Today, we had a series of meeting at the white house and on capitol hill. We met with executives of the airline industry, executives of commercial labs, executives of Nursing Homes. And our team also met with the republican and democrat caucuses in the house of representatives. And we were pleased to learn that just shortly ago the house of representatives passed a federal funding bill by virtually unanimous margin. It will now move to the senate. The legislation implements the president s vision to ensure that not only do our federal agencies have the support and resources that they need, but also that our state and local partners have their support. And my conversations with governors all the way through this afternoon, i know theyre grateful for the bipartisan spirit that has characterized this funding bill. And well continue to work through that process. As President Trump said, were all in this together. And we deployed a whole of government approach. But thanks to the president s leadership, it has developed into a whole of america approach. And the meetings today with Industry Leaders is a reflection of that. As dr. Burks will indicate in just a few moments with some of the data that were evaluating from around the world, it does appear that the elderly are the most vulnerable, and especially those with Serious Health issues. At the president s direction as a result, the center for Medicare Services has issued new guidelines for Nursing Homes nationwide. We have raised the bar regarding Infectious Disease control in our Nursing Homes. And in addition, administrator very ma will explain how we are going to focus all of our inspection resources for the foreseeable future on compliance with Infection Control standards. Generally, we monitor our Nursing Homes for abuse and neglect, but at the president s direction were going to focus exclusively on ensuring that those in Nursing Homes, people operating Nursing Homes like many of the ceos we met with today are complying with the standards to keep our elderly safe. The president also met with airline executives. Ill reiterate our profound gratitude to our partners in the airline industry. They have worked with us as we say flowing americans through particular airports, the screening. Were working very closely with the airlines on Contact Information. If a person is tested as positive for the coronavirus, were work being the airlines to get all the information, not just about that person but about who they sat next to and who else was on the flight. And the president and i are very grateful. As we announced yesterday im pleased to report that as of yesterday morning in addition to the travel ban from china, weve suspended all travel coming in from china. Weve suspended all travel coming in from iran and even foreign nationals who visit either one of those countries are barred from coming into this country for 14 days. We also established a travel advisory for italy, portions of italy and portions of south korea over the weekend. But even as importantly, as of yesterday morning, we fully implemented a screening process, all direct flights from all airports in south korea and italy are now being subject to multiple screens. State department worked to bring that about and were grateful for the cooperation, the governments of italy, governments of south korea, as well as Airline Partners in making that a reality. Finally with regard to testing, we had a meeting today that gave us a great hope for great progress in the near future on expanding testing across the country. We have a ways to go yet, and im pleased to report as weve been able to convey to state governments, governors around the country, is that thanks to the good work of the fda and dr. Steve han whos with me here today, now all state laboratories, all University Laboratories at the state level, can conduct coronavirus tests without any additional assets or resources from the federal government. They have the fda approved tests. They can conduct the test all across the country in all the states. Beyond that, as we announced through the efforts of hhs, 2,500 kits of tests are going out this week. 2,500 kits including tests is going out this week. Thats roughly 1. 5 million. A test that will be available this week will continue to build on that number. But perhaps most significantly, thanks to dr. Burkes efforts and leadership, we brought together today at the white house the leaders of all of the largest commercial laboratories in this country, Companies Like quest that have vast capabilities, logistics, and testing capabilities. And we were pleased to report today that they have create Aid Consortium to share information and to share resources and literally have told us that as they go through what is called the validation process on testing that by next week individual companies will be able to do, as they said to me, thousands of tests of coronavirus if they are needed and required and many, many multiples more of that in the not distant future. Our objective here is dr. Burkes raised with the task force is weve got hospitals in the infected areas and those requested with kids. Weve got universities and state labs that now can perform tests on an objective basis. Or objective is to have tests made through the commercial laboratories and commercial providers that your local doctor, your cvs, your med check is able to have a coronavirus test. And that isnt there yet. Were working to make that a reality. But again its one more example its not just a whole of government approach. Its a whole of america approach. Whether it be the nursing home industry, whether it be the