Covid 19 Task Force Update April 3

White House
Covid-19 Task Force

WHAT WE LEARNED TODAY

New Guidance: Face Masks

“You can do it – you don’t have to do it. I’m choosing not to do it.”

Pres. Trump on new guidance for Americans to wear cloth (NOT medical grade) masks. The Surgeon General said new evidence shows a “significant portion” of people with the new coronavirus may have no symptoms but can still spread the virus. The CDC updated its recommendation Friday “advising “wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies).”

“This virus has a great weakness. It can’t jump from one person to another if it has to swim more than 6 feet.”

CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield explained wearing “a face barrier can interrupt the number of virus particles that go from one person to another.” However, he said social distancing remains a priority: “We have a power tool – a powerful weapon, that is social distancing.”

“When we get through this we can go back and look at what happened, where… When you’re in the middle of it, you have to concentrate on serving the needs of each American.”

Dr. Deboah Birx addressing critics. She emphasized the need for an effective test to indicate who has been exposed to the new coronavirus, and who hasn’t. Dr. Birx noted there are 150+ countries working collectively to fight COVID-19 and it’s “devastating” for all.

“Now we’ll make sure that any American, even those that have no insurance, will be able to receive treatment in a hospital and never have to worry about the bill.”

VP Mike Pence. HHS Secretary Alex Azar added providers who care for the uninsured will be compensated at the medicare reimbursement rates and cannot bill the uninsured for COVID-19 treatment. He also reiterated that those now unemployed (losing employer healthcare) may apply for health insurance via ACA health exchanges.

View the new recommendations by the CDC on our source page.