Lou Dobbs grills Azar in heated debate over coronavirus transparency

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WE WANT TO BE DOING OUR MANUFACTURING AT HOME.
MANUFACTURING AT HOME. LOU: AND JOINING US TONIGHT IS
LOU: AND JOINING US TONIGHT IS THE PRESIDENT’S SECRETARY OF
THE PRESIDENT’S SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, SECRETARY ALEX AZAR.
SECRETARY ALEX AZAR. HE’S ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
HE’S ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PRESIDENT’S CORONAVIRUS TASK
PRESIDENT’S CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE.
FORCE. MR. SECRETARY, GOOD TO HAVE YOU
MR. SECRETARY, GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
WITH US. THERE DIDN’T SEEM TO BE A
THERE DIDN’T SEEM TO BE A DIFFERENT TONE TODAY IN
DIFFERENT TONE TODAY IN WASHINGTON AS IT’S BECOMING
WASHINGTON AS IT’S BECOMING CLEARER WHAT THE NATION WILL
CLEARER WHAT THE NATION WILL LIKELY FACE.
LIKELY FACE. OFFICIALS SEEM TO BE A LITTLE
OFFICIALS SEEM TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE --
BIT MORE -- [INAUDIBLE]
[INAUDIBLE] THAN THEY HAD BEEN.
THAN THEY HAD BEEN. IS THERE REALLY A CHANGE HERE?
IS THERE REALLY A CHANGE HERE? >> I DON’T KNOW THAT I’D CALL IT
>> I DON’T KNOW THAT I’D CALL IT A CHANGE, I’D SAY THE MESSAGE
A CHANGE, I’D SAY THE MESSAGE REMAINS TRANSPARENT BUT ONE OF
REMAINS TRANSPARENT BUT ONE OF CONFIDENCE.
CONFIDENCE. WHAT WE’RE SAYING IS WHAT WE’VE
WHAT WE’RE SAYING IS WHAT WE’VE BEEN SAYING --
BEEN SAYING -- LOU: WHY NOT THEN CALL IT A
LOU: WHY NOT THEN CALL IT A PANDEMIC?
PANDEMIC? BECAUSE YOU KNOW VERY WELL IT
BECAUSE YOU KNOW VERY WELL IT IS.
IS. >> WELL, IN FACT, I SPOKE TODAY
>> WELL, IN FACT, I SPOKE TODAY WITH THE HEAD OF THE WORLD
WITH THE HEAD OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, AND I’LL
HEALTH ORGANIZATION, AND I’LL GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT INTO THEIR
GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT INTO THEIR THINKING FINISH.
THINKING FINISH. LOU: I’M NOTED -- NOT INTERESTED
LOU: I’M NOTED -- NOT INTERESTED IN THEIR THINKING, TO BE CANDID
IN THEIR THINKING, TO BE CANDID WITH YOU.
WITH YOU. YOU’RE CENTER FOR YOUR
YOU’RE CENTER FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT, THE NIH AND THE CDC
DEPARTMENT, THE NIH AND THE CDC ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC’S
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PUBLIC’S HEALTH.
HEALTH. I’M FLIGHTED TO SPEAK TO YOU --
I’M FLIGHTED TO SPEAK TO YOU -- DELIGHTED TO SPEAK TO YOU, SIR.
DELIGHTED TO SPEAK TO YOU, SIR. >> WELL, LOU, WITHIN THE UNITED
>> WELL, LOU, WITHIN THE UNITED STATES WHETHER YOU CALL IT A
STATES WHETHER YOU CALL IT A PANDEMIC OR YOU DON’T CALL IT A
PANDEMIC OR YOU DON’T CALL IT A PANDEMIC IS IRRELEVANT.
PANDEMIC IS IRRELEVANT. IT DOESN’T CHANGE ONE SINGLE
IT DOESN’T CHANGE ONE SINGLE ACTION THAT WE WOULD TAKE HERE
ACTION THAT WE WOULD TAKE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
IN THE UNITED STATES. NOT ONE, LOU.
NOT ONE, LOU. JUST DOESN’T MATTER.
JUST DOESN’T MATTER. LOU: WHY NOT CALL IT THAT AND BE
LOU: WHY NOT CALL IT THAT AND BE JUST AS STRAIGHTFORWARD --
JUST AS STRAIGHTFORWARD -- >> LOU, WHAT DOES IT ADD?
>> LOU, WHAT DOES IT ADD? WHAT DOES IT ADD?
WHAT DOES IT ADD? LOU YOU TELL ME, WHAT DOES IT
LOU YOU TELL ME, WHAT DOES IT SUBTRACT IF YOU DON’T?
SUBTRACT IF YOU DON’T? >> WE’RE TRYING TO ENGAGE IN
>> WE’RE TRYING TO ENGAGE IN CAREFUL, THOUGHTFUL RISK
CAREFUL, THOUGHTFUL RISK COMMUNICATION TO PEOPLE, AND
COMMUNICATION TO PEOPLE, AND THAT MEANS AS AMERICANS, AND
THAT MEANS AS AMERICANS, AND THAT COULD CHANGE.
THAT COULD CHANGE. IT HASN’T CHANGED BECAUSE THE
IT HASN’T CHANGED BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT’S BOLD, UNPRECEDENTED
PRESIDENT’S BOLD, UNPRECEDENTED ACTIONS TO PROTECT OUR BORDERS
ACTIONS TO PROTECT OUR BORDERS AND --
AND -- LOU: ABSOLUTELY.
LOU: ABSOLUTELY. >> BUT WE ARE NOW SEEING SOME
>> BUT WE ARE NOW SEEING SOME LIMITED COMMUNITY SPREAD, IT
LIMITED COMMUNITY SPREAD, IT APPEARS.
APPEARS. WE’VE SEEN SOME LIMITED
WE’VE SEEN SOME LIMITED PERSON-TO-PERSON TRANSMISSION OF
PERSON-TO-PERSON TRANSMISSION OF THE DISEASE, AND ABSOLUTELY
THE DISEASE, AND ABSOLUTELY WHILE WE’RE ON THE AIR RIGHT
WHILE WE’RE ON THE AIR RIGHT NOW, LOU, WE’VE MADE AN
NOW, LOU, WE’VE MADE AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT OUT OF
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT OUT OF THE FDA AND THE CDC THAT SHOULD
THE FDA AND THE CDC THAT SHOULD DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE
DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF OUR N-95
AVAILABILITY OF OUR N-95 RESPIRATOR MASKS FOR USE BY
RESPIRATOR MASKS FOR USE BY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE UNITED STATES.
UNITED STATES. SO WE’RE MAKING ADVANCES --
SO WE’RE MAKING ADVANCES -- LOU: THAT’S GREAT.
LOU: THAT’S GREAT. THAT IS WONDERFUL.
THAT IS WONDERFUL. AND AT THE SAME TIME, DO WE HAVE
AND AT THE SAME TIME, DO WE HAVE TESTS THAT ARE