White House Coronavirus News Conference
Very. Vigorously. Following, these guidelines we, could save more than 1 million American, lives think, of that 1 million, American. Lives. Our. Future, is in our own hands and the choices and sacrifices. We make will. Determine the fate of this. Virus, and. Really. The fate of our victory, we will have a great victory, we. Have no other choice, every. One of us has a role to play in winning this war, every. Citizen family. And business can make the difference in. Stopping, the, virus, this. Is our shared patriotic. Duty challenging. Times are ahead for the next 30 days and. This. Is a very vital 30 days. We're. Sort, of putting it all on the line this 30-day, is so important, because we have to get back. But. The more we dedicate. Ourselves today, the more quickly we will emerge on the other side of the crisis, and that's. The time we're waiting for the, more we commit ourselves now, the sooner we can win the fight and return. To our lives and, they. Will be great lives. Maybe. Better than ever, today. We reached a historic milestone. In our war against the. Coronavirus. Over. 1 million Americans have, now been tested, more. Than any other country. By. Far not, even close and tested. Accurately. And, I think what I'd like to do is ask. Secretary. A czar who's done a fantastic job, to come up and just say a, few words about the fact that we reached substantially. Now more than 1 million tests. Please, thank. You Alex. Well. Thank you mr. president for your leadership in, marshaling, all the resources, that we have for this unprecedented, testing. Effort and Thank You mr. vice president for. Leading, a whole of economy, approach to testing as. The president mentioned today the United States hit more. Than 1 million, samples. Tested, a number that no other country has reached we're. Now testing nearly. 100,000. Samples, a day, also, a level that no other country has reached, I want. To thank every partner that has been involved in this, effort, that. Includes all of the men and women of the. FDA, and the CDC including. Director Redfield, and commissioner. Hahn together. The FDA and CDC of, work to balance the need for testing, on an aggressive scale, with the scientific rigor. That Americans. Expect. Working. With our testing coordinator Admiral. Scheer WA they have now truly unleashed the ingenuity of the private sector and our state and local leaders the centerpieces, of America's, historic, approach to, testing I want.
To Thank those state and local leaders who, have used their on-the-ground, resources, and knowledge to, lead testing, and make it much more easily accessible, to the Americans, who need it I'm, also grateful to FEMA with whom we are now working closely to get state and local partners what they need I also, want to thank CMS, where administrator, Verma has given health care providers. Unprecedented. Flexibility, to scale up capacity for testing and treatment that, has ensured that tests will be paid for, finally. We would not be where we are today without the many American companies entrepreneurs, and, scientists, who have worked day, and night to, develop, as of today 20, different emergency. Testing options, with. The FDA responding, to requests for authorization tip, typically. Within 24, hours the. Number of options is growing nearly every day FDA. Has also opened up new options, for using the available tests, like self swabbing, and new options for reagents, I also. Want to thank FDA and other components of HHS, for incredibly rapid action on other tools that we need, this. Weekend, we, actually work to secure 30 million, tablets. From Sandoz and 1 million tablets, from Bayer of hydroxychloroquine. And chloroquine, which are potential, kovat 19 treatments, and we, authorized, Patel's new decamp decontamination. Machines, which, can each sterilize, thousands, of essential, and 95 maps for reuse every day so, Thank You mr. president for your leadership and thank you to everybody who's played a part in getting us where we are today thank you thank you thank, you. I'd. Like to ask dr.. Hahn, to come up FTA because, we have some really. Good stuff, first. Of all the numbers have been incredible. On testing, but in, the days ahead we're. Going to go even faster and, we have something from Abbott Labs. Which, is right here and that's a five minute test highly. Accurate and, I. Maybe can show, that as we. Listen. To our, FDA. Commissioner, the, job is done and the approval. Process, we, talked about the. Chloroquine. And the hydroxychloroquine. Just now I. Thought, that I'd mentioned it but alex. Has already done that but we have that now under test with, 1,100. People in New York and it was only the fast. Approval. By FDA that allowed us to do that it was a really. Rapid approval and. Dr.. Please say a few words and this is the first one, on the line of the five-minute test. Thank. You mr. president for your leadership Thank You mr. vice president for your leadership of the task force, I'm. Very, proud of FDA staffs, work in the last few months to expedite the availability of testing, in this country, I'm. Also incredibly appreciative. Of private industries, ingenuity. And willingness to work with us quickly to. Develop and distribute those tests, we've. Had a substantial, addition, to testing with. The authorization, of point-of-care. Tests, especially the Abbott point of care test which the president, has pulled, out of the box a point-of-care. Tests, a test that gives you a result where, you're getting, care this, is truly, a. Patient-centered. Approach whether, it's the doctor's office a hospital, and emergency room an urgent care center or a drive-by testing, site. Just, like tests for flu or, strep we go to the doctor so you get the test done you, can get an answer within minutes of having this test done now. With. Those tests being approved for Abbott and for others these, are available around the country they're planning to scale up the, number of tests that can be put out throughout the country over the next month and patients. Can get the answer within as little as 15 to 5 minutes and then, of course an appropriate, plan of treatment can be given. We. At FDA are working quickly with, Abbott as well and other testing, approaches, and normally, these tests take months, to develop I was on the phone today with the Abbott CEO he. Told me that normally this is a 9 to 12 month approach, to developing a point-of-care test they. Did this in collaboration with FDA, and US government, within weeks. Abbott. Has shared that they will be delivering these tests tomorrow and then will be ramping up just. To emphasize one thing the most innovative and safe products, come from the private sector in partnership. With government taking. In all hands. On deck approach just, like in this case and. The other point here is that Abbott and FDA work together to make sure that we had a fast, reliable. And accurate. Test, to market thank, you. Really, great job thank you Steve. So. The. Pharmaceutical. Company. Send, us, has. Been working with us very closely, and. As Alex, mentioned, a, little bit thirty million doses of the. Hydroxychloroquine. To. The United States government.
