Trump holds news conference on schools reopening
Thank you very much, thank you everybody. Thank you, we've had a tremendous, week. Uniting, the. Country in our fight against. The china virus i've. Reminded, people of the importance, of, masks. When you can't socially, distance, in particular. A strong message, has been sent out to young people to stop going to. Crowded, bars and other crowded places. Yesterday, we made the amazing announcement. For our plans, to protect nursing, home residents, we're working very hard on that we're doing very well. All over the country. And also. About. Contracting. With uh, pfizer, we made a big big beautiful, contract, with pfizer we think they're very close but we have a lot of companies, that are very close to produce, a vaccine. And i wanted to come out again today to share some. Additional, news with you. This afternoon, my political, team came to me and laid out. Our plans, for the convention, in jacksonville. Florida. It's a place i love. I love that state. The drawings, look absolutely. Beautiful i never thought we could have something, look so good so fast with, everything going on. And everything was going well a tremendous. List of speakers. Thousands, of people. Wanting to. Be there and i mean in some cases, desperately. Be there. They wanted to attend, people making travel arrangements, all over the country they wanted to be there. The pageantry. The signs, the excitement, were really really. Top of the line but i looked at my team and i said. The timing for this event is not right, it's just not right with what's happened. Recently. The flare-up, in florida. To have a big convention, it's not the right time. It's. Uh. Really something, that for me. I have to protect the american, people. That's what i've always done that's what i always. Will do that's what i'm about. They said sir we can make this work very easily. We have great enthusiasm. Incredible, enthusiasm. Even the polls say, about the most enthusiasm. They've seen. We can do this safely, and we can do it, responsibly. I said there's. Nothing more important in our country than keeping our people safe. Whether that's from the china virus. Or the radical left mob. That you see in portland. Where i want to thank. Homeland, security, and others in law enforcement, for doing a fantastic, job over the last few days they went in. And. People were, out of control, for 51. Days a long time. And, homeland, security, and other law enforcement. With us went in and they've done a great job. In protecting, our property, federal courthouse, and. Other property. And uh most importantly protecting, our people. Or the senseless, violence, that you see in chicago, or new york, or, detroit, a lot of other cities where so many people are shot. And so many people are killed. And. People uh, elected, me to. Help and to protect. So i told my team it's time to cancel. The jacksonville. Florida, component, of the. Gop, convention, we'll be starting, in north carolina, for the monday as, has always been planned we were never taking that off that's remaining, as it is the delegates, are going to get together that's. Where they do their nomination. So the delegates, are going to north carolina. And they'll be doing, the nomination. And. We're going to do some other things with, teller rallies, and online, the week. That we're discussing, which will be. Really good i think we're going to do it well. And i'll still do a, convention, speech. In a different form. But we won't do a big. Crowded, convention, per se it's just not the right time for that. I care deeply about the people of florida, and everywhere, else frankly in this country and even in the world. Who would be coming into the state, and i don't want to do anything to upset it. Uh they'll be, doing very well very shortly we're going to put some. Uh, maps up of the country, behind me and, you'll see that uh. The area that we're talking about is. A hot spot.
