUS STANDARD OF CARE
ALONE.
THE REASON I THINK THIS IS
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IN ORDER TO
REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WORKS AND
WHAT DOES NOT WORK, YOU HAVE TO
DO A KIND OF TRIAL THAT WOULD
GIVE YOU A DEFINITIVE ANSWER.
SO PRETTY SOON WE'RE GOING TO
GET A DEFINITIVE ANSWER, WHETHER
ONE OF THESE AMONG SEVERAL DRUGS
WORKS.
AND THEN FINALLY, I MENTIONED TO
YOU THAT A NUMBERO OF
ORGANIZATIONS, PHARMACEUTICAL
COMPANIES, INDIVIDUAL
INVESTIGATORS WERE INVOLVED IN
DEVELOPING A VACCINE OR VACCINES
PLURAL, FOR THE NOVEL
CORONAVIRUS.
I TOLD YOU
 LAST TIME THAT THE
ONE THAT THE NIH WAS WORKING ON
IN COLLABORATION WITH MODERNA
WAS A MESSENGER RNC PLATFORM BUT
I TOLD THIS GROUP WOULD
HOPEFULLY AND LIKELY BE READY
WITHIN THREE MONTHS.
WELL, A LITTLE TIME HAS PASSED
AND I SAID THAT WOULD HAPPEN
PROVIDING THERE WERE NO GLITCHES
AND I'M HAPPY TO TELL YOU THERE
HAVE BEEN NO GLITCHES SO FAR.
SO, WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT?
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STEPS YOU
HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS IS TO
SUCCESSFULLY GET THAT GENE THAT
HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE
CHINESE IN THE DATA BASE AND
INSERT IT INTO THE MESSAGER R NA
PLATFORM AND ALLOW IT TO EXPRESS
PROTEINS.
WE'VE SUCCEEDED IN THAT.
WE'VE PUT IT IN A MOUSE ANIMAL
MODEL AND NEXT TO GET THE
COMPANY TO MAKE G.M.P. PRODUCTS.
IN FACT, ALL OF THOSE HAVE NOW
BEEN SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED
AND NOW THERE HAVE BEEN THUS FAR
GLITCHES.
I THINK
 THERE WILL LIKELY NOT
BE, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.
IF THAT OCCURS, WE WILL BE IN A
PHASE 1 TRIAL WITHIN THE NEXT
TWO AND A HALFT MONTHS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON.
SINCE TAKING OFFICE, PRESIDENT
TRUMP HAS BEEN CLEAR THAT HIS
TOP PRIORITY IS THE SAFETY AND
WELL-BEING OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
AND AS SECRETARY AZAR SAID, HE
TOOK SWIFT AND DECISIVE ACTION
TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF THE
SPREAD OF THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
IN THE UNITED STATES, AND ALSO
STOOD UP A DEDICATED INTER
AGENCY TASK FORCED TO INVOKE THE
FULL WEIGHT OF THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT IN OUR RESPONSE.
OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, AT THE
DIRECTION OF SECRETARY OF STATE
POMPEO, I HAVE SERVED AS THE
REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON THIS TASK
FORCE.
WHILE OUR COLLEAGUES FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES AND THE CDC CONTINUE TO
DO A TREMENDOUS JOB LEADING THE
OVER ALL RESPONSE TO THE
OUTBREAK.
THE DEPARTMENT OFF STATE HAS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR INSURING THE
SAFETY AND WELFARE OF U.S.
CITIZENS ABROAD.
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HAS ALL
HANDS ON DECK WITH BUREAUS AND
OFFICES FROM ACROSS THE
DEPARTMENT SUCH AS MEDICAL
SERVICES, COUNCILOR AFFAIRS,
EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS,
CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGY
AND MANY OTHERS COVERING HEALTH,
ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
LEADING AN EXCEPTIONAL EFFORT TO
EVACUATE U.S. CITIZENS FROM
WUHAN, CHINA, WHILE CONTINUING
OUR IMPORTANT WORK TO SUPPORT
U.S. CITIZENS ELSEWHERE IN CHINA
AND AROUND THE WORLD.
THANK YOU TO THESE EFFORTS,
WE'VE EVACUATED MORE THAN 800
PEOPLE FROM WUHAN, THE FIRST
CHARTER FLIGHT DEPARTED WUHAN ON
JANUARY 28TH.
TWO SUBSEQUENT FLIGHTS DEPARTED
 FEBRUARY 5TH.
YESTERDAY, ON FEBRUARY 6TH, TWO
ADDITIONAL EVACUATION FLIGHTS
DEPARTED WUHAN CARRYING 800
PASSENGERS.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT WORKING
CLOSELY IN CHINA HAS ARRIVING
THE 747s WITH 18 TONS OF
PRIVATELY DONATED MEDICAL
SUPPLIES AND HUMANITARIAN
ASSISTANCE FOR THE CHINESE
PEOPLE.
THIS INCLUDES URGENTLY-NEDDED
MASKS, GOWNS, RESPIRATOR AND
OTHER VITAL MATERIALS.
THESE DONATIONS ARE A TESTAMENT
OF THE GENEROSITY OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
THAT BEGAN IN CHINA HAS NOW
SPREAD TO 27 OTHER COUNTRIES.
AND TODAY, AT THE DIRECTION OF
THE SECRETARY OF STATE, I AM
PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED TO
SPEND UP TO $100 MILLION IN
EXISTING FUNDS TO ASSIST CHINA
AND OTHER IMPACTED COUNTRIES AS
WELL AS THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION TO CONTAIN AND
COMBAT THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS.
THIS COMMITMENT, ALONG WITH THE
GENEROUS DONATIONS FROM THE
AMERICAN PRIVATE SECTOR AND
FAITH-BASED GROUPS, SIGNALS
STRONG U.S. LEADERSHIP IN
RESPONSE TOIN THE OUTBREAK.
THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT HAS
DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN THIS
AREA AND CONTINUES TO ASSIST
MORE THAN 25 COUNTRIES TO BUILD
THEIR HEALTH SECURITY PROGRAMS.
SINCE 2009, USAID HAS INVESTED
OVER $1 BILLION TO STRENGTHEN
THE CAPACITYTR OF THESE COUNTRIS
TO PREVENT, DETECT, AND RESPOND
TO EXISTING AND EMERGING
INFECTIOUS DISEASE THREATS.
SINCE 2015, THE U.S. HAS ALSO
INVESTED OVER $1 BILLION UNDER
OUR COMMITMENT TO THE GLOBAL
HEALTH SECURITY AGENDA.
THIS SUPPORT HAS HELPED IMPROVE
SURVEILLANCE AND LABORATORY
SYSTEMS, RISK COMMUNICATION,
OUTBREAK RESPONSE AND TO ADDRESS
THE RISING THREAT OF ANTIMICROBE
Y'ALL RESISTANCE, ALL IN
PREPARATION FOR A DAY LIKE THIS.
THE UNITED STATES IS AND WILL
REMAIN THE WORLD'S MOST GENEROUS
DONOR.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT
THE IMPORTANT WORK OF
STRENGTHENING THE GLOBAL HEALTH
SECURITY AND COMBATING THREATS
SUCH AS THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
AND I'M THE DHS REPRESENTATIVE
ON THEAT PRESIDENT'S CORONAVIRUS
TASK FORCE LED BY SECRETARY
AZAR.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT WHAT OUR PROFESSIONALS
ARE DOING TO IMPLEMENT THE
LAYERED SYSTEM THAT YOU HEARD
DR. REDFIELD REFERENCE.
WE'RE DOING THIS FIRST AND
FOREMOST AT OUR INTERNATIONAL
PORTS OF ENTRY.
WHETHER THEY BE AIR, SEA OR
LAND.
AS OF LAST SUNDAY, ALL FLIGHTS
FROM CHINA AND PASSENGERS WHO
HAD BEEN TO CHINA IN THE TWO PRE
SEEDING WEEKS, ARE TRAVELING TO
11 AIRPORTS IN THE UNITED
STATES.
THESE ARE THEHE AIR SPORTS WHERE
ALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE BEING
FUNNELED AND THE FIRST, THE
PRIMARY LAYER IS THE OFO FOLKS
YOU SEE WHEN YOU TRAVEL
INTERNATIONALLY.
THESE ARE CUSTOMS BORDER
PROTECTION, FOLKS WHO SAY CAN I
SEE YOUR PASSPORT.
THEY ARE ALSO ASKING SOME OTHER
QUESTIONS ABOUT RECENT TRAVEL.
THEN YOU WILL GO TO A SECOND
LAYER WHICH ARE PRIMARILY
CONTRACT MEDICAL PERSONNEL
PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY AND AT THAT
LEVEL, YOU WILL BE ASKED A
SERIES OF MEDICAL QUESTIONS BY
TRAINED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ANY OF THE
FLAGS, WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN TO
THE PROVINCE, WHETHER THEY'RE
SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS,
THEY'LL GOING TO THE LEVEL OF
SCREENING WHICH IS RUN BY THE
CDC THEMSELVES WHERE THEY
CONNECT UP WITH LOCAL AND STATE
AUTHORITIES, HEALTH AUTHORITIES,
TO, CO-OPERATIVELY MANAGE THOSE
CASES.
THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE COMING INTO
THOSE AIRPORTS.
AT SEAT COAST GUARD IS IN CHARGE
OF EVERY PORT OF ENTRY FOR EACH
SHIP THAT COMES TO THE UNITED
STATES, WHETHER THEY BE
PASSENGER OR CARGO AND THE CARGO
SHIPS ARE CONTINUING TO PROCESS.
THE ECONOMY. AND THE SUPPLY CHAN
IS TRYING TO BE CONTINUED IN ITS
VITALITY THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF
THE COAST GUARD AND ALSO CUSTOMS
BORDER PROTECTION.
THAT CONTINUES AT PACE.
AT OUR LAND PORTS OF ENTRY, WE
ARE ALSO DOING ADDITIONAL
SCREENING QUESTIONS FOR
TRAVELERS WHO COME TO THE UNITED
STATES TO DETERMINE WHETHER
THEY'VE BEEN IN CHINA IN THE
PREVIOUS TWO WEEKS.
AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, WE USE
A LONGSTANDING PRACTICE OF PHONE
CONTACT BETWEEN THOSE OFFICE OF
FIELD OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES AND
THE CDC.
THAT IS HOW WE CONDUCTED
BUSINESS BEFORE THIS VIRUS EVER
SHOWED UP.
WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LOOKING FOR
PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP AT OUR BORDER
WITH SIGNS OF ILLNESS.
WE HAVE ALWAYS CONTACTED THE CDC
FOR CONSULTATION IN THOSE
INSTANCES.
THIS VIRUS SITUATION HAS MERELY
BROUGHT IT TO OTHER PEOPLE'S
ATTENTION BUT THIS IS A LONG
PRACTICED EXERCISE BETWEEN CDC
AND CBP.
IT IS WORKING QUITE WELL, AS YOU
HEARD EARLIER, THE PARTNERSHIPS
ARE WORKING.
WHETHER THEY BE AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL WITH OUR LOCAL PARTNERS OR
WHETHER THEY BE ACROSS THE
ENTIRE INNER AGENCY OF THE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT
CONSISTENT WITH PRESIDENT
TRUMP'S CHARGE TO LEAN FORWARD,
TO BE ON THE FRONT-EDGE OF
KEEPING THE PEOPLE OF THIS
COUNTRY SAFE FROM THIS THREAT
AND ANY OTHER THREATS WE WORK ON
AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY EVERYDAY.
