US Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Notes

George Floyd death much more in the news than the virus

CDC reports recently began identifying # of new cases and deaths. Listed for May 5: 1171510 cases, 19138 new. 68279 deaths, 823 new.

President orders meat packing companies to stay open.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-...

No press briefing

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Today governors of NY, CT, RI, NJ, DE, and PA met to begin coordinating plans to open economy safely and by data and scientific advice. Governor of MA will also join. President Trump asserted that he alone has the power to open the economy and can overrule the governors.

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Politico reported that the definition of the Strategic National Stoockpile was changed this morning on the webpage:

Press Briefing 4/1/20

March 30, 2020 article in Washington Post, "‘No national response’: One senator’s alarming account of the first days." - discusses Secretary Azar's and Dr. Fauci's presentations to the Senate Committee on February 5.

This is the first weekend that CDC is updating number of cases and deaths.

Huge $2 trillion stimulus is passing in Congress; stock market is going up (17% from the bottom) but still far below its peak. Both Senators Reed of RI and Ted Cruze of Texas have called on President Trump to use the DPA.

Links

 Some sort of new test. Mercy and Comfort. Comfort going in 3-4 weeks probably in NY harbor. Mercy will go to Los Angeles.

Tax filing deadline extended to July 15. Suspending student loan interest and penalties for 60 days. Tremendous emphasis on border security. Yes, everyone is controling borders. Individuals under 19 seem to recover.

Navy ships Comfort and Mercy to be deployed. Activating the Defense Production Act (but it's not clear if it's being used). FEMA is now involved.

Links:

First US death, which caused this press conference on a Saturday.. 40+ million masks available.. Hope it will not be a major circumstance. Don't incite panic. Travel ban for China keeps threat low. Now banning travel from Iran.

VP Pence put in charge of federal response.

Links:

March 30, 2020 article in Washington Post, "‘No national response’: One senator’s alarming account of the first days." - discusses Secretary Azar's and Dr. Fauci's presentations to the Senate Committee on February 5.

GCM teleconference–Note for the Records
Date : Friday 10 January at 2pm GVA time.
Subject: Pneumonia in Wuhan, China.

A 63-page paper, "Crimson Contagion 2019 Functional Exercise Draft After-Action Report, October 2019," by DHHS Office of tthe Assistant Secretar

A Politico article on March 20, 2020 ("Before Trump’s inauguration, a warning: ‘The worst influenza pandemic since 1918’") reports that 7 days before Trump's inauguration (1/

Executive Order - Facilitation of a Presidential Transition, May 6, 2016, which includes: "The White House Transition Coordinating Council shall: ...