It's. Been given and bear. Has donated 1 million doses of. The. Chloroquine. Which. Will soon be distributed. To States and state, health officials, around the country, tarantella, Pharmaceuticals. Is. Also donating 6 million doses of. Hydroxychloroquine. To, US, hospitals, 6, million doses, so. The private. Sector as you'd say Steve it's been amazing what's happened really, amazing, and. We're going to introduce you to some of the greatest business executives. In the world today, no matter where you go and they're, going to say a little bit about what they're doing and then. We have so many more the. FDA is also, authorized. The. Patels. N95. Respirator. Mask. Sterilization. Kits it's an, incredible, thing I've, been asking why. Are we throwing these masks, away you look at some of these masks, and they're significant. Pieces of equipment and I say how come you throw them away why aren't they using. Sterilization. Techniques and. I got a call from Mike DeWine, the, governor of Ohio. And. He's, a tremendous, guy tremendous, governor and he said we have a company named batil and they're having a hard time getting approval, from the FDA and I called up dr., Hahn. And within a very short period of time they got the approval Steve, we really appreciate, it I want to thank Mike and. I want to thank Steve and. They're. Going to be able each machine now can. Disinfect. 120,000. Masks. Per, day, now think of that each. Machine can disinfect. 120,000. Masks. Per, day it'll be just like a new one it could, go up to about 20 times, for each mask so. Each mask can go through this process 20, times and they. Have to, in Ohio one. In New York and one. Will soon be shipped to Seattle Washington and. Also. To. Washington, DC so that's going to make a tremendous difference on, the, masks, this. Morning I spoke to our nation's governor's, to help each state get the medical supplies they need and, yesterday. Vice, President, Mike Pence asked, our nation's hospitals, to begin reporting. Total bed capacity. ICU. Bed capacity ventilator. Capacity. And vital medical supply levels on, a daily basis, and Mike. Thank you for the great job thank. You very much in. New York the two thousand nine hundred bed hospital under construction, which is now completed, they, completed, it in three. Days you might say three and a half days at. The Javits Center, will. Be completed, today. Will. Be and when, you look so. They're going up I think we're going to be adding some more beds which will be completed, today and, we've. Opened up what to say goes our box and. My, hairs blow it around and. It's mine. The. One thing you can't get away with if it's not usually got a problem if, your precedent, and. Nearly, three thousand medical beds will become operational the. US, Navy ship comfort also arrived, today equipped. With 12, operating, rooms and 1,000, hospital, beds work. Has begun on additional, temporary Hospital sites, including. A 600, bed capacity nursing. Home facility, in Brooklyn and numerous. Floors of a high-rise building on, Wall Street so, it's been really pretty, amazing what they've done the Army Corps of Engineers what. They've done they've. Done they they just completed, think of it a. 2,900. Bed. Hospital in. New York in. Just. About three days maybe four days and. The. Whole city is talking about it on. Top of that we floated in a great, ship. Which. Is going, to be a thousand, rooms which is being used for. Patience. Outside. Of what we're focused, on and that will free up a lot of rooms for what. We're focused, on so it's been great the Army Corps of Engineers has, awarded contracts. For the construction, of alternate, care facilities, also at the, State University at Stony Brook State. University, Old Westbury, and the, Westchester Community Center. Were sending, sixty. Ambulances. To New York City today we. Have a total of sixty were getting some additional ones with. Up to one hundred and ninety more to follow at different. Locations. To. Date. FEMA. Has obligated. More than. 1.3. Million dollars, billion, dollars, in federal. Support. To the state of New York so we're spending a lot of money in New York it's a hot it's. A hot bed there's no question about it and we're. Spending a lot of time effort on New York New Jersey, spoke. With Governor Cuomo a lot, spoke. With governor, Murphy. A lot in, New Jersey and, we're. We're. Really getting the job done people, are very, impressed, and I'm very impressed by the people and FEMA the people in the Army Corps of Engineers because, what they've done I've never seen anybody doing anything like. It in addition, to the, 8,100. Ventilators, that we've, already delivered, over the next 48 hours we're. Delivering more than, 1,000. We're going for hundred Fanta leaders are going to Michigan very. Shortly, 300. Going to New Jersey, 150.