RIGHT NOW OUR FOCUS TODAY AT
THIS PRESS CONFERENCE IS ON THE
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS AND ALL THE
STEPS BEING TAKEN BY CBP, BY THE
COAST GUARD AND WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY,
THEY'RE BEING SUPPORTED BY OUR
CWMD COUNTERING WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION WHERE OUR CHIEF
MEDICAL OFFICER RESIDES AND
FEMA, THEIR BACK UP TO WORK WITH
DR. CADLICK HERE, FREQUENTLY,
AND SO THERE'S A DEEPEN GAGEMENT
ACROSS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO
KEEP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAFE.
WE'RE PROUD TO DO THAT.
SO FAR WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE WE'RE
KEEPING THAT RISK LOW AS THE
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ATTEST TO
AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING
THAT FOR YOU ALL AND FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THE UNITED STATES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR
AVIATION INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
I'M SECRETARY CHAO'S EXECUTIVE
ASSISTANT.
SINCE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER WENT
INTO EFFECT IN SUNDAY WE
ESTABLISHED A INTERNATIONAL
FIRSTNA LAYER TO SCREEN TRAVELES
THAT HAVE BEENLE IN CHINA.
THIS IS INVOLVING A THOUSAND
DAILY FLIGHTS IN BOUND TO THE
UNITED STATES BEING CARRIED IN
OVER 400 AIR CARRIERS FROM 288
AIRPORTS WORLDWIDE.
OVER 200,000 AMERICANS ARE IN OR
HAVE RECENTLY LEFT CHINA.
RETURNING AMERICAN NATIONALS CAN
COME HOME, THEY ARE NOW COMING
HOME FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
TO ANY ONE OF 11 DESIGNATED
AIRPORTS FOR HEALTH SCREENING.
ASNI PART OF THE LAYERED APPROAH
TO HEALTH SCREENING, WE ARE
WORKING WITH THE AVIATION
COMMUNITY SO THAT OUR MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS WILL HAVE A
CENTRAL CONTACT INFORMATION FOR
ALL A ARRIVING PASSENGERS.
WE ALSO NOW HAVE HEALTH PRO COLS
IN PLACE TO PROTECT THE CREWS OF
PASSENGER AND CARGO AIRCRAFT
THAT ARE CONTINUING TO FLY
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND
CHINA.
 YOU, VERY MUCH.
SO AT THIS POINT, WE'D BE HAPPY
TO TURN IT OVER FOR SOME
QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION TO FELLOW MEMBERS
OF THE TASK FORCE FROM ACROSS
THE INNER AGENCY AND THE NFS,
OMB AND ESPECIALLY TO SECRETARY
AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
HOW ABOUT IF WE DID -- IF YOU
CAN WAIT FOR THE MICROPHONE.
IN THE BROWN BLOUSE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY
QUESTION.
SECRETARY AZAR, YOU NOTIFIED
CONGRESS EARLIER THIS WEEK YOU
MAY USE YOUR AUTHORITY TO
TRANSFER FUNDS OVER TO THE
CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE EFFORTS.
I WONDER IF YOU PLAN TO DO THAT
IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND IF NOT,
WILL YOU REQUEST NEW FUNDING
FROM CONGRESS?
>> SO, WHAT I DID WITH THE
TRANSFER REQUEST UNDER THE LAW,
I HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE
TRANSFERS AMONG ACCOUNTS WITHIN
OUR APPROPRIATION BUT IT
REQUIRES 15 DAYS OF ADVANCE
NOTICE TO CONGRESS TO THE
APPROPRIATORS.
IN THE INTEREST OF JUST
PRECAUTION PRINCIPLE, I SENT A
NOTICE UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO
THE APPROPRIATORS LETTING THEM
KNOW THAT WE MIGHT TAP INTO THE
$136 MILLION OF TRANSFER
AUTHORITY THERE.
NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE TO
NEED TO TAP INTO THAT AT THE
MOMENT.
WE'RE OPERATING ON THE
$105 MILLION ON THE INFECTIOUS
DISEASE RAPID RESPONSE FUND AT
CDC THAT WE INITIATED A WEEK AGO
ON SATURDAY ON MY DECLARATION OF
A THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S PREMATURE TO BE TALKING
ABOUT ANY ADDITIONAL NEEDS FOR
MONEY AT THIS POINT.
THERE'S STILL SO MANY UNKNOWNS
ABOUT THIS SITUATION.
WE'VE GOT 12 CASES IN THE UNITED
STATES, TWO OF THEM ARE ALREADY
OUT OF TREATMENT.
EVEN FROM THE MEASURES THAT WE
INITIATED, WE SPOKE ABOUT LAST
WEEK, IN TERMS OF TRAL
RESTRICTIONS, WE HAVE 12
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN
QUARANTINE AS A RESULT OF THOSE
MEASURES.
SO, AT THIS POINT, IT'S REALLY
VERY PREMATURE TO TALK ABOUT
NEEDS FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY.
WE WON'T LET RESOURCES BE A
BARRIER TO THE RESPONSE
ACTIVITIES HERE.
LET'S NOT PUT THE CART BEFORE
THE HORSE.
THANK YOU.
>> HI, THANK YOU FOR TAKE MY
QUESTION.
CAN YOU
 ELABORATE --
>> CAN YOU SAY YOUR MEDIA
OUTLET.
>> BLOOMBERG LAW.
CAN YOU ALLOW ON THE EFFORT TO
SEND CBC OFFICIALS TO CHINA.
WHAT WAS THE OFFER AND HOW DID
CHINA RESPOND?
WAS IT A REJECTION OR DO THEY
ALLOW A SMALL NUMBER IN?
WHAT EXACTLY -- ELABORATE ON
THAT.
>> AS I I THINK I MENTIONED TO U
IN A PREVIOUS CONFERENCE, I
SPOKE WITH MINISTER MA, MY
COUNTERPART IN THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT, THE MINISTER OF
HEALTH IN CHINA A WEEK AGO
MONDAY WITH TO REITERATE THE
OFFER THAT DIRECTOR REDFIELD
MADE ON JANUARY 6TH OF OUR
WILLINGNESS TO SEND TEAMS OVER
OF EXPERT TEAMS TO HELP THE
CHINESE WITH THEIR RESPONSE AS
WELL AS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
NATURE OF THIS VIRUS, REITERATED
THAT OFFER.
