Trump calls on Americans to cease hoarding food, supplies
President Donald Trump on Sunday called on persons to stop hoarding groceries and other supplies as one of the nation's most senior public health officials urged Americans to do something with more urgency to safeguard themselves and others against the coronavirus. Dr. Anthony Fauci said he'd prefer to see aggressive measures such as a 14-day national shutdown.
"You don't need to buy so much," Trump said at a news conference. "Take it easy. Just relax."
Trump assured Americans, after talking to leading grocery chain executives, that grocers would remain open and that the supply chain remained healthy. Speaking at the same White House news conference, Vice President Mike Pence urged Americans to buy only the groceries they want for the week ahead.
The comments from the president came after the government's top infectious disease expert said he'd prefer to see Americans to hunker down a lot more to greatly help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Still, Fauci said travel restrictions within america, such as for example to and from hard-hit Washington state and California, may not be needed any time in the future.
Officials in Washington were finding your way through what was expected to be considered a long-haul effort to attempt to stem the virus which has upended life around the globe.
"The worst is yet ahead for all of us," Fauci said. "It really is how we respond to that challenge that will determine what the ultimate endpoint will likely be."
Trump, on the other hand, offered a good outlook even while officials said the infection rate in the U.S. was surging. The president acknowledged that the virus was "very contagious" but asserted that his administration had "tremendous control" over the spread of the condition.
Trump said expressed pleasure that the Federal Reserve announced Sunday it was taking emergency action to slash its benchmark interest to near zero. The move designed to help the economy withstand the coronavirus came a day after Trump once again threatened to fire or demote Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.
"It's excellent for our country," Trump said of the central bank's actions.
Earlier Sunday, Trump held a call with an increase of than two dozen grocery store and offer chain executives to discuss their response to the coronavirus outbreak. Retailers have reported shoppers flocking to stores to stock up on food and other essentials. Consumers have expressed frustration that some items - such as for example hand sanitizer and wc paper - are becoming more difficult to find.
It wasn't just supply shortages that had Americans frustrated - calls are mounting for better usage of coronavirus tests.
The Trump administration said millions of new coronavirus tests will be offered in the coming weeks, including tests that speed processing of samples, nonetheless it was encouraging Americans to exercise restraint in wanting to get tested.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coordinator for giving an answer to the pandemic, said those most susceptible to the respiratory disease and the healthcare providers treating them is going first.
"We request you to prioritize them and prioritize them in the lines," she said.
Birx cautioned you will see a "spike" in positive results as more people gain access to tests.
Pence said that he and the president would brief the nation's governors on Monday "specifically about our expanding testing to the American people."
Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of Homeland Security, acknowledged that many travelers were facing "unacceptable" long lines because they waited to be screened at U.S. airports this weekend. He said average wait time for screening was right down to 30 minutes for the most part airports, but the condition had not been fixed for those coming to Chicago's O'Hare AIRPORT TERMINAL.
Pence said the government on Monday will release updated guidance concerning restaurants, bars and other establishments. California and Illinois are among jurisdictions which have ordered restaurants and bars to near help slow the spread of the virus.
Asked whether restaurants and bars around the country should close for the moment, Fauci said he wished to wait for the guidance to come but allowed, "That may be."
Expanded protocols were also on the path to protect the president and his staff. Starting Monday, those that enter the White House complex could have their temperatures taken.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Congress had started focus on a fresh aid package following the one just approved by the House early Saturday, which provided direct relief to Americans suffering physically, financially and emotionally from the coronavirus pandemic. It included sick pay and other resources and was pending in Senate.
"We've already begun work to build up a third emergency response package," Pelosi wrote in a letter to colleagues.
With the U.S. Capitol among the countless iconic landmarks closed to tours, Pelosi also urged lawmakers to have the majority of their Washington staff telework from your home, as health officials urge social distancing. House lawmakers are away on weeklong recess and many have already curtailed office visits at their local offices, as well.
Fauci, the general public face of the administration's messaging throughout a round of morning TV interviews, said the country should do around "we possibly could," even if officials were criticized for overreacting. He said he raised the problem of measures for instance a shutdown with the Trump administration, and said officials were open to his ideas.
"I think Americans ought to be prepared they are going to need to hunker down significantly a lot more than we as a country are doing," said Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as for example fever and cough. For a few, especially older adults and persons with existing health issues, it could cause more extreme illness, including pneumonia. The worldwide outbreak has sickened more than 156,000 people and left a lot more than 5,800 dead. The death toll in the usa is a lot more than 50, while infections neared 3,000 across 49 states and the District of Columbia.
The vast majority of folks recover. In line with the World Health Organization, persons with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while people that have more severe illness might take three weeks to six weeks to recuperate.
Trump in recent days has imposed sweeping travel restrictions for much of Europe. On Saturday, he added the uk and Ireland to a set of countries that would face travel restrictions over the next 30 days. The STATE DEPT. on Sunday said it could allow U.S. personnel to leave their diplomatic or consular posts worldwide if indeed they or members of the family were medically determined to be at an increased threat of falling very ill if exposed to the virus.
Trump also offers pledged broadened U.S. testing for the virus as major employers such as for example Apple Inc. have sent employees home to telework and several states and big cities, including LA and Boston, shuttered down schools for weekly or more.
Trump has suggested that restrictions on travel within the U.S. to areas hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic could possibly be next. But Fauci on Sunday played down that or having major national lockdowns on the level now seen in Europe such as for example Italy and Spain.
