Rabu, 06 Mei 2020

Donald Trump ABANDONS plans to disband coronavirus taskforce - Daily Mail

Trump ABANDONS plans to disband coronavirus taskforce after outcry and now says it will 'continue on indefinitely' but focus on 'safety and opening up our country again'

  • President Donald Trump said the White House's Coronavirus Task Force will continue after concerns were raised about it being disbanded
  • Trump tweeted it would now 'continue on indefinitely with its focus on SAFETY & OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN'
  • White House had announced Tuesday task force would wind down
  • Meanwhile number of coronavirus infections in the United States is on the rise and more than 70,000 people have died
  • And a new report revealed Trump health officials warned the number of deaths may rise as states begin to reopen 
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the White House's Coronavirus Task Force will continue after concerns were raised following an announcement it would be disbanded.

Trump, in a long Twitter thread, praised the task force's work and cited its successes in combating the coronavirus. He noted it would now 'continue on indefinitely with its focus on SAFETY & OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN.'

His announcement came less than 24 hours after Vice President Mike Pence told reporters the group was winding down.  

The task force is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, according to Pence's public schedule.  

Questions were raised about why the White House was disbanding the group when infections in the United States are on the rise and more than 70,000 people have died. And President Trump frequently reacts after news coverage of his decisions.

President Donald Trump said the White House's Coronavirus Task Force will continue after concerns were raised about it being disbanded

President Donald Trump said the White House's Coronavirus Task Force will continue after concerns were raised about it being disbanded

President Trump with members of the coronavirus task force: Vice President Mike Pence, Admiral Brett Giroir, Dr. Anthony Fauci, CMS administrator Seema Verma, Dr. Deborah Birx, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar

President Trump with members of the coronavirus task force: Vice President Mike Pence, Admiral Brett Giroir, Dr. Anthony Fauci, CMS administrator Seema Verma, Dr. Deborah Birx, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar

Researchers say the ominous new forecast is a reflection of social distancing measures being increasingly relaxed across the US

Trump originally defended the decision but changed his mind Wednesday, announcing its continuation and new focus as he continues his push to get the country reopened. The president also warned some officials could be added or subtracted to the group and noted it would also focus on efforts to make a vaccine.  

'The White House CoronaVirus Task Force, headed by Vice President Mike Pence, has done a fantastic job of bringing together vast highly complex resources that have set a high standard for others to follow in the future,' Trump wrote on Twitter.

'Ventilators, which were few & in bad shape, are now being produced in the thousands, and we have many to spare. We are helping other countries which are desperate for them. Likewise, after having been left little, we are now doing more testing than all other countries combined, and with superior tests. Face masks & shields gloves, gowns etc. are now plentiful,' he added.

'The last four Governors teleconference calls have been conclusively strong. Because of this success, the Task Force will continue on indefinitely with its focus on SAFETY & OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN. We may add or subtract people to it, as appropriate. The Task Force will also be very focused on Vaccines & Therapeutics. Thank you!,' he concluded.

His announcement comes amid a report that officials warned the number of deaths 'will be high' as the country reopens. 

Trump has acknowledged there would be 'more death' due to the coronavirus pandemic, as states begin the process of allowing businesses to reopen. 

'It's possible there will be some because you won't be locked into an apartment or a house or whatever it is,' the president told ABC News on Tuesday. 'But at the same time, we're going to practice social distancing, we're going to be washing hands, we're going to be doing a lot of the things that we've learned to do over the last period of time.'   

Trump said the reality is, 'We can't sit in the house for the next three years.' 

'There'll be more death, than the virus will pass, with or without a vaccine,' he noted.

Administration officials have warned the number of deaths from the coronavirus could rise as states begin to reopen; above bodies are removed from Brookdale  hospital in New York

Administration officials have warned the number of deaths from the coronavirus could rise as states begin to reopen; above bodies are removed from Brookdale  hospital in New York

Additionally administration officials have privately noted a lack of personal protective equipment despite Trump's claims the supply chain has been filled

Additionally administration officials have privately noted a lack of personal protective equipment despite Trump's claims the supply chain has been filled

But his administration's health and emergency management officials privately warned that states were still experiencing shortages of masks, gowns and other protective medical gear, according to a recording of an interagency conference call between FEMA and Health and Human Services officials, obtained by Politico

'The numbers of deaths definitely will be high,' Daniel Jernigan, director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's influenza division, said at the start of a May 1 conference call. 

Another official warned if states continue to lift their social distancing restrictions, hospitals across the nation would see a surge in cases, which could result in another ventilator shortage.

Health officials had previously warned that reopening the country too quickly could result in a second wave of the virus.   

'If, at the end of stay-at-home orders, you were to lift everything and go back to normal business, and not have any community mitigation, you would expect to see in the second week in May we begin to increase again in ventilator uses,' the official said. 'Which means cases increase, and by early June, we surpass the number of ventilators we currently have.'

Another official warned that stay-at-home orders may have to return if the rate of infection increases as states reopen.

'As we lift mitigation, it's going to be critical to monitor local transmission, public health capacity and health system capacity over time,' the official said 'and if needed, reinitiate mitigation in the coming weeks.' 

Twenty three states have some a partial reopening in progress with six more on track to start reopening soon.

