Well, thank you, Mr President, and good afternoon.

With more than 2900 cases of Corona virus in 49 states across the country, I want to assure the American people that this administration, all of our partners at the state level and local health officials have no higher priority than the health and safety of the American public.

At the president's direction, we will continue not only a whole of government approach, but as well.

Discuss today will continue to build on the whole of America approach to confront the Corona virus across country.

The health experts continue to confirm to us that based on the latest information for the American people as a whole, the risk of serious illness remains low.

But because the risk is heavily weighted to the most vulnerable two people with immuno deficiencies and two people who are elderly with serious underlying chronic health conditions, our administration and I know ST administrations will continue to focus on the most vulnerable.

And we will continue to urge every American to be vigilant in practicing good hygiene, taking the advice of the CDC and local health experts to keep those most vulnerable, safe uh, I know I speak on behalf of the president, our entire team, when I say how grateful we are for governors all across the country and the seamless partnership that we have forged with them and with state health officials with our federal team.

I spoke today to Governor Pritzker of Illinois, and we are in continuous communication with governors, a phone call away.

They know that they can contact us an address, even the smallest need, because as a former governor, I know firsthand that when it comes to health challenges in America are states are on the ground in the lead, our local health organizations and we've built a great partnership.

We also want express great appreciation to the American people.

Not surprisingly, it is inspiring to see the way tens of millions of Americans are responding with compassion with common sense.

And we want to express particular gratitude to communities of faith that participated in today's National Day of Prayer.

We've seen places of worship, implementing policies to keep those most vulnerable safe, and also we're seeing communities of faith already stepping forward to support and to encourage those most vulnerable, I heard tell of of Ah, church back in Indiana.

That's actually no longer having service's till April 10th.

But in the meantime, they'll be offering daycare to the Children of health care workers in central Indiana.

And churches all across the country are taking the opportunity to reach out and put feet on their faith.

And it's it's truly inspiring.

As president mention today.

Hey spoke today to leaders in the grocery store industry where people buy our food and we heard, and we're reminded that America has the most efficient and effective supply chain in the world, and it's working just fine.

As the president said, he received a commitment from those grocery store executives, uh, that stores will stay open throughout the days that lie ahead.

We were told that ours may be reduced to allow for cleaning and to resupply, but American families can be confident your local grocery store is gonna be open.

It's gonna be well supplied, and they specifically asked us to encourage Americans just by your weekly needs and grocery, because the grocery stores will remain open also very movingly.

Those same executives all reiterated their commitment to continue to support local food banks in the way that our grocers continued to do around America tomorrow, uh, president, I will be briefing all the nation's governors, states and territories and the District of Columbia speaking about the progress that we're making and we'll be speaking to them specifically about are widening partnership on expanding testing to the American people.

So allow me to speak to that issue.

And then I'm going to recognize, uh, Admiral Bret Guar, who will describe for us the excellent work the Public Health Service is doing.

Dr.

Burke's will describe the importance of the new National Public Private Partnership for Diagnostic Testing that is going to open the door.

The thousands of Maur tests in real time for the American people in the days ahead.

First, some fundamentals.

As the American people know, testing is now available in all 50 states.

Either.

State labs are either conducting the tests themselves or ah, the CDC is processing tests.

They're using the the traditional manner of a manual test that allows for 40 to 60 tests a day.

It is among the reasons why the president several weeks ago task this group a TTE the White House to reach out to commercial labs around the country and Ford's that public private partnership that would bring the the high speed or, more accurately, the high throughput testing for Corona virus available in real time.

And based on the unprecedented speed of the FDA, which last week approved high throughput Corona virus testings for Roche and Thermo Fisher, we will now have access in the days ahead to more than 2000 labs across the country that have the equipment today to process Corona virus tests much more rapidly in a much higher volume for the American people.

In terms of delivering those service is of more than 10 states, In addition to CDC labs, public health labs and labs that states can now authorize in their states, more than 10 states have implemented their own drive through testing sites, and we want to come in New York, Colorado, Delaware, Washington state, Texas and others that have implemented these on site places where people can obtain tests.

Most are using the current CDC testing manual testing, but we're working closely with our governors as you will hear momentarily to make sure that the new testing regimen is available for their remote sites.

A cz well, a CZ I mentioned a CZ of Monday.

We will have more than 2000 labs coming online with the high speed testing, and we're connecting states to those testing methods were also working with a number of retail partners.

Toe add to the work that states air doing around the country, working to set up parking lot testing centers outside of stores.

And Admiral Bret Farrar will detail the progress that we've made over the last 72 hours following the president's declaration of emergency.

Uh, the admiral in our public health service have have forced a partnership now with FEMA made possible by that declaration, and they've reached out to all 50 states to create a process that will enable all Americans who need to be tested to go to a community based testing site outside of usual health care facilities.

The focus of these tests, as Dr Burke's will describe momentarily, will be on those most in need.

A priority will be placed on on health care workers and first responders who are out there coming alongside people that are being impacted by the Corona virus.

We want to make sure they have access to the testing as a priority, and then American 65 are over with a cough or a fever or other symptoms will be prioritized over other tests that are extended.

As I mentioned, Admiral Gua will describe the progress that we've made in just a few moments.

But we're gonna continue to work very diligently hour by hour, day by day, in the days ahead to expand testing around the country and access to this extraordinary an unprecedented national public private partnership for diagnostic testing.

With regard to testing as we expand testing, we're so pleased that Congress joined with our administration to make sure that cost is never going to be a barrier to anyone getting a Corona virus test.

As you recall, several weeks ago, the president directed a change in our Medicare and Medicaid programs to ensure the Corona virus testing was included.

Um, health insurers were brought in.

They all agreed to waive co pays.

But because of the good bipartisan work done in the House of Representatives, now all a Corona virus testing is free, and it's free for every American, including uninsured Americans.

And we continue to urge passage of the legislation that will be considered by the Senate this week.

Um, let me say one final word about the testing issue and that is that we, as the president often says, we're all in this together, and it's absolutely important that as we expand testing resource is across the country, beginning by prioritizing the areas that CDC and our state leadership tell us our most important.

It's important that the tests are available for people that are most in need and for our health care workers and first responders that are that are helping them and supporting them.

A CZ doctor Burkes will describe, um, the testing that is available should only be done if if, for any reason you think you may have the Corona virus.

We encourage people to consult their doctor.

And if you're if you're symptom free, we encourage you to work with us to make sure the testing is available for people that are experiencing symptoms.

It's extremely important that we have continuing cooperation of every American as we expand testing on make it available during during this challenging time in the life of our nation.

With that, I'm gonna ask Dr Burkes.

Excuse me.

I'm gonna ask Admiral Bret, you're our the Public Health Service on leader of this great commission corps behind me to come up and describe the extraordinary work that they have done over the last 72 hours and will be doing each and every day in conjunction with our states to expand attesting to community based testing across the country for the American people using this new public private partnership.

Diagnostic.

Hi, everyone.

George Stephanopoulos here.

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