Ventilators, To Illinois. 150. To Louisiana, and 50 to Connecticut. FEMA. And HHS. Already, delivered. 11.6. Million. N95. Respirators. 26, million surgical. Masks, 5.3. Million face shields, 4.4. Million surgical. Gowns and. 22. Million gloves, and. I. Don't know if you just saw it just came over the wire set for just announced, just a little while ago that, they will produce along, with General Electric healthcare. 50,000. Ventilators. And they're going to be doing it in less than one hundred days, and. Top, of that we have, other. Companies, that are doing ventilators. Including, General, Motors but. We have, nine. Other companies, doing ventilators, as we. Outpace. What we need we're going to be sending up to Italy we're going to be sending them to France we're going to be sending them to, Spain where they have tremendous problems. And. Other. Countries as we as, we. Can, but. The fact that we're doing so many so quickly is a tribute, to our great. Companies, more than. 14-thousand. National, Guard members have been activated, and, can. Help supplement state and local efforts to distribute, personal, protective, equipment where. We're sending a lot we have plane loads coming in, we. Have 51 loads from, various. Locations all around the, world, and. They're, landing we had our first big. Cargo. Plane land this morning, and, we're. Getting it from all over the world and we're also sending, things that we don't need to other parts, I just spoke to the. Prime Minister of Italy and we have additional, capacity. We have additional, product. That we don't need we're going to be sending approximately. A hundred, million, dollars, worth of of. Things. Of, surgical. And medical. And hospital things, to, Italy. And. Giuseppe. Was very very happy I will tell you that they're having a very hard time, joining. Us this afternoon our. CEOs of the great American, companies, that are fulfilling their patriotic, duty by, producing, or donating, medical equipment, to help, meet our most, urgent needs what they're doing is incredible, and, these, are great companies, Darius. Dom. Scheck of, Honeywell. You, know that and Darius, has been. Somebody. That I've dealt with in the past and. He's, a great leader of a great, company Deborah Waller of jockey. International. A friend. Of mine Mike, Linda, love my pillow boy do you sell those pillows, that's unbelievable. What you David. Taylor of Procter and Gamble, and Greg. Hayes of United, Technologies Corporation. And I, just want to tell all of you that America is very grateful, to. You and what you've done an amazing job you've, done and we thank you very much I'd, like you to come up and say a couple of words if you might about, your companies Mike come on up come, on up fellas please come, on up. You. Have to say what you're doing because it's been. Okay. Well my pillow is a u.s. vertically, integrated, company, which, has been forced to adjust to the changing, business environment as, a result, of the pandemic. My. Pill is uniquely position, is a US company that, functions, as a manufacturer. Logistics, management distribute, and direct-to-consumer. Given. Our current business lines we are experience the effects of this pandemic firsthand. But. My pill is done with the established and internal, Task Force which is monitoring, future, needs of companies across the country as, a, result, of this pandemic and given our position, we've begun to research, and develop new protocols, to address the, current and future needs of US businesses across, multiple sectors, how.
Companies Are going to prepare themselves when they once again open up and and changes. To their current operations, in order to adjust to future threats and pandemics, my. Pillow has designated some, of its call center to help us companies navigate, the many issues that resulted, from this pandemic, we've, debt we've dedicated. 75%. Of my manufacturing. To produce cotton facemask. Up. To time in three days I was up to 10,000, a day by Friday I want to be up to 50,000, a day, I'm. Proud to manufacture, our products, in the United States, and I'm even more proud to be able to serve our nation in this great time of need Thank. You mr. president for your call to action, when which. Has empowered companies, like my pillow to help our nation win this invisible, war. Now I wrote something off the cup if I can read it okay. God, gave us grace, on November, 8 2016. To. Change the course we were on God had been taken out of our schools and lives a nation. Had turned his back on God and I. Encourage, you to use this time at home to get back to home to get back in the word read our Bibles, and spend time with our families. Our. President, gave us so much hope we're just a few short months ago we, had the best economy, the lowest unemployment and, wages going up it, was amazing, with, our great president, vice president and. This administration and. All the great people in this country, praying daily we. Will get through this and get back to a place that's stronger, and safer than ever. I. Did, not know he was gonna do that but he's a friend of mine and I I do appreciate it thank you bye please. First. Of all mr. president mr. vice president the entire administration. And. All the agencies thank, you for your strong leadership during, this time of crisis it is noticed, and it's. Making a difference, second. Of all I'd like to say a big thank you to all the health care workers, out there you're. Putting yourself in arms away every, day and. You really respect what you're doing and we couldn't be thankful enough for it and I can tell you that more helps on the way we. As Honeywell, or an industrial technology. Company and, one of the businesses, that were in and, protect the industrial, worker but. What we're doing today is were repurposing. A lot of that equipment to. Serve the healthcare worker a, few. Days ago we announced the startup of a new manufacturing. Facility in, Rhode Island we're. Going to be hiring 500. Employees, we have already 200, on board and we're, going to be starting the production, of n95. Masks, within, the next two weeks, furthermore. Today, we're announcing the, start, up of another manufacturing. Facility. In Arizona we're. Gonna be hiring another, 500. People, and, we're going to be starting up production, in that facility by. The middle of May so. In total we've. Doubled, our production of n95, masks, already it's gonna double again within the next 60, days and, then within the next 90 days one of the vibe x2 capacity. We do today. Furthermore. We're going to be providing other safety, equipment to. Support all the efforts going on lastly. Let's. Say a big thank you to all the Honeywell employees, and also, announce a 10 million dollar fund for them for. All the hourly, and administrative. Employees, are having a hard time during this time of crisis, Thank, You mr. president. Thank You mr. president and mr. vice president on, your guidance during this unprecedented.