Politico revealed that a series of conference calls between health and emergency management officials painted a different story of the coronavirus calls than the public picture President Trump touted.

In the calls, officials discussed their struggle to keep pace with a flood of requests from governors for more medical equipment.

'Our main PPE shortfalls continue to be along the lines of gloves and gowns,' one official from region four - which includes much of the Southeast United States - said on the May 1 call. 'I know everyone is working hard on that.' 

President Trump defended his decision to disband his coronavirus task force before he rescinded the  order, he's seen with Dr. Anthony Fauci, Vice President Mike Pence, Dr. Deborah Birx and Admiral Brett Giroir at an April White House briefing

President Trump defended his decision to disband his coronavirus task force before he rescinded the  order, he's seen with Dr. Anthony Fauci, Vice President Mike Pence, Dr. Deborah Birx and Admiral Brett Giroir at an April White House briefing

Trump, however, has argued the U.S. has conquered its supply problem.

'We have more ventilators now than anybody in the world,' he said Tuesday during a visit to a Honeywell factory in Phoenix, Arizona, that converted to making N95 masks to help with the coronavirus. 

'Through FEMA, HHS, and our private sector partners, we're equipping our frontline medical workers with more than 70 million N95 respirators, 112 million surgical masks, 7 million face shields, 18 million gowns, and nearly 1 billion gloves,' Trump touted. 

Meanwhile, the White House had announced on Tuesday it would wind down its Coronavirus Task Force, a decision President Trump defended before he rescinded.

 'We can’t keep our country closed for the next five years. You could say there might be a recurrence and there might be,' Trump said, when pressed about his decision to decommission the task force within weeks that has provided advice during the coronavirus pandemic. 

He also didn't ruling out a second wave of the pandemic, as medical experts are warning could happen. 

'It’ll be a flame and we’re going to put the flame out,' Trump said. 

Trump said he would continue to get 'advice' from medical experts, including two prominent members of the task force: Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx.

'They will be and so will other doctors and so will other experts in the field.' But he struggled to articulate why the task force had to go in order for the country to reopen – something he says must be achieved immediately.

'I’m viewing our great citizens of this country to a certain extent and to a large extent as warriors. They're warriors. We have to open our country closed,' Trump said. 'We have to open our country.' 

'We have a great country. We can't keep it closed,' he continued. 

The administration is planning to wind down its coronavirus task force, according to a report. The U.S. had more than 70,000 deaths with more than 1.2 million infected

The administration is planning to wind down its coronavirus task force, according to a report. The U.S. had more than 70,000 deaths with more than 1.2 million infected

President Trump was surrounded by workers wearing masks during the tour

President Trump was surrounded by workers wearing masks during the tour

President Donald Trump ignored signs requiring a mask be worn when he toured a mask factory in Arizona and only wore safety googles on his eyes

President Donald Trump ignored signs requiring a mask be worn when he toured a mask factory in Arizona and only wore safety googles on his eyes

On his first major trip out of the White House in almost two months, Trump told Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey he would suffer 'fires' – meaning future coronavirus outbreaks, but said the Republican would handle it. 

'You could probably have fires here, Doug. You’ll put them out. You’re going to put them out. You’ll put them out fast. We are bringing our country back,' Trump said.

The president was speaking as he toured a Honeywell factory In Phoenix making N95 masks - but he and his entourage ignored a sign saying masks had to be worn.

He also issued another optimistic economic prediction – but this time put the action in the fourth quarter, rather than a third quarter this summer which he predicted would see a boom.

'You’re going to have a third quarter where you’re going to have transition. You’ll have a big, beautiful hopefully a very good transition, a very successful transition back into the real world,' Trump said of the July-September period. 

'And then you’re going to have a fourth quarter that I think is going to do very well. And then I think next year I think we’re going to have one of the best years we’ve ever had,' Trump predicted.  

Trump appeared to indicate his position on reopening – which many experts say must be proceeded by massive testing and other health measures – would involve suffering.

'I'm not saying anything is perfect. And yes, will some people be affected? Yes. Will some people be affected badly? Yes. But we have to get our country open, and we have to get it open soon.'  . 

The White House Coronavirus Task Forcce, which was put under the domain of Vice President Mike Pence only to have President Donald Trump take over signature press briefings, has been meeting for months as the outbreak spread and U.S. deaths have climbed. 

The U.S. had more than 70,000 deaths with more than 1.2 million infected, and no sign yet that the pandemic is under control. 

Vice President Mike Pence confirmed the group was disbanding in a briefing with reporters at his Washington office on Tuesday.

'We’re having conversations about that,' Pence said, confirming a report in the  New York Times

Asked about the task force he heads being disbanded, Pence responded: 'I think we’re having conversations about that and about what the proper time is for the task force to complete its work and for the ongoing efforts to take place on an agency-by-agency level. And we’ve already begun to talk about a transition plan with FEMA.'

'But it’s – it really is all a reflection of the tremendous progress we’ve made as a country,' he continued. 'The President stood up the White House Coronavirus Task Force to marshal – in January – to marshal a national response.'

Asked if task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, who was with him at the briefing, would be sticking around, Pence responded: 'We’re going to keep Dr. Deborah Birx around every bit as long as we need to.'

