4/5/20: Members of the Coronavirus Task Force Hold a Press Briefing

The President: Very good, thank you all very much. All these people have been working very, very hard today, I assure you. They have been working for a long time. But before we begin, I want to extend our nation's good wishes to Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he wages his personal fight against the virus. All Americans are praying for him. He is a friend of mine. He is a great gentleman and a great leader. And he, as you know, was taken to the hospital today, but I am hopeful and confident that he will be okay. He is a strong man, a strong person.

Today, every patriotic American heart beats in solidarity with the incredible people of New York and New Jersey. They have really become a very hot zone, but very good things are happening. In New York, the first time where deaths were lower than the day before. That's the first drop so far. So maybe it's a good sign; could be. And hospital levels may be starting to decline. It has been very short, but perhaps it will decrease. That's why we wish Governor Cuomo and all the people of New York the best. And, New Jersey, his governor is doing a great job.

He is doing a great job in New Jersey. They received a very hard blow. I just want to say that all the power of the American government and corporate America... it really is. This is a total military operation that we have carried out, and especially during the last few weeks. Fifty states and territories have been approved to declare major disasters, which is highly unusual. Thanks to the Army Corps of Engineers, the Javits Center in New York City is now one of the largest hospitals in the United States. It is designated for the treatment of patients with the virus and has hundreds of federal medical personnel deployed from two Army hospital units, and they are doing a great job.

This was something we didn't expect to do, but they needed help in New York and we sent federal troops; not only troops, we also sent many very talented doctors, nurses and first responders. People now run Javits. Also, as you know, the USNS Comfort, which is in New York, there's been a lot of publicity about its arrival and all that. That was not supposed to be for the virus, under any circumstances. But it seems that we will use it more and more for that. Then we'll see. It was supposed to be for people with other medical problems, but it's very interesting because there are practically no cars on the road, no motorcycles on the road, no anything on the road.

Things that would normally be taken care of, we no longer see. So we haven't seen that in a long time. Maybe it's a positive thing. But the ship is ready. And if we need it, if we need it, if we need it for the virus, we will use it for that. They would prefer not to, for obvious reasons, but if for some reason they need him, he is ready, willing and able. We have the best doctors, the best military leaders and the best logistics professionals anywhere in the world. And we are orchestrating a massive federal response like nothing our country has ever seen or done.

We've never done anything like this. And increasingly, we use our medical staff due to the fact that jurisdictions, states, particularly New York, New Jersey and the Connecticut area. Long Island has now become a hotspot: part of New York. We are sending a lot of things, a lot of supplies and now we are sending personnel where they are needed. Military personnel. As of Tuesday, we will have deployed more than 3,000 military and public health professionals to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other parts of our country (3,000) and that number is growing. And we hope to see stabilization in the hottest spots of all of them.

Then we'll see. You will see it in the next few days. Let's see what happens. But we are prepared. Over the past seven days, FEMA has airlifted critical supplies and protective equipment from all corners of the Earth. They come from all over the planet, even from the United States, where equipment is not so necessary. Since last Sunday, cargo planes have delivered almost (get this) 300 million gloves, almost 8 million masks and 3 million gowns. And many more fully loaded cargo planes are on the way. Three big ones landed today. And these supplies are distributed directly to hospitals and healthcare providers across the country so that enormous amount of material that we're receiving is delivered across the country.

Tomorrow we will deliver an additional 600,000 N95 masks to New York City to meet the needs of the public hospital system. Requested: Mayor de Blasio. We have been working very well with Mayor de Blasio, achieving many things for him. He is working very hard; I can tell you that. And we're working really, really hard with the city of New York and with the state of New York. And at the request of Congressman Lee Zeldin on Long Island, we will also deliver another 200,000 N95 masks to Suffolk County, where they are desperately needed. So we'll bail him out. It should be there tomorrow.

We will also deploy millions of N95 masks in other locations that Admiral Polowczyk will detail shortly. The Admiral will be up in just a couple of minutes. Over the past 24 hours, FEMA has delivered 500 additional ventilators to New Jersey. Five hundred. And again, the governor has been very grateful. We are working very hard with New Jersey, including building hospitals. We have also shipped 200 additional ventilators to Louisiana, a definite hotspot. Three hundred to Michigan, I think working very well with the governor. Surprisingly, 600 will go or have gone to Illinois. And I mean, there is a governor (I hear him complain all the time): Pritzker.

I hear it; he is always complaining. And yet, I just said, "Give me a list of a couple of things we've done in Illinois." And we are building a 2,500-bed hospital at McCormick Place; That's the big convention center in Chicago. And we're helping to staff and we're probably going to end up staffing because he can't do what you're supposed to do as governor. He hasn't performed well. And we will also send 100 ventilators to Massachusetts. So we have 600 for Illinois. We have 100 to Massachusetts. We have 300 for Michigan. We have 200 to Louisiana. We have 500 respirators (500) destined for New Jersey.

And this is being done by FEMA. It is being delivered by FEMA. And it's... that's a job. Just think about that. When you think about 500 fans, one fan is a very important thing. We are also establishing a federal medical station in the Washington, D.C. area, to help Washington, D.C., and working very closely with the mayor and everyone in Washington, D.C. At the same time, Governor Inslee, we appreciate this, Washington state has returned 400 ventilators, which can now be deployed to other parts of our country. So Washington State has done very well. They won't need some of the ventilators they've been sent: about 400.

That's a lot. And we appreciate that you can return them to us. Trust that they will be in good shape for the next few weeks, until we can claim a final victory. In the coming days, the United States will face the peak of this terrible pandemic. Our warriors in this life and death battle are the incredible doctors, nurses and healthcare workers who are on the front lines of the fight. We promise you our eternal gratitude and eternal support. They make us all feel very proud. Our country is very proud. We have people who love our country.

The world loves our country, for the most part. Probably everything; They just don't say it. I can report today that the United States has already tested and it has given results: it has gotten results from 1.67 million people. That's far more than any other country has been able to do. And remember, we inherited a broken system. Much of this has been developed. As of Tuesday, Abbott Laboratories had produced 1,200 new rapid point-of-care testing kits. A great company. And they will be distributed to all of our public health laboratories; It is a 15 minute test; even fewer, as well as the Indian Health Service, the CDC, and the Strategic National Stockpile.

So we will have 1,200. And weekly, we earn much more. They go very fast. They are very precise tests. And other countries want them. Then, at the right time, we will be able to do it. But right now, we are giving them to all of ours. So we have done 1,670,000 tests. Think about that: 1,670,000 tests. And now we have a great system. We are working with the states in almost all cases, but we have a great system. And the other thing that we buy in large quantities is hydroxychloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, which I think, as you know, is an excellent anti-malarial drug.

It has worked incredibly. It's this powerful anti-malarial drug. And there are signs that it works in this. Some very strong signals. And meanwhile, it has been around for a long time. It also works very powerfully in lupus. Lupus. So there are some very strong and powerful signals, and we will have to see. Because again, it's now being tested. This is something new that just happened to us: the "invisible enemy", we call it. And, if you can, if you don't have any signs of heart problems, azrithromycin, azithromycin, which will kill certain things that you don't want living inside your body, is a powerful drug, if you don't If you don't have any problems, a heart problem, we would say : Let your doctor think about it.

But as a combination, I think they'll be... I think they're two things that should be looked at very carefully. We have now purchased and stockpiled 29 million hydroxychloroquine pills: 29 million. Many pharmacies have them with a prescription and they are not expensive. In addition, we will send them to various laboratories, to our army. We will send them to hospitals. We will ship them everywhere. I just think it's something... you know the ex

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ion, I've used it for certain reasons: "What do you have to lose?" What do you have to lose? And a lot of people say that when, and they're taking it, if you're a doctor, a nurse, a first responder, medical personnel that goes to a hospital, they say that taking it before it happens is good.

