NIGHT. WELL, GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN

WELL, GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN FROM OUR NBC NEWS HEADQUARTERS

FROM OUR NBC NEWS HEADQUARTERS HERE IN NEW YORK.

HERE IN NEW YORK. DAY 1,133 OF THIS TRUMP

DAY 1,133 OF THIS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

ADMINISTRATION. THAT LEAVES 251 DAYS UNTIL OUR

THAT LEAVES 251 DAYS UNTIL OUR 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. AND TONIGHT THE UNITED STATES IS

AND TONIGHT THE UNITED STATES IS PREPARING FOR THE POSSIBILITY,

PREPARING FOR THE POSSIBILITY, INDEED THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE

INDEED THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE INEVITABILITY, OF AN OUTBREAK OF

INEVITABILITY, OF AN OUTBREAK OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

THE CORONAVIRUS. JUST YESTERDAY IN FACT AN

JUST YESTERDAY IN FACT AN OFFICIAL WITH OUR CENTERS FOR

OFFICIAL WITH OUR CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL SAID, "IT’S NOT

DISEASE CONTROL SAID, "IT’S NOT SO MUCH A QUESTION OF IF THIS

SO MUCH A QUESTION OF IF THIS WILL HAPPEN ANYMORE BUT RATHER

WILL HAPPEN ANYMORE BUT RATHER MORE OF A QUESTION OF EXACTLY

MORE OF A QUESTION OF EXACTLY WHEN."

WHEN." NOT ACCORDING TO OUR PRESIDENT

NOT ACCORDING TO OUR PRESIDENT TODAY.

TODAY. THAT QUOTE WAS FROM YESTERDAY

THAT QUOTE WAS FROM YESTERDAY WHEN TRUMP WAS OUT OF THE

WHEN TRUMP WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

COUNTRY. TODAY BACK FROM INDIA, HE GAVE A

TODAY BACK FROM INDIA, HE GAVE A MARKEDLY DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE

MARKEDLY DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE EFFORT TO CONTAIN THE

EFFORT TO CONTAIN THE CORONAVIRUS.

CORONAVIRUS. AMONG OTHER THINGS HE SAID IT’S

AMONG OTHER THINGS HE SAID IT’S A FLU.

A FLU. HE SAID THERE ARE JUST 15 CASES

HE SAID THERE ARE JUST 15 CASES IN THE U.S. AND OF THOSE

IN THE U.S. AND OF THOSE FICTIONAL 15 HE SAID THEY ARE

FICTIONAL 15 HE SAID THEY ARE EITHER BETTER NOW OR CLOSE TO

EITHER BETTER NOW OR CLOSE TO BEING BETTER.

BEING BETTER. HE DOESN’T THINK THE SPREAD IS

HE DOESN’T THINK THE SPREAD IS INEVITABLE.

INEVITABLE. HE SAYS CHINA’S PRESIDENT IS

HE SAYS CHINA’S PRESIDENT IS WORKING SO HARD TO CONTAIN IT

WORKING SO HARD TO CONTAIN IT AND HE BELIEVES HIM WHEN HE SAYS

AND HE BELIEVES HIM WHEN HE SAYS HE’S REVERSING THE TREND.

HE’S REVERSING THE TREND. THE PRESIDENT ALSO ANNOUNCED

THE PRESIDENT ALSO ANNOUNCED MIKE PENCE HAS BEEN PUT IN

MIKE PENCE HAS BEEN PUT IN CHARGE OF THE EFFORT TO COMBAT

CHARGE OF THE EFFORT TO COMBAT AND CONTAIN THE VIRUS.

AND CONTAIN THE VIRUS. NOW SOME REAL NUMBERS.

NOW SOME REAL NUMBERS. AND THIS FIRST ONE HAS THE

AND THIS FIRST ONE HAS THE PRESIDENT UNSETTLED.

PRESIDENT UNSETTLED. THE DOW HAS DROPPED OVER 2,000

THE DOW HAS DROPPED OVER 2,000 POINTS SO FAR THIS WEEK.