Pence indicated the task force could be finished within weeks.

'I think we’re starting to look at the Memorial Day window, early June window as a time when we could begin to transition back to having our agencies begin to manage -- begin to manage our national response in a more traditional manner,' he said. 

Then Dr. Birx indicated available data would be a factor. 

'We’ll still keep a close eye on the data because we have very good data now. It took us a while to build that capacity. And we’ll make sure that, you know, we’re watching that at a federal level.'      

White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx (L) and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar attend an announcement that the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency approval for the antiviral drug remdesivir in the Oval Office at the White House May 01, 2020 in Washington, DC. Azar previously ran the task force before Pence was put in charge

White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx (L) and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar attend an announcement that the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency approval for the antiviral drug remdesivir in the Oval Office at the White House May 01, 2020 in Washington, DC. Azar previously ran the task force before Pence was put in charge

Trump has scaled back his own press briefings with the task force. 

In prior weeks, the events would sometimes expose apparent rifts between the president and the nation's top experts. Reporters asked Dr. Anthony Fauci if he agreed with Trump's touting of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment. And the president himself quizzed coronavirus coordinator Dr. Debbie Birx on the idea of injecting disinfectants into coronavirus patients. 

With more and more movement toward reopening, Trump also on Tuesday mischaracterized two new reports that show an increased number of deaths from the coronavirus, a troubling sign of what may come as he pushes the country to reopen.  

'It's a report with no mitigation,' the president said at the White House of two new studies - based on government modeling - that show the daily virus death toll will hit 3,000 by June and another projects that over 134,000 people will die.

'We're doing a lot of mitigation,' Trump said. 'But that report is a no-mitigation report, and we are mitigating.' 

The reports, however, do factor in mitigating along with changes that will come as states slowly start to reopen. Additionally, there is less mitigation taking place in the United States as businesses start to reopen, parks and beaches start to see crowds, and people begin to return to their normal routines. 

Trump told reporters at the White House Tuesday: 'We did everything right. But now it’s time to go back to work.'

A revised coronavirus model has doubled its predicted US death toll to nearly 135,000 by August as social-distancing measures are increasingly relaxed across the country

A revised coronavirus model has doubled its predicted US death toll to nearly 135,000 by August as social-distancing measures are increasingly relaxed across the country

A newly revised coronavirus model has doubled its predicted US death toll to nearly 135,000 by August as social-distancing measures for quelling the pandemic are increasingly relaxed across the country. 

Researchers say the ominous new forecast from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reflect 'rising mobility in most US states' with an easing of business closures and stay-at-home orders expected in 31 states by May 11.  

The projections reinforced warnings from public health experts that a rising clamor to lift restrictions on commerce and social activities - in hopes of healing a ravaged economy - could exact a staggering cost in terms of human lives. 

So far in the US, the number of infections has increased to more than 1.2 million and nearly 70,000 Americans have died from COVID-19.  

The latest IHME forecast predicts the number of US deaths from COVID-19 will run from as few as 95,092 to as many as 242,890 by August 4 - with 134,475 lives lost being the most likely middle ground.

By comparison, the previous revision put the middle-case figure at 72,400 deaths, within a range between 59,300 and 114,200 fatalities.  

The upward spike reflects increasing human interactions as more states begin to ease social-distancing requirements. 

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMib2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODI5Mjc5MS9Eb25hbGQtVHJ1bXAtQUJBTkRPTlMtcGxhbnMtZGlzYmFuZC1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy10YXNrZm9yY2UuaHRtbNIBc2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtODI5Mjc5MS9hbXAvRG9uYWxkLVRydW1wLUFCQU5ET05TLXBsYW5zLWRpc2JhbmQtY29yb25hdmlydXMtdGFza2ZvcmNlLmh0bWw?oc=5

2020-05-06 15:49:04Z
52780765369037

Donald Trump ABANDONS plans to disband coronavirus taskforce - Daily Mail

Trump ABANDONS plans to disband coronavirus taskforce after outcry and now says it will 'continue on indefinitely' but focus on 'safety and opening up our country again'

  • President Donald Trump said the White House's Coronavirus Task Force will continue after concerns were raised about it being disbanded
  • Trump tweeted it would now 'continue on indefinitely with its focus on SAFETY & OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN'
  • White House had announced Tuesday task force would wind down
  • Meanwhile number of coronavirus infections in the United States is on the rise and more than 70,000 people have died
  • And a new report revealed Trump health officials warned the number of deaths may rise as states begin to reopen 
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the White House's Coronavirus Task Force will continue after concerns were raised following an announcement it would be disbanded.

Trump, in a long Twitter thread, praised the task force's work and cited its successes in combating the coronavirus. He noted it would now 'continue on indefinitely with its focus on SAFETY & OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN.'

His announcement came less than 24 hours after Vice President Mike Pence told reporters the group was winding down.  

The task force is scheduled to meet at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, according to Pence's public schedule.  

Questions were raised about why the White House was disbanding the group when infections in the United States are on the rise and more than 70,000 people have died. And President Trump frequently reacts after news coverage of his decisions.