But what do you have to lose? They say, "Take it." I don't see it one way or the other, but we want to get out of this. If it works, it would be a shame if we didn't do it soon. But we have very good signs. That's hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. And again, you should consult your medical staff and get approval. But I've seen things I like. So what do I know? I'm not a doctor. I'm not a doctor. But I have common sense. The FDA feels good about it. They, as you know, approved it. They gave him a quick thumbs up.

And the reason: because it has been around for a long time and they know the side effects and also the potential. So based on that, we've shipped it across the country and we have it in storage - about 29 million doses. Twenty-nine million doses. We have a lot of that. We hope it works. Driven by the goal of the brightest minds in science... we have the brightest minds in science, but we are driven by the goal of getting rid of this plague, getting rid of this scourge, getting rid of this virus. These brilliant minds are working on the most effective antiviral therapies and vaccines.

We are working very, very hard. I have met many of the doctors who are doing it. These are doctors who are working very hard to defeat the virus. They stay. We strongly recommend staying home, practicing vigorous hygiene, and maintaining social distancing, so you don't get infected. It is the most effective weapon in this war. And I will tell you that we are committed to you. We are committing ourselves to the people of our country in a way that few administrations, few people, few professionals have committed before. They're... they're working very hard. I see them. I see them before my eyes, exhausted, people I deal with every day, exhausted.

They have not left their offices. They have not abandoned their hospitals. We meet with them. We see. And enormous progress has been made. I think the vaccines... we will have a report on that. But vaccines... we are working together with other countries. We are also working with other countries, many other countries. And we all want everyone else to be first. They were very happy. But we are very advanced in terms of vaccines. We'll see how all that works. Johnson & Johnson is doing a great job, working very hard. A vaccine would be great. Therapy: A therapy and a therapeutic would be great.

We'll see what happens. In the meantime, you can listen to what I said about the two medications mentioned. My administration is rapidly implementing the largest emergency economic relief package in American history. You've seen what's been happening. Billions of dollars in small business loans have already been processed through Paycheck Protection Programs. So we went out on Friday and it literally became very popular. Work has been done with the banks. They take it to small business. It's all about employment. It's about jobs. We want them to keep their jobs. Provides financing to small businesses to keep workers on payroll.

And we are sending direct cash payments to millions of Americans and sending urgent relief to the hardest-hit industries. We are saving industries. We will be... you'll see. And if we do more, we will do more and try to reach directly the people who are so affected. ButWe are going to take care of our workers. We are going to take care of our citizens. Let's take care of our little business. We will deal with our big businesses: the airline industry, the airline industry. Many great industries we have are in trouble because of what happened in the last short period of time.

These are industries that were doing better, for the most part, better than ever. The airlines were doing very well. Oil was doing very well: oil and gas. And the energy industry was doing phenomenally well, and it got hit like no one else had before. Almost as if no industry has been affected before. There has never been anything like this. But we see light at the end of the tunnel. Things are happening. Things are happening. We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. And hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, we will be very proud of the work we all did.

We can never be happy when so many people are dying, but we will be very proud of the work we did to keep deaths to an absolute minimum - the minimum that could have happened with this terrible, terrible virus. In closing, I also want to note that today is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week for Christians in the United States and around the world. While we may be separated from each other, as you can see in our great churches, our great pastors and ministers are working very hard. But we may be separated; We can use this time to dedicate ourselves to reflection, prayer and our personal relationship with God.

I would like to ask that all Americans pray for the heroic doctors and nurses, for the truck drivers and grocery store workers, and for all those fighting this battle. I mentioned it yesterday, where I saw nurses rushing to hospitals, getting dressed and putting on their masks and glasses, in some cases. They are launching into war. They are launching into war. And I see people in apartment buildings screaming and shouting and singing praises. It's something amazing. They are warriors: these doctors and nurses. They run up to the buildings and literally put it on as the doors open.

They are putting all their things and running inside. And they run inward, running towards tremendous danger. Tremendous danger. But most of all, I would like to ask for your prayers for the families who have lost their loved ones. Ask God to comfort you in your hour of grief. It is a great hour of pain for our nation, for the world. This morning I was talking about 151. For four days I said 151. One hundred and fifty-one countries. This morning, there are 182 countries. He jumped a lot. So as of this morning, 182 countries are under attack by this monster. With the faith of our families and the spirit of our people, and the grace of our God, we will endure, we will overcome, we will prevail.

We have learnt a lot. We will be stronger than ever. And I just want to thank everyone. I also want to thank the incredible professionals in the working group. We had a great meeting today. We received calls all day long from so many different people. And I think our package for everyone to work when we're ready is proving really successful. Maybe we have to make it bigger because it has been very successful. But all that comes back to this country. We want to get them back. We want our people to go back to work. Everyone wants to come back.

We want to open our country as soon as possible. So with that, I'm going to ask Dr. Birx to say a few words and she has some charts to show you. And thank you. Thank you. Dr. Birx: Thank you, Mr. President. As you can see from the hopeful signs in Italy and Spain, where we are finally seeing new cases and deaths declining, they give us hope about what our future could be. We wanted to give you an update on where all the states were. We are looking at this as normalized states per 100,000 citizens. It looks a lot like last week.

We wanted to inform you. We've been covering all week the states that were moving on this map. You can see very clearly where New York is as a state, although this is still centered on the New York metropolitan area. New Jersey is the orange line. The green line is Louisiana. Massachusetts is next, and then Connecticut and Michigan are together on those lines toward the end. And then, of course, Washington, D.C., is now visible on this map, something that wasn't visible before. And the yellow line down is Washington state. Next slide, please. This simply summarizes all the states we are following very closely at the county level.

So we are tracking and tracing not only the epidemic at the state level, but also understanding what is happening county by county with new cases and, of course, deaths as well. We're also triangulating that with all the lab data. And just to tell you how we're doing: In New York, which you can see at the top, their serology is now about 36 percent positive. They were in the 40s. Then, day after day, their positive percentage finally begins to decrease. However, New Jersey's is increasing. Currently, up to 42 percent of the samples that arrive at the laboratory are positive.

Louisiana, 25 percent. Massachusetts, 20 percent. Connecticut and Michigan, 20 percent. District of Columbia, 15 percent. Washington, 8 percent. And then Illinois and Colorado are about 16 percent. Pennsylvania, which is also new to the chart, is at about 12 percent. Next slide, please. So if we could go back a point, sorry. If you go back one slide. One more. All the states here, that's 38 of the states. Thirty-eight of our states have fewer than 50 cases per hundred thousand. They are testing. His lab results are consistent with that. Their seropositivity rate for their laboratories is less than 5 percent. This is how we track and triangulate both case reports and mortality or fatalities, and also triangulate them with the laboratory.

The New York metropolitan area, New Jersey, Louisiana and a number, and Washington state have tested at a higher rate than Italy and Spain. I know many of you are following that. Remember that many of us postponed many of those rehearsals in the beginning, over the last two or three weeks. And I just want to thank Admiral Giroir and HHS, who have been working very closely to make sure that states that were having an outbreak had access to all of their testing. Next slide, please. And then the next one. So just to give you an idea of ​​how we're looking at this, we look at cases every day.

I just want to thank my data team. They spend the entire afternoon collecting data. I receive it around 2 in the morning. And it looks at all of these metropolitan areas by their granular counties. Then we can see the counties that have new cases. That also helps us identify hospitals and understand which hospitals will need ventilators or PPE. This is the Detroit area; They are Oakland and Detroit. Wayne County. The next slide. So we also track mortality. It gives us an idea of ​​how many clients are in the ICU and need care. And we want to make sure that we meet the needs of both the cases and really appreciate the frontline healthcare workers who are really saving many people's lives.

