Vice President Mike Pence said that there will suffice capacity for COVID-19 screening which would lead the way for the very first phase of the resuming of the U.S. economy. Pence’s insistence follows criticism from Democrats and medical specialists that the White House has been left desiring in implementing adequate tests for the virus.
But in an interview on Friday, Pence, who heads the White Home coronavirus task force, said that there sufficed tests to enable states to follow the first stage of federal standards.
Launched by the White Home today, those standards describe a suite of conditions required before limitations can be relieved, which include a reported reduction of COVID-19 cases over 14 days and a robust screening program for at-risk health employees.
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” We believe today that we have the capability in the United States to do an enough amount of screening for states to move into stage one in a time and manner that they deem to be appropriate,” Pence informed reporters. “Our best scientists and health experts evaluate that today we have an adequate amount of testing to meet the requirements of a phase one reopening if state governors must pick to do that.”
In phase one, “susceptible people” would still have to shelter in place and there would likewise be a ban on groups of more than 10 people unless they can socially distance. Bars and schools would stay closed and all non-essential travel would also be off limits.
On Friday, Newsweek reported that Democratic lawmakers had actually been left angered by a conference call with the White Home for what they said was an absence of clearness over the administration’s plans to increase screening.
A source informed Newsweek that throughout the call, Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine who caucuses with the Democrats, called the administration’s bid to carry out a nationwide testing regime as a “dereliction of responsibility.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergic Reaction and Contagious Illness, backed Pence’s assertion that screening capability would be sufficient.
With the White Home confessing that there have been problems in getting sufficient swabs, Brett Giroir, an assistant secretary of Health and Human Solutions, said 5 million more swabs would be protected by the end of April, and more in May.
Giroir stated at least 4.5 million tests per month were required in phase one of the resuming, which it is currently on track for, The Hill reported.