President Donald Trump said the White House's Coronavirus Task Force will continue after concerns were raised about it being disbanded

President Donald Trump said the White House's Coronavirus Task Force will continue after concerns were raised about it being disbanded

President Trump with members of the coronavirus task force: Vice President Mike Pence, Admiral Brett Giroir, Dr. Anthony Fauci, CMS administrator Seema Verma, Dr. Deborah Birx, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar

President Trump with members of the coronavirus task force: Vice President Mike Pence, Admiral Brett Giroir, Dr. Anthony Fauci, CMS administrator Seema Verma, Dr. Deborah Birx, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar

Trump originally defended the decision but changed his mind Wednesday, announcing its continuation and new focus as he continues his push to get the country reopened. The president also warned some officials could be added or subtracted to the group and noted it would also focus on efforts to make a vaccine.  

'The White House CoronaVirus Task Force, headed by Vice President Mike Pence, has done a fantastic job of bringing together vast highly complex resources that have set a high standard for others to follow in the future,' Trump wrote on Twitter.

'Ventilators, which were few & in bad shape, are now being produced in the thousands, and we have many to spare. We are helping other countries which are desperate for them. Likewise, after having been left little, we are now doing more testing than all other countries combined, and with superior tests. Face masks & shields gloves, gowns etc. are now plentiful,' he added.

'The last four Governors teleconference calls have been conclusively strong. Because of this success, the Task Force will continue on indefinitely with its focus on SAFETY & OPENING UP OUR COUNTRY AGAIN. We may add or subtract people to it, as appropriate. The Task Force will also be very focused on Vaccines & Therapeutics. Thank you!,' he concluded.

His announcement comes amid a report that officials warned the number of deaths 'will be high' as the country reopens. 

Trump has acknowledged there would be 'more death' due to the coronavirus pandemic, as states begin the process of allowing businesses to reopen. 

'It's possible there will be some because you won't be locked into an apartment or a house or whatever it is,' the president told ABC News on Tuesday. 'But at the same time, we're going to practice social distancing, we're going to be washing hands, we're going to be doing a lot of the things that we've learned to do over the last period of time.'   

Trump said the reality is, 'We can't sit in the house for the next three years.' 

'There'll be more death, than the virus will pass, with or without a vaccine,' he noted.

Administration officials have warned the number of deaths from the coronavirus could rise as states begin to reopen; above bodies are removed from Brookdale  hospital in New York

Administration officials have warned the number of deaths from the coronavirus could rise as states begin to reopen; above bodies are removed from Brookdale  hospital in New York

Additionally administration officials have privately noted a lack of personal protective equipment despite Trump's claims the supply chain has been filled

Additionally administration officials have privately noted a lack of personal protective equipment despite Trump's claims the supply chain has been filled

But his administration's health and emergency management officials privately warned that states were still experiencing shortages of masks, gowns and other protective medical gear, according to a recording of an interagency conference call between FEMA and Health and Human Services officials, obtained by Politico

'The numbers of deaths definitely will be high,' Daniel Jernigan, director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's influenza division, said at the start of a May 1 conference call. 

Another official warned if states continue to lift their social distancing restrictions, hospitals across the nation would see a surge in cases, which could result in another ventilator shortage.

Health officials had previously warned that reopening the country too quickly could result in a second wave of the virus.   

'If, at the end of stay-at-home orders, you were to lift everything and go back to normal business, and not have any community mitigation, you would expect to see in the second week in May we begin to increase again in ventilator uses,' the official said. 'Which means cases increase, and by early June, we surpass the number of ventilators we currently have.'

Another official warned that stay-at-home orders may have to return if the rate of infection increases as states reopen.

'As we lift mitigation, it's going to be critical to monitor local transmission, public health capacity and health system capacity over time,' the official said 'and if needed, reinitiate mitigation in the coming weeks.' 

Twenty three states have some a partial reopening in progress with six more on track to start reopening soon.

Politico revealed that a series of conference calls between health and emergency management officials painted a different story of the coronavirus calls than the public picture President Trump touted.

In the calls, officials discussed their struggle to keep pace with a flood of requests from governors for more medical equipment.

'Our main PPE shortfalls continue to be along the lines of gloves and gowns,' one official from region four - which includes much of the Southeast United States - said on the May 1 call. 'I know everyone is working hard on that.' 

President Trump defended his decision to disband his coronavirus task force before he rescinded the  order, he's seen with Dr. Anthony Fauci, Vice President Mike Pence, Dr. Deborah Birx and Admiral Brett Giroir at an April White House briefing

President Trump defended his decision to disband his coronavirus task force before he rescinded the  order, he's seen with Dr. Anthony Fauci, Vice President Mike Pence, Dr. Deborah Birx and Admiral Brett Giroir at an April White House briefing

Dr. Anthony Fauci briefs the media as President Trump and Vice President Pence look on

Dr. Anthony Fauci briefs the media as President Trump and Vice President Pence look on

Trump, however, has argued the U.S. has conquered its supply problem.

'We have more ventilators now than anybody in the world,' he said Tuesday during a visit to a Honeywell factory in Phoenix, Arizona, that converted to making N95 masks to help with the coronavirus. 

'Through FEMA, HHS, and our private sector partners, we're equipping our frontline medical workers with more than 70 million N95 respirators, 112 million surgical masks, 7 million face shields, 18 million gowns, and nearly 1 billion gloves,' Trump touted. 

