New revelations reinforce concerns that Trump’s political agenda is a higher priority than the health of Americans


The New York Times reported Thursday that the U.S. Department of Disease Control and Prevention CDC scientists did not write down the scope of who should be tested for coronavirus by the centers, but were “dropped” by the health department on the CDC’s public website. Human services.
The Washington Post recently announced that this past spring, U.S. Postal Service and HHS Are working on plans to send masks to heavily infected areas and eventually across the country. But the idea was made secondary by the White House in anticipation of receiving the mask, which could be frightening.
And on Friday, President Donald Trump told reporters that there would be enough coronavirus vaccines for all Americans by April, once again contradicting estimates made by medical experts in his administration. But so far, despite Trump’s optimistic outlook, the current U.S. No vaccines have been approved for trials by the Food and Drug Administration.
U.S. Trump’s remarks to journalist Bob Woodward in the early stages of the epidemic suggest that the federal government should hold the various agencies responsible for the coronavirus response – that despite knowing the coronavirus was “lethal stuff,” Trump always wanted to play it down. ”

Whether it was purposeful or not, in both stories, agencies would prefer more Trump-friendly strategies to deny the epidemic urgency.

According to the Times, the CDC’s scientists dropped the HHS despite objections. The CDC’s guide, which was repealed by, was published. And when they were made public, H.H.S. It was not subject to the CDC’s rigorous scientific review process. A federal official close to the process told CNN last month that the new directive has come down from the top. A source also told CNN on Friday that the guidance was sent to the CDC by HHS.
Washington Post: WHA plans to distribute 650 million face masks through USPS
CNN had previously reported that the change was made on August 24, updating its recommendation for coronavirus testing “for close contacts of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2”, saying some people without symptoms do not need to be tested, even if they are known to be coronavirus. Ga has been in close contact with someone.
Trump said earlier this summer that the test is a “double-edged sword” because, he argues, it has changed since more positive cases were found.

The president also said he was not joking when he told the rally troopers, he told staff to slow down the test. But federal health officials have said they have not been asked to slow down coronavirus testing.

On Friday, the CDC once again called on the HHS. Updated the test manual by reversing the changes.

The updated guidance once again emphasizes that anyone who has been in contact with an infected person should be tested for coronavirus.

USPS And HHS, according to the Post, plans to start distributing face masks nationwide this spring by first-shipment to the most severely affected areas of the country.

The plan went so far that the USPSA prepared a press release for the distribution plan.

But the White House scrapped the plan, instead appointing HHS. The program, selected by Project America Strong, “distributes reusable cotton face masks across critical infrastructure sectors, companies, healthcare facilities and trust-based and community organizations across the country.”

An administration official told the Post: “Some in the White House Domestic Policy Council and the vice president’s office were concerned that families wearing masks could cause anxiety or panic.”

Speaking to reporters on Friday, the president said he did not know why the USPS’s plan to distribute face masks was canceled.

“If that mask had gone off, and you see the calculations, you would have made this on other countries, you see what happened, and it looks like 80% of the dead could have been saved,” said Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, said “New Day” in response to the post’s report.

There was evidence by April, when the USPSA was preparing for mask distribution, that the coronavirus had spread among asymptomatic individuals. That month, the administration recommended that Americans wear face masks.

Trump said at the time that the recommendations, which came a week after a heated debate inside the White House, were voluntary and would not participate.
The president has since repeatedly worn a mask in public and has recently questioned their effectiveness.

CNN’s Nikki Carvajal contributed to this report.

This story has been updated to reflect the new report.

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