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The White House coronavirus task force briefing is underway. President Donald Trump says "we are making tremendous strides against this invisible enemy,".
Trump says "we're opening up America again," says 20 states have announced plans and preparations to "safely restart" their economies. Says "they're going to be doing it safely," also with "tremendous passion,".
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is speaking now, thanking the senate for passing the latest round of coronavirus relief funding. Here are the details on that $480B aid package https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/21/politics/chuck-schumer-coronavirus-relief-small-business-cnntv/index.html
Mnuchin says the intent of previously allocated money is not for big public companies that have access to capital. Says he was glad Shake Shack gave $10M back. Trump jumps in says he's going to make Harvard give back $$.
Mnuchin says they're going to give companies the benefit of the doubt, and expect larger companies that have access to capital pay the money back. If not, he warns there will be consequences.
Mnuchin is asked about additional rounds of relief funding. He says this is expected to be the last tranche of funding for small businesses. Looks forward to businesses rebounding later this summer.
!! Immigration pause will last 60 days Trump says. Says will not apply to those on a temporary basis. Says it would be wrong and unjust for immigrants and labour from abroad to take jobs from U.S. citizens.
"It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced by new immigrant labour flown in from abroad," Trump said. Said must take care of the "American worker". Says it twice for emphasis.
Trump says the pause is for 60 days and will be re-evaluated "based on economic conditions," at the time. Trump says this only applies to individuals seeking a permanent residency, in other words, those seeking a green card. Not those seeking to enter temporarily.
Trump says they will examine additional measures to protect U.S. workers. "We want to protect our U.S. workers, and as we move forward, we will become more and more protective of them." Says it will also conserve medical supplies, and provide relief to jobless Americans.
Trump says ventilator production is way ahead of schedule, and that's why no one ever brings it up in the media anymore.
Trump is now speaking about his meeting with NY Governor Andrew Cuomo. Says the federal government has spared no expense or resource to get New Yorkers the care they need and deserve.
Trump says of the military ship docked in New York Harbour, he asked Governor Cuomo if he could bring the ship back, to prepare it for its "next mission,". Cuomo agreed Trump said.
Dr Deborah Birx is speaking now. She says deaths in cities will continue as they move past peaks, because deaths will lag. Says there needs to be support for front line workers, because they have been there for weeks and weeks and weeks.
The head of the FDA is asked about the study of the anti-malaria drug done in the U.S. that showed it didn't help treat coronavirus -- story on the study here https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/21/health/hydroxychloroquine-veterans-study/index.html
Head of the FDA says it is a small retrospective study, says it is something a doctor would need to consider in writing a prescription. Says what FDA is going to require is data from clinical trials to make a decision around safety.
The president has widely promoted this drug.
The president has widely promoted this drug.
Trump says the Executive Order is being drawn up now, says it will be signed sometime tomorrow. Trump says there will be "certain exemptions," likely to be signed tomorrow. Says "we have to have it,".
Trump is asked about the status of Kim Jong Un. Says "these are reports that came out," adding "we don't know." Trump says he knows the North Korean dictator well, says "I wish him well,". Says they've had a good relationship.
"I wish him good luck," says no one has confirmed the reports about his health. Says CNN came out with the report and doesn't put much credence on it.
Trump says "it's a strong order," of his immigration executive order that he plans to sign tomorrow.
Trump is asked, under what conditions would he consider lifting the immigration pause, or was this an opportunity to address an issue he's seen for a long time? Trump says the last thing they want to do is take American workers jobs.
Trump says, "right now we have to have jobs for Americans,". He's asked what conditions he would want to see before lifting order? Trump says he hopes they are in a position to have that debate.
Question now for Dr. Birx about comments made by the head of the CDC who warned Coronavirus could be worse this winter (story here) https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/21/coronavirus-secondwave-cdcdirector/?hpid=hp_rhp-banner-main_cdc-warning-435pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans
Dr. Birx says there needs to be a comprehensive and refreshed stockpile of emergency equipment, and ventilators heading into the fall. Says she doesn't know if it will be worse, says this has been pretty bad.
Dr. Birx says she believes there will be early warning signals because of tracking.
Trump is asked about the Governors of Georgia and South Carolina and reopen orders. Says if they do come back, they'll be able to put out the fires. Claims they've become very good at this. Will speak with Georgia Governor in a 'little while,' he says.
"It's going to be gone at some point -- it's going to be gone gone," Trump says.
Trump is asked about if there is a second executive order on immigration. Says there is only one to be signed tomorrow, but they could look at a secondary order at another time.
Trump is asked about how he campaigned on reducing immigration and his critics are using the pandemic to reduce immigration. Trump says "no, no," says he doesn't want Americans to compete for jobs.
Trump says "I don't want them to compete right now," of American workers searching for jobs.
Trump says this immigration executive order will not have an impact on farmers.
Trump is asked about CDC director saying protests are not helpful. Trump says he's watched the protests, not in great detail he admits, but claims they are doing social distancing. (This is not the case -- tonight on The National, Paul Hunter went to one of these protests).
If you want to see an example of those protestors not following the social distancing rules, watch @CBCTheNational this evening. My colleague Paul Hunter covered an event in Pennsylvania.
"You can't break the country, at some point you have to go back," Trump says of restarting the economy. Says the governors, "I want them to do it," says if they see something they don't like they'll "stop it very quickly,".
"People, they need money, they need help," Trump says. Adds you can't break the country over this.
Dr. Birx is asked to weigh in about the reopening of hair salons, tattoo parlours, and nail salons in Georgia. Dr. Birx says it's important that Governors and Mayors share critical information to their communities.
Dr. Birx says "it will have to be on a community by community opening," says in Georgia there are different positions. Says people in Atlanta would understand if cases are not going down, social distancing, hand washing, mask wearing, would have to continue.
Dr. Birx says she's not going to pre-judge, but they have to follow physical distancing. Says in some cases she doesn't know how, but again she won't pre-judge.
Dr. Birx says Governors and Mayors need to make sure they're sharing information with residents on why they are making the decisions they are making.
Trump is asked about if there were talks with NY Governor about whether aid should be tied to infection rates? Trump says they talked about it, and they agreed on it.
Trump says they spend so much money on other countries and "they don't appreciate it,". Trump says it's time to spend money on this country.
Trump is asked about the failure to rollout widespread testing, and how VP Pence said there would be 4-million tests back in March. Still not at that point. Trump jumps in "we have done very well," says "we've tested more than every country in the world even put together."
Trump is asked about his own properties, and the furloughing of workers. Says people are supposed to stay home, not sure he agrees with ban on golfing in Florida. Says his children run the businesses, loves his children and wishes them well.
Trump says you can't have hundreds of employees standing around doing anything, you can't have a customer. Says "you have to do what you have to do," says he feels bad, but it's a state policy he says.
Trump is asked again about Kim Jong Un, says he would like to see him well. Trump says it's not his purpose to discuss a line of succession. Says again, "I hope he does well,".
Dr Birx is asked again about social distancing in Georgia, does she have a message for people who will have a choice about going to hair salons, tattoo parlours - what's her message? Dr. Birx says social distancing is absolutely key in phase one of reopening.
Dr. Birx says she's not going to second judge anyone on their decision making. Says the White House was clear in laying out what they want to see in making decisions to open up.
Trump says -- I don't wanna do that, you don't wanna do that, nobody in this room wants to do that -- about reopening and shutting down again.
Trump says American people want to make sure there are jobs for American people. They don't want people coming in illegally. (Trump's executive order, he says, will put a 60 day pause on people trying to obtain green cards).
And that wraps up the coronavirus task force briefing.
