White House coronavirus task force coordinator Deborah Birx said in a private meeting with state and local health officials that the task force is tracking increases in the virus in 12 U.S. cities.
“There are cities that are lagging behind and we have further increases in Miami, New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Jose, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Cleveland, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Columbus and Baltimore, so we are tracking this closely,” he said. Birx on audio, first obtained by the nonprofit Center for Public Integrity. “We are working with state officials to make sure we are responding together, but when you first see that increased test positivity, it is when to begin mitigation efforts.
“I know it may seem small, and you can tell that it only went from 5 to 5.5 [percent], and we will wait and see what happens, “he added.” If you wait another three or four, even five days, you will begin to see a dramatic increase in cases. So finding and locating those very early individuals is really critical. “
Birx said in the Wednesday call that local officials in cities with increasing rates of test positivity should practice aggressive mitigation.
However, two sources familiar with the call told CNN that at least two of the cities mentioned, Baltimore and New Orleans, were not represented during the call, and health officials did not know what was happening, and Baltimore officials they only found out that their city was of particular concern when the media reached out to comment
President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump says he would feel comfortable sending his son and grandchildren to school in person. Cafeteria worker on White House grounds tests positive for COVID-19: Reports Republicans will begin revealing the coronavirus package Thursday MORE he has frequently expressed optimism about the pandemic’s trajectory, repeatedly suggesting that it may eventually “disappear.” However, he admitted this week at a press conference that “it will, unfortunately, probably get worse before it gets better.”
White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere told Birx’s comments in line with the president’s own public statements.
“This does not deviate from what the president said yesterday,” he said. “The virus is still with us, we have some states and metro areas with major outbreaks, and we must take this incredibly seriously.”
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