The next slide. This just gives you an idea of ​​New Orleans. Now we are also tracking the Parish of San Juan Bautista. But this was New Orleans and Jefferson County, and we really tracked them on a case-by-case basis to look for changes over time. And the next slide is his mortality. And you can see that it's starting to stabilize. Here's how we've been tracking and tracing the epidemic as it moves through states, counties and communities. But as we begin, we just wanted to point out again: we see hopeful signs in Spain and Italy. They have completed almost four weeks of mitigation with people actually social distancing, staying home and making sure to wash their hands.

If they have to go out to the supermarket, they are extraordinarily careful; They send a person from the family. And so we can really see that starting to work, and we are very hopeful that over the next week, even though we will see an increasing number of cases of people losing their lives from this disease, we are also hopeful. to see a stabilization of cases in these large metropolitan areas where the outbreak began several weeks ago. So thank you for your attention. The President: Thank you very much. Admiral? Please. Rear Admiral Polowczyk: Thank you, sir. What I thought I would do is update the average first and then follow up with Dr.

Birx and how we are geographically aligning the supply chain. So, the average: Three additional flights arrived today, bringing one million gowns, 2.8 million N95 masks, 2.8 million surgical masks, 11.8 million gloves and 18.6 thousand gowns on three flights. And that material will be distributed across the country and delivered to hospitals and nursing homes across the country. Dr. Birx reviewed the geography. And so over the last few days, I've been aligning the supply chain with those areas and then reaching out to those areas and pulling data from those areas on PPE burn rates. So, for example, I spent the weekend talking to Detroit COO Hakim Berry, and I talked to Detroit Medical Center management Audrey Gregory; she spoke with the health officer of Oakland County, Michigan; and then also with Chicago's health officer, Dr.

Allison Arwady. Then, reach a level that allows you to understand your needs. That is why we are geographically aligning the supply chain. Good? As you can see, Dr. Birx went through these counties and we're getting down to the county level. And then align it based on point-of-care priorities: public hospitals, first, VA hospitals, private hospitals, nursing homes, first responders, critical care. In the coming days, we will boost the geographic areas that Dr. Birx mentioned, increasing volume through the supply chain to those areas to give them weeks, not just days of supply, primarily using our industry. partners we're targeting: Cardinal, McKesson, Medline, Owen & Minor, Henry Schein, Concordance Healthcare, directing them to put the product on the hospital door, nursing home door, first responders, directly to them.

We are also working to release millions of doses of hydrochlor... The President: Hydroxy. Rear Admiral Polowczyk: Hydroxychlor. Good. We are working on distribution there to bring the same to the same affected areas, working to get it to the hospitals and all the pharmacies. And so my team is there now working on arrangements to do - get to the front door of the hospital and mainly to the local pharmacies so that a doctor can write those prescriptions and you can get them before you have to go to the hospital. The President: Good job. Thank you very much, admiral.

Mike, please. The Vice President: Robert Wilkie, Mr. President. The President: Oh, good. The Vice President: I know you didn't see it. The President: Good. Secretary Wilkie: Thank you, Mr. President and Mr. Vice President. In my last appearance here I mentioned that the President had given the Department of Veterans Affairs very specific instructions to be as aggressive as possible in response to the virus crisis, not only to protect veterans but also to help the American people. As many of you know, we have three primary missions at VA: One is to support the health of veterans. The other is to provide benefits to veterans.

And the third is the memorial services. But we have a fourth mission, and that is to support the nation in times of national emergency, both in war and peace. We provide a bridge from the federal government to states and localities during these emergencies. As a result, I have directed our VA hospitals to begin preparing more than 1,500 beds to be available at both the ICU and acute care levels for states and localities across the country. As a result of that, we have opened approximately 100 beds in the New York metropolitan area, in Brooklyn, Manhattan and East Orange, New Jersey.

Tomorrow we will inform Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards that we will give him access to our VA Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana to help the people of the Pelican State. I have also given instructions to start the fourth mission in Michigan. We will provide the people of Michigan with access to hospital beds in both Ann Arbor and Detroit. We also provided a pharmaceutical trailer for use by the Governor of Michigan, at Cobo Hall, to support the citizens of Michigan who will come to that facility for medical care. We have also informed the state, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that we will assist them in their efforts to protect their most vulnerable citizens in two of their nursing homes.

So, as directed by the President, the 400,000 men and women of the Department of Veterans Affairs are in this fight. We are in the fight not only for the nine and a half million veterans who are part of our service, but we are also inthe fight for the people of the United States. The President: Thank you, Robert. Secretary Wilkie: Thank you, sir. The President: Thank you. Miguel? The Vice President: Thank you, Mr. President. And you all just heard from several

members

of the President's White House Coronavirus Task Force, and we are truly blessed to have the kind of leadership that we have.

Whether it's Admiral Polowczyk, who organizes the distribution of tens of millions of supplies; whether it's Dr. Birx and Dr. Fauci, who analyze the data literally hour after hour; or whether it's that whole-of-government approach that you advocated, Mr. President, calling out all the government agencies, including the VA, the HHS, and all the agencies. I hope the American people know, following this President's instructions, We spare no expense. We are doing whatever is necessary. We are marshaling the full resources of the federal government to respond to the challenges facing communities affected by the

coronavirus

today and ensuring that every community in America has support.

Also, as the President has said so many times, we have forged a partnership perfect with states across the country. As the President just reflected, this Tuesday, with the arrival of another 840 military medical personnel in New York City, there will be approximately 3,000 Department of Defense and HHS personnel on the ground to complement and provide assistance to healthcare workers, actually, at the Epicenter of the

coronavirus

in the New York City area. And you just heard that the VA is opening up, opening up room for beds. In New Jersey, today I spoke, at the President's request, with Governor Murphy.

Five hundred ventilators, announced today, will be built with supplies we have already provided. We were able to coordinate with him to extend all federal coordination on testing in New Jersey through May 30, if necessary, and also to open VA beds. I spoke with Governor John Bel Edwards in Louisiana and was encouraged to learn that, as he heard Dr. Birx say, new cases were down slightly. In fact, we're seeing a trend of some leveling among all the governors I spoke to today. And I know that what the VA Secretary just announced, regarding the opening of VA facilities, has been a priority for Governor Edwards, but I assured him that we will continue to send resources, supplies and personnel to support his health care.

Today in Michigan, I spoke with the governor, Gretchen Whitmer; and Mayor Mike Duggan of the City of Detroit. Governor Whitmer and I talked about a new program in Detroit that will make hydrochloroquine available to 3,000 patients through Henry Ford Hospital. They will be following, in a formal study, the results of that. But at the president's urging, I assured him that we are more than prepared to make hydrochloroquine widely available in pharmacies and doctors' offices in the Detroit area as they see fit. I also heard from Mayor Mike Duggan, as I said, Mr. President. And he was very grateful to the FDA, not only for approving the Henry Ford Hospital trials that will explore hydrochloroquine, but also for quickly approving the 15-minute test.

In fact, Mayor Duggan told me that he was able to use the 15-minute test this weekend to test 150 first responders who had been sidelined due to exposure to the coronavirus. They all took the 15-minute tests. Everyone has returned to the line of duty. And the mayor couldn't have been more grateful. In Illinois, I spoke with Governor J.B. Pritzker, as well as with Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago. As you just heard, not only have we sent 600 ventilators to the state of Illinois, but I assured... I assured the governor, I assured the mayor that while the primary focus that we will have in the coming days is the increase in cases in the New York City metropolitan area and Louisiana, that Michigan and Illinois are at the forefront of our thinking.

