National security adviser Robert O’Brien urged Americans not to panic over the outbreak of coronavirus in China.
Coronavirus, a SARs-like illness, surfaced recently in Wuhan, China, and has caused global concern as travelers from the region carry the infection to new countries. At least eight cases of the virus have been confirmed in the United States, and China has placed the entire city of Wuhan under quarantine. While China’s move may calm some nerves, many have doubted the transparency shown by the country as to the severity of the outbreak.
During a Sunday interview on Face the Nation, O’Brien acknowledged that China has been more transparent than it had been during previous crises. He explained that the U.S. is hoping to send members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the country to help with the outbreak and provide additional transparency on the ground in Wuhan.
“So far, the Chinese have been more transparent, certainly, than in past crises. And we appreciate that, and we’re continuing to offer assistance to the Chinese,” O’Brien explained. “We offered to send over CDC and other U.S. medical and public health professionals. We haven’t heard back yet from the Chinese on the offers, but we’re prepared to continue to cooperate with them.”
He later added, “Right now, there’s no reason for Americans to panic. This is something that is a low risk, we think, in the U.S. But President Trump, from the day he took office, made protecting Americans and keeping them safe — whether it’s from terrorists or criminal organizations or from new viruses like the novel coronavirus — it is a top priority. We’re taking steps to keep America safe.”
There has been evidence that China tried to cover up the outbreak, which worsened the spread of the illness. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican, called on China to face “serious consequences” for its handling of the virus.
