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Former Director of the Advanced Biomedical Research and Development Agency, Rick Bright. (Image: Bloomberg)
“The door of opportunity is closed. If we do not develop a science-based national response to the response, I fear that the pandemic will be much worse and will last, causing unprecedented disease and victims. ” CNN part of a speech by former Director of the United States Department of Advanced Biomedical Research and Development (BARDA), Rick Bright, scheduled for presentation at Congress.
On the morning of May 14 (US time), Mr. Bright will deliver a speech to the Medical Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee of the US House of Representatives. USA The former official said his removal from the position of BARDA Director in April was retaliation because he opposed using antimalarial drugs to treat Covid-19 while President Donald Trump sang. Praise be this is an effective method.
Trump has supported chloroquine in mid-March for the treatment of Covid-19, although there is little evidence to show its effectiveness. Although scientific advisers have suggested more research, Trump has been constantly pushing for the drug to be treated.
In late March, a man in Arizona died after taking chloroquine phosphate, a medicine to treat malaria, because he believed it would protect him from Covid-19. His wife then told him NBC who had seen a press conference on television and saw President Trump talking about the potential benefits of chloroquine.
“Without a clear plan and the implementation of the steps that I and other experts have outlined, 2020 will be the darkest winter in modern history,” Bright said in a speech to the committee. Congress.
In his speech, Bright will reaffirm that he believes his dismissal is due to “opposing efforts to promote and allow the American people broad access to chloroquine, a cure that has not yet been approved.” proven effectiveness, when there is no transparent information about possible health-related risks. ”
Mr. Bright is seeking to restore the position from which he was fired. The Office of Special Prosecutors, which reviews Mr. Bright’s lawsuit, determined that there were reasons to believe that his dismissal was an act of retaliation and a proposal to reinstate him.
Overlooked warning?
In the complaint, Rick Bright said he issued a warning about Covid-19 in January, but faced opposition from Health Minister Alex Azar and other top officials.
“Mr. Bright took urgent steps to start the pandemic, but faced resistance from Health Ministry leaders, including Minister Azar, who seemed to deliberately minimize the threat of this tragedy.” , says the lawsuit.
Mr. Bright was expected to address the National Assembly committee that he had tried to warn his superiors about the risk of a lack of essential medical supplies earlier this year, but Health Ministry officials took that warning from emergency. “oppose and marginalize”.
“As I have reflected in recent months on the epidemic, it is clear that we are not prepared as we should be. We missed the first warning signs and the critical stages of the pandemic, ”said Bright.
In a speech to the National Assembly committee, Mr. Bright also called for steps to be taken to improve the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 epidemic, including increased public awareness. on preventive measures, boosting the production of essential medical supplies and developing a national testing strategy.
“The virus is still out there, popping up everywhere. We need to detect, isolate, and prevent it from infecting more people. We need low-cost, fast, easy-to-use, accurate test kits, and everyone who needs them can access it, ”suggested Mr. Bright.
The United States remains the world’s largest outbreak, with more than 85,000 deaths and more than 1.4 million people infected with Covid-19 to date.
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