POINTS SO FAR THIS WEEK. LARGELY BECAUSE OF UNCERTAINTY

LARGELY BECAUSE OF UNCERTAINTY OVER CORONAVIRUS AND THE SUPPLY

OVER CORONAVIRUS AND THE SUPPLY CHAINS FOR GLOBAL PRODUCTS THAT

CHAINS FOR GLOBAL PRODUCTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISRUPTED.

HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISRUPTED. SO FAR MORE THAN 81,000 PEOPLE

SO FAR MORE THAN 81,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SICKENED WORLDWIDE.

HAVE BEEN SICKENED WORLDWIDE. OVER 78,000 OF THOSE CASES ARE

OVER 78,000 OF THOSE CASES ARE IN CHINA.

IN CHINA. THAT WE KNOW OF.

THAT WE KNOW OF. THE VIRUS ALSO SPREADING

THE VIRUS ALSO SPREADING THROUGHOUT EUROPE NOW.

THROUGHOUT EUROPE NOW. ITALY REPORTING OVER 400 CASES.

ITALY REPORTING OVER 400 CASES. AND TONIGHT THAT SAME CDC IS

AND TONIGHT THAT SAME CDC IS CONFIRMING A NEW AND CONCERNING

CONFIRMING A NEW AND CONCERNING CASE IN CALIFORNIA.

CASE IN CALIFORNIA. CONCERNING BECAUSE IT’S A VICTIM

CONCERNING BECAUSE IT’S A VICTIM WITH NO KNOWN RECENT TRAVEL

WITH NO KNOWN RECENT TRAVEL HISTORY, NO KNOWN RECENT

HISTORY, NO KNOWN RECENT EXPOSURE TO ANYONE CARRYING THE

EXPOSURE TO ANYONE CARRYING THE VIRUS.

VIRUS. AND WITH THAT THEY SAY THE

AND WITH THAT THEY SAY THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS WITH

NUMBER OF AMERICANS WITH CORONAVIRUS IS 60, NOT THE 15

CORONAVIRUS IS 60, NOT THE 15 THE PRESIDENT KEPT REFERRING TO

THE PRESIDENT KEPT REFERRING TO AS HE WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO SAY

AS HE WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO SAY HE DOESN’T THINK IT’S INEVITABLE

HE DOESN’T THINK IT’S INEVITABLE IT WILL SPREAD TO THE U.S.

IT WILL SPREAD TO THE U.S. >> I DON’T THINK IT’S

>> I DON’T THINK IT’S INEVITABLE.

INEVITABLE. IT PROBABLY WILL.

IT PROBABLY WILL. IT POSSIBLY WILL.

IT POSSIBLY WILL. IT COULD BE AT A VERY SMALL

IT COULD BE AT A VERY SMALL LEVEL.

LEVEL. IT COULD BE AT A LARGER LEVEL.

IT COULD BE AT A LARGER LEVEL. WHATEVER HAPPENS -- WE HAVE A

WHATEVER HAPPENS -- WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 15 PEOPLE.

TOTAL OF 15 PEOPLE. AND THEY’RE IN THE PROCESS OF

AND THEY’RE IN THE PROCESS OF RECOVERING, WITH SOME ALREADY

RECOVERING, WITH SOME ALREADY HAVING FULLY RECOVERED.

HAVING FULLY RECOVERED. WE’RE AT THAT VERY LOW LEVEL,

WE’RE AT THAT VERY LOW LEVEL, AND WE WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

AND WE WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. SO WE’RE AT THE LOW LEVEL.

SO WE’RE AT THE LOW LEVEL. AS THEY GET BETTER WE TAKE THEM

AS THEY GET BETTER WE TAKE THEM OFF THE LIST SO THAT WE’RE GOING

OFF THE LIST SO THAT WE’RE GOING TO BE PRETTY SOON AT ONLY FIVE

TO BE PRETTY SOON AT ONLY FIVE PEOPLE.

