SALT LAKE CITY-Tuesday, the White House Coronavirus Task Force again addressed the media with the latest information on COVID-19 in the United States.
United States President Donald Trump led off the proceedings by saying the Senate planned the Paycheck Protection Program (funding for hospitals and testing) with the following figures: $382 million for small businesses.
The House will vote on the Senate Bill Wednesday, he confirmed. Trump also confirmed that 40 percent of the country has commenced the process of reopening.
Trump also spoke of how the Senate has passed the coronavirus relief bill, a $484 billion bill to support small businesses and hospitals to further fund testing for the disease.
Trump then stated a line he would reiterate many times throughout the briefing, “Americans want to get back to work.”
United States Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin then spoke, saying that he has begun to work on Phase 4 relief. He declared his beliefs that this is the last PPP assistance small businesses will need. Mnuchin again called small businesses the “backbone of our economy” as 50 percent of total funds emanate from them.
Mnuchin said an FAQ will be released elaborating on certification for PPP eligibility. He confirmed there will be “severe consequences” for those who violate the certification requirements.
Trump then explained the PPP and Healthcare Enhancement Act. This deal has been broken down as follows:
-$382 billion for small businesses to keep people employed
-$75 billion to aid hospitals
-$25 billion for coronavirus testing efforts.
In this vein of thought, Trump said he will ask major organizations to return relief funds granted unto them from the PPP. He specifically mentioned Harvard, saying “Harvard’s going to return the money.”
Trump then returned to the podium to answer questions from the press.
When asked about his immigration halt that he announced late Monday evening on Twitter, Trump said “this is to protect American jobs.”
He confirmed this will take effect for 60 days and will not apply to those who are attempting to enter the country on a “temporary basis.”
He continued, saying “By pausing immigration, we will help put Americans first for jobs as America reopens. It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labor flown in from abroad.” Trump also said that the 60-day immigration halt is currently being drafted and should be signed Wednesday.
Trump concluded his remarks in this segment by saying, “four antibody tests have been authorized by the FDA [Food and Drug Administration]. He said that he sees “a lot of light at the end of the tunnel” concerning COVID-19.
White House Coronavirus Task Force coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx next spoke.
Birx confirmed that flattening the curve across the nation’s metro areas-especially those were were concerned would be much worse-is underway.
Birx stated that the nation is continuing to see outbreaks in nursing homes and other long-term health communities. Therefore, she continued, it is really important for Americans to adhere to the guidelines and to continually wash their hands.
She cautioned that deaths will continue after the curve has been flattened because of death lags.
Dr. Stephen Hahn, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration then spoke, saying an antibodies test is only one component of the reopening plan for the country.
These antibodies tests are to be conducted in labs to ensure they are valid, he said, while there have been more than 140 antibody test applications.
Birx, the favorite of the reporters at this briefing, then addressed several questions. She said that surveillance must occur often so that the early warning detection for COVID-19 will continue through the fall. This is to ensure things don’t get as bad during the portended “next wave” of COVID-19 as the current one we are going through right now.
Trump then answered a question about his immigration law, saying he did not specify which economic conditions would lead to a lift on the suspension. This discussion, he said, will come “a little bit later.”
With Georgia having plans to reopen for business Friday, questions were asked of Trump about how he feels about Governor Brian Kemp’s plans.
Trump called Kemp “a very capable man and he knows what he’s doing.”
Birx was then asked questions about Georgia’s plans, to which she replied, “reopening is up to individual communities, governors and mayors.”
When asked if she thought that such businesses as nail salons and tattoo parlors would violate social distancing regulations, she said “people are creative and can find socially-distanced ways” to operate.
Birx then concluded her time with the media by saying “it’s important that governors are transparent in sharing the data they are using to determine if such things as nail salons, hair salons and tattoo parlors can operate safely.”
Trump then concluded the briefing by saying he would speak to the media again Wednesday.