Time And I'm, very honored, to be here today, founded. By a minister, 144. Years ago Jokke International, is a family-owned, company headquartered. In Kenosha Wisconsin. Since. 1876. We have been providing, socks and underwear for generations. Of families, it. Is part of our DNA to roll up our sleeves and help our country, in her time of need during. World War two we made parachutes, for the military, and today. We are eager, to serve this great country by providing support for the health care workers on the frontlines of this fight as the. President, and vice president have said it's. A whole of America approach. And we are committed. Jackie. Has, had a long-standing partnership. With encompass, group headquartered. In Georgia, serving. The health care community when. We learned of the critical need for PPE, we, knew we had to help that. Meant restarting, production, on tier three isolation. Gowns. Monumental. Lifting by Jackie. Encompass. FEMA. And the FDA. Was, done in just a few days to, be production-ready, as a, result, we expect to begin delivering, 30 to, 50,000. Gowns per week helping. Those that need it the most right now in addition. This, week we are also donating ten thousand units of scrubs to the frontline doctors, and nurses at the Javits Convention Center. In New York City we. Would not have been able to do this without. The collaboration of, the administration. Representatives. From the federal agencies and congressman. Brian stiles thank. You very much mr. president and mr. Vyse mr., vice president. Thank. You mr. president mr. vice president for bringing us together today, I'm. Proud to be able to represent the men and women of Procter & Gamble who, every day 24. Hours a day are working, to build and make essential, cleaning, products hygiene, products, and health care products for. Families everywhere. These, include, healthcare workers, and for institutions, that are serving those in the frontline. PMG. People are the faces, that brands you know and trust, brands like Tide, Pampers. Bounty. Charmin, mr.. Clean and Vicks in. Addition, to making packing, and shipping these essential, items, they've. Worked together to. Transform work plants, to, make things we've never made before like hand sanitizers. And facial. Masks. Some. Of these are already getting to national, state. And local. Agencies, some, of them are in the hospitals already. Everywhere. Around the world PNG, people working every day to serve.
Everybody. Consumers. And they're, working together to, bring together the full capability. Of our research and development and our engineering, or manufacturing. You. Know communications. Capability. To, make sure we make a difference, to. The consumers, we serve in to, all the audience that we can make a difference to I want. To thank them and are very grateful for what they do every day in service, to others Thank. You mr. president mr. vice president for brings together today. Good. Afternoon I'm Greg Hayes from United Technologies, and. On behalf of the 240,000. Employees of United Technologies and. The 70,000. Employees at Raytheon which. Will join together with UTC. This Friday ona, first of all say thank you to the president and the vice president, for your leadership during. What is really a war it, is a different war than anybody has ever fought before but. It's a war that were uniquely, qualified. To help as, one of the world's largest defense, contractors, and some of the best technology we're. Using that technology, to try and solve some real world problems, today. We're working with the Air Force to try and help pilots. As they're moving medical. Evacuation. Covin 19 virus. Such that they can be protected and that the patients can be protected, again. We're working also with, logistics, and if you think about a war strategy, is important, but logistics, wins war and so, it's imperative I think with FEMA along, with the the mr. Navarro's, office that, we coordinate all of these activities last week we donated about 90,000. Pieces of personal protective, equipment to, FEMA next week we'll have another almost, million, again. Working through our supply chain partners around the world we're. Also today this week beginning the manufacture, of face. Shields using. The additive technologies, that we have and the machines that we have available, within UTC, will, be able to produce approximately, 10,000. Shields in the next four weeks again. All needed equipment, we. Stand ready to help in any way we can we don't need the defense production act to ask us to act all, of the people are UTC, and Raytheon are focused, on this war and winning it again. I also want to say thank you to all of our employees for their work during this crisis, as, well as to the frontline medical, and other first responders thank. You very much. Those. Are great companies thank you very much I'd. Like to ask Seema. To come up and say a few words about, what. You're doing and what's happening and how positive, it's been I really, appreciate, it come on up Seema Verma. Thank. You mr. president and, let me start by saying I, want to convey my deepest, sympathies, to those that have lost loved ones to the coronavirus. We're. All thinking, of you. Today. Is doctor's, day and even without it I want to send a message of gratitude to, the foot soldiers, in this war men and women that are providing, care and, comfort to.
Americans. That have been affected, by the virus your, country, is grateful and in. Short as the president, has said we are engaged, in a war against. An invisible, enemy in wartime. The assumptions, of peacetime must be revisited, and adjusted. To meet the demands, of the moment and so, under the president's, leadership CMS. Is waiving a wide an. Unprecedented. Range, of regulatory requirements. Now, many health care systems, won't need these waivers and they shouldn't use them if they don't need them but, the flexibilities. Are there in a. Time of crisis, regulations. Shouldn't. Stand in the way of patient, care and there, are several components, to our announcement, today but the first one is CMS's. Hospitals. Without walls and this, is going to allow hospital, systems, to create new treatment, sites outside of, their facility, to, expand, capacity and be, able to safely separate. Patients, that are infected, with the corona virus and those, that are not, now. FEMA is doing incredible, work setting. Up temporary hospitals, and in York and other areas, but, under these waivers we are empowering, local, communities, to, complement. And augment, the work of FEMA and allowing. Hospital, systems, to tap into the capacity, that already, exists in their