And under the President's direction, we will ensure that the people of Illinois and the people of Michigan have the resources, the equipment and the support they need. The governor ex

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ed great appreciation that our Army Corps of Engineers has built 500 beds at McCormick Place, and would build another 2,500 beds for an overflow healthcare facility in Chicago before the end of this week. In fact, Mr. Speaker, Mayor Lightfoot told me that the Army Corps was excellent in the job they've been doing in building that additional bed space. In closing, let me express, as the President did, our deep gratitude to Governor Kate Brown and Governor Jay Inslee.

Oregon State and Washington State are leading by example. Oregon sent 140 ventilators to New York City. They analyzed their circumstances and concluded that they could do without them at the time of need. And due to continued low numbers in Washington State and California, Governor Inslee announced today that they would be sending 400 ventilators back to the Strategic National Stockpile. And these will be implemented as and when necessary. You know, not only are California and Washington state low and steady, but frankly, as I spoke to governors and mayors today, I want to tell the American people that we are beginning to see glimmers of progress.

Experts will tell me not to jump to conclusions, and I won't. But like your president, I am an optimistic person and I am hopeful. And the truth is that we are beginning to see cases and, most importantly, losses and hospitalizations are beginning to stabilize. But make no mistake: I want to tell the American people that if this is happening, if it is happening, it is because of what all of you are doing. It's because the American people are putting coronavirus guidelines for America into practice. You are listening to your state and local officials. You are practicing social distancing.

You are using self-service instead of going to restaurants. And so, on behalf of your president and all of us who are working, really, at every level, I just want to say: thank you, America. Thanks for answering. Thank you for putting other people's lives at the forefront of your thoughts and for putting them, again, above your own inconveniences and difficulties. Thanks to his efforts, as the President just said, there is light at the end of the tunnel. And I am absolutely convinced: with the continued cooperation, patience, perseverance and prayers of the American people, we will get through this, and we will get through it much sooner than we initially thought.

Thank you. The President: Thank you very much, Mike. Thank you. The Press: Mr. President. The President: Go ahead. Yes. La Prensa: Mr. President, if I could start with the Admiral, if that's okay, sir. I wanted to ask you about the Air Gap flights, sir. There were two flights that passed... or all three flights. Where do they come from, sir? Rear Admiral Polowczyk: They came from Asia. The press: Asia. Well. And then you mentioned that all these supplies were delivered: the masks, the gowns, the hydrochloroquine. How do you make sure there isn't a run on these products?

You know, you drop them off at hospital A and people don't rush to grab every mask and gown? And then a question for you, sir, after that. Rear Admiral Polowczyk: So, you go to the loading dock and there's a bill. So the people who are responsible for that loading dock and that invoice will make sure that there is no run on the bank. Press: Aren't you worried about any of these supplies running out? Rear Admiral Polowczyk: No. The Press: Okay. Thank my Lord. I apreciate it. Mr. President, first, did you have the opportunity? The President: They receive orders for many more than we sometimes think an area needs.

Generally speaking, we like to negotiate it or give it to them however they want. So we've gotten a lot of requests that we think are high, but generally we like, if we have it, if we have, for example, the medications and other things, we like to give them to them. Every day, we develop it and we develop it very quickly and we deploy it. But we do get requests from some of the states where we don't think they need them. We try to get them what they want anyway. Well? Forward. Press: And you mentioned the Prime Minister from the beginning.

The President: Yes. Press: Any chance to speak with him today, sir? The President: I didn't talk to him, no. I received a call from the ambassador. And, hey, it's a big step, it's a big step, going to the hospital. That is very important. He's a great gentleman, so... you know, I just hope he's okay. Press: And then you also mentioned the nurses, the doctors, the people you see celebrating. The President: Yes. The press: I'm sorry, the people who are preparing and preparing, the people who applaud and celebrate them. Has there been talk at any level of some kind of compensation or protection fund for nurses and doctors?

Because there has been a lot of fear. Some people have said, "I can't risk my family's livelihood. I can't go back to the ER." Has there been any discussion? The President: Well, we are talking about it and we are talking about doing something for them. But we are really seeing the conclusion. We just want to... we don't want to focus on that right now. They are incredible. They're not saying, "We won't do it." They come in with good teams, with excellent teams and with things that are not so good. And sometimes you get caught wearing the best you can buy: new, the best.

This is a very tough enemy. But these are incredible people. No, we're talking about something, but we're really thinking about finishing it first before we do it. Please. La Prensa: Mr. President, the Surgeon General, this morning, spoke about how next week will be one of the hardest and saddest of our lives. The President: A hard week... hard. Press: I was talking about this being our Pearl Harbor, our 9/11 moment. You are all talking about glimmers of hope and stabilization. How are the American people supposed to overcome the different descriptions they receive from this administration? The President: I don't think they are that different.

I think we all know we have to get to a certain point, and that point will be horrible in terms of death. But it is also a point at which things will begin to change. We're getting very close to that level right now. And the next week and a half, or two weeks, I think will be very difficult. At the same time, we understand what they represent and what that time represents, and hopefully we can get past this because it is a very horrible thing for the world. Hey, look, now we're one country out of 182 that have... 182 countries.

I have a friend of mine...he said he didn't know we had so many countries in the world. Currently, this affects one hundred and eighty-two countries. That's why we want to get this over with. Well? Please. The press: And with those figures, sir... could you do a follow-up? The President: Yes. Press: About those figures you were talking about before? How does that change the projections you made earlier this week of between 100,000 and 240,000 deaths? The President: Well, we hope to be able to stay below those figures. Those are death figures. And we hope we can stay below those numbers.

That would be fantastic. And as far below those numbers as possible. Now, if we didn't do anything, you know that number too. But the American people really stepped up; so did the professionals. They simply stepped forward. So we hope to stay below those numbers. And that means the minimum and the maximum, but we hope to stay below the minimum number. You know what that number was. The Press: Correct. But have the figures I was talking about today changed those projections? The President: I would say the answer is "yes," but I would also say that we won't really know in terms of the final toll until we get to the end.

And we're probably not that far away. We are getting closer. But our goal is to stay as far below that minimum number, the minimum number possible. Well? That's what we want to do. Forward. Press: Mr. President, as President of the United States, his words carry enormous weight in this country and around the world. And although he acknowledges that he is not a doctor, he widely promotes these medications here. How do you not go so far as to give medical advice? And you said yesterday that you could take some of these medications, even if you don't have symptoms.

Are you still planning to do that? And how is enthusiasm calibrated? The President: Yes. The press: -- And not playing doctor? The President: Because I want people to live and I see people dying. And I see people who are going to die without it. And you know the expression. When that's happening, they should do it. What do we really have to lose? We also have... this drug has been tested for many years for malaria and lupus, so it's available now. It is a very strong and powerful medicine, but it does not kill people. We have very good results and some very good tests.

You've seen the same test as me. Press: But for those who do not have symptoms, sir? The President: In France they did a very good test; They continue. But we don't have time to go and say, "Wow, let's take a couple of years and try it. And let's try the test tubes and the laboratories." We do not have time. I would love to do that. But today we have people dying. WhileWe talk, there are people dying. If it works, that would be great. If it doesn't work, we have known about malaria for many years, it is incredible what it has done with malaria;

It's incredible what has been done with lupus. But it doesn't kill people. That's one of the things with a vaccine. When we have a vaccine, we have to do testing because when you inject that vaccine, when they take whatever they have to take, we have to make sure that it doesn't have a horrible impact, that it doesn't destroy someone. Good? That's why we have to test it over a long period of time. This one, not so much because it has been out there. Now I don't act as a doctor. I'm saying, "Do what you want, but there are some good signs." You have read the signs, I have read the signs.

