COVID19 update from the White House. On yesterday’s call, we received updates on many things you’ve heard over and over. I’m going to attempt to summarize the hour-long call with things you might not have heard before. Yesterday’s call was the 70th briefing call the White House has held since February. On the call were members of the coronavirus task force.
1. Keep referring people to go to the website
Coronavirus.gov for the latest information.
2. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams - every county has a different curve line and it must be determined in your own community how to lower that line. Many supplies are coming but we cannot supply ourselves out of this crisis, We have to turn off the spicket. Keep children at home. Keep children at home means not playing with all their friends in the subdivision or going to parties. Keep children at home. They are carriers and can carry to everyone in your family. If you are older or have pre-existing conditions stay home. If you must leave always practice social distancing wherever you are. If you have symptoms call don’t show up. If you have been exposed to this virus, stay away from others. Speak out against folks who don’t believe this is real or aren’t practicing social distancing. Social distancing doesn’t mean to stop all social engagement. If you are pregnant and have a doctor’s appointment, you should go and take care of yourself and your baby properly. We need people to give blood. One unit can save three people’s lives and there’s becoming a shortage so please give. Testing has really ramped up in a short amount of time and more sites and ways to test are coming.
3. Dr. Peter Navarro - supply chains are criticality important. Enacting the Defense Production Act was vital because it gave the US a way to mobilize in the industrial base. That can be done by repurposing old factories or expanding the existing facilities. This Act gives shortcuts to production by eliminating some of the regular red tape. Private sector has stepped up so much. A liquor company recently offered to produce hand sanitizer in their factory. Several loopholes were closed so they could do so. Honeywell distributes the N-95 mask which are considered the best. They offered two unused factories in Rhode Island to produce again. When they get opened, they can provide 5,000,000 mask a week it’s created 700 jobs in Rhode Island as well. Small companies are helping too. In Palmetto, FL a small company was paid for their inventory of a 1/2 million gloves to be sent to New York. Because of DPA, that was doable. Many other American factories like Hanes, Fruit of the Loom and others are repurposing and helping with production. Some factories are experiencing problems with their governors who have enacted stay in shelter mandates and now aren’t allowing this production to occur. Ask Governors to please work with FEMA so this industrial mobilization can occur.
4. John Gibbs - HUD/Community Development - huge demand for CDBG block grants to aid states. Reviews of consolidated plans are being expedited where possible with waivers on a case by case process. Virtual hearings available.
hud.gov/Coronavirus more info. There is a homelessness tab on this site with suggestions in how to help with this escalating dilemma.
5. Deputy Director Homeland Security - Ken Cuccinelli - travel restrictions are in place but it doesn’t block those legal US citizens from returning back to the USA. The problem is limited access to airlines. We’ve gone from 60,000 daily international travelers down to 4,000 a day now. Those 4,000 are being sent to screening airports where they are met by qualified staff using CDC guidelines to screen properly before allowing back into the country. This process began on February 2 but has increased its scope as more travel has been restricted. Border agreements in place with Canada and Mexico with exclusions for medical and supply chain demands. He emphasized how important it is to keep the supply chain moving for food, medical supplies, infrastructure and the good of the people. He said we need to be careful of the secondary consequences when making decisions. Said balance is hard to find but imperative we do so. This site was recommended
cisa.gov/Coronavirus Can’t change the statutory deadlines for FEMA only congress can do that. Are trying to help with the burdensome process to make it better.
6. Bill Hughes - Department of Justice (Attorney General’s office) -beware of fraudulent claims versus phone calls, internet, gofundme accounts, price fixing or price gouging and hoarding. There’s a public information officer in each district to deal with these crimes. The hotline is 1-877-720-5721 to report these crimes. More info at
justice.gov and disasters@leo.gov They urge all levels of law enforcement to see these crimes brought to justice. State attorney generals, district attorneys, sheriffs and police all have a vital role in the success of catching these folks.
7. Ian Brownlee - Department of State - 200 consulates across the world establishing Visas but none are being issued now. 50,000 needing to get back. $15-20 million US citizens live outside the US. Congress is calling the State Department constantly to get out. With airlines not flying, the State Department is using all means to bring them home. People overseas should register with the State Department and let them know you are there, if you want to return. step.state.gov another site is travel.state.gov. The embassies are overwhelmed and state departments are assisting. Email is best way to reach them.
8. Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz with SAMHSA - 19 million people suffer from substance abuse in our country. Millions also suffer from issues dealing with mental health. These type issues heighten and increase exponentially in a crisis such as this. Laws have been lessened on HIPPA requirements for this reason so they can use telehealth for treatment and for group therapy. Go to
SAMHSA.gov/Coronavirus for more info on block grant info as well as needful coping strategies.
Sorry so long. So much was covered and I wrote their comments as quickly as I could but I could have made errors as they could have as well when speaking. Please practice personal responsibility for the well-being of us all.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China.