THE FOLLOWING DAY DIRECTOR
GENERAL TED ROSE MET WITH
PRESIDENT JI AND SECURED HIS
AGREEMENT THAT HE WAS OPEN TO A
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION TEAM
COMING OVER AND THEN WE PROVIDED
13 OF THE 25 NAMES THAT THE
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
PROVIDED TO CHINA.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY CDC, NIH AND
BARTA INDIVIDUAL EXPERTS WHO
COULD ASSIST THAT WHO TEAM.
THESE ARE DRUG DEVELOPMENT
EXPERTS, EPIDEMIOLOGISTS WHO
WOULD BE PART OF THAT TEAM.
WE CONTINUED TO EXPECT, FULLY,
THAT PRESIDENT JI WILL ACCEPT
THAT TEAM THAT THE WHO HAS PUT
TOGETHER AS AN EXPERT TEAM.
WE'RE READY, WILLING AND ABLE
AND WOULD LIKE TO GET ON WITH
THE WORK AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU.
>> ANNE FLARE TEE WITH ABC NEWS.
HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU IN THE
NEWS THAT CHINA IS PROVIDING YOU
ON CASE?
WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU PROVIDE
TO AMERICANS LOOKING TO GET ON A
CRUISE SHIP OR THEY'RE WONDERING
IF THEY SHOULD SEND THEIR KIDS
TO SCHOOL WITH MASKS?
ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THE USUAL
HANDWASHING RECOMMENDATION.
>> THANK YOU FORME THAT QUESTIO.
LET ME ASK DR. REDFIELD IF HE
WOULDN'T MIND GIVING HIS EXPERT
ADVICE THERE.
>> WE DON'T RECOMMEND MASKS AT
THIS STAGE.
THE RISK TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
IS LOW.
AS I MENTIONED, UNLESS YOU
RECENTLY HAVE BEEN IN THE
PROVINCE, AND WHEN DO YOU GET
RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS, THAT MAYBE
FLU-LIKE IT'S MUCH MORE PROBABLE
THAT IT'S FLU.
W ACTUALLY RECOMMEND
HANDWASHING AND WHEN YOU COUGH
YOU COUGH INTO YOUR ELBOW.
WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU DON'T
TOUCH YOUR FACE A LOT AND THAT
YOU WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY.
THAT'S WHAT WE RECOMMEND FOR THE
FLU.
AT THIS STAGE, THAT'S WHAT WE
RECOMMEND.
THE REAL THREAT TO THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC IS "HERE & NOW."
FLU.RELATED TO THE DATA WE HAVE
REGULAR CONTACT WITH OUR
COUNTERPART IN CHINA WHO WE HAVE
A VERY GOOD COMMUNICATION,
SHARING INFORMATION.
I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS
UNDERSTANDING MORE RIGHT NOW,
THE SPECTRUM OF THIS ILLNESS.
IT DOES APPEAR THAT YOU CAN
ACTUALLY HAVE THIS INFECTION AND
NOT HAVE SYMPTOMS.
CHINA'S LOOKING AT CASE THAT'S
WERE SICK ENOUGH TO GO NO A
HOSPITAL AND BE ADMITTED.
THERE'S BEEN VERY LITTLE BROADER
LOOK AT THE SPECTRUM OF THIS TO
SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE TRULY
INFECTED.
IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT INDIVIDUALS
THAT DON'T HAVE SYMPTOMS CAN IN
FACT TRANSMIT THE VIRUS.
AND SO, THAT IS WHERE WE'RE AT
RIGHT NOW.
I THINK, THE INFORMATION WE'RE
GETTING FROM CHINA CDC, I THINK
WE HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN
ITS JUST THAT WE DON'T THINK THE
FULL EXTENT OF THIS OUTBREAK HAS
BEEN DEFINED THROUGH THE
SPECTRUM OF A SYMPTOMATIC
DISEASE.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY VIEWS ON THE
CRUISE SHIP QUESTION THAT ANNE
WAS ASKING?
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S COMPLICATED
BECAUSE THESE CRUISE SHIPS ARE
DEPENDENT ON THE PLACE OF ORIGIN
OF YOUR PASSENGER -- CREW
PASSENGERS.
THERE'S THREE CRUISE SHIPS IN
THE PRESS AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT
IT MORE WHERE THERE'S BEEN
INDIVIDUALS FROM A HIGH-RISK
AREA TO GET ON THAT CRUISE SHIP.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S BEEN
SIGNIFICANT TRANSMISSION IN
THE -- PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE
IN JAPAN RIGHT NOW WHERE NOW
THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT CASES
OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
THERE.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY A
TIME TO BE PRUDENT IF YOU ARE
GOING ON A CRUISE SHIP.
SAY THE CARIBBEAN WHICH ATTRACTS
MOSTLY INDIVIDUALS FROM SOUTH
AMERICA AND THE UNITED STATES,
IT'SS, REALLY NO RISK.
IF YOU ARE GOING ON A CRUISE
SHIP WHERE YOU MAY HAVE A NUMBER
OF THE PASSENGERS, AS WE SAW
WITH THE CRUISE SHIP IN JAPAN,
THAT HAPPENED TO JUST COME OUT
OF CHINA WHERE THIS VIRUS
HAPPENS TO BE TRANSMITTED, THEN
THERE'S RISK.
IT'S A JUDGMENT CALL.
AS YOU MAKE THAT FOR YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY.
>> IN THE BROWN BLAZER HERE.
>> HONG KONG PHOENIX TV.
I HAVE A QUESTION, THERE ARE A
LOT OF CHINESE STUDENTS COMING
BACK AFTER WINTER BREAK BEFORE
THE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS.
SO, WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS DID YOU
GIVE TO SCHOOLS WHO HOST A LOT
OF CHINESE STUDENTS?