airline industry, whether it be our commercial laboratories, i can speak on behalf of President Trump and our entire task force when i say we are profoundly grateful for the spirit thats being reflected by companies all across the United States of america, grateful for the leadership at the state level. And the American People should be confident that that spirit of partnership is going to continue to drive this at every level as we work our way through deal being the coronavirus in the United States. With that, im going to recognize dr. Debra burks for her comments. Thank you, mr. Vice president. Good evening. Over the last 12 hours weve been able to receive information both from south korea and italy adding to our china information. Its as we thought, the elderly and preexisting conditions have a more serious illness when confronted with the coronavirus. Reassuringly, in south korea, no one has died under 30. This is reassuring to us and the median age in italy was 81 of those who succumbed. Those who became ill, the median age was 60. So, we find this data reassuring, but it also has really caused us to focus on the americans who might be most as a ruler ablvulnerable. So, were focusing attention and capacity to those with preexisting conditions and those who are elderly. The prevention options flow right through all of us to ensure that we have good protective hygiene for our elderly clients around the globe. Thank you. Thank you. Sima. Thank you. As you heard, because of the risk for our nations seniors, we are doubling down on our efforts. Today we put out three memos. One was to hospitals about triaging and placement for patients with suspected or confirmed coronavirus. We also put out information to Nursing Homes about limiting visitors to Nursing Homes, monitoring staff. And then finally we put out information to our state survey sors that are going to be surveying our nations Nursing Homes and hospitals around Infection Control. So, all of that information went out this morning. Very good. Thank you, sima. Cdc, bob redfield. Thank you, mr. Vice president. I think what i would like to highlight today is first echo what the Vice President started with when he was giving the American People the advice that he did as he went through that we do have listed out on our cdc website, cdc. Gov. It really is very important. Its very pragmatic about washing your hands 20 seconds with soap and water or using the other disinfectants. Obviously training yourself to cover your sneeze or cough either in your elbow or with a kleenex that you will dispose of. These are very important things. Working hard not to touch your face. I think the most important thing for many of those individuals that might be a little type a, if you get sick, stay home. Youre not helping your colleagues by going to work sick. And again, i think these are just very pragmatic. Weve listed them. Theyre absolutely no different than what weve asked the American Public do for flu. The second thing i would like to do is continue to get the help from you to get those messages out. The one thats the most important that the Vice President also talked about is the role of masks. We need these n95 masks for the Health Care Workers that are taking care of these patients. We do not recommend them to be used by the general public. And again, you all, as you tell the stories, are able to be great communicators of that so that the American Public gets Accurate Information and gets good guidance from your experts that youll reach out to for your stories. So, thats what i would ask you to do. And ill reiterate what the Vice President said at the beginning that although were continuing to see new Community Cases in this nation, the overall risk to the American Public at this time still remains low. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you mr. Vice president. Just to reiterate what was said by several colleagues here is that we make policy recommendations and analysis of what were going to recommend based on accumulation of data. Data is very important. What dr. Burks just told you is data that underscores some of the things weve been telling you. When you talk about risk, risk is something thats vague to people. And we said many times if you talk about risk of infection throughout the country, its a low risk. If you talk about someone who is infected and we do have infected people in this country. Youve heard that from dr. Red field. You understand the situation that we have in seattle. If you do get infected, if youre taking as taking seattle as the microcosm of that, it is exactly what dr. Burks said. The risk of getting into difficulties is very heavily weighted towards people with underlying conditions and people like the elderly. The young people and there will be an exception here and there the same way with influenza but the risk for a young person who gets infected getting into trouble is low based on data coming out of foreign countries, particularly out of china. Thank you. Dr. Carson. I want to thank the Vice President and the president for a very aggressive and careful leadership. Now, i was involved throughout my neurosurgical clear with a lot of very, very complex cases and dealt way t ith a lot of red physicians. But i must say the people on this task force are extremely impressive, have been considering all the various different possibilities outlining scenarios for all the possibilities that can occur. And its very comforting and recognize that the risk to a healthy adult still remains quite low largely because of the aggressive actions that have been taken and are continuing to be taken every day. And just one last point, and that is the pharmaceuticals who normally are rivals have worked together voluntarily. Wouldnt that be a great lesson for the politicians . Quick informational announcement. Ill be traveling with many members of the task force to minnesota. Tomorrow well be visiting 3m which is poised to literally begin manufacturing millions more masks for Health Care Workers. And then well traveling on to Washington State, meeting with governor ensley and his health team to ensure that the full resources of the federal government are being brought to bear in support of their efforts to protect the health of people across the seattle area. So, with that, let me start right here. Thank you Vice President pence. I have two questions, one about washington and then one about florida. Ill start with washington. Can you tell us a little bit more about how that meeting came to be . Will secretary azar be with you . Is that a meeting that the governor asked you to come there . Can you explain . The ive spoken to governor ensley who you know well from our time in congress together several times since being tapped to lead the white house effort on the coronavirus a week ago. Hes been providing strong leadership for the state of washington. They have an Outstanding Health department. But after meeting with members of the senate and the house, particularly those from the Washington State delegation, we thought it would be important to bring our team out to meet with their team on the ground, and to make sure that they have the full support. Our hearts go out to those that have been infected with the disease in the seattle area. But also we understand the anxiety this is creating in the full community and were going to be going out just to make sure and sitting down with the governor and with his team that they have everything they need and all the support they need. And on florida, you will have a meeting on saturday, is that correct, with the cruise liners . Which companies are coming to that meeting . Whats the goal of meeting . Is there something you would like to see them do differently that ner not doing now . Well talk about just that. Obviously with the diamond princess issue, there are unique challenges that our experts tell us in a closed environment of a cruise liner. But were going to talk about best practices. And i thought it was time to spend time with people in that industry as were meeting with others in industries around the country. Okay. Back there, please. Two quick questions. The first one, ive been looking online at Hand Sanitizer and soap. There are some sites like amazon where these prices have just skyrocketed. Whats your advice to americans who are just trying to buy the soap and water and the Hand Sanitizer that youre telling them to buy but cant afford it at this time. Thats great. Im going to ask cdc to respond to that because theyve got clear guidance. Thank you, mr. Vice president. I want to make it really clear, i dont think soap and water, vigorously washing your hands for 20 seconds is what the American Public needs to do. If they want to use the Hand Sanitizers, thats another option. But i dont want people to think its inferior to what weve recommended for decades which is vigorous washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Another one, go ahead. You were talking about working on getting testing so that the doctors is other places will be able to have it. How far along are you in that goal . And what should americans expect how soon should americans expect to be able to go to their Doctors Office and get tested. Just so you know theres three levels here. Number one is that we do have about 1. 5 million test kits going out as we speak to hospitals, particularly hospitals in areas that have seen coronavirus cases. In addition to that, thanks to the good work of the fda and the change President Trump authorized this weekend, now every state health lab and University Lab can conduct a coronavirus test. And that expands the capacity. But ultimately as dr. Burks will explain, our objective is in addition to those tests being available, we want to get to a place where any american who has a concern is able to go to their doctor, is able to go to a Medical Clinic and know that theres a coronavirus available. We think we can get there in a matter of weeks and in partnership with the commercial labs, were challenging them to do just that. Dr. Berkes. Thank you, mr. President just briefly because i think you were interested also in cost. And i think what weve heard from cms and from hhs that this will be an essential lab test, so fully reimbursable. What we talked about with the commercial laboratories is exactly your question. And we asked them and theyre in validation this week. Some of them thought they would have tests available on friday and the rest. I have asked them to prioritize the areas where we have had these clusters so that people can be reassured in those areas where there is, where we have identified virus circulating. In those cases, they will have it available at Doctors Office and all of our pediatric offices that would need it and they will transport it through a Logistics Network to make sure they can be run. With regard to the cost, i will be very clear, hhs has designated the coronavirus test as an essential health benefit. That means, by definition, it is covered in the private Health Insurance of every american, as well as covered by medicare and medicaid. The we are working with members of congress and we will be monitoring the cause very carefully. Please. Are you considering more and imposing more restric