You'll Also see a lot of the country, is uh has. Has no problem whatsoever. Most of the country, actually. So i'm always going to take care of, you, so that. That's the way we're going to do it, i've spoken, to. Governor desantis. And informed. Other, political, leaders i want to, thank the. Jacksonville. Community, and its great mayor he's a great, great guy really great guy they wanted it so badly. And all of the other political, representatives. In jacksonville. And in florida. And, just very special people a very special, group. And they were there for us a hundred, percent. Today i want to provide, an update on the actions, we're taking to support, the safe reopening, of america's, schools. Parents around the world who have had their. Children, home for the last few months have a greater appreciation, for the fact. That teachers, are essential, workers, that they're, essential, to our, children's, future. Our goal is to protect, our teachers, and students, from the china virus. While ensuring that families, with high risk factors, can continue, to participate. From home very important. The american, academy, of, pediatrics. Has, released, guidance, recommending. That. Schools reopen. It said quote. Lengthy, time. Away from school, an associated. Interruption. Of supportive, services. Often results, in a. Social, isolation. Making it difficult, for schools, to identify. And address, important, learning deficits. As well as, child, and adolescent, physical, and, sexual, abuse. Substance, abuse. Depression. And suicidal. Ideation. This in turn places, children, and adolescents. At considerable. Risk of, morbidity, and of. Some cases, mortality. Beyond the, educational. Impact, and social impact of school closures. There's been a substantial. Impact on food security, and physical activity, for children and for families. So that's very important. And. There's a. Highway, it goes both ways. The national education, association. Recently, stated despite. The momentous. Efforts of educators, during the pandemic, online, learning has never been, an effective, replacement, for in-person. Learning. And support. Being at the school, being on the campus, is very, very important. One study estimates, that due to school closures, last spring. The average student will begin the school year roughly 35, percent behind, in, reading compared to the typical year. And more than 50 percent behind. In math that's a big statement. According, to. Mckinsey, and company, learning loss will probably, be. Greatest, among, low-income, black and hispanic. Students, they're the ones that are hit the hardest. We don't want that happening. 30 million american, students rely on schools, for free and reduced, meals. Over 70 percent of the students who receive mental health services, do so through their schools. According, to, hhs. One in five reports, allegedly. Having to do with child abuse. They have, neglect. And these are neglect, and neglected, cases, are submitted. By education. Personnel. So. People. In the education. World, on the premises. Will. Be the ones that report. Neglect. And. Other problems, when they see the children they know if they've been neglected, they know if they've been hurt or harmed, in any way. Whether it's at home or someplace, else but they see this at school you don't get to see that if you're not going to school it's a big thing. Fortunately. The data shows the children. Are lower risk from, the china, virus, very substantially. When, children, do contact, the virus they often have only, very mild symptoms, or none at all. And medical, complications. Are exceedingly, rare. Those that do face complications. Often have underlying. Medical. Conditions. 99, percent of all china, virus. Hospitalizations. Are adults, and. 99.96. Of all, fatalities. Are adults, that means that. Children, are a tiny. Percentage. Less than one percent, and even a small percentage, of one, percent. In a typical, year the flu, results, in more deaths. Of those under 18 in the united, states than have been lost. Thus far. To the, coronavirus. Many different names, many many different names. The life of every child is sacred, and must be protected. Our, sole focus. Is the health and well-being, of america's. Children, i have a, very very special, person who loves children who's.
Who's. I think one of the greatest athletes, of all time. A lot of people say the greatest pitcher, of all time. Known as a relief pitcher, could have been whatever he wanted some people. He is the greatest reliever, of all time by far substantially. More saves than anybody else in fact. He got the presidential. Medal of freedom, recently. And uh, he uh i'm reading off these stats i knew he was the best i knew he was great but i didn't know it was almost double anybody, else. But he's a man who loves children has children loves children. Works hard with children we're gonna go outside, and be with some little leaguers. Mariano, rivera, you know he's the sandman, right my wife, said. Darling, why do they call him the sandman, i said you know, they play the song. He just, puts the batters to sleep and that's exactly what happened. So uh having mariano, here is a great honor thank