With the other there are also very good signs. Different: going together works very well. But there may be signs that if you have a heart problem, you shouldn't take what we call Z-Pak. You shouldn't take it and that's okay. But I would love to go to a lab and spend a couple of years testing something. We do not have time. We don't have two hours, because there are people dying right now. If it helps, great. If it doesn't help, we try it. We tried. This is how I feel. Press: Were you serious about accepting it, sir?

The President: You know, we approved something. Yes, I would. I would be very serious about accepting it. We passed something that I'm very proud of. It's called the Right to Try. They've been trying for 45 or 50 years. It makes a lot of sense. We have the best doctors, laboratories and laboratory technicians, the best medicines, the best minds in the world. Everyone admits it. And when we're close to having something, or when we have something that tests incredibly well, you can't use it for years because it would take years and years to test it. So with help from the Democrats as well (I got it bipartisan, but they've been trying to get this passed for decades).

You know it. It's called the Right to Try. So a person would be diagnosed with a terminal illness for something. And in the old days, I mean, a year ago, they said, "Do you think I could try this, this pill, whatever, this drug that's testing so well?" "No, you can't do that. You can't do that under any circumstances." They would go to Asia, they would go to Europe, they would go to... if they had money. If they had no money, they would return home and die without hope. We have something called the Right to Try. If someone is very sick, terminally ill, he is going to die.

They... and it was very complex. It wasn't as easy as it sounds because there were huge liability issues. The drug companies didn't want to do it because they didn't want it to show up in the test results, because they are very sick people, so they didn't want to reduce the test results. The insurance companies had tremendous problems. I gathered everyone in the room and said, "Look, we're going to sign a waiver." The person receiving it will say, "We're not going to sue." The family is not going to sue the pharmaceutical company, they are not going to sue the insurance company, they are not going to sue the state, the city or the federal government.

Well? It's called "exculpation." And we achieved it. It is a very simple agreement. I don't know why no one thought of it, but it never occurred to them. I did. And we achieved it. Now we have the right to try, which is actually, in my opinion, much more difficult than what we are talking about here. But if there is a medicine or something, a possible cure, or something that seems good and someone has something that is going to die or is very sick, they take it. And, you know, we've had some incredible results. Incredible results. And it also gives people hope.

Yes please. La Prensa: Mr. President, but doctors who treat coronavirus patients have the medical experience to determine whether or not they should prescribe hydroxychloroquine. The President: That is true. And many of them do. La Prensa: And there are already clinical trials underway. The President: Sure. The press: -- looking at hydroxychloroquine. The President: Sure. La Prensa: So why not? The President: They should be completed in about a year. Press: Why not let science speak for itself? Why are you promoting this medicine? The President: I am not. I am not. I'm just saying... Press: You are leaving... The President: --very simple.

I'm not at all. I am not. Look, do you know what I'm trying to do? I'm trying to save lives. La Prensa: Well, you come here every day, right, sir? -- talking about the benefits of hydroxychloroquine. The President: I want you to try it. And it may work or it may not work. But if it doesn't work, there's nothing to lose by doing it. Nothing. La Prensa: What do you think? The President: Because we know... in the long term, what I want is to save lives. And I don't want it to be in a lab for the next year and a half because people are dying everywhere.

Press: But it's already there. Doctors can now prescribe it without authorization. The President: That's right. The Press: Right? So what do you achieve? The President: All I do is say... well, I'll tell you what I achieve. We bought massive quantities: 29 million doses. We have it coming from all the laboratories. In fact, we are doing it here now because, in case it works, we want to have it. And we have given it to pharmacies, we are sending it everywhere. FEMA is doing it. FEMA is doing it. We do it through different channels, many different channels, including the companies that make it.

La Prensa: So you... The President: It's something very special. Now, it may not work, in which case, well, it didn't work. And it may work, in which case it will save many lives. Now, a lot of people say that if people come before they receive it and take it, it has a profound effect. Well, maybe yes and maybe no. Press: Where is the conclusive medical evidence for that, sir? The President: I don't want to wait a year and a half to find out. And only CNN would ask that question. Fake news. Forward. La Prensa: Sir, I have one for you about oil.

The President: A group of fakes. Press: -- but first I was hoping to ask Dr. Birx a question. The President just said that, according to the most recent data, there has been some change in the projection. I'm wondering if you could -- you obviously have one more week of data since the numbers of 100,000 to 240,000 potential deaths that you gave us last week. So I'm wondering, with all the caveats that this is somewhat based on continued social distancing that we might see, you know, if a city comes along, things could change dramatically. What's the kind of range you're looking at now in terms of total kill impact?

Dr. Birx: I think the most important thing right now is when we were talking about why we are hopeful. We are hopeful because the last time I was here I couldn't really tell you that Italy and Spain were reaching their peak and coming down the other side. And I think, to me, that's extraordinarily hopeful. They just completed four weeks of really strong mitigation. And I think that's our word to the American people: We can look like this. Two other countries look like this now: two other countries with a very similar experience to ours, with a higher number of cases and higher mortality.

So that's the promise. The promise is: if we do this, we could potentially be better. Now, Dr. Fauci and I received another update today from another independent modeler, and the numbers got closer to that hundred thousand figure. Again, but we (Dr. Fauci and I) believe that if every American follows the guidelines (six feet, washing hands, don't gather socially) that will have an even greater impact. And the other side of the equation certainly is our outstanding healthcare providers, our respiratory therapists, our lab technicians, our nurses and doctors. They are saving lives every day. And that also changes the number.

The President: I also think Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx are very impressed with the American people. And I'm not going to put words in anyone's mouth, I would never do that, but I do, and I will say that maybe they are doing a better job than we all thought possible. When you look at the streets of New York where there is no one, no cars, nothing, I see it. You know, I've seen those streets for a long time and they're packed all the time. And now you see that there is no one. You look to other places;

You look at what's happening in California, where they're doing fantastic work. They really are. The governor is doing great. I'm proud of them. I'm proud of a lot of people, proud of a lot of people on the other side. You know, from a lot of people. I'm actually delighted to work with people with whom, frankly, I didn't get along so well on other topics. We don't agree on this or that; We don't have to go into that now. But we get along with a lot of people. And they are happy with us. We are happy with them.

But I really believe that the American people are doing a better job than anyone would have thought possible, and that's one of the reasons we can even talk about the kind of number that we hope to talk about, which is the minimum. level instead of the maximum or beyond. It's not even the maximum; is way beyond the maximum level, which would be horrible. Yes please. Press: Oh, go ahead. The Press: Mr. President. The President: Please. Press: Secretary Esper mentioned that the Department of Defense may be taking steps to use face coverings. Former Vice President Biden had mentioned that he would now wear a mask whenever he went out.

Are we getting to a point where we might see

members

of the Coronavirus Task Force also wear face coverings? The President: Well, it was voluntary, as I saw yesterday. And certainly, if they wanted to, I would encourage it. I would have absolutely no problem with that if they wanted to. We had a long meeting today. There is a good separation. But the

task

force

meets and certainly wouldn't have a problem if they wanted it that way. I think, frankly, that it is something that, at least for a time, could be advisable. And you know, it's advice.

And we'll see what happens. Yes please. Press: Thank you, Mr. President. At Project Air Bridge, we have seen reports that Chinese shipments, test kits and PPE have proven defective to some extent. Obviously we do not have excess stock. The President: Not here. No, here no. No no no. Press: No, but to Spain, in particular. The President: Well, no, you have seen it in Spain and you have seen it in other places: they do not send us defective things. Press: So, we are not worried that some of the PPE we are importing is defective? The President: No, we tried it.