Meanwhile, the White House had announced on Tuesday it would wind down its Coronavirus Task Force, a decision President Trump defended before he rescinded.

 'We can’t keep our country closed for the next five years. You could say there might be a recurrence and there might be,' Trump said, when pressed about his decision to decommission the task force within weeks that has provided advice during the coronavirus pandemic. 

He also didn't ruling out a second wave of the pandemic, as medical experts are warning could happen. 

'It’ll be a flame and we’re going to put the flame out,' Trump said. 

Trump said he would continue to get 'advice' from medical experts, including two prominent members of the task force: Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx.

'They will be and so will other doctors and so will other experts in the field.' But he struggled to articulate why the task force had to go in order for the country to reopen – something he says must be achieved immediately.

'I’m viewing our great citizens of this country to a certain extent and to a large extent as warriors. They're warriors. We have to open our country closed,' Trump said. 'We have to open our country.' 

'We have a great country. We can't keep it closed,' he continued. 

The administration is planning to wind down its coronavirus task force, according to a report. The U.S. had more than 70,000 deaths with more than 1.2 million infected

The administration is planning to wind down its coronavirus task force, according to a report. The U.S. had more than 70,000 deaths with more than 1.2 million infected

President Trump was surrounded by workers wearing masks during the tour

President Trump was surrounded by workers wearing masks during the tour

The Honeywall factory the president toured was converted to making N95 masks

The Honeywall factory the president toured was converted to making N95 masks

President Donald Trump ignored signs requiring a mask be worn when he toured a mask factory in Arizona and only wore safety googles on his eyes

President Donald Trump ignored signs requiring a mask be worn when he toured a mask factory in Arizona and only wore safety googles on his eyes

On his first major trip out of the White House in almost two months, Trump told Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey he would suffer 'fires' – meaning future coronavirus outbreaks, but said the Republican would handle it. 

'You could probably have fires here, Doug. You’ll put them out. You’re going to put them out. You’ll put them out fast. We are bringing our country back,' Trump said.

The president was speaking as he toured a Honeywell factory In Phoenix making N95 masks - but he and his entourage ignored a sign saying masks had to be worn.

He also issued another optimistic economic prediction – but this time put the action in the fourth quarter, rather than a third quarter this summer which he predicted would see a boom.

'You’re going to have a third quarter where you’re going to have transition. You’ll have a big, beautiful hopefully a very good transition, a very successful transition back into the real world,' Trump said of the July-September period. 

'And then you’re going to have a fourth quarter that I think is going to do very well. And then I think next year I think we’re going to have one of the best years we’ve ever had,' Trump predicted.  

Trump appeared to indicate his position on reopening – which many experts say must be proceeded by massive testing and other health measures – would involve suffering.

'I'm not saying anything is perfect. And yes, will some people be affected? Yes. Will some people be affected badly? Yes. But we have to get our country open, and we have to get it open soon.'  . 

The White House Coronavirus Task Forcce, which was put under the domain of Vice President Mike Pence only to have President Donald Trump take over signature press briefings, has been meeting for months as the outbreak spread and U.S. deaths have climbed. 

The U.S. had more than 70,000 deaths with more than 1.2 million infected, and no sign yet that the pandemic is under control. 

Vice President Mike Pence confirmed the group was disbanding in a briefing with reporters at his Washington office on Tuesday.

'We’re having conversations about that,' Pence said, confirming a report in the  New York Times

Asked about the task force he heads being disbanded, Pence responded: 'I think we’re having conversations about that and about what the proper time is for the task force to complete its work and for the ongoing efforts to take place on an agency-by-agency level. And we’ve already begun to talk about a transition plan with FEMA.'

'But it’s – it really is all a reflection of the tremendous progress we’ve made as a country,' he continued. 'The President stood up the White House Coronavirus Task Force to marshal – in January – to marshal a national response.'

Asked if task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, who was with him at the briefing, would be sticking around, Pence responded: 'We’re going to keep Dr. Deborah Birx around every bit as long as we need to.'

Pence indicated the task force could be finished within weeks.

'I think we’re starting to look at the Memorial Day window, early June window as a time when we could begin to transition back to having our agencies begin to manage -- begin to manage our national response in a more traditional manner,' he said. 

Then Dr. Birx indicated available data would be a factor. 

'We’ll still keep a close eye on the data because we have very good data now. It took us a while to build that capacity. And we’ll make sure that, you know, we’re watching that at a federal level.'      

SO LONG: President Donald Trump answers questions at the daily coronavirus task force briefing flanked by Dr. Anthony Fauci, Vice President Mike Pence, Dr. Deborah Birx and Admiral Brett Giroir at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 17, 2020

SO LONG: President Donald Trump answers questions at the daily coronavirus task force briefing flanked by Dr. Anthony Fauci, Vice President Mike Pence, Dr. Deborah Birx and Admiral Brett Giroir at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 17, 2020

White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx (L) and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar attend an announcement that the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency approval for the antiviral drug remdesivir in the Oval Office at the White House May 01, 2020 in Washington, DC. Azar previously ran the task force before Pence was put in charge

White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx (L) and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar attend an announcement that the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency approval for the antiviral drug remdesivir in the Oval Office at the White House May 01, 2020 in Washington, DC. Azar previously ran the task force before Pence was put in charge

Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a news briefing with members of the Coronavirus Task Force at the White House, in Washington, DC, USA, 24 April 2020. He confirmed the task force he heads may be disbanding

Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a news briefing with members of the Coronavirus Task Force at the White House, in Washington, DC, USA, 24 April 2020. He confirmed the task force he heads may be disbanding

Trump has scaled back his own press briefings with the task force. 