you very much she was talking about children in schools. And. There's nobody that's done more than you have thank you very much mariano. Fantastic. Man. Given these considerations. We believe many. School districts, can now reopen. Safely. Provided, they implement. Mitigation. Measures, and health, protocols, to protect families, protect teachers, and to protect, students and we do have to protect. The teachers, and the families, also we have to remember that all families. Should be empowered to make the decision. That is right for their own, circumstance. This is especially, important, if a child has underlying, health conditions, or. Lives with a parent or grandparent, who's at higher risk. In cities or states. That are. Current hot spots. And you'll see that in the map behind me. Districts, may need to delay, reopening. For a few weeks and that's possible that'll be up to, governors. The decision, should be made based on the data, and. The facts on the grounds in each, community, but every, district, should be actively, making. Preparations. To open. Again, the, children obviously, have a very strong. Immune system. Maybe even as strong as yours. They seem to be able to fight it off and not have a problem. So uh it's pretty amazing, actually. Great great credit. Our strategy. To, safely reopen, schools. Mirrors, our approach. Nationwide. As we race toward the. Completion, of a vaccine, and therapeutics. The responsible. Path is to shelter those at highest risk. While allowing. Those at lower risk, much lower in the case of young children. To resume work at school, and, as long as everyone, practices. Vigilant. Hygiene. And social, distancing, we want that. A permanent, shutdown, was never the strategy, which would ultimately, lead to. Greater. Mortality. And. Irreversible. Harms we don't want to do that. At the same time we have to get our economy, going we had tremendous, numbers. Issued yesterday, housing. Prices, pricing, of housing, up, 21. The highest in history. It's the highest, number in history. Real estate housing. Went up 21. Today the cdc, will provide additional, guidance, for how schools, can reopen, safely. I hope that local leaders, put the full. Health and well-being, of their students, first. And to make the right decision, for children parents, teachers, and not make political, decisions, this isn't about politics, it's about something. Very very important, this is not about politics. I even think it's bad politics, if you do the wrong decision, very bad politics, we're asking, congress to provide. 105. Billion, dollars. To schools, as part of the next, coronavirus. Relief, bill. This funding will support, mitigation, measures, such as smaller class sizes, more teachers, and teacher, aides. Repurposing. Spaces. To practice, social distancing. And crucially. Mask, wearing. This money is in addition to the 30 billion dollars we secured, for schools, and universities. Earlier, this year. That money we have some is distributed, and some is not distributed. If schools, do not, reopen. The funding should go to parents, to send their. Child to public, private charter religious, or, home school. Of their choice. The key word being choice.
If The school is closed, the money, should follow the student. So the parents and families, are in control, of their own decisions, so we'd like the money to go to the parents. Of the student. This way they can make the decision, that's best for them. We cannot, indefinitely. Stop 50 million american, children from going to school harming their mental physical, and emotional. Development. Reopening, our schools, is also critical, to ensuring, that parents can go to work. And provide for their families. The council, of economic, advisors, estimates, that 5.6. Million, parents, will be unable to return to work. If schools, do not reopen. This year. It's a tremendous, problem. It's a tremendous, problem. Schools have to open safely. But they have to open. More than a dozen. European, countries, as well as south korea, taiwan, and many others. Have already reopened, schools, and cases, have not risen. We can achieve, the same goal if we, unite together. Follow the best medical, practices. And apply. Common sense. We'll continue, to support, states, and cities, in the, current hot spots, in the south. Southwest. And west. The governors, i know them all they're all very very capable, they're doing a very good job they're working. So hard you wouldn't even believe it. We have nearly 30, 000. Federal, personnel, deployed, in the states. That need assistance, we're helping with doctors, and nurses. Medical. Personnel, of all kinds. As a ppe. Update, we're in close communication. With governors, and states. We have supplies. Everything they could possibly, need were very strong on supplies, remember i used to say the cupboards, were bare well now the cupboards are the opposite. Due to our historic, efforts to increase both the national, stockpile. And the, state stockpiles. The vast majority, of the states have 60 days worth of supplies, on hand. And most importantly they have ventilators. Because the ventilators. Are. Very very hard to come by at least in the past now we're making thousands, of ventilators. A month. And supplying, them in many cases to other countries. For states that are making requests, we're rapidly, delivering. In the last 24, hours, fema has deployed. More than, 1.5. Million masks, upon request. 