We look at it. We check it. Rear Admiral Polowczyk: (Inaudible.) The President: Please. Rear Admiral Polowczyk: One of the things we're doing to avoid that is using those six companies that are part of the main supply chain. We actually go to the facility, look at the product, inspect it and clean it before it gets here. So we've heard those things. That's why... that's why we're doing that. The press: Okay. Thank you. A follow-up for doctors, if possible. The President: And we will also send it to others... from other places. The Press: Correct. The President: And as far as the ventilators are concerned, which are very complex, we are now building...we have literally thousands of ventilators under construction.

So, but so far, I think our projections on ventilators have been correct. They have been right. Did you have anything? For whom? The Press: Well, for you and Dr. Birx and Dr. Fauci if you want to try it. Some of the models that you were using, the IHME model, in particular, have been very accurate when it comes to projecting deaths in recent days. But there are a couple of other metrics where they seem to be pretty far off: specifically hospital beds. Are you happy with the models you are currently using? Is there any need to adjust them?

The President: Well, it turns out we need fewer hospital beds. Press: Correct, but... The President: That's what you're talking about. And that's what... well, we may have models, but we've been saying that. In New York we said that we thought less would be needed. Now, let's hope this continues. But right now, I heard Governor Cuomo this morning say there will be fewer hospital beds and fewer deaths as well. That was something very big. First time: fewer deaths today than yesterday, right? That is very important. But also fewer hospital beds. That means fewer patients because they are basically less patients.

And we were saying that. And it also means fewer fans. So there are a lot of very positive things happening. Well. Please. Press: Thank you, sir. With Prime Minister Johnson hospitalized... The President: Yes. The Press: -- A few minutes ago I noticed that you were standing right next to Vice President Pence. Are they considering staying away from each other just to make sure we have continuity of government in the executive branch? The President: We have... we have this small platform and I would love for it to be broader. You stay away from each other. Mike, did they test you?

The Vice President: Yes, sir. The President: Okay. Like recently. Me too, a couple of days ago. The Press: But what I want to say is that you continue to interact with groups of people. The President: We are. Are. Are. You know, here we are on this platform. And... but I get closer to him, I don't breathe. I'm just kidding. We are... sometimeswe're

force

d into positions where I'd rather... I'd rather be away, but... you know, everyone's looking for questions. Mike is a very important part of this; Am. It is very difficult to maintain this distance in this small area.

The Press: Mr. President, I just wanted to ask you very quickly under what circumstances you would consider leveling imports: tariffs on oil imports into the United States. The President: Well, if the price of oil remains like this it is because there are people who really want to see it rise - when I say achieve it - we want to save a great industry. We built a great industry in this country. If they don't get along, I would. Yes, I would apply tariffs, very substantial tariffs. Because now we are independent; We have our own oil. And if you applied tariffs, we would basically be saying, "We don't want foreign oil.

We don't want any foreign oil. We're just going to use our oil." And that would help save an industry. And, you know, it has become a tremendous source of employment. And it's great to be independent. We are independent. Our energy is now independent. We produce more oil than...oil and gas than anyone else, than any other country. And all of this took place very recently. Now, in the meantime, I see $91, 91 cents per gallon on the highway. Well? Many people are happy. I see very economical jet fuel. We are trying to save the airline industry. But I want to save our great energy industry and that's what we're doing.

Yes. So I would, I absolutely would. And what we will do... the price will still be very low... but what we will do is save... and, very importantly, we will save tens of thousands of jobs. One of the other things we are doing is sending oil to our strategic oil reserves. Well? And you know, we bought it for the right price and shipped it. In some cases, we store it for nothing. They are there. We are filling our reserves with this very cheap oil. No one thought they would ever see a price; This is like the 1950s when they had a lot of money, okay?

So no, I would use tariffs if necessary. I don't think I'm going to have to because Russia doesn't benefit from having this and Saudi Arabia doesn't benefit from having this. They - you know, oil and gas are their main sources of income. Obviously it's very bad for them. But we have to do it: we have an industry that is very important and is really beautifully formed. It was the virus that killed it because what happened is that it is down 40 percent from the day it happened, 40 percent. Otherwise, he would do phenomenally well. That's all. Yes. La Prensa: Mr.

President, can we have an idea of ​​a timeline for those people who are waiting for the stimulus checks? How many more days will they have to wait? And then Speaker Pelosi, today, or I think last night, said, in the next bill, that they would like to see additional stimulus checks. Have they thrown in an amount of money? The President: No, but I like the concept. I think it's okay. We're talking about a different way of doing it, but I like the concept. I like the concept of infrastructure. Our country has to be rebuilt. They spent all this money in the Middle East: 8 trillion dollars.

So far we have 8 trillion dollars in the Middle East. We have to rebuild our country. Well? We have to rebuild our roads, our schools, our bridges. We have to rebuild our country. So, I like an infrastructure bill. I also like that the money goes directly to the people. It's not your fault this happened. And I think this, especially the faster we can open our country, can you believe we're talking about our country, opening our country? The faster we open it, the bigger the boom, the bigger the rocket that will rise. I think there is a possibility that it will move very quickly, relatively quickly.

I'd like to see it very quickly, but we'll see. But some of the stimulus and some of what we're doing will help. And the good thing is that we are paying practically zero interest rates. You know we are paying very little. It's one of the reasons I like the infrastructure bill, because we're going into debt, we have a strong dollar. And the advantage of a strong dollar is that everyone wants to invest in this country. Everyone wants to buy our dollar. Press: Regarding direct payments, sir: Just in terms of schedule, are we still talking about two weeks?

Are we talking about ten days? The President: I think so. Yes, from what I've heard, that's... The Vice President: Two weeks. La Prensa: Two weeks? Okay, two weeks. Thank you. The President: Yes, a couple of weeks. That's what I'm hearing. Yes please. Press: Thank you, sir. I wanted to continue with the hydroxy issue. Thanks for the numbers. Has there been any tension with the medical staff because of that? Do you agree with all these numbers? The President: Yes, we discussed it with the staff. We discussed it with the FDA. Well, the FDA approved it. So, you know, which is another point.

I mean it's been approved by the FDA, which is very important. If it wasn't FDA approved, then you wouldn't be able to do this. But the FDA has approved it, hydroxy. Press: And also, if this doesn't work, will hospitals and doctors be exonerated by the federal government under the right to try? The President: Well, we'll see if it works. No, it's not going to... it's not going to hurt people. It may help them, but it won't hurt them. That's the beauty of it, you see. It may help them, but it won't hurt them. What do you have to lose?

Well, a question? Yes, back, please. Press: Yeah, you know, obviously we know that anyone can spread the disease, right? Unconsciously. The President: Correct. Press: So why even have some businesses open? Why not just close everything? There are grocery stores that are open and fast food places. Why even take a small risk? Just close them all for...temporarily. The President: Well, we're going to have to do it. We will answer that question later. All I can say is that right now things are looking very good and opening up strong will be a great thing. And there is no one who will be happier than me.

Please go ahead. La Prensa: Just to follow up on your comments about the ventilators. The President: Yes. The press: -- the IHME model suggests that 32,000 ventilators will be needed by the mid-April peak. GM is not expected to have ventilators ready sooner. The President: Thirty-two thousand will be what? La Prensa: Required throughout the country. GM -- The President: May I join those we have already sent? Press: Just in... in general. The President: Don't forget that we have almost 10,000, a little more than 9,000 at the moment. And they are ready to go should we need them. And we had to preserve it.