In prior weeks, the events would sometimes expose apparent rifts between the president and the nation's top experts. Reporters asked Dr. Anthony Fauci if he agreed with Trump's touting of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment. And the president himself quizzed coronavirus coordinator Dr. Debbie Birx on the idea of injecting disinfectants into coronavirus patients. 

With more and more movement toward reopening, Trump also on Tuesday mischaracterized two new reports that show an increased number of deaths from the coronavirus, a troubling sign of what may come as he pushes the country to reopen.  

'It's a report with no mitigation,' the president said at the White House of two new studies - based on government modeling - that show the daily virus death toll will hit 3,000 by June and another projects that over 134,000 people will die.

'We're doing a lot of mitigation,' Trump said. 'But that report is a no-mitigation report, and we are mitigating.' 

The reports, however, do factor in mitigating along with changes that will come as states slowly start to reopen. Additionally, there is less mitigation taking place in the United States as businesses start to reopen, parks and beaches start to see crowds, and people begin to return to their normal routines. 

Trump told reporters at the White House Tuesday: 'We did everything right. But now it’s time to go back to work.'

A revised coronavirus model has doubled its predicted US death toll to nearly 135,000 by August as social-distancing measures are increasingly relaxed across the country

A revised coronavirus model has doubled its predicted US death toll to nearly 135,000 by August as social-distancing measures are increasingly relaxed across the country

Researchers say the ominous new forecast is a reflection of social distancing measures being increasingly relaxed across the US

A newly revised coronavirus model has doubled its predicted US death toll to nearly 135,000 by August as social-distancing measures for quelling the pandemic are increasingly relaxed across the country. 

Researchers say the ominous new forecast from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reflect 'rising mobility in most US states' with an easing of business closures and stay-at-home orders expected in 31 states by May 11.  

The projections reinforced warnings from public health experts that a rising clamor to lift restrictions on commerce and social activities - in hopes of healing a ravaged economy - could exact a staggering cost in terms of human lives. 

So far in the US, the number of infections has increased to more than 1.2 million and nearly 70,000 Americans have died from COVID-19.  

The latest IHME forecast predicts the number of US deaths from COVID-19 will run from as few as 95,092 to as many as 242,890 by August 4 - with 134,475 lives lost being the most likely middle ground.

By comparison, the previous revision put the middle-case figure at 72,400 deaths, within a range between 59,300 and 114,200 fatalities.  

The upward spike reflects increasing human interactions as more states begin to ease social-distancing requirements.

It comes as California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Monday he would ease the state's stay-at-home orders by Thursday after facing mounting pressure from local leaders to ease the state's strict lockdown measures.

Some California counties had already announced they would reopen in defiance of the state's ongoing stay-home order. 

Newsom said some businesses in the state will receive permission to reopen with restrictions. The phased-in plan allows clothing stores, sporting goods, florists and other retailers to resume operations with curbside pickup. Dining in at restaurants and office reopenings are still prohibited. 

Modoc, Yuba and Sutter counties - in Northern California - didn't wait for permission and opted to reopen restaurants if customers wore masks. 

The Happy Viking Sports Pub and Eatery in Yuba opened its doors to the public for the first time in 50 days on Monday after county officials ruled that restaurants, retail stores and fitness centers could open if patrons and staff obeyed social distancing rules. 

In the Southern California community of Victorville in San Bernardino County, gym owner Jacob Lewis re-opened his business on May 1, without waiting for either state or county officials to give him the green light. 

California is one of about two dozen U.S. states that still have strict coronavirus restrictions in place.

At least 100 million Americans were in states that have already made assertive moves to reopen or had no stay-home orders to begin with.

States home to more than 210 million were taking more gradual steps with partial reopenings or didn't appear close to reopening at all like epicenter New York. 

In New York, the state that accounts for about a third of all US infections, Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday outlined plans to ease restrictions on a regional basis. 

Without giving a specific time frame, Cuomo told a daily briefing that construction, manufacturing and the wholesale supply chain would be allowed to start up under the first phase of a four-step return to normality. 

A second phase would permit insurance, retail, administrative support and real estate businesses to open again, followed by restaurants, food services, hotels and accommodation businesses in the third stage, Cuomo said. In the final phase, arts, entertainment and recreation facilities and education would restart.  

Florida began a gradual restart of its economy on Monday. In the first phase, retail merchants and restaurants will open, with indoor patronage limited to 25% of capacity. Eateries are also allowed to open outdoor seating with social distancing, and medical practices can resume elective surgeries and procedures.

In Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine was allowing construction and manufacturing to reopen on Monday, and letting office workers return. 

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2020-05-06 15:17:54Z
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North Korea's Kim Jong Un hid from coronavirus and did not have surgery, spy agency says - The Loppy

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was probably hiding away from coronavirus concerns when he seemingly disappeared last month, and did not have any surgery, according to a spy agency.

