(Feb. 29, 2020, 1:00 p.m.) -- As carried LIVE on LBREPORT.com, President Donald Trump, alongside VP Pence, U.S. HHS Sec'y Azar and Dr. Anthony Fauchi (NIH/NIAID Dir.) held a Saturday (Feb. 29) news briefing announcing signficiant Coronavirus developments.
For on-demand video, click here. President Trump announced 22 U.S. cases to date, said one of the west coast patients [in Washington state] had died (a woman in her 50's with meidcally high risk person in her late 50s), four other individuals remain seriously ill while the rest are recovering. President Trump said current risks to the vast majority of the American public remains low while acknowledging more cases are likely but said [rough paraphrase] otherwise healthy persons should be able to recover. President Trump said vaccine manufactures will meet at the White House on Monday. Urges public not to panic or over-react, says situation is being professionally handled. U.S. HHS Secy Azar said what's taking place now was anticipated, said the risk to the average American remains low "but this can change rapidly." He said the administration has always said the U.S. would see more cases but "for vast majority of those who contract Coronavirus will experience mild to moderate symptoms" and treatent will be to remain at home the way they would treat a severe cold or the flu...although medically fragile individuals might require hospitalization. Two days earlier (Feb. 27), LB's Dept.of Health and Human Services announced that it "has monitored or is currently monitoring a total of nine Long Beach individuals at this time" [travelers who returned from mainland China]. The LB Health Dept. said its monitoring continues for 14 days after the individual's arrival [release text] "to ensure they do not develop symptoms of COVID-19. Those who are undergoing monitoring are required to avoid school, work, and are asked to stay at home for the duration of the two weeks. . No one undergoing active monitoring has developed symptoms." [Scroll down for further.] |
At today's White House news briefing, Dr. Anthony Fauci acknowledged this is an evolving situation, says "community spread" means no otherwise known direct link to an "index case" (an infection source or exposed person.) "We need to identify, isolate and contract trace" cases. Says US as a whole remains at low risk but this is a developing situation. Dr. Fauci said the approach will be by the day and by the week to prevent persons from places with active infections from getting here and within US to take public health measures that will hopefully contain this but said the public shouldn't be surprised by additional cases that are anticipated with community spread. Dr. Fauci said the US can't be completely immune to this and the challenge now is how to deal with this.
During Q & A, Dr. Fauci says that current data show vast majority of individuals who've contracted the virus to date appear to experience a severe cold or flu like symptoms and recover, says those who've become seriously ill or died are elderly or had underlying health issues that may require hospitalization or in some cases intensive care. Acknowledges some cases may involve otherwise health appearing young people but those aren't common.
Saturday's press event comes two days after CA Governor Gavin Newsom held a press briefing announcing CDC confirmation of a northern CA case of "community spread" of the Coronavirus.
A few hours later on Feb,. 27, LB's Dept. of Health/Human Services announced that it began "monitoring travelers returning from mainland China for 14 days after arrival to ensure they do not develop symptoms of COVID-19. Those who are undergoing monitoring are required to avoid school, work, and are asked to stay at home for the duration of the two weeks. The [LB] Health department has monitored or is currently monitoring a total of nine Long Beach individuals at this time. No one undergoing active monitoring has developed symptoms." VP Pence called the administration response an "all hands on deck" situation while stating current risks to most Americans is low. VP Pence announced additional travel restrictions now include Iran and any foreign national who has visited Iran. U,S. will also increase to the highest level State Dept. advisory not to travel to specific regions in Italy and South Korea most affected by Coronavirus. He said the U.S. will also work with other countries to screen their citizens coming to U.S.
Dr. Fauci says in Q & A that current data show vast majority of individuals who've contracted the virus to date appear to experience a severe cold or flu like symptoms and recover, says those who've become seriously ill or died are elderly or had underlying health issues that may require hospitalization or in some cases intensive care. Acknowledges some cases may involve otherwise health appearing young people but those aren't common. In response to a reporter's question, Dr. Fauci denied he was or is being muzzled by Trump administration (or by any administration with whom he's worked, starting with President Reagan.)
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