The u. S. Economy, among other items. Mr. President Vice President , dr. Fauci saying that the coronavirus is going to spread. Angela merkel saying as many of 70 of the germans could be affected. As head of the task force, what worries you personally the most . The American People can be confident that this president and our administration, leadership at every state in the country have no higher priority than the health and safety than the people of this nation. Its one of the reasons why President Trump took unprecedented action in, declared a Public Health emergency, established the White House Coronavirus task force, but also suspended all travel from china and then quarantined all americans that were coming back from china to essentially do everything we could to prevent the spread of the disease in the United States. Weve also issued travel advisories for portions of italy, portions of south korea and were now screening 100 of all passengers on all direct flights from all airports in italy or south korea into the United States. But the truth is, that the coronavirus is here and now we have more than 1,000 cases in this country. As dr. Fauci said, there will be many more in the days ahead. The good news is, most people that contract the coronavirus will have flulike symptoms ranging from mild to more serious flulike symptoms. President trump has made it clear to us that we are to focus on our efforts to mitigate the spread but also ensure that Senior Citizens with underlying, Serious Health conditions are provided with the kind of care and support that they need because thats the population, steve, that all of our experts say is most at risk of very serious consequences with the coronavirus. Were a year away from a vaccine. Whats the next 8 to 12 months going to look like . I think in the days ahead, youre going to see this president continue to take action. Again, to mitigate the spread in this country. Later today well be issuing specific guidance to portions of Washington State and california. Been working hand and glove with states all over the country but particularly those states and new york and florida where weve seen what the experts call a Community Spread. Well have specific guidelines regarding schools and workplaces and also Larger Community events. But, look, theres much more work to be done. But every american should know that they can make a difference in preventing themselves contracting the coronavirus or a member of their family, a loved one or their community by practicing Commonsense Health practices that are available right now at coronavirus. Gov. Earlier this week with all of our experts, we produced a series of recommendations for schools, workplace, families in the home and also commercial enterprises and people with go, can post those, practice those and it will make a real difference in preventing not only themselves from contracting the coronavirus but also the potential of spreading the coronavirus to their loved ones or other people in their community. As you know with wall street, again, a very bad day for the markets. And schools closing. What would you tell the americans . How should they prepare . Whats the worstcase scenario . The good news is, the fundamentals of this economy are very strong. While we see impacts on the stock market and we see communities that are dealing with a Community Spread of the coronavirus, we know that as wek through this, as we put the health of the American People first, that when we move through this coronavirus in the United States, that our economy is going to come back and come back very strongly. Because we more than 7 million jobs and weve seen Unemployment Rate at a 50year low. But, to your point, with regard to the Economic Impacts today, President Trump is developing, with congress and also through his own executive authority, actions that will make sure that hourly workers at medium and Small Businesses that may not have paid family leave, can stay home if they are quarantined. If they believe that theyre sick from the coronavirus. Or if they contract the coronavirus. Without risking losing their job. Were working on that right now. I expect, before the end of the week, well have action either with the congress or with with the president s action in the oval office to ensure that hourly workers in america who may suspect that that he have contract they have econtract theyve contracted the coronavirus can stay home and see to themselves or for a family member. But if you could complete this sentence, the economy in the u. S. For the next couple couple of months will look like what . I think well have Economic Impacts. Just as we have in other countries around the world. We are seeing it on the stock market today. And i think the American People should anticipate that, as states and communities and federal authorities make recommendations, that thatll thatll have an impact on commerce, steve. But i know that the American People want this president , our federal government, all of our state and local authorities, to put health first. Well put the health of the American People first. And as we as we work to prevent the spread, to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. As we work with industries around the country that are, as we speak, developing therapeutic medications that could be available in just a few months. And working toward a vaccine, that will likely be available in another year and a half. But well get through this. But the priority, today, is the health of the American People. Well see to the health of the people of this country and the health of the economy we know will come back. As you know, your friend, Governor Hogan of maryland, praising the decision by the president to appoint you as head of the task force. But hes been very krcritical o the president. Saying he is sending mixed messages. What do you tell the American People . What do you tell Governor Hogan . Steve, im about two weeks into leading the White House Coronavirus task force. And i couldnt be more proud of the decisive actions President Trump has taken. Forming this task force. The energy that hes put behind this effort, at the federal level. And, frankly, i think the seamless cooperation that you see happening between the federal government and states Like Washington and california and new york. I think is a real testament to the kind of determined leadership and demanding leadership that President Trump has brought to this. And the American People the American People deserve to know that no president before President Trump had ever suspended travel from a country into the United States in in facing a health challenge. But the president did that when he suspended all travel. From china, we quarantine all americans coming back. And you can anticipate that this president s going to continue to take decisive steps to do everything in our power to prevent the spread of this disease. To make sure the people that contract the disease have the support and resources to to deal with it. And but were really calling on every american to go to coronavirus. Gov and learn how every citizen in this country can make a difference. 