communities, making use of dorms. And hotels or gymnasiums, and allowing. The main Hospital to focus on those that need the most intensive. Care, there, are surgery centers, out there today that are delaying elective, surgeries, and they, may have excess. Capacity that, can be devoted to hospital, like care. We. Are also making changes to the Medicare program to facilitate testing. So some people that need a coronavirus, test can't leave their home or patients. That are in a nursing home and now we will pay for labs to go out to these locations, and perform, testing, and we're. Also expanding. The. Workforce, we are taking, action today to relax, some of our regulations, to allow hospitals. To increase. Their workforce and we're, allowing a broad range of flexibilities. So, that we can let healthcare workers, operate at, the top of their license. And. We are also allowing, our hospitals. To give to provide, more support for our healthcare workers, under today's regulations. They can only provide, minimal. Support, to healthcare workers but now we're going to allow them to provide childcare meals. Laundry, services. And then. There's also telehealth, the president, already, directed, a dramatic, expansion of telehealth to our nation's 62, million seniors, with, Medicare and, we're so proud of all the health care health. Care providers, and patients that, have rapidly, implemented. Telehealth, but, today we're announcing that we're going to go even further and we're going to be paying for doctors, to make. Phone calls with their patients, and provide care over the phone and we're. Getting rid of long-standing. Barriers, to telehealth, in the Medicare program allowing, emergency. Rooms to use telehealth and eliminating. Requirements. That, some, does it's be provided, face-to-face, and, I, also want to mention that on Saturday the president directed. CMS, to offer advance payments, for healthcare providers that are experiencing. Cash flow problems, we, know that many providers are, complying. With our recommendations. To delay non-essential. Elective surgeries, and they, shouldn't be penalized for, doing the right thing now. I've barely scratched the surface of, all the flexibilities. That we are offering health, care workers and health, care systems these, flexibilities, will, provide, a lot. Of flexibility, from, regulations. That are suited, to the unprecedented, needs, of this emergency. And doctors. And nurses and other health care professionals, that are working long hours and, sacrificing. Times with their families, and risking. Their lives we'll have the flexibility, that they need to, confront the needs of the corona virus, pandemic and, there. Are many heroes. In this war but I want to take an opportunity to, thank the team at CMS, these, folks have worked day and night the. The flexibilities. That are in this regulation, and any regulation. Usually, takes CMS a year, but, we did this in two weeks and I couldn't be more honored and privileged, to serve alongside these, dedicated, public servants, thank you. And. You're doing a great job so. We, are in. The midst of something that is very difficult, but. We are going, to win it's. Just a question of when we want to do it as quickly as possible we, want to have as few deaths as possible, and, we.
Will Meet, again tomorrow for. Some. Statistics. And. Some. Updates. As to where we are where we think we're going and timing I think timing is going to be very important because we have to get our country back, we. Have to get our country back to where it. Was it may be beyond where it was because we've learned so much but. We will have lost a lot of people and. In. Many, ways they're heroes and if. You look at what's, happening. With our medical, professionals it's, a danger there they're warriors, men. And women are doing a job that the, likes of which I don't think anyone has ever seen I see. Them coming out of planes today going into New York going into the most dangerous. Locations, dangerous. Areas, and they. Go in there and they just want to do the job and you, see the numbers you see the numbers like, I see, the numbers I have, some friends that are unbelievably. Sick we thought they were going in for a mild stay and in. One case. He's. Unconscious. In. A coma. And, you, say how did that happen so. I just want to thank all of the great professionals. Men and women. Doctors. And nurses and paramedics. And. First responders, and law. Enforcement by, the way if you look at New York and you see how the. Effect that that's had on law enforcement it's, been incredible, these are great people. Firefighters. Great. People they're helping in so many different ways so thank you very much and if you'd like we'll take a few questions John, please. Mr.. President yesterday you said, that you would be extending, the guidelines through the end of April and that you'd be giving, us specifics, tomorrow do you expect that the guidelines, will just carry on the guidelines that, have been in place now for 15 days could there potentially, be some modification. Also you have some travel restrictions, that come up for reconsideration, the, one from the EU on April 13th, Canada, us-mexico, border on. April the 21st look what will happen with all the staying and we may add a few more but the, guidelines would be very much as they are maybe, even toughened up a little bit but. They're having a big impact they're, having a tremendous impact that we're starting to see it and that's, the key we're starting to see the impact that they're having and, if I could ask you to you, talked about for now ramping up production of, ventilators, the government is sending thousands, of ventilators across the country clearly. The supply is increasing. But when you look at the production curve. Against. The hospitalization. Curve. Can. You guarantee that everyone who needs a ventilator, in the next few weeks will. Be able to get one well. I think that some are ramping up to a level that they're not going to have - John and I think that we also have, kept in, reserve we, have almost 10,000. Ventilators. In. Our, line we have them we've held back just because we did the stockpile. We. Didn't want to give them because we don't know where the emergency this, hits it's like so fast it comes so. Quickly and we. Have 10,000. We're probably going, to send some of them now we've, been sending a lot to Michigan and various other states will probably, send some additional, ones to Michigan, New York's been doing very well but we can add some more to New York we're, adding them to the areas that are having a problem even Alabama, all of a sudden flared.