PEOPLE. AND WE COULD BE AT JUST ONE OR

AND WE COULD BE AT JUST ONE OR TWO PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT SHORT

TWO PEOPLE OVER THE NEXT SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

PERIOD OF TIME. AND AGAIN, WHEN YOU HAVE 15

AND AGAIN, WHEN YOU HAVE 15 PEOPLE AND THE 15 WITHIN A

PEOPLE AND THE 15 WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS IS GOING TO BE

COUPLE OF DAYS IS GOING TO BE DOWN TO CLOSE TO ZERO, THAT’S A

DOWN TO CLOSE TO ZERO, THAT’S A PRETTY GOOD JOB WE’VE DONE.

PRETTY GOOD JOB WE’VE DONE. >> AGAIN, TO BE CLEAR, THE TOTAL

>> AGAIN, TO BE CLEAR, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CONFIRMED CASES

NUMBER OF CONFIRMED CASES PRESENTLY IN THE U.S. INCLUDING

PRESENTLY IN THE U.S. INCLUDING EVACUEES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IS

EVACUEES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IS 60.

60. THE PRESIDENT ALSO MADE THIS

THE PRESIDENT ALSO MADE THIS PREDICTION ABOUT A VACCINE.

PREDICTION ABOUT A VACCINE. >> IT’S A LITTLE LIKE THE

>> IT’S A LITTLE LIKE THE REGULAR FLU THAT WE HAVE FLU

REGULAR FLU THAT WE HAVE FLU SHOTS FOR AND WE’LL ESSENTIALLY

SHOTS FOR AND WE’LL ESSENTIALLY HAVE A FLU SHOT FOR THIS IN A

HAVE A FLU SHOT FOR THIS IN A FAIRLY QUICK MANNER.

FAIRLY QUICK MANNER. >> BUT MOMENTS EARLIER A CDC

>> BUT MOMENTS EARLIER A CDC OFFICIAL FROM THAT VERY SAME

OFFICIAL FROM THAT VERY SAME LECTERN SAID A FINAL VACCINE IS

LECTERN SAID A FINAL VACCINE IS AT LEAST A YEAR TO 18 MONTHS

AT LEAST A YEAR TO 18 MONTHS AWAY.

AWAY. "WASHINGTON POST" IS REPORTING

"WASHINGTON POST" IS REPORTING TRUMP IS AGAIN VERY WORRIED

TRUMP IS AGAIN VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ALL

ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ALL THIS.

THIS. "TRUMP HIGHLY CONCERNED ABOUT

"TRUMP HIGHLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE MARKET AND HAS ENCOURAGED

THE MARKET AND HAS ENCOURAGED AIDES NOT TO GIVE PREDICTIONS

AIDES NOT TO GIVE PREDICTIONS THAT MIGHT CAUSE FURTHER

THAT MIGHT CAUSE FURTHER TREMORS.

TREMORS. PRIVATELY TRUMP HAS BECOME

PRIVATELY TRUMP HAS BECOME FURIOUS ABOUT THE STOCK MARKET

FURIOUS ABOUT THE STOCK MARKET SLIDE."

SLIDE." AND EARLIER TODAY THE PRESIDENT

AND EARLIER TODAY THE PRESIDENT ACCUSED THE MEDIA OF "DOING

ACCUSED THE MEDIA OF "DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE THE

EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE THE MISSPELLED CORONAVIRUS LOOKS AS

MISSPELLED CORONAVIRUS LOOKS AS BAD AS POSSIBLE INCLUDING

BAD AS POSSIBLE INCLUDING PANICKING MARKETS IF POSSIBLE."

PANICKING MARKETS IF POSSIBLE." JUST YESTERDAY THE PRESIDENT’S

JUST YESTERDAY THE PRESIDENT’S ACTING HOMELAND SECURITY

ACTING HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY, CHAD WOLF, WAS

SECRETARY, CHAD WOLF, WAS GRILLED ON CAPITOL HILL.

GRILLED ON CAPITOL HILL. REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN, NO

REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN, NO RELATION, KENNEDY OF LOUISIANA

RELATION, KENNEDY OF LOUISIANA WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH WHAT HE

WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH WHAT HE HEARD.