You get that: flexibility. So if we need them in New York, which we may not do, we do need them. But they are ready to move. We're... we're all ready. Military... it's a military operation. We are ready to move. They will be moved immediately to whatever section of the country we need. Would you like to answer that by the way? Rear Admiral Polowcyzk: Yes, sir. So, correct. FEMA is working on a plan to be able to move the ventilators. So, for example, if the Department of Defense delivered another 500 ventilators, they are preparing to install them at Fort Dix, so they can quickly deploy them to sites.

And to include... you know, you heard the President mention that states give to states, things like that. Then there are the fans that are not in use that we may also be able to move quickly. Press: Correct, but you mentioned that thousands are currently being manufactured. The President: Yes. The Press: So I was wondering if there was any update with GM and Ford just because... The President: No, but it won't be long. They have started. GM, Ford, we have many, we have 11 companies, approximately 11 companies, that build them. And we will have a reserve for the future;

Hopefully, we'll never have to use them. They should have: Hospitals and states should have bought a stockpile. They didn't do that. So we've made up for it. But if we have extras, other countries need them. I mean, you see the UK needs them badly, France needs them badly, Italy needs them badly. They need them. So, it's complicated. It's a big team. It is expensive. And we will be able to help other countries after we address our needs. Yes please. Forward. Press: Yes, thank you, sir. Regarding infrastructure spending, as you have pointed out... The President: Actually, I choose you, but that's fine.

Press: Oh, sorry. I'll let it go... The President: I'll let it go. That's ok. Forward. Press: Thank you. Regarding infrastructure, you have commented on how empty the roads are. Is there any idea, is there any way to speed up the infrastructure? I mean, on the Washington Beltway, it takes forever to repair the road, because of all the traffic. The President: No, I know. And because they do not make construction techniques that work and are better. I mean, I see a road and that's... that's what I do. I do construction, which I did. I see a road that is good but has a bad top and a big base, a concrete base underneath.

And I'll see them come in. I don't want to say where, but I could tell you; I could give you many examples, and they are tremendous. They take out the base. They take everything out. Now they pour a new base that is not as good, it is not as deep, it is not as thick. The concrete base was fantastic - the base. It takes forever. La Prensa: What I want to say is... The President: Wait a minute. It takes forever. And instead of scraping the asphalt, or whatever is on top, scraping it off and putting down the new asphalt, putting down the new median.

They could have done it. And then they open the road and it starts to crack. The reason is that it has not been configured. And they spend 10, 15, 20 times more money than necessary. I never believe, when I see these people making highways, roads and working, how they take the most expensive solution. And the conclusion: the work itself is much worse. The Press: So that's what I mean, taking advantage of the fact that so many people are staying home. The President: Yes. Press: -- not on the roads. Is there a way to do it more economically and efficiently?

The President: Well, yes, but hopefully they won't stay home for long. Hopefully this will come to light and we won't have that kind of time. If we have that amount of time, we made a big mistake. Please go ahead. Press: Thank you, Mr. President. How many rapid tests has the federal government already deployed across the country? And which regions received those tests? The President: Who has that information? The Vice President: I can talk about that. The President: Go ahead, Mike. The VP: Deb can follow up. The 15-minute test has really been a breakthrough. I have reflected on the progress they have made in Detroit to get first responders back to work with the Abbott Laboratories test.

Abbott Laboratories began producing around 50,000 tests a day last Tuesday. And I have been informed that there are already around 18,000 of these machines throughout the country. I mean, they're actually the same machines you use to quickly get a strep test when you go to the doctor. But now Abbott is rolling out these new 15-minute coronavirus tests to healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities across the country. Additionally, as the President said, FEMA has purchased 1,200 of these devices. We will distribute them to all 50 states and the Indian healthcare system, and then we will distribute the tests. Dr. Birx, is there anything else to add on this?

Dr. Birx: That's perfect, sir. La Prensa: So (inaudible) these tests? The Vice President: Let me ask Admiral Polowczyk about the 1,200 devices. Rear Admiral Polowczyk: I didn't hear the question. The Vice President: Have you received the 1,200 or what is the schedule? Rear Admiral Polowczyk: I think they're on Abbott's shelf, a good majority of them. The President: They leave on Tuesday. Rear Admiral Polowczyk: Right. Yes sir. So I don't have the exact numbers. I think there is some manufacturing there, but the vast rest is on the shelves. The Press: Mr. President. The President: Some have left, by the way, but the vast majority leave on Tuesday.

Yes please. La Prensa: Sir, in some of these previous

briefing

s, you referred to the federal government as the backup. I think today there's definitely a different approach here. The President: No. The Press: -- with the distribution. The feeling, listening to his presentation today, is that he is adopting a leading role in distribution. There is a change? The President: No, there is no change, but we are supposed to be the backup. But like in Illinois, the governor couldn't do his job and we had to help him. We will send 600 fans. We're building a hospital at McCormick Place.

We're making it. So we have some people who couldn't do it. We have other people who needed a little help. We had... in New York we had to provide a lot of help, but we have worked very well with Governor Cuomo and with the mayorde Blasio. But no, we're meant to be the backup, but we've taken on a much bigger role than that, and that's okay. I have no objection to that. Now, in some cases, it has worked so well, that in reality now they are seeing, they think it is over, the big problem. And they actually call us and say, "You can get your equipment back now." But we are actually deployed as backup, but I feel like we are much more than that.

They have done a much better job. I will say this: I don't believe that the people who have represented this country, the federal government, whether it's the admiral and the generals and all the people we call to the front, simply put, they are heroes for what they have done. What they've been able to do in a short period of time: They took over a system that was broken, just like we did with the military. Our army was destroyed. Our army was depleted and disintegrated, and we have rebuilt it. We have also rebuilt this entire system. And I, in a way, Kelly, appreciate your question because, you know, you're hearing all the things that we are: the millions of masks, the hundreds of thousands of gowns.

And they're surgical, you know, they're protective gowns of the highest level. We are taking it to the different states. And most of the governors are very happy. Now, a lot of times, you know, it's politics. Maybe I do the same, I don't know. But they will try to act not so happy. I will tell you that when I talk to them or when the vice president talks to them, they are singing the praises of all these people. That's why I always feel offended when someone says something about what we've done. Now, to do this... to do this it should have been necessary...

The Press: And now the responsibility falls on you, sir? Is that what happened? The President: To do what we have been able to do and bring it to a level, it should have taken a year. It should have taken two years. They did it in a matter of weeks. And we are helping the states. No, it's them. For example, New York had the right to purchase 16,000 respirators. They could have bought them. They didn't do it. I understand why they didn't do it. It was a very expensive purchase. You know, a very expensive figure, and that is a lot: 16,000.

And they chose to do something else with their money. I understand that. The problem is when something like this appears, you don't expect it. Look, in 1917, a long time ago, maybe 100 million people died. That was a long time ago. So people don't believe it's going to happen. Frankly, there would be - I mean, did anyone in this room think something like this could happen? But it happened. And we build a force. This is a military operation, as it turned out (it really is) with FEMA, with the Army Corps of Engineers. I mean, the Army Corps of... and you were very kind on that point.

The Army Corps of Engineers is now building 2,500 units of beds and everything else. And then Governor Cuomo called and wanted it to become COVID, meaning the problem. And we said, "Well, it wasn't supposed to be like this, but we want to do it." And we've moved military personnel, so now military personnel are operating it. And I'll tell you what's good. It hasn't been very crowded. That's a good thing, not a bad thing. It hasn't been. Now, maybe over the next week something will happen, but it hasn't. But we have done it, because it is better than the other alternative that we are running out of.