Up A little bit as you saw over the last couple of days and we'll, send them down to Alabama so, we have 10,000, we kept them for this very specific, purpose, it. Sounds like a lot but it's not when, you think about it but we're making a lot and when you see we're talking about hundreds, of thousands, being made in a very short period of time because if you look at what just. So, we have now, ten. Companies at least making, the ventilators, and we. Say go ahead because honestly. Other countries, really they'll never be able to do it it's a very complex, piece of equipment, and it's it's big and expensive do, you believe as we approach this peak in a couple of weeks that there will be enough for the American project so yes I do think so I. Think. We're gonna be in very good shape and we had a great call today with the governors and, they. Were I, actually. Said I hope that the. Media. Is listening, to this call because, it was a really good call and that was, randomly. Selected. Largely. Democrats. And Republicans. In there I, think. For the most part they were saying thank you for doing a great job and, we discussed that at the end of the call so. Really people. Are very happy with what we're doing now the circumstances, are so terrible because of what's going on but. I think they're very impressed, by the federal government I watched that beautiful. Ship floating, in today into you, know weeks ahead of schedule almost, four weeks ahead of schedule into. New York Harbor, comfort. And I watched the Mersey, floating, in to, Los Angeles a week ago almost a week ago and. They. Are stocked, they are really ready to go they're stocked with both talent, and tremendous. Amounts of equipment and. The. Navy and everybody else involved they got it ready so fast it's it's just incredible, what they can do they've geared up that's, why I mean I am so impressed by. The people involved. Mike and I were talking about it before the level of genius. To put it all together so quickly, this wasn't a month, ago nobody ever heard of this nobody had any. The mercy was, being. Maintained, it was in maintenance for a month and, when. They heard we needed it and I was surprised they said sir we're ready to go I said what do you mean you're not gonna be ready for three weeks no sir we're, all ready to go it was incredible, so and, we've had many instances like this I think the building of the hospital two thousand nine hundred beds in. A. Matter. Of days a few, days is just incredible. Governor, Cuomo was impressed, and gavin, newsom was, impressed, by what we've been doing with gavin, in. California. And Los Angeles area in particular but, really, San Francisco, all over all over California, when. You look at what we're doing with Michigan, we're getting along very well with Michigan's, great great place we're sending a lot of things to Michigan because that's becoming a hotbed. Especially. A specific, area as you know it's, become very hot it's. Become, I. Don't, know could even at, some point supersede, but it's it's got to be taken care of so we're. The. Relationship, we have with the governor's I just. Wish you could because we took a lot of calls from a lot of different states and I. Wish you could have heard even. A thing where like the. Governor of Ohio calls, where. He has a company that does the sterilization, but they, have a problem, because it's not going quickly at the FDA and I call up Steve and Steve comes it he. Said we'll. Get it done and they checked it and they got it done almost immediately, and. Originally. They were approving it for ten thousand, masks, and then. It was supposed to be 480 and they ultimately approved it for a hundred and twenty thousand, it's a tremendous, number and. I kept wondering why aren't they sterilizing. These venaseal I assume maybe you couldn't do it but then I'd look at them and they'd look like you know it's not cloth.
It's. Something that looks like it could be sterilized. And that's what they've done and that's, the machine. That is over there actually they, have a piece of the machine over there I won't bother showing, it to you and, this is incredible, when you talk about five minutes 15 minutes and, highly. Accurate and not. Nearly as. Disturbing. To. Do as the other test so we've just gotten better we're doing things that nobody else have please. He. Has issued, stamp reporters, that Governor Ralph Northam of Virginia, took. It pretty far he issued a seventy days stay at home order, it's, that constitutional. First off and secondly, do you think it's warranted, to, go ahead and issued a seventy day guidance, at this point, well we're letting the governors do in, their, states pretty much what they want with our supervision, and they consult, with us in all cases, some. Go further than others as you know I mean I could give you plenty of examples but, I'm not going to do that because, we. Never want to be controversial, but some. Of the governors have taken it a step further and. People. Are questioning people. Are questioning that but look staying, at home with. Respect to what we're talking about doesn't. Bother me at all people should be staying at home that's what we want oh. And, five Americans. Have died from corona virus in the last 60, days yeah, meanwhile. You, have. 2369, children, who are killed by their mothers through. Elective, abortions, each day, that's sixteen and a half thousand, children. Killed every week two. States have suspended, elective, abortion, to make more resources. Available for coronavirus. Cases, that's Texas in Ohio do. You agree with States who are placing coronavirus, victims. Above, elective, abortions, and should more states be doing the same well, I think what we're doing is we're trying to as a group governor's and that's Republicans. And Democrats, yet we're just working together to solve this problem, that's. Been a what. You're mentioning has been going on for a long time and it's it's. A sad event. A lot of sad events, in this country but, what we're doing is now we're working on the virus we're, working on that hidden enemy and I think, we're doing a great job on as, good a job as you could possibly do, when. When. Tony and Deborah came up with numbers yesterday just say that if we did nothing you could lose 2.2 up, to two point and maybe beyond, I don't know maybe beyond but 2.2 million people, if. We did nothing and I. Can't tell you what the. Unfortunate. Final, toll is going to be but it's going to be a very small fraction of that so. We're, doing an, awfully good job I think with what we're doing please go ahead. Are. You considering it all I nationwide, stay at home order I know there's a lot of states that have put them in place but some haven't I'm just wondering if you were considering some sort of broad state homeowner and I have a question for dr. Burks, well. We've talked. About it we. Obviously. There are some parts of the of the, country that are in far deeper, trouble than others there are other parts that frankly, are not in trouble, at all hopefully, hopefully we're going to be able to keep it that way by doing what we're doing so, we, talked about quarantine, as you know the other day a group. Came to me and they wanted to do the quarantine, and I said let's think about it and we did it we studied it and by the time the evening came it just was something that was very. Unwieldy very, tough to enforce and, something. We didn't want to do, but. We did advisory, and I think, that's doing well I mean I see I look at the streets you look at New York where there's I look. Down Fifth Avenue today. They were showing a shot of Fifth Avenue and sort of primetime and there was almost nobody on Fifth Avenue I've, never seen that before there, was no car there was no anything so. I think the people, of this country have done an incredible job if, we do that we will let you know but it's pretty unlikely I would think at this time okay, it's a quick question for dr. Burke. So, dr., Burke said we don't mind, you had mentioned today. That this model, that predicts a hundred thousand, deaths is if we do things almost perfectly. So, I wanted to know are we currently doing, things almost perfectly, or are, there more things we need to be doing to, tap you know to not, exceed, that hundred thousand, two, hundred thousand, Model. Thank. You I think that's a really great question and. Tomorrow we'll go through all of the graphs and all the information, that we, took to the president, for the decision, but. When you and I just want to thank the data team that's working day and night to get I mean I usually get my data about 2:00 a.m. from them and.