HEARD. >> HOW MANY ARE YOU

>> HOW MANY ARE YOU ANTICIPATING?

ANTICIPATING? >> AGAIN, WE’RE WORKING WITH HHS

>> AGAIN, WE’RE WORKING WITH HHS TO DETERMINE THAT.

TO DETERMINE THAT. >> HOW MANY ARE YOU

>> HOW MANY ARE YOU ANTICIPATING?

ANTICIPATING? >> WE DO ANTICIPATE THE NUMBER

>> WE DO ANTICIPATE THE NUMBER WILL GROW.

WILL GROW. I DON’T HAVE AN EXACT FIGURE FOR

I DON’T HAVE AN EXACT FIGURE FOR YOU, THOUGH.

YOU, THOUGH. >> DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE?

>> DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE? IS SOMEONE MODELING THAT?

IS SOMEONE MODELING THAT? DO YOU HAVE ANY WAY OF GUESSING?

DO YOU HAVE ANY WAY OF GUESSING? >> AGAIN, HHS, THEY’RE MEDICAL

>> AGAIN, HHS, THEY’RE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS --

PROFESSIONALS -- >> BUT YOU’RE HEAD OF HOMELAND

>> BUT YOU’RE HEAD OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

SECURITY. >> YES, SIR.

>> YES, SIR. >> AND YOUR JOB IS TO KEEP US

>> AND YOUR JOB IS TO KEEP US SAFE.

SAFE. YOU CAN’T TELL US HOW MANY YOUR

YOU CAN’T TELL US HOW MANY YOUR MODELS ARE ANTICIPATING?

MODELS ARE ANTICIPATING? >> NO, SENATOR.

>> NO, SENATOR. AGAIN, I WOULD DEFER YOU TO THE

AGAIN, I WOULD DEFER YOU TO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR THAT.

THAT. CDC.

CDC. >> YOU THINK YOU OUGHT TO CHECK

>> YOU THINK YOU OUGHT TO CHECK ON THAT?

ON THAT? >> WE WILL.

>> WE WILL. >> AS THE HEAD OF HOMELAND

>> AS THE HEAD OF HOMELAND SECURITY.

SECURITY. HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED?

HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED? >> A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WADES.

>> A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WADES. >> TELL ME WHAT THEY ARE.

>> TELL ME WHAT THEY ARE. >> AGAIN, HUMAN TO HUMAN --

>> AGAIN, HUMAN TO HUMAN -- >> HUMAN TO HUMAN HOW?

>> HUMAN TO HUMAN HOW? >> YOU’RE ASKING ME A NUMBER OF

>> YOU’RE ASKING ME A NUMBER OF MEDICAL QUESTIONS.

MEDICAL QUESTIONS. >> I’M ASKING YOU QUESTIONS

>> I’M ASKING YOU QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU’RE SECRETARY OF THE

BECAUSE YOU’RE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO KEEP US

AND YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO KEEP US SAFE.

SAFE. >> YES, SIR.

>> YES, SIR. >> AND YOU NEED TO KNOW THE

>> AND YOU NEED TO KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS.

ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS. >> IT WENT ON LIKE THAT.

>> IT WENT ON LIKE THAT. AND TODAY VETERAN JOURNALIST

AND TODAY VETERAN JOURNALIST JOHN HARWOOD POINTED THIS OUT.

JOHN HARWOOD POINTED THIS OUT. "PRESIDENT TRUMP RESPONDS TO

"PRESIDENT TRUMP RESPONDS TO CORONAVIRUS WITH AN ACTING WHITE

CORONAVIRUS WITH AN ACTING WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF, ACTING

HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF, ACTING INTEL DIRECTOR, ACTING HOMELAND

INTEL DIRECTOR, ACTING HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY.

SECURITY SECRETARY. HE HAS LAUNCHED A LOYALTY PURGE.

HE HAS LAUNCHED A LOYALTY PURGE. HE WANTS TO CUT CDC AND NIH