1.7. Million, gallons. And 600. 000. Well let me change that we've created, about 600. 000 different. Supplies, we have 600. Ventilators. To arizona. North carolina. Pennsylvania. Colorado. Idaho. And washington, i think the number is, 600. We're going to check that and we'll give it to you, in a little while but we've. We've got a stockpile. Of. Thousands, of ventilators. I think we've sent out about 600. Just recently. The united, states has now conducted, more than. 51, million, tests which is. More than, any other country in the world, by far. Roughly half of the tests are either the rapid, point of care test which frankly. Solves a lot of problem, and delay, five to 15, minutes instead of waiting. For. Service, both ways in both directions, and then at the lab. But roughly, half of them now which is a tremendous. Increase. Are. Five to 15-minute. Tests or tests done in a hospital. Where you get the results, back in less than a day. Some cases immediately, we're. Continuing. To, surge, testing. To current. Hot spots such as miami, and phoenix, to, detect, those with the virus and take steps to stop. From spreading. It, further. This is a copy, of the. Map and this is uh. You have it right behind me that's uh. Really very much indicating, where the problems. Are you see, from. That it's in great shape lots of it. The northeast, has become. Very clean, the country, is. In very good shape other than if you look south and, west. Some problems, that'll all work out, on therapies, we've worked with florida, to ensure that. Over 40, 000, vials, of, rem death severe, are arriving, this week, it's a lot. That's a really that's a lot they're working around the clock to make it it's had a tremendous, impact. We've also shipped thousands, of vials to arizona. California. And texas, over the past two weeks. Arizona, is doing very well it's heading down. Numbers are heading down, i think very quickly governor's done a great job. They've all done a great job they've all done a great job, working hard. We'll continue, to monitor, the areas, rising, and. With respect to cases, and we ask all americans. To exercise. Vigilance. Practice, social, distancing. Wear a mask. Do whatever is necessary, so we get rid of this horrible. Situation. This horrible, disease that was sent to us by china, it should not have been sent. They should have stopped it they could have stopped, it they didn't. And the entire world has gotten infected. And a lot of countries, are going, through. A lot right now this morning i spoke with, president, putin, of russia. And they're going through a very hard time with this in moscow, in particular.
I Spoke to. The, crown prince, saudi arabia. They're, doing well but they're going through a lot everybody's, going through a lot yesterday i spoke to the heads of four different countries. Uh, all four are going through a lot. Going through a hard time, this could have been stopped, it could have been stopped quickly, and easily, but for some reason it wasn't. And we'll figure out what that reason was. So with that if you have any questions, please. On the convention, were you simply not convinced, that you could keep people safe at the convention. I just felt it was wrong steve to have, people. Going to, what, turned out to be a hot spot you know when we chose it it was not at all hot it was free. And all of a sudden it happened quickly it happens quickly and it goes away and it goes away quickly. Uh the key is we wanted to go away without a lot of, death. Without a lot of problems, and we're learning so much about. The disease that's why we're we're very cognizant, of nursing homes we're watching them very carefully, and people over a certain age. And especially, people over a certain age with diabetes. Or, or heart disease, in particular, but with a problem. So uh, we didn't want to take any chances so we had a lot of people we have, the, delegates, want to be there we're going to do a. Fairly reasonably, quick meeting in north carolina, the nomination, will be produced. And, then we'll. Announce, what we're doing how we're doing it whether it's. Uh. Something, that's, done online. I guess you could call it online. So uh, there can nothing there could be nothing like our last convention, unfortunately, that was a great convention, and, in a great place as you know we had a we had a great time. Great time in cleveland. But, um. It's a different world and it will be for a little while we want to get the world back. To, what it was and i think we'll have that including. Great job, numbers. Uh including. So many things that are happening so positive, i have to say the, stock market is close to records, for nasdaq. It it is a record, it's already, exceeded. Its highest numbers. Uh, but we want to get our country back to what it was. Acceptance, speech being from the white house are you worried we haven't said that yet steve we'll have that, we'll probably announce that over the next few days.