ALSO THEY'RE LIKE INSTANCES IN
THE U.S. IN NEW YORK CITY AND
ALSO ABROAD ABOUT PEOPLE HAVE
VIEWS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
TO CHINA OR CHINESE?
CAN YOU CLARIFY.
IS THIS VIRUS -- ARE ASIANS MORE
VULNERABLE TO THIS DISEASE?
ARE ALL THE CASES IN THE U.S.
ASIANS?
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE DOCTORS IF
THEY CAN ADDRESS THOSE.
>> ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
THINGS WE'VE TRIED TO DO, AS I
SAID, THIS IS A LAYERED
APPROACH.
AND ACTUALLY THEHE MOST IMPORTAT
LAYER THAT WE FOUND FOR EARLY
IDENTIFICATION IS THE HEALTH
NOTICES WE PUT OUT TO MEDICAL
DOCTORS IN THE MEDICAL HEALTH
COMMUNITY.
OF THE 12 CASES WE CONFIRMED, 11
OF THEM WERE -- NINE OF THEM
CAME AS A CONSEQUENCE OF
PHYSICIANS RECOGNIZING IT OR
EDUCATED INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS
SAYING LISTEN, I GOT SICK AND BY
THE WAY I JUST HAVE COME BACK
FROM THE AREA.
TWO OF THEM WERE DIAGNOSED
BECAUSE OF THE AGGRESSIVE
CONTACT TRACING THEY WERE DOING
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH
THE STATE AND LOCAL TERRITORIAL
GROUPS ALONG WITH OURSELVES.
WE HAVE REACHED OUT WITH BROADER
INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AND
INCLUDED TARGETED EDUCATION TO
HEADS OF SCHOOLS TO REALLY TROY
TO REACH OUT WITH THAT SAME
EDUCATIONAL MESSAGE TO ASIAN
STUDENTS THAT MAY HAVE RECENTLY
RETURNED FROM NEW YEARS, FOR
EXAMPLE, FROM THE AREA.
MAKING THEM ALERT OF THE EARLY
SYMPTOMS, DON'T JUST SHRUG YOUR
SHOULDERS AND SAY I JUST THINK I
HAVE A COLD.
IF YOU JUST CAME BACK FROM HUBAY
YOU NEED TO BE MEDICALLY
EVALUATED WITH THAT COMMUNITY
WHICH BEEN VERY VIGILANT.
>> WELL, SINCE MOST OF THE CASES
ARE IN CHINA, OBVIOUSLY NO ONE
HAS DONE A STUDY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF
THESE KINDS OF RESPIRATORY
VIRUSES, THERE IS REALLY NO
INDICATION THAT CHINESE ARE MORE
SUSCEPTIBLE OR VULNERABLE THAN
ANYONE ELSE.
SO I WOULD THINK THAT'S
SOMETHING YOU SHOULDN'T BE
CONCERNED ABOUT.
>> THE GENTLEMAN IN THE BLUE
BLAZER.
>> DAN WITH BUZZ FEED NEWS.
I WONDER WHAT THE TASK FORCE
OUTLOOK IS ON THE
>> IN THE UNITED STATES THE
MULTI-LAYER SYSTEM WE'VE PUT OUT
HAS US IN A MODE OF CONTAINMENT.
THEY'RE NOT EXCLUSIVE.
CONTAINMENT AND MID INDICATION.
I CAN TELL YOU WE'RE ACTIVELY
BEGINNING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT
OTHER STEPS WE WOULD TAKE IF
THERE WAS BROADER CASES
OCCURRING IN THE UNITED STATES.
I DO THINK RIGHT AT THIS STAGE,
WE'RE STILL IN A CONTAINMENT
PHASE AND THE EXTRAORDINARY
EFFORTS WE PUT OUT, MOST PEOPLE
KNOW, WE HAVE NOT INSTITUTED
FEDERAL QUARANTINE IN 50 YEARS.
I THINK THE CONTAINMENT STRATEGY
WE HAVE WITH THE CONTINUED
COOPERATION OF THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC THAT HAVE TURNED TO CHINA
TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEIR
HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THE
AGGRESSIVE LAYERED SCREENING
WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING WITH THE
FUNNELED AIRPORTS, I THINK WE'RE
IN A PLACE.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IN TWO
WEEKS OR FOUR WEEKS FROM NOW, WE
WON'T NEED TO BEGIN LOOKING AT
SOME MITIGATION STRATEGIES.
>> IN THE RED BLOUSE.
>> HI, OUR LOCAL AND STATE
HEALTH ASSISTING IN THIS
RESPONSE GIVING FUNDING
ASSISTANCE FROM THE CDC OR ARE
THEY RELYING ON THEIR OWN
RESOURCES?
HOW MIGHT THIS IMPACT THEIR OWN
PUBLIC-HEALTH ISSUES THEY MIGHT
BE DEALING WITH LIKE THE FLU OR
MEASLES IN THEIR COMMUNITY?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THE LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS
ARE OF COURSE VITAL PARTNERS IN
THIS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORKS
TOGETHER WITH OUR LOCAL PARTNERS
OR STATE PARTNERS.
I THINK 50% OF THE BUDGET OF
LOCAL AND STATE PUBLIC-HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS ARE ACTUALLY FUNDED
BY THE CDC AND IN FACT, WE HAVE
A FUND, ABOUT $670 MILLION A
YEAR, GOES OUT TO STATES
PARTICULARLY FOR EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY
RESPONSE WORK LIKE THIS TO BE
READY FOR THAT.
SO, WE ALREADY HAVE SIGNIFICANT
FUNDING TO THE STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO THEIR
PUBLIC-HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, TO
BUILD CAPACITY FOR THIS, FOR THE
TYPES OF ACTIVITIES.
THERE IS ADDITIONAL WORK HERE,
LAB RESPONSE WORK, THERE ARE
CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS
PREPAREDNESS ON QUARANTINING,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE 11 AIRPORT
PORTS OF ENTRY AS A
PREPAREDNESS, WE'VE ONLY HAD 12
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN
SUBJECT TO THAT SO FAR.
