President Trump announced the formation of a coronavirus task force, which the White House said has met daily since the start of the week.
Coordinated through the National Security Council, the group is led by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and includes national security adviser Robert O’Brien, Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, Department of Homeland Security acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli, and Domestic Policy Council Director Joseph Grogan.
Azar worked under President George W. Bush during the SARS crisis and anthrax attack, while Anthony Fauci, a National Institute of Health director specializing in infectious disease, also involved in the response, has managed federal health crisis responses since the 1980s. Infectious disease experts are advising the group.
In a meeting led by the president Wednesday, Trump tweeted photos and praised the response by government agencies. “We have the best experts anywhere in the world, and they are on top of it 24/7!”
Just received a briefing on the Coronavirus in China from all of our GREAT agencies, who are also working closely with China. We will continue to monitor the ongoing developments. We have the best experts anywhere in the world, and they are on top of it 24/7! pic.twitter.com/rrtF1Stk78
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2020
Trump has otherwise said little on the growing health crisis, instead focusing his attention publicly on the White House’s Middle East peace plan and North American trade deal with Mexico and Canada.
Global health experts said they planned to declare Thursday whether to announce a public health emergency as cases of coronavirus multiply. Five confirmed cases are in the United States.
