Dr. Francis Collins, head of NIH and member of coronavirus task force, tells @NPR the group haven't met the president "in quite some time." The president instead hears from two members who are not experts in infectious diseases: VP Pence and Dr. Scott Atlas. The quote follows.

"I think the president primarily is getting his information from the vice president, from Dr. Atlas. Obviously it's a bit of a chaotic time with the election...There's not a direct connection between the task force members and the president as there was a few months ago." @NPR

"This seems to be a different time with different priorities,” adds Dr. Collins on @MorningEdition. His National Institutes of Health is overseeing the testing of possible vaccines. Says four vaccines are in advanced testing; there is hope one will advance by the end of the year.

Dr. Collins urges people to listen to public health officials. Says the recent surge in cases is "sadly somewhat predictable. People are talking about, Is this the second wave? We never got over the first wave... we never really drove the cases down to the baseline." @NPR

Collins: "We have not succeeded in this country in introducing really effective public health measures, those simple things that we all could be doing. Wear your mask, keep that six foot distance and don't congregate indoors, whatever you do, and wash your hands. It's so simple."

Dr. Collins adds that his family has decided to call off their traditional Thanksgiving. Here's the full interview. @MorningEdition @NPR https://www.npr.org/2020/10/20/925678169/covid-19-vaccine-development-is-going-at-breathtaking-speed-nih-chief-says