But in reality they built 2,900 beds. And we've also built four medical centers in New York. We have built four hospitals, four medical centers and much more than that. It is a great honor to have done it. But the people who did it are amazing and have to be appreciated by the states, not me. They haven't appreciated me at all. I don't worry about myself. They have to appreciate the generals, the admirals, the doctors, the nurses. I mean, now we're bringing in 3,000 people who are medical professionals coming from all over the country to help New York City, help New York state, and help many other places.

I just think it's amazing what they've done and I don't think they've been appreciated. You can forget about me. You can forget about me... La Prensa: Seriously, sir? The President: Yes. Yes, I'm real... I'm serious. You have to value them. Go back, please. The Press: Mr. President, when he said that he is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and yesterday he said... The President: Yes. Yes. The Press: Yes. Sure. The President: I see light at the end of the tunnel. The Press: But yesterday... The President: If I didn't do it, I wouldn't be...

I wouldn't be very excited about what we've done. No, I see light at the end of the tunnel. I think some of the numbers coming out today are indicative. I think we had a very good meeting today. We're seeing things that we don't even report because we think it's too early to report. No, I think we are seeing things happen that are very good. And we also know – all of us, including medical professionals – that we have to open our country. We have to leave... we have to open our country. No country was designed for this, where you shut it down.

We are in the midst of the greatest economic boom in the history of any country. Our country had the greatest economic boom in history. We had the most people working we've ever had, almost 160 million people. And then, out of 160 million, they don't want anyone to leave home. You know, you could use the term "cold turkey." Good? That's called "cold turkey." Countries are not designed; This country is not designed for that. We have to take our country back. And I think it will come back, and I hope it comes back very quickly. La Prensa: So my question, sir.

La Prensa: One question, sir. The President: Yes, please. Forward. La Prensa: Sir, the First Lady has been tweeting and encouraging people to wear masks. Has she... The President: That's good. La Prensa: Has she been talking to you about this? The President: No, she thinks that way. The press: - Does she encourage you to wear one? The President: She thinks... I... I would use one. I mean, I just... generally, I'm not into... like, I should... would you like me to put one on right now and answer your question? I guess it would be a little awkward. But no, I mean, again, I would use one if it were, if I thought it was important.

She... thinks... likes the idea of ​​using it, yes. She does. Many people do. Again, it is a recommendation, I understand it and I agree with it. Press: What's happening with your family in New York? Are they going to use them? Are you encouraging them to use them? The President: I wouldn't be surprised. La Prensa: Can we listen to Dr. Fauci, Mr. President? The President: Sure. What would you like to know? Press: If we are going through such difficult times, how can the American people emotionally prepare for it? And as the president talks and is eager to see the country reopen, how do we balance the mitigating factors that still need to take place before we get to that point?

The President: Sure. Doctor? And, by the way, he would also like to see the company open. I mean, he already knows... The Press: Everyone would do it, sir. The President: You are called "an American who loves our country." Dr. Fauci: Well, I think part of the answer to his question relates to two other questions I heard. And I think it came from behind about how is it possible, on the one hand, to have said yesterday that this is really going to be a bad week at the same time that we're talking about the light at the end of the tunnel.

It seems inherently contradictory, but it really isn't. And it has to do with what we explained before about the delay when we look at the signs that Dr. Birx and the President were talking about, where you see a flattening of cases and you don't see the realization of what that means until two weeks later. Right now we're seeing, as we all rightly said, that this is probably going to be a really bad week. This is a reflection of what happened two and a half weeks ago. So, if we are now starting to see a flattening or stabilization of cases, what we are hearing about a possible light at the end of the tunnel does not take away from the fact that tomorrow or the next day is going to be really bad.

So we need to make sure that we realize that we are always talking about a two and a half week delay. So I want to be sure, because I think a couple of people asked that question. It's really not incompatible with what we're saying. Now, regarding what we tell the American people, Kelly, what we've been telling them all along, that the only tool, but the best tool we have, is mitigation. We know it worked in other countries and we are seeing how it works here. So if we really want to make sure that we don't have these kinds of bounces that we're worried about, it's mitigation, mitigation, mitigation.

That is the answer. La Prensa: When new cities or new states appear on the graph... Dr. Fauci: Yes. Press: -- What is the message for people in those places that have not been the center of attention? Dr. Fauci: It's the same thing. It's mitigation mitigation, mitigation. In fact, (laughter), (looks up the chart), here's the famous vice president's chart, it's the least we should do. You know, everyone should do that. And everything here, in one way or another, points to physical separation, whether it's no crowds, whether it's six feet, whether it's staying away from theaters and restaurants or whatever.

Press: And the churches and places of worship? Dr. Fauci: Exactly. Exactly. Press: Doctor, are you at all worried about people becoming complacent? You are worried? I mean, after a couple days of this, I think people are about to go crazy staying home. And I'm just curious, are you at all concerned that after, you know, seven days from now, people will say, "Look, I did my best. I have to get out"? I mean... Dr. Fauci: You know, I wouldn't say I'm worried about it because I don't think it's going to happen. I mean, from what I've seen - and I mentioned this the other day - my own experience is that people really understand the responsibility they have to themselves, to their family and to the country.

So this is about all of us. This is not just about us. Because if everyone does their part, there won't be those kinds of rebounds that worry us. The President: Yes. The Press: Dr. Fauci, how many additional asymptomatic cases do you think there are currently in the United States? There are 330,000 more confirmed cases. How many asymptomatic, taking into account what we have learned in recent days? Dr. Fauci: You know, we don't know. And even among us, good friends that we are... (laughter)... we... differ on that. I mean, it's between 25 and 50 percent. Press: More than... Dr. Fauci: Yes.

Yes, in other words, about people... La Prensa: --the current level? Dr. Fauci: Yes, about the people out there. Yes. And believe me, that is an estimate. I don't have any scientific data to say that yet. You know when we'll get the scientific data, when we publish those antibody tests and we actually know what the penetrance is. Then we can answer the questions in a scientifically sound way. Right now, we're just guessing. The President: And we have made great progress with antibody testing. Fantastic progress. Dr. Fauci: Correct. Press: And would you also give your opinion on the issue of hydroxychloroquine?

What do you think about this? And what is the medical evidence? The President: Do you know how many times you have answered that question? Dr. Fauci: Yes. The press: But I would love to hear from the doctor. The President: Maybe 15. Fifteen times. You don't have to ask the question. La Prensa: He is... he is your medical expert, correct? The President: He has answered that question 15 times. Press: Dr. Fauci, why isn't he wearing a mask? Dr. Fauci: What do you mean? Why don't I wear a mask now? Well, there are a couple of reasons. One of them is that part of... in fact, the main reason to wear a mask is to protect yourself from getting infected.

I took the test yesterday and it's negative. The President: Good. Dr. Fauci: Okay. The President: That is a very... very good answer. Alright, I think that really could be it. That was a very... I love it, especially the mask. I thought it was very good. Forward. La Prensa: Sir, on the issue of equipment, the records show that federal agencies did not start. The President: Oh, enough. La Prensa: -- did not begin -- The President: Who are you with? By the way, who are you with? The Press: With the Associated Press, sir. The President: Who are you with?

The press: The Associated Press. The agencies did not start buying wholesale -- The President: That's another beautiful -- that's another beautiful (inaudible) -- La Prensa: -- wholesale purchases of respirators and N95 masks until mid-March. The President: Are you ready? Are you ready? Let me answer your question because I know exactly... you know, the same question you ask all the time. Ready? Press: This is the first time I have asked this, sir. The President: They've done an incredible job of delivering... for the Associated Press, which, you know, is not as good, not as it used to be.

The people you are looking at (FEMA, the military) what they have done is a miracle. What they have done is a miracle by achieving all this. What they have done for the states is incredible. And you should thank them for what they have done, not always ask wise type questions. thank you very much to all. Thank you. Thank you.