Kim made his first public appearance in weeks on Saturday, after speculation that he had had heart surgery and was in a critical condition as a result.

There had even been some reports that he had died.



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First appearance of Kim Jong Un in three weeks

However, on Wednesday, South Korea’s National Intelligence Committee (NIC) told the country’s parliamentary intelligence that reports of any illness were “groundless”, adding Kim “did not get any heart-related procedure or surgery”.

The agency also said he had been performing his normal duties during his time away from state media.

Committee member Kim Byung-kee said: “Kim Jong Un had focused on consolidating internal affairs such as military forces and party-state meetings, and coronavirus concerns have further limited his public activity.

“Though North Korea maintains it has zero cases, it cannot be ruled out that there is an outbreak there given they had active people-to-people exchanges with China before closing the border in late January.”

According to South Korea’s unification minister Kim Yeon-chul, who oversees North Korea affairs, Kim’s disappearance was not unusual, due to the country’s stringent measures to try to curb the COVID-19 outbreak.

The North Korean leader had reportedly implemented several measures in an attempt to curtail an outbreak in his country, while maintaining prices and its military discipline, after border closures prompted rises in food costs and panic buying in Pyongyang.

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He made his first public appearance in more than three weeks when he visited a newly completed fertiliser plant on 2 May, seemingly aimed at showing his intent to ease food shortages and develop a “self-reliant” economy.

In April, spy planes spotted Kim’s personal train at the exclusive resort of Wonsan, amid reports that he was recovering from heart surgery in the region. However it now appears he had been thanking workers building tourist facilities in the coastal town.

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2020-05-06 12:07:05Z
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PMQs: Boris Johnson faces Keir Starmer for first time – watch live - Guardian News

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PMQs: Boris Johnson faces Keir Starmer for first time – watch live  Guardian NewsView Full coverage on Google News
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2020-05-06 10:39:35Z
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Europe hit by coronavirus mutation that spread much more quickly - Metro.co.uk

Clinical staff wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as they care for a patient at the Intensive Care unit at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge (left) and a graph showing new 'dominant' strain of disease overtaking original (top right) and image of coronavirus (bottom right)
G614 has become the world’s ‘dominant’ form of coronavirus (Picture: AFP/Getty Images.MailOnline)

The type of coronavirus ripping through the UK and Europe is more contagious than the one that fuelled the original outbreak in China, researchers say.

British and American scientists who studied patient samples have discovered a mutated version of Covid-19 which spreads faster has affected western countries much more. The diseases ability to evolve has raised concerns over the viability of a future vaccine or natural immunity.

Researchers say the newer version of Covid-19, named G614, was first found in Germany in February before becoming the most common form across the world. They say the ‘dominant’ type has forced out older ones whenever they overlap. The team from the University of Sheffield and Los Alamos National Laboratory said the original virus, officially named SARS-CoV-2 but referred to as D614G, was the one found in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.

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While it tore through Asia, G614 began circulating around Europe and North America before becoming the dominant virus across the globe. The researchers said: ‘A clear and consistent pattern was observed in almost every place where adequate sampling was available.

‘Wherever G614 entered a population, a rapid rise in its frequency followed, and in many cases G614 became the dominant local form in a matter of only a few weeks.’

In their study published online, the scientists said the mutated version might have a ‘selective advantage’ which helps it reproduce and stick to cells in people’s airways. A sample of 447 hospital patients in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, showed people with G614 in their system had a higher viral load.

This means more viruses were infecting their body, making it more likely for them to pass Covid-19 on to others. However there is nothing to suggest G614 makes people feel more unwell.

Scientists say the version was spreading an an ‘alarming pace’ through March and showing an ‘ever-broadening geographic spread’, becoming the world’s dominant version in April. According to the study the mutation affects the shape of the Covid-19’s spike protein – which it uses to latch on to people’s cells.

A member of the clinical staff wears personal protective equipment (PPE) as she cares for a patient at the Intensive Care unit at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, on May 5, 2020. - NHS staff wear an enhanced level of PPE in higher risk areas such as critical care to minimise the spread of infection between staff and patients. Britain's death toll from the coronavirus has topped 32,000, according to an updated official count released Tuesday, pushing the country past Italy to become the second-most impacted after the United States. (Photo by Neil HALL / POOL / AFP) (Photo by NEIL HALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
A medic wears personal protective equipment as she cares for a patient at the Intensive Care unit at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT Coronavirus outbreak in UK and Europe is caused by a newer 'dominant' type of the virus which mutated to spread faster and could change shape to avoid the immune system or a vaccine, scientists claim
These graphs show how the original strain, shown in orange, is overtaken by its stronger competitor (Picture: MailOnline)

The diseases ability to change in this way could potentially render future vaccines and medicines useless, the researchers warn.

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Future treatments could be designed to latch onto the spike, and the bodies of those with natural immunity will learn how to attack the protein, but a completely altered version could undo all the progress made in the war on coronavirus.

Most people who have caught Covid-19 already will build up a certain level of antibodies.

But the UK Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance has warned those who beat the disease ‘almost certainly’ to not obtain absolute immunity.

