In a total reversal,
Grand Moff Trump will apparently back off on ordering(sic) a national May 1 “reopening date”. He will also punt “shot-calling” to the states, continuing his inability to fully implement the DPA.
Live Blog below
6:00* PM EDT (* it almost never starts on time)
The White House (Briefing Room, rats optional)
"The regional governors now have direct control over their territories...”
Which reporter will ask him why the border of China is at Chinatown.
- He thinks Chinatown is in China;
- He thinks we have a land border with China;
- He thinks Chinatown in whatever city is part of China within the United States
“Like the monomaniacal ship’s master in Moby Dick, Trump’s obsession fuels his actions.”
Thursday, Apr 16, 2020 · 10:08:48 PM +00:00 · annieli
It begins, 604pm
Trump reads from prepared text, having trouble with religious sounding section.
References truck drivers (he had a photo-op earlier)
More congratulations about lower death projection
30% of country report no new cases*
“No one has been denied a ventilator” is not identical to ventilator shortages, similar to “anyone who wants a test can have one”
Now on to contrasting the economic need, still suggesting higher death toll with economic shutdown
Thanks Birx and Fauci. Birx will present the details, seems to be author, and Trump did his usual edit to add malarkey
Trump now goes to campaign riffs does MAGA reference
“now that we have hit the peak in new cases”* (really?)
More Trump rhetoric “weapons”, reverses himself on ordering states, leaves it to them
Therapies and Testing, (more than South Korea*)
Throws to Pence
Thursday, Apr 16, 2020 · 10:30:42 PM +00:00 · annieli
Pence continues boilerplate congratulating IMPOTUS
674k cases, 33k deaths
“we’ve saved lives”
shows national charts (March to April) that map flu-like progression for new cases which distorts actual existing cases by states
New guides
throws to Birx
Thursday, Apr 16, 2020 · 10:42:02 PM +00:00 · annieli
Birx: on Guidelines includes “gating criteria”
Gatekeeping criteria “influenza-like illnesses” (ILI) includes COVID-19
Tests and persistence of testing
example for Metairie, LA done by CDC
example % of visits for ILI
sentinel surveillance sites include nursing homes, etc.
three phases
phase on smaller groups and specific restrictions e.g. elective surgeries can happen as outpatient procedures
in phase two larger groups (50) and some travel can occur
Thursday, Apr 16, 2020 · 10:46:42 PM +00:00 · annieli
Fauci tries to smooth the transitions, ensuring safety
hurdles to “gating in” because of unevenness of country
gating criteria applies to each phase.
Questions: sports arenas?
Fauci -- attention to rebounds and setbacks
now Trump at podium
Q: Idaho, Wyoming?
Trump goes to happy talk, implies eradication*
Trump — made for TV sports with no fans…. “when the virus is gone”
Q: 30 day guidance still in place?
Trump punts, depends on governors
Q: can some states open literally tomorrow?
Trump yes in states that have met criteria
Q: message to MI protesters
Trump: Trump blah-blah “I think they listen to me” “why would they wear masks in Wyoming?”
Q: Congressional group small business reached limit $
Trump spins — “exhausted funds is a good thing”
Q: specific states?
Trump— “I’d rather not” and “some states got too much credit”
Q: new normal?
Trump opines on restaurant seating limits Trump states stupid example parking lot 2,000 miles away
Trump yammers on about ventilators
Q: 29 states? (Baker NYTimes)
Trump filibusters “obviously not NY and NJ” “up to the governors” “a beautiful puzzle”“mosaic” blah-blah dead friends “This is a tough deal”
Q: follow-up Fauci/Birx re: surveillance
Birx: “early alerts” contact tracing esp. for asymptomatic screening
Fauci: what is the penetrance (sic) of the virus still needed to determine vulnerability
test for diagnosis, test for antibodies
Trump decides to opine on hotspots “we’ll be able to whack it” still mentions 1917 instead of 1918
Redfield from CDC: tries to smooth over the delay period glitches
Trump now talks about places with underpopulated areas
Q: clear scientific testing capacity vs. necessity
Trump bafflegab … now self-congratulation Javits/Hospital ship
Trump: “This is not campaigning” now diverts to FEMA and tornadoes
“I want to heal this country” “The invisible enemy is more difficult”
blah-blah G-7 countries implies his WHO whining
we’re now into campaign speech territory whining about infrastructure and zero interest rate
Q: (religious) milestones like Pentacost? wanting to talk about dates for end
Trump bafflegab
Q: modeling in case there’s a return back of COIVID new phase addition
Trump brings up Civil War casualties goes into corporate hype…
Q: Washington and California
That’s up to them swab versus q-tip? say what? then digresses yet again about ventilators, compares them to cars again (because it’s about price to him)
Q: estimates of tests in phases?
Birx answers to the technical problem @$100 a test it makes more sense to hire a technician (more interesting is that it ultimately still is about labor)
Trump now butts in, saying that the difference in tests accounts for differences in using labs (no one can spit to do an antibody test)
Trump: “We’re opening up our great country again” blah-blah “I want to thank doctor doctor” (Hahn)
Trump flees