They Assimilate. All the data from all the states and. When you look at all of the states together all, of them are moving in exactly. The same curves, and so. That's why we really believe this needs to be federal, guidance so. That every. State understands. That it may look like two, cases, today that, become 20 that become 200, that become 2,000, and that's. What we're trying to prevent. And I think states still have that opportunity, but. They're going to have to do all of these recommended, I mean these recommendations, are. Recommendations. That the globe is using and so, we really do recommend that every governor, every mayor looks, very carefully, and ensures. That their communities, are utilizing. These guidance. It. Is amazing, you look at Louisiana, and for a long time it was just it. Was just staying and nothing. And then, all of a sudden I look, one day and I see a lot and a lot and a lot and then it explodes and now. We're working very carefully and very. Powerfully. With them we're building hospitals, who are building a lot of different things for Louisiana, so. It's very important, yeah place card. This. Could be seasonal. Seasonal, cyclical. Virus, so, in maybe, both of you could comment on this and dr. Burks as well are you, prepared, for this to strike again say in the fall all, the efforts that are taking place right now to contain, this to be proactive. And. I. Hope it doesn't happen doctor. Would you like to say something about that I hope it doesn't happen but we're certainly prepared. In. Fact I would anticipate that that would actually happen because, of the degree of transmissibility. However. If you come back in the fall it. Will be a totally different ballgame, of happened when we first got hit with it in the beginning of this, year there will be several things that it'll be different our ability. To go out and be able to test identify, isolate and. Contact. Trace will be orders of magnitude, better, than, what it was just a couple of months ago in addition. We have a number of clinical trials, that are, looking at a variety of therapeutic, interventions, we. Hope one or more of them will be available and, importantly. As I, mentioned to you many times at, these briefings, is that. We have a vaccine that's, on track and multiple, other candidates. So. I would anticipate that you know a year to a year and a half we'd be able to do it on there an emergency use, if, we start seeing an efficacy signal. We, may be able to even use a vaccine, at the next season so things are going to be very very different what we're going through now is going, to be more than just lessons learned it's, going to be things that we have available to us that, we did not have before. Scott. God thank, you Scott, Gottlieb your former FDA, Commissioner wrote, a roadmap for recovery, after the corona virus. He. Suggests, that the the roadmap suggest that everybody wear, a, mask in public is that, something that the, task force, thinks. Is a good idea I haven't discussed it to that extent but it's certainly something we could discuss we're getting certainly the number of masks, that.
You Need. We. Are in the process of talking about things I saw his suggestion, on that so, we'll take a look at it for a period of time not forever I mean you know we want our country back we're. Not going to be wearing masks, forever but it could be for a short period of time after. We get, back into gear people, could I could see something, like that happening for a period, of time but, I would hope it would be a very limited period of time doctors. They'll. Come back and say for the rest of our lives we have to wear masks, the. Roadmap also talks about doing. GPS, for social distancing, maybe follow-ups following, people's phones and, hotels. For isolation, for people, giving. Them free hotel rooms are those ideas, that you're looking at well the GPS, that's a very severe idea, I've, been hearing about it GPS, so what happens a siren goes off if you get too close to somebody, that's. Pretty severe but he's somebody, he was with me for a long time he worked they did a great job at FDA so. So. We're gonna take a look I just I just received it a little while ago he sent it over so, very good, go. Ahead let's give it a shot, what. Do you say to Americans, who are upset with you over, the way you downplayed, this crisis, over the last couple of months we. Have it very much under control in this country the, corona virus is very much under control in the USA, it's going to disappear it's like a miracle it will disappear. March. Fourth we. Have a very small number of people in this country infected. March 10th we're, prepared we're doing, a great job with it it will go away just, a calm it, will go away what. Do you say to Americans we'll, leave that you got this wrong and I do want them to stay calm and we, are doing a great job if you look at those individual, statements, they're all true stay calm, it. Will go away you know it you know it is going away and it, will go away and we're gonna have a great victory and. It's, people like you and CNN, that say things like that that. It's. Why people just, don't want to listen to CN anymore you could ask a normal question the, statements, I made are I want, to keep the country calm I don't want panic in the country, I could, cause panic much better than even you I could do much I would make you look like a minor, league player but, you know what I don't want to do that I want, to have our country become and strong, and fight and win and it will go away and it. Is incredible.
