Mike Pence, the US vice president, has authorized state health officials to close schools if necessary to contain the coronavirus, as the Trump administration responds to fears of the spread of the epidemic across America, especially on the west coast.
“I think the president would respect any decisions that would be made at the state and local level,” said Pence, who was responsible for Washington’s response to the coronavirus last week, in an interview with NBC Sunday.
“But except in areas where there are individuals who have been infected with the coronavirus, people should understand that for the average American, the risk remains low.”
Pence’s comments came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump approved new travel restrictions linked to countries where the disease has spread rapidly. This included an entry ban for any foreign national who has recently visited Iran and a request to American citizens not to visit the regions of Italy and South Korea that have been badly affected by the coronavirus.
Widespread measures to close schools in the United States are believed to follow school closings introduced in Japan, as well as parts of Italy, in addition to parts of China that were the first affected by the virus. .
According to US health officials, some 70 people have contracted a coronavirus in the country, of which 47 have been brought to America for treatment from China and the cruise ship Diamond Princess. A new case of coronavirus was recorded in Chicago, Illinois this weekend, but the main centers of the disease in the United States are currently located in northern California and in Washington state.
It was in King County, which includes Seattle, that the first American patient, a man in his 50s, died of the disease on Friday, which has raised concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in the region, including at a local nursing home.
“Right now, a big investigation is going on in the nursing home, the hospital, looking for contacts to try to determine where this disease was introduced and how it may have spread,” said Alex Azar, the US Secretary of Health on Fox News.
“We have been very clear from the start, we will have more cases here in the United States despite the President’s aggressive efforts to contain. We will see more cases. We will see some forms of community spread, ”said Azar.
US health officials have stepped up testing in many states to gain a more accurate picture of the extent of the spread of the coronavirus, and have spurred government purchases of masks and respirators to supply hospitals and doctors with it. first line of the answer.
Trump and his administration have attempted to repel criticism from health experts and Democratic lawmakers that they downplayed the crisis for political reasons, especially after the U.S. president has repeatedly called the disease “ hoax ” perpetrated by his political opponents to hurt him. He then said he was referring to the Democrats’ criticism of his response, not the disease itself.
“Now is the time for honest leadership that respects science, relies on serious experts and produces real results,” Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren said on Saturday evening. and candidate for the Democratic nomination 2020. “This is both a public health crisis and a potential economic crisis, not only here in the United States, but around the world,” he said. she declared.
Mike Bloomberg, the former New York mayor and media owner running for the Democratic presidential nomination, was scheduled to air a new television ad Sunday night posing as a more responsible manager for the coronavirus response.
“At times like this, it is incumbent on the President to reassure the public that he is taking all necessary steps to protect the health and well-being of every citizen,” said Bloomberg, according to an overview of the ‘ad. “The public wants to know that its leader is trained, informed and respected.”
Mike Pence, the US vice president, has authorized state health officials to close schools if necessary to contain the coronavirus, as the Trump administration responds to fears of the spread of the epidemic across America, especially on the west coast.
“I think the president would respect any decisions that would be made at the state and local level,” said Pence, who was responsible for Washington’s response to the coronavirus last week, in an interview with NBC Sunday.
“But except in areas where there are individuals who have been infected with the coronavirus, people should understand that for the average American, the risk remains low.”
Pence’s comments came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump approved new travel restrictions linked to countries where the disease has spread rapidly. This included an entry ban for any foreign national who has recently visited Iran and a request to American citizens not to visit the regions of Italy and South Korea that have been badly affected by the coronavirus.
Widespread measures to close schools in the United States are believed to follow school closings introduced in Japan, as well as parts of Italy, in addition to parts of China that were the first affected by the virus. .
According to US health officials, some 70 people have contracted a coronavirus in the country, of which 47 have been brought to America for treatment from China and the cruise ship Diamond Princess. A new case of coronavirus was recorded in Chicago, Illinois this weekend, but the main centers of the disease in the United States are currently located in northern California and in Washington state.
It was in King County, which includes Seattle, that the first American patient, a man in his 50s, died of the disease on Friday, which has raised concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in the region, including at a local nursing home.
“Right now, a big investigation is going on in the nursing home, the hospital, looking for contacts to try to determine where this disease was introduced and how it may have spread,” said Alex Azar, the US Secretary of Health on Fox News.
“We have been very clear from the start, we will have more cases here in the United States despite the President’s aggressive efforts to contain. We will see more cases. We will see some forms of community spread, ”said Azar.
US health officials have stepped up testing in many states to gain a more accurate picture of the extent of the spread of the coronavirus, and have spurred government purchases of masks and respirators to supply hospitals and doctors with it. first line of the answer.
Trump and his administration have attempted to repel criticism from health experts and Democratic lawmakers that they downplayed the crisis for political reasons, especially after the U.S. president has repeatedly called the disease “ hoax ” perpetrated by his political opponents to hurt him. He then said he was referring to the Democrats’ criticism of his response, not the disease itself.
“Now is the time for honest leadership that respects science, relies on serious experts and produces real results,” Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren said on Saturday evening. and candidate for the Democratic nomination 2020. “This is both a public health crisis and a potential economic crisis, not only here in the United States, but around the world,” he said. she declared.
Mike Bloomberg, the former New York mayor and media owner running for the Democratic presidential nomination, was scheduled to air a new television ad Sunday night posing as a more responsible manager for the coronavirus response.
“At times like this, it is incumbent on the President to reassure the public that he is taking all necessary steps to protect the health and well-being of every citizen,” said Bloomberg, according to an overview of the ‘ad. “The public wants to know that its leader is trained, informed and respected.”