AND WE'LL CERTAINLY WANT TO WORK
WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
TO FIND, IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL
MONEY NEEDED, FROM CDC GRANT
FUNDING, WE'LL CERTAINLY WORK TO
TROY TO BE FAIR AND FIND
AVAILABLE SOURCES FOR THEM.
AT THE MOMENT, WE CERTAINLY HAVE
FUNDED TREMENDOUS CAPACITY FOR
EXACTLY THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITIES
THROUGH OVER A DECADE OF THE
PANDEMIC FLU PREPAREDNESS WORK.
IS THERE ANYTHING DIFFERENT YOU
WANT TO ADD?
>> IT WAS RIGHT ON.
JUST TO EMPHASIS, IT'S A FLUID
SITUATION.
WE'RE CURRENTLY EVALUATING WHAT
THE RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS ARE
AND AS A SECRETARY SAID, WE'RE
NOT GOING TO GET RESOURCE
REQUIREMENTS GET IN THE WAY OF
RESPONSE.
IT'S REALLY PREMATURE FOR US TO
SAY THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT NEEDS
TO BE DONE.
WE ARE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS TO HELP DEFINE THAT.
>> IN THE BLUE SHIRT.
THANK YOU.
>> THE "NEW YORK TIMES."
I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW-UP ON THE
QUESTION REGARDING AMERICAN
EXPERTS GOING TO CHINA.
IS IT THEN ACCURATE THAT CHINA
HAD NOT EXTENDED THAT INVITATION
YET AND CAN YOU ELABORATE, DO
YOU HAVE ANY INDICATION ON WHY
THEY HAVE AN EXTENDED THAT
INVITATION AND ONE FINAL ONE, DO
YOU THINK THAT IF AMERICAN
EXPERTS HAD GOTTEN ON THE GROUND
EARLIER AT THIS POINT, THAT THIS
MITIGATION, THAT THIS
CONTROLLING, THIS CONTAINING
THISG VIRUS IT WOULD BE MORE
EFFICIENT AT THIS POINT?
>> I'LL DISCUSS THE FIRST AND
I'LL ASK DR. REDFIELD TO DISCUSS
THE SECOND SINCE IT'S LARGELY
HIS PEOPLE AND HIS INNER ACTIONS
WITH HIS COUNTERPART WITH THE
CHINESE CDC.
AT THIS POINT, IT'S REALLY A
DECISION FOR THE CHINESE.
WE HAVE MADE THE REQUEST NOW FOR
ALMOST A MONTH TO SAY WE ARE
RED', WILLING AND ABLE.
WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT THE
CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO HELP CHINA
WITH THEIR RESPONSE.
PRIMARILY, OUR ACTIVITIES WOULD
BE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
NATURE OF THIS VIRUS WITH OUR
EXPERTISE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE PLAYED A VERY
IMPORTANT ROLE.
WE HAVE A DECADE-LONG WORKING
COLLABORATION WITH CHINESE
PUBLIC-HEALTH.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT ANNAN ACCIDENT
IT'S CALLED THE CHINESE CDC.
WE HAVE REALLY WORKED
PRODUCTIVELY FOR DECADES
TOGETHER.
WE HAVE CDC STAFF WHO ARE
PERMANENTLY BASED OVER IN
BEIJING AS PART OF OUR HEALTH
MISSION THERE.
SO, THESE ARE VERY DEEP
LONG-STANDING CONNECTIONS.
WHAT WE WOULD DO IS BE ABLE TO
REALLY HELP ADD EXPERTISE TO BE
ABLE TO GET TO THOSE QUESTIONS
WE TALKED ABOUT AT OUR FIRST
MEETING IN THIS ROOM.
SOME OF THE UNCERTAINTIES.
CAN WE DO LINE TRACING TO GET A
BETTER HANDLE ON WHAT THE
INCUBATION PERIOD IS BEING
EXPERIENCED.
WHAT THE SEVERITY INDEX IS ON
THESE CASES.
THE REAL RISK OF A SYMPTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION IS.
THOSE TYPES OF QUESTIONS WE
BELIEVE WE CAN ADD SIGNIFICANCE
EXPERTISE TO HELP WITH BUT THIS
IS A MATTER FOR THE CHINESE
LEADERSHIP TO MAKE THE FINAL
DECISION BUT WE FEEL VERY
OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS WILL
HAPPEN.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PROCESSES.
WE DO TO MAKE DECISIONS ON
ACCEPTING THAT KIND OF
ASSISTANCE AND WE HAVE TO DEFER
TO THEM AND RESPECT THAT
PROCESS.
>> I WOULD SAY IN YOUR FIRST
QUESTION, ONE THING I THINK WE
SHOULD ALL BE HUMBLE ABOUT IS
YOU CAN'T PREDICT THESE
INFECTION OUT BREAKS.
I CAN'T MAKE A PREDICTION.
WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT TIME
MATTERS.
A LOT OF TIME IN HUMANITARIAN
CRISIS, THEY GROW TO A POINT
WHERE YOU NECESSITATE
INTERVENTION.
IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE YOU WANT
TO GET IN THERE BEFORE THEY
START BUT AT LEAST WHEN THEY DO
START.
WHEN THEY GET TOO SUCH A CRITICL
MASS, THEN IT'S VERY HARD FOR
THE TRIED AND TRUE APPROACHES OF
PUBLIC-HEALTH TO MAKE THAT
IMPACT.
I CAN'T PREDICT.
I CAN SAY THOUGH, WE'RE ON A
CLOSE WATCH AROUND THE WORLD TO
SEE IS THERE ANOTHER COUNTRY
THAT STARTS TO GET WHAT WE CALL
SUSTAINED HUMAN-TO-HUMAN
TRANSMISSION.
WE'VE SEEN ISOLATEDD CASES ALL
AROUND THE WORLD.