Look We've done a great job, we built the greatest economy, in the world, no nobody, close. Not china, not anybody. We had to close it we saved millions of lives and we opened it but we had the best numbers in history, for. African, americans, hispanic, americans. Asian americans. Every group you want to name. Young people without a diploma, young people with a high school diploma, with a college, diploma, anything you want to name we had the best numbers. Women doing incredibly. Never. Never been a time like that. And we had to turn it off. Because of what china did we had to turn it off. And then all of a sudden, uh. Now we turn it back on and, we're doing very well but it was a, very bad china speaking about china the trade deal. Means less to me now than it did, when i made it when i made it was a great deal. But they're uh. They're setting records. Yesterday, was a record corn day they. Purchased, more corn than any order ever. And that went on for two or three days and, soybeans, and all but it just means much less to me can you understand, that. Just means much less to me please go ahead thank you, what was the one thing if there was one thing that changed your mind about the convention. And did florida, officials, ask you to cancel it no they didn't we're dealing with them but they didn't, i would just say safety. Just safety, i just, you know i could see uh. The media saying oh this is very unsafe this is i don't want to be in that position. It's safety. Not because of the media but that's what they would say, and. Uh. We'll have a, very nice something we'll figure it out it'll be. Uh, it'll be, online. In some form maybe it'll be something even a little bit different we have time you know we're talking about the end. Of. August. But, i think it'll be something that will be, exciting. But there can be nothing like having. 25, 000 people we had a tremendous, thing planned and. A, tremendous, convention, planned in north carolina. And it would have been very good but a much smaller version, in florida. But then we saw what was happening pretty quickly we saw that. That the. Virus was coming up, that coast so. The severity, of the situation, in florida. No i think it's going to uh come and go, it will i mean you take a look at some of these locations. Were heavily, infected, i mean to a point where. Deborah and i were talking, that, you know. When you look at, what happened in new york and what happened in new jersey and other places. And now you're looking and uh. It's. Gone, hope it stays gone i think we i think it will but, we had to be we had to be. We have to be vigilant we have to be careful. And we also have to set an example, i think, setting the example, is very important. It's hard for us to say we're going to have a lot of people packed in a room and then. Other people shouldn't do it, don't forget we're talking about schools. And we want them to be vigilant, and we're saying open. And then we're saying, here you have a big room, but i also if you notice i said, where bars, are crowded, where other things are crowded well there's nothing more crowded than a convention, a convention, i mean you've seen them, and even though you try and keep people away from each other it's just not that kind of a thing they probably. Can't do that it just doesn't work for them so it's a very hard so i think we're setting an example by doing it it's very important, yeah john mr president if i could come back to. School, openings, you talked about money that congress, is looking at to help schools.
Who Want to reopen, if school wants to reopen, but is concerned, about testing. Would you consider, directing, some of that money toward, testing for either a school district or even individual, schools, if that's, what it took, to open the schools yeah i think so i mean a lot of people feel. Differently, about testing, we talk about it a lot. When we have. 50 million tests plus, and you know we've bra we broke the 50 million test mark. Second, in the world is india, which has 1.4. Billion, people. And they had 12, million tests. And other countries, that are very big had 2 million tests and some countries, essentially, only test if you're sick and walk into a hospital walk into a doctor's, office or, you're literally, really sick. They essentially, don't do tests unless you're sick. And, i understand that too. So yeah if they feel that that's what they want, it's uh that would be fine. You would tell congress you would encourage congress to pay for testing. I would if they want again. We've done 50 million tests. There's nobody even close in the whole world. You look at our mortality, rate you look at our death rate you look at, different. Statistics. We're doing very well. But one death is too many this should never have happened this should never have been allowed to happen from china, also mitch mcconnell's, office, just put out a statement a moment ago about, the phase four relief package, cares ii. Saying quote it's tailored, precisely. For this phase of the crisis. Yet it does not include your payroll tax cut so do you believe it's perfect i'd like to see a payroll, tax cut i