Appearing before the health and social care committee, he said immunity may last for one to three years, but ‘not for many many years’ – showing the need for a successful vaccine to be developed.

epa08403532 Clinical staff wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as they care for a patent at the Intensive Care unit at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, Britain, 05 May 2020. NHS staff wear an enhanced level of PPE in higher risk areas such as critical care to minimise the spread of infection between staff and patients. Countries around the world are taking increased measures to stem the widespread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes the Covid-19 disease. EPA/NEIL HALL / POOL ATTENTION: This Image is part of a PHOTO SET
The findings come as the UK’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) said at least 12 strains of coronavirus were spreading through the country (Picture: EPA)
ADVERTISEMENT Coronavirus outbreak in UK and Europe is caused by a newer 'dominant' type of the virus which mutated to spread faster and could change shape to avoid the immune system or a vaccine, scientists claim
G614 first took hold in Europe and North America before becoming the ‘dominant’ version of the virus (Picture: MailOnline)
ADVERTISEMENT Coronavirus outbreak in UK and Europe is caused by a newer 'dominant' type of the virus which mutated to spread faster and could change shape to avoid the immune system or a vaccine, scientists claim
The new mutated version is thought to produce more viruses which latch onto people’s cells more easily (Picture: MailOnline)

Yesterday the UK’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) said at least 12 strains of coronavirus were spreading through the country in March including one which has only been found in Britain.

It is not clear whether G614 is included in the list as the Government’s findings were based on an earlier study and used different names for the strains.

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SAGE’s paper published yesterday says scientists analysed genomes of the disease in 260 patients across the country and found 12 versions.

As one of them had only been found in the UK, that means it had mutated on British soil.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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2020-05-06 08:47:33Z
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Donald Trump by no means says 'mission accomplished' as he winds down coronavirus task force - The Sun

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  1. Donald Trump by no means says 'mission accomplished' as he winds down coronavirus task force  The Sun
  2. Coronavirus: White House plans to disband virus task force  BBC News
  3. Seth Meyers: 'This is what you get when you make a TV star president'  The Guardian
  4. Trump plans to disband coronavirus task force | News  The Times
  5. Trump promises coronavirus briefings return, and says losing 'combative attitude' would be 'boring'  Daily Mail
  6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2020-05-06 08:31:33Z
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Coronavirus reached Europe weeks earlier than thought, say doctors - Financial Times

Coronavirus appears to have infected people in France weeks before the disease was detected in Europe and possibly before the first cases of pneumonia of unknown origin were announced in China in December, according to scientists and doctors who have analysed virus samples. 

Retesting of samples from patients with influenza-like symptoms at a hospital north of Paris found one that tested positive for coronavirus from the end of last year, a finding described in a paper for the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents published this week.

“We had a positive Covid-19 case on December 27 who was hospitalised with us at Jean-Verdier [hospital],” Yves Cohen, head of intensive care for two hospitals in Seine-Saint-Denis, north of Paris, told France’s BFMTV. He was one of the contributors to the paper. 

“It’s not surprising when you consider that the World Health Organization has announced that it was circulating in China from December 8 at least. Given the amount of travel, it’s normal that the virus appeared quickly in France.” 

France reported the first Covid-19 death in western Europe on February 15, when a Chinese tourist from Hubei died in a Paris hospital after arriving in the country on January 25.

Anders Tegnell, right, Sweden’s chief epidemiologist, said coronavirus may have been circulating in the country since November
Anders Tegnell, right, Sweden’s chief epidemiologist, said coronavirus may have been circulating in the country since November © Jessica Gow/TT News Agency/Reuters

Meanwhile, Sweden potentially had its first case of coronavirus in November, according to the country’s chief epidemiologist. Travellers from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the disease is thought to have originated, were probably visiting the country in November or December, Anders Tegnell, told local media. “It doesn’t sound at all strange,” he said.

Sweden’s first official case, a 20-year-old woman returning from a trip to Wuhan, came in January.

The French Covid-19 patient, whose infection was confirmed with two separate types of genetic test, was a 42-year-old man born in Algeria who had not travelled abroad since July 2019 but one of whose children had earlier reported influenza-like symptoms. The father recovered. 

“Identifying the first infected patient is of great epidemiological interest as it changes dramatically our knowledge regarding Sars-Cov-2 and its spreading in the country,” the paper said. “Moreover, the absence of a link [from the patient] with China and the lack of recent travel suggest that the disease was already spreading among the French population at the end of December 2019.” 

More than 25,000 people have died from Covid-19 in French hospitals and old people’s homes since March 1, although the spread of the virus has slowed sharply since the imposition of a lockdown from March 17. Seine-Saint-Denis and Paris have been among the worst-hit areas. 

A separate paper by scientists from France’s Institut Pasteur also concluded that the coronavirus appeared to be circulating in the country in February before the appearance of a series of well-publicised outbreaks that were subsequently controlled by testing and quarantine measures. 

The authors said their genomic data “implies local circulation of the virus in undocumented infections prior to the wave of Covid-19 cases”. 

Their analyses of different Covid-19 clades, or variants, led them to infer “that the virus was silently circulating in France in February, a scenario compatible with the large proportion of mild or asymptomatic diseases . . . and observations in other European countries”. 

Additional reporting by Richard Milne in Oslo

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2020-05-06 05:24:24Z
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