[ad_1]
Your device does not support listening
A former senior health official told Congress that the United States could face “the darkest winter in modern history” due to the corona virus.
Rick Bright was the head of a government agency responsible for the development of the coronavirus vaccine, but was fired last month.
He previously said he was fired because he expressed concern about a treatment presented by President Donald Trump.
President Trump said he fired him as a “disgruntled” official.
Bright also told the House health committee that “many people were killed” because the government “failed to act” in the early stages of the epidemic.
He said the first time he spoke of a shortage of medical equipment was in January, and he took the issue to “the highest level” at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), but “there was no response.” “
Other developments in the United States:
- A total of 85,807 people died of corona virus in the United States. New York State continues to have the highest number of deaths, with 27,607 people.
- Richard Burr, a Republican, chairman of the United States Senate Intelligence Committee, said he would resign amid an investigation into alleged insider information conducted against him. Burr was accused of using inside information to prevent market losses due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic
- The Michigan state legislature canceled its meeting Thursday after receiving death threats and faced numerous armed protests by right-wing groups against the blockade measures.
- Nearly a quarter of American workers now apply for unemployment benefits, after the number of unemployment applications rose to nearly three million last week.
- Florida’s President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort will be partially open this weekend, but guests must maintain the social space, CNN reported.
What did Mr. Bright say?
In his testimony, Mr. Bright warned that the United States’ “opportunity” to deal with the coronavirus is “closed.”
“If we do not improve our response at this time, on a scientific basis, I fear that the pandemic will worsen and last longer,” he said.
“Without a better plan, 2020 could be the darkest winter in modern history.”
- Corona virus: the problem that Donald Trump has never faced
- Trump said Dr. Fauci’s warning was “unacceptable”
Mr. Bright also told the subcommittee that in January he received an email that he “would never forget” from a medical mask supplier warning him of a serious shortage.
“He said … we needed to take action. And I moved to the highest level I could reach at HHS, but there was no response.”
Bright said he was fired for insisting that the congressional budget allocated to coronavirus treatment should be spent on “safe and scientific solutions, not remedies, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific evidence.”
“I spoke at the time and today I testify here, because science, not politics or cronyism, must lead the way against this deadly virus,” he added.
Why was Rick Bright removed from office?
A complaint, filed earlier this month, said Bright was removed from his post as director of the Advanced Biomedical Research and Development Agency (Barda) for political reasons.
Bright said he was fired after an article on chloroquine was published, which he admitted to being a source in the article.
President Trump mentioned hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, as a possible “game-changing” solution in the treatment of Covid-19, although many experts have warned that the drug was not effective, even dangerous.
In the complaint, Bright said he decided to share with a journalist because government officials “refused to listen” to his warning.
He explained that he is obligated to make efforts and protect the public “from drugs that he believes will represent a significant and specific danger to public health and safety.”
How did President Trump respond?
After the Bright hearing, President Trump told reporters: “I don’t know him. I never knew him. I don’t want to see him.”
“But I watched him and he seemed like an angry and dissatisfied employee who, frankly, according to some, didn’t do a good job.”
Health Minister Alex Azar said officials had followed Mr. Bright’s recommendations.
- Trump said corona virus was worse than Pearl Harbor
- Does Mr. Donald Trump want to fire Dr. Fauci for criticizing the President?
“Everything he complained about is receptive, everything he said has been done,” Azar said.
“He said he pointed out the need for a gas mask. We bought the mask following the president’s instructions. He said we needed a Manhattan Project on vaccines. We had a project.” Manhattan Project. “