think it's great for the workers, the democrats, would never have gone for it they don't want it they're not big into the workers, i guess. And, based on that i told them last night i told the republicans, who have been working very hard on this i'll tell you and they want what's right for the country. And hopefully the democrats. Ultimately, will. But i said i think a payroll tax will be good but you're not going to get it from the democrats, we need their votes as you know it's not like you know we have a majority, but it's not enough that we. That's why i guess we have an election coming up, so you still need democrat, votes and we're not going to get the democrat, votes on that, so i'd like to see it i think would be very good for the workers, but, if we're not going to get their votes i guess we have to go on to the next thing. A payroll tax cut would have been very good, and maybe, uh, maybe something happens. Uh, yes please. Um you talk about, setting an example. On jacksonville. But i i just wonder some people are going to take away from this the lesson. That you're pushing, too far, too fast, it seemed for a while the numbers were going up and jacksonville. Were going to have a problem now. This comes up at a time you're, pushing for schools to reopen we have the opening of the, major league baseball, season, isn't is the example, of jacksonville, that we're, pushing, too fast, well baseball, as an example, we were discussing, it a little while ago you're going to be at a, empty stadium, i've agreed randy levine's, a great friend of mine from the yankees. He asked me to throw out the first pitch. And i think i'm doing that on august 15th, at yankee stadium. And i say how's the crowd going to be. And uh you know. It's like, you don't have a crowd there is no such thing it's going to be interesting, mariano, he's not used to that. I've been at many games he walks in the place goes crazy.
Uh. I think it'd be just as good without the crowd you were just born with it you know some people are born with it. Uh. I don't know if this is only for the baseball players but i've never seen a pitcher throw a ball where so many bats were broken as mariano, it's got the, all-time, record i said how do you do that he said parents. Great parents, when you get right down to it right how do you do that it's called parents. But but, uh. Yeah i just just to finish i think i think that, we have to all set examples, i think major league baseball is setting an example, by. You know playing to empty stadiums, and so are other sports, you see that, now, then they'll allow a certain number in i see golf as now, soon will be allowing, people to come in and percentages. And all of a sudden, we want to get back to normal the key is to get back to normal because, nobody wants to see this but. I think it's really good that baseball, is opening it looks like football, is opening. It looks like sports are opening, we we have. It's a tremendous, thing psychologically. For our country. And uh. We're all we're all with it we'll see we're going to see right now some, beautiful, young. Little leaguers, outside, with a great future. Ahead of them they're already practicing, on the front lawn of the white house. And we're going to go out and say hello to them and it'll be really, great okay how about one more, yeah please go ahead, president trump um the washington, post earlier today. Reported, that one thing holding up the gop. Coronavirus. Bill, is the white house asking, that it includes language, regarding the fbi, building in downtown washington, dc is that true. I don't know that they're putting it in this bill but. I know they want to have a new fbi, building, this one is very old, and. It's really was never built to a very high standard, as you probably, have heard and it's got a lot of danger involved, and, panels falling off the outside, and pieces of concrete falling off the building. And, they want to build it at the site, that they have it, they had options. Very far away from washington. And i said to them frankly you have to be near the justice, department there's nothing better than the site the site they have now is better.
But They were looking in sites in maryland, and virginia, in different places. But they would have been too far away. So i am i've been encouraging, them to build it and if you're gonna you have a choice you can renovate the existing, building but it's not a good building. Or you could take it down and build a great building for the fbi, for 100, years. And have it be, incredible, even with tracks, on top they're talking about you know we have because. Fbi people like to work out a lot. And you could have literally, uh. Quarter mile tracks on top it's a very big site very wide site. So i think the idea the best idea would be to build a new building and that way you have it for a long time renovation, can never be as good as a new building in that case. I know they're talking about it whether or not they put it in this bill or someplace, else but, the fbi. Needs a new building and we'll get it done, thank you all very much, thank you thank you very. Much.
2020-07-25 08:35