6 in dealing with the coronavirus. But as you know, he did try to minimize it early on. Well, the president is a very optimistic leader. And we all remain confident that, together, we will we will work our way through the coronavirus. Well come alongside people that are impacted, communities that are impacted. And i think the reason why you saw Congress Move so swiftly is because this president wanted to make sure that not only did our federal agencies have the resources but state and local governments also had the resources. More than a billion dollars to support their efforts in dealing with the coronavirus. But make no mistake about it. We have a ways to go. And were going to continue to lean on the best healthcare experts in the country. Well continue to forge that Strong Partnership with state and local authorities that the president directed us to do. And well continue to put the health and wellbeing of america first. As you know, every administration can learn from a crisis. So from the first three months, what do you think you can take away . You talked about closing the borders. But what other lessons can we learn down the road if we face this in the future . And, likely, we will. Well, i think i i really do believe there will be time for lessons learned. But right now, were working the problem. And the president has told us what we want to do every single day is look at the facts. Listen to the experts. And bring proposals forward for the federal government and for state governments that are going to make a real difference in peoples lives. Let me say u, again, steve, tha the American People deserve to know that the the possibility or the threat of contracting the coronavirus, for the average american, remains low. And even for those that contract the virus, most will have flulike symptoms and recover. But its so important that people understand that for Senior Citizens, with chronic underlying conditions or for any citizen with an immune deficiency issue, the coronavirus represents a serious a Serious Health challenge to them. And so we want to make sure that those that are that have a Senior Citizen in the home with a Chronic Health condition, understand the importance of those best practices that are listed at coronavirus. Gov. We also, last week, raised all the standards at every nursing home in america for guidelines for preventing the spread of Infectious Disease. And now, all 8,000 of our federal inspectors are exclusively focusing on compliance with Infectious Disease control in our nursing homes. Were going to focus on the population that is most at risk of serious consequences. But the way we do that is by getting every american to do their part. To go to coronavirus. Gov. To learn what you can do in your workplace, in your home. Even if youre in a state that doesnt have a coronavirus case yet. Every american can make a difference. And and, together, we know that well well find our way through this. And well deal with this challenge just as weve dealt with every other challenge our nation has faced. And two quick points. As you know, senator sanders, Vice President biden, cancelling Campaign Rallies last night in cleveland. Are you concerned about appearing in these large venues . These large rallies . You, personally . Im not concerned. And but well well follow the facts every single day about what makes the most sense for the American People. But we are issuing, today, specific guidelines about large gatherings in Washington State, in the area of seattle thats been infected by Community Spread. The area of california thats been impacted. Well be offering similar recommendations for new york and florida. And were currently looking at the circumstances in massachusetts to offer best practices. But the American People can be confident that well continue to well continue to look at whats happening. Well continue to, as as, now, last week a million tests were in the field. 4 million tests will be in the field by the end of this week. All of our state labs in the country are doing testing. And our commercial labs are now spending up and distributing tests all over the nation. As we get a clearer picture of the scope of the coronavirus across the country, well continue to give guidance. And well continue to take that guidance with regard to large events and activities. And one personal question. You have been a congressman. Youve been a radio talk show host. You have been a governor. Whats been the biggest learning curb for mike pence to be Vice President . Well, for me, all of those things contributed, i hope, to my ability to serve the president as Vice President. But i will tell you that i believe the reason why the president tapped me to lead the White House Coronavirus task force was because i had been a governor. In fact, state of indiana actually was the location where the very first mers case in america emerged. A virus much more deadly than the coronavirus. And i saw, firsthand, the role that state governments, local Health Officials, even Law Enforcement and the supporting community makes in resolving that. Working in partnership with the federal government. And in asking me to do this, i think the president was saying that he, not only wanted people to know this was a priority that he wanted his Vice President working on every day, every hour, but also, i think he wanted to affirm the vital role that state and local governments and Health Officials are playing. And to to make it clear that were going to build on that partnership. Were going to invigorate that partnership. And thats why we say well get through this together. And put the health of america first. On what i know is a busy day, Vice President pence, we thank you for your time. Thank you, steve. We expect to hear more from Vice President mike pence and the rest of the White House Task force later this afternoon. There is a briefing scheduled now for 5 30 eastern. We plan to have it for you, live, here on cspan3. Right now, though, well take you to a Coronavirus Response hearing with acting deputy Homeland Security secretary ken cucinelli. We join it in progress. Senior official performing the duties of deputy secretary, that is that is not affected by the courts ruling. Court did not rule that i am inappropriately occupying my current position. It was the prior position. So thats your interpretation. No, sir, thats the ruling