WE'VE SEEN 300.
MAYBE OCCASIONALLY A
HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSITION I
GUESS.
WHEN YOU GET A SUSTAINED
HUMAN-TO-HUMAN COMMUNITY BASED
TRANSMISSION AND OBVIOUSLY BEING
ON THE LOOK OUT WHERE IT OCCUR
AND GET THE COLLECTIVE EFFORT
FROM THE WORLD PUBLIC-HEALTH
COMMUNITY AS WE TRY TO WORK TO
HELP CHINA CONTAIN THEIR
OUTBREAK THAT THEY CURRENTLY
HAVE.
>> SO, JUST TO UNDERSCORE WHAT
BOBOR SAID, I THINK ALSO IN ANSR
TO THE QUESTION THAT THE
GENTLEMAN FROM BUZZ FEED ASKED
WHERE IS THIS EPIDEMIC GOING TO
GO?
THE ISSUE IS WE DON'T KNOW.
ANY KIND OF PREDICTION I THINK
WOULD BE I WILL ADVISED BECAUSE
WE REALLY HAVE SO MANY UNKNOWNS.
THERE ARE SEVERAL POSSIBLE
SCENARIOS.
THE BEST SCENARIO WOULD BE THAT
THE CHINESE SUCCESSFULLY CONTAIN
AND WE SEE A TURN AROUND OF THE
CURVE.
WEUN SEE NO MORE SEATING IN THE
INTERNATIONAL AREAS AND WE DON'T
SEE THIS SUSTAINED TRANSMISSION
IN THOSE PARTS OF CHINA --
EXCUSE ME, IN THOSE PARTS OF THE
WORLD THAT HAVE TRAVEL-RELATED
CASES.
THAT WOULD REALLY BE THE BEST
SCENARIO.
THE THING THAT COULD HAPPEN,
THAT WE DON'T KNOW, THAT'S THE
REASON WE DON'T PREDICT, IS THAT
A, THEY DO CONTROL IT VERY WELL
OR THEY DO BUT IT GETS SEEDEDDED
IN A COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T HAVE
THE RESOURCES TO DO THE KIND OF
IDENTIFICATION, CONTACT TRACING,
AND ISOLATION AND THEN YOU HAVE
AGAIN A SUSTAINING OF THE
OUTBREAK.
ALL OF THESE ARERE POSSIBILITIE.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS THAT WE
ARE, AS WE ALWAYS SAY, YOU
BECOME TRITE BUT IT'S THE TRUTH,
YOU REALLY PREPARE FOR THE WORSE
POSSIBLE SCENARIO AND HOPEFULLY
WE'LL SEE THE ONE THAT BRINGS AN
END TO THIS.
>> IN THE JACKET HERE, YES.
>> THE VOICE OF AMERICA.
FOLLOWING UP TO WHAT YOU JUST
SAID, EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE
W.H.O. SAID THEY WERE NOT YET IN
A GLOBAL PANDEMIC BUT THIS IS A
EPIDEMIC IN MULTIPLE OCCASION, I
WANT TO HEAR YOUR TAKE ON
WHETHER WE'RE HEADING TOWARDS A
GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND W.H.O. IS
AGAINST TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS AND
MANY MEDICAL HEALTH EXPERTS SAY
THAT TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS WON'T
STOP THE VIRUS FROM COMING IN.
WHAT WERE THE CONSIDERATIONS
COMING UP WITH THE RESTRICTIONS
AND DO YOU THINK THOSE TRAVEL
RESTRICTIONS ARE EFFECTIVE IN
STOPPING THE VIRUS FROM COMING
IN.
>> I'LL ADDRESS YOUR SECOND
QUESTION AND I'LL TURN IT TO THE
DOCTOR.
THE TRAVELCT RESTRICTIONS THAT E
PUT IN PLACE IN CONSULTATION
WITH THE PRESIDENT, THEY WERE
VERY MEASURED AND INCREMENTAL.
THESE WERE THE UNIFORM
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CAREER
PUBLIC-HEALTH OFFICIALS HERE AT
HHS MANY OF THESE ARE PEOPLE
HERE WHO HAVE BEEN LIKE THE
DOCTORS, MARTY SIT RON,
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN DOING
THIS WORK FOR DECADES AND
DECADES AND THEIR CAREER AND
THIS WAS THEIR CONSIDERED
RECOMMENDATION, WHICH I AND THE
PRESIDENT ADOPTED.
THESE ARE STEPS, REALLY MEANT TO
SLOW DOWN THE SPREAD.
IT'S NOT MEANT TO SEAL THE
UNITED STATES FROM THE VIRUS BUT
RATHER TO ALLOW US TO FOCUS OUR
RESOURCES.
IT IS PRECISELY THESE MEASURES
THAT HAVE ALLOWED US TO PROVIDE
SUCH SUPPORT TO THE STATE
DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS ON
REPATRIATING AMERICANS BECAUSE
OF THECA CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND
ACTIVITY TO DO 14-DAY QUARANTINE
PROCEDURES ON THOSE AMERICANS
THAT WE'RE BRINGING BACK.
THAT IS ABOUT FOCUS RESOURCES.
IT'S ABOUT SLOWING SPREAD, AS WE
LEARN MORE, WE DEVELOP COUNTER
MEASURES AND WE ALSO HOPEFULLY,
SEE A CHANGE IN THE DISEASE, THE
EPI CURVE PROFILE IN CHINA TAKES
THEIRES EXTREME MEASURES TO TRYO
CONTAIN THIS WITHIN CHINA
ITSELF.
>> JUST TO EXTEND A BIT WHAT THE
SECRETARY MENTIONED.
IT IS TRUE, I MEAN, HEALTH
OFFICIALS MYSELF INCLUDED HAVE
SAID IN THE PAST THAT TRAVEL
RESTRICTIONS ARE NOT GOING TO
STOP COMPLETELY WHEN YOU HAVE AN
OUTBREAK.
THAT IS IS A TRUE AND THAT'S
REALLY THE REASON AND THE
UNDERLYING RATIONAL WHY THAT WAS
DONE.
I MEAN, IF THERE IS, AND I HOPE
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN, A BROAD
PANDEMIC THROUGHOUT THE WORLD,
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ARE NOT
GOING TO HELP.
YOU CAN'T JUST TRAVEL RESTRICT
EVERYONE.
BUT I THINKNK MANY PUBLIC-HEALTH
OFFICIALS WOULD AGREE THAT
ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT PERFECT AND IT
WILL STOP, IT CODY LAY AND IT
WILL BE NEEDED A DELAY TO
ESSENTIALLY PREPARE BETTER BUT
ALSO TO GET A BETTER FEEL OF
WHERE THIS IS GOING.
THERE'S NO PANIC IN THE COUNTRY
AND THERE'S BEEN NO INHIBITION
OF THE RESOURCES WE NEED.
THE KINDS OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE
HAVE NOT OCCURRED.
THIS IS A TEMPORARY THING, WE'RE
NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT
IS PERMANENT SO WE RECOGNIZE THE
POTENTIAL NEGATIVES OF IT.
BUT THIS DECISION WAS NOT MADE
LIGHTLY.
IT WAS MADE AFTER MUCH
CONSIDERATION OF EXAMINING ALL
OF THE ASPECTS.
>> IN THE CENTER, PLEASE.
>> THIS WILL BE THE LAST
QUESTION.
>> THE U.S. RELIES ON A LOT OF
MEDICAL PRODUCTS FROM CHINA.
ARE THERE ANY FACILITIES THAT
HAVE HAD TO STOP PRODUCTION
BECAUSE OF THE OUTBREAK AND WHAT
IS THE EXPECTED IMPACT ON U.S.
SUPPLY.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD QUESTION.
IN FACT, WE HAVE OUR
COMMISSIONER OF FOOD AND DRUGS
HERE.
DR. HAUN, YOU AND
 DR. CADLICK
HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN
COMMUNICATING WITH AMERICAN
SUPPLIERS, DRUGS, DEVICES,
GENERICS.
COULD YOU PLEASE ADDRESS THATAT
QUESTION ABOUT THE SUPPLY.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, SIR.
COME ON UP, THERE HAUN.
FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE DOING THIS
AS A TEAM NOT ONLY ACROSS HHS
BUT ACROSS THE INTER AGENCY.
TODAY WE BASICALLY HELD TWO
IMPORTANT MEETINGS, THE WHOLE OF
GOVERNMENT LOGISTICS COUNCIL.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS DRY.
IT'S REALLY ALL THE ENTITIES
ACROSS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT THAT
HAVE EQUITIES IN TERMS OF SUPPLY
ACTIVITIES AND PARTICULARLY
HEALTHCARE SUPPLIES AS IT
RELATES TO THEIR RESPECTIVE
ACTIVITIES.
VETERAN'SES ADMINISTRATION,
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE WHOLE
BUNCH.
AND THEHE SECOND ONE IS BASICALY
LOOKING AT THE UTILIZATION OF
RESPIRATORY PROTECTION.
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
SO WE'RE DOING BOTH MONITORING
THE SUPPLY AND THE SOURCING OF
THAT SUPPLY AND ALSO THE USE AND
I'LL GIVE YOU ONE QUICK EXAMPLE.
WE'RE SENSITIVE TO THE SUPPLIES
OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
SUCH AS MASKS.
THERE WAS A GREAT QUESTION
EARLIER.
IF YOU USE THEM NOW, YOU WON'T
HAVE THEM LATER IF YOU NEED THEM
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO LEVEL
SET ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT AND
FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND
THAT AND CDC HAS BEEN A VITAL
PARTNER TO EVALUATE NOT ONLY HOW
WE USE THESE PRODUCTS BUT HOW WE
CAN REUSE AND AGAIN EXTEND THEIR
USE.
SO, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
ACTIVITIES IN THIS AREA AND I'LL
DEFER TO DR. HAUN TO EXPLAIN HIS
AGENCY'S ACTIVITIES.
>> THANK YOU.
FDA IS CLOSELY MONITORING THE
SITUATION.
WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR
GOVERNMENT COLLABORATORS AS WELL
ASRA MANUFACTURERS TO MONITOR WT
IS GOING ON IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.
AT THIS MOMENT, WE HAVE RECEIVED
NO REPORTS FROM MANUFACTURES
ABOUT DISRUPTIONS TO THE MEDICAL
PRODUCT SUPPLY CHAIN.
THE SITUATION IS FLUID AND WE'LL
DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONTINUE
TO MONITOR THIS AND ACT
ACCORDINGLY.
>> THANKRD YOU DR. HAUN.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU
HAVE ACCESS TO THE PRINCIPLES ON
THE TASK FORCE.
WE HAVE OF COURSE GOT THE DAILY
PRESS BRIEFINGS WE'RE DOING OUT
OF HHS, STATE AND LOCAL,
CONGRESSIONAL, PUBLIC-HEALTH
BRIEFINGS.
WE REALLY WANT TO
 HAVE RADICAL
TRANSPARENCY ON THESE ISSUES.
I SPEAK I THINK FOR EACH OF OUR
DEPARTMENTS TO SAY OUR PRESS
SHOPS ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU AS
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
AND WE'LL TRYST TO CONVENE JUSTS
THE RHYTHM AND DEVELOPMENTS OF
THIS SITUATION PROGRESSES SO YOU
HAVE ACCESS TO US DIRECTLY BUT
ALSOUT PLEASE, KNOW YOU HAVE
ACCESS TO OUR EXPERT TEAMS SO WE
CAN GET YOU THE ANSWERS.
WE'LL GET YOU WHAT WE KNOW WHEN
WE KNOW IT AND TELL YOU THE
UNCERTAINTY AS WE FACE
UNCERTAINTIES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE TODAY AND THANK YOU TO MYY
COLLEAGUES.