The Job that all of these people are doing putting, them all together the, job that they're doing I am, very proud of the job they're doing that Mike Pence is doing that, the task force has done that. Honeywell, and Proctor and Gamble, and Mike and all of these people have done I'm, very proud it's it's almost a miracle and it is the way it's all come together and, instead. Of asking a nasty. Snarky. Question, like that you should ask a real question and, other. Than that I'm going to go to somebody else please go ahead please. Earn, you. Express some concern in the past that medical supplies were going out the back door and that, perhaps some, hospitals. Were doing things were. Dressed. What was told to me by a tremendous. Power. In the business he, said that at a New York Hospital for. A long period of time he was giving ten thousand, maybe maximum, twenty thousand, masks, over a short, time and all, of a sudden he's giving three hundred thousand, and I, said no matter how bad this is could that be possible he said no so there's only a couple of things that could happen is, it, going out the back door and I've. Reported, it to the city and let the city take a look at it but when you go from ten thousand masks, to, three, hundred thousand, masks, Mike, over, the same period of time there's. Something going on now. I'm. Not making any charges, but. When everyone's looking for masks and by the way that's another thing we're making a lot of masks, and the, sterilization, process is, going to save a lot of time and a lot of masks but. When when you have the. Biggest distributor, of product. That. Distributes. To many of the big hospitals, and hospital, chains and, he. Brings up a statistic, like that and I know you're trying to make a big deal out of it but you shouldn't be you should actually go over to the hospital and find out why you shouldn't be asking me I'm just saying that's. The way it is you, should go over there as a great reporter, I have no idea who you are but that's okay you should go over there, go.
To The hospital, and find. Out how come you used to get ten thousand masks, and you. Had a full Hospital New. York City always full and how. Come now you have 300,000, masks, despite. The virus at all you have three how do you go from ten to 300,000. And this, is very serious stuff I mean, I could see from 10 to 20 or from 10 to 40 or 50 or something but. How do you go from 10 to 300,000. Masks so, what I think you should do is a I'm sure you're a wonderful investigative. Reporter, you should go to the hospital and find out what okay yeah. Steve. Please. Well. It's it's. So bad for the economy but the economy is number 2 on my list first, I want to save a lot of lives we're gonna get the economy, back I think the economy is going to come back very fast. Steve's. Just asking about the economy, what's it like. We basically shut, down our country and we. Did that in order to keep, people separated, keep people apart they're not working in offices, they're not in airplanes, together you know we really, shut. It down, and you. Know 150, 151. Other countries, they're pretty. Much shut down but here with it we had the greatest economy, in the world we had the greatest economy, in the history of our country and I. Had to go from doing. A great job for, three years to, shutting, it down, but, you know what we're gonna build it up and we're gonna build it up rapidly, and I think in the end we'll be stronger for it we learned a lot we. Learned a lot and, I have to say we've had great. Relationships with, a lot of countries. China. Sent us some stuff which was terrific, Russia. Sent us a very, very large plane, load of things medical. Equipment which. Was very nice. Other, countries, sent us things, that I was, very surprised, that very happily surprised. We. Learned a lot we're learning a lot and we're, also learning that, the. Concept, of borders is very important, to Steve it's very important, having borders is. Very very important, but. We, have done. An incredible job the. Economy is going, to come back my focus is saving, lives that's the only focus I can have we're gonna bring the economy back and we'll bring it back fast yeah please. Please. Thank. You miss Thank You mr. president you said several times that the United States has ramped up testing, so, to talk a little quicker a little louder mr., president you said several times that the United Sates has ramped up testing, but the United States is still not testing, per capita, as, many as many people, as other countries like South Korea why, is that and, when do you think that that number will be on par with other countries it's. Very much fun part the look, look. Per, capita we have areas of that's, very wait I know South Korea better than anybody it's, a very tight you know how many people are in sold you know big the city of Seoul is. 38. Million people that's. Bigger than anything we have 38, million people all tightly wound. Together we. Have vast farmlands, we, have vast areas where they, don't have much of a problem in some cases they have no problem whatsoever we.
Have Done more tests, what I didn't I didn't talk about per capita we have done more tests, by far than. Any country in the, world by far our testing, is also better than any country in the world and when, you look at that as simple as that looks that's, something, that's a game-changer, and every, country wants, that every country so rather, than asking a question like that you should congratulate. The people that have done this testing, because, we, inherited, this administration. Inherited, a broken. System a system, that was obsolete a system, that didn't work it, was okay for a tiny small, group, of people but once, you got beyond that it didn't work we have built an incredible, system to the fact what we have now done more tests, than any other country in the world and now, the technology is, really booming I just, spoke to, well. I spoke to a lot I'm not going to even mention I spoke, to a number of different testing, companies, today and the, job that they've done and the job that they're doing is incredible, but when Abbott comes out and does this so quickly it's. Really. Unreal. In fact, one. Company, I have to say that stands out in the job and I, think I can say this I don't want to insult anybody else, but Roach Roach. Has been. Incredible. In the testing job they've done and they're, ramping it up exponentially. It's up up up up and you, should be saying congratulations. On stead of asking. A really. Snarky. Question, because I know exactly what, you mean by that you, should be saying. Congratulations. To. The men and women who have done this job who have inherited a broken, testing, system and who, have made it great and if. You don't say it I'll say it I want to congratulate, all, of the people you have done a fantastic job, and we, will see you all tomorrow thank, you very much thank you. If, you miss any of our live coverage of the government's response to the corona virus outbreak, watch, at any time at c-span, org, slash, coronavirus. From, daily briefings, by the President and the White House Task Force to updates from governors of the hardest hit States it's, all there use. The charts and maps to track the viruses global spread and confirm, cases in the u.s. county-by-county. Our. Coronavirus. Web page is your fast and easy way to watch c-span's, unfiltered. Coverage, of this pandemic. And, tonight. A special edition, of Washington, journal with a discussion on public health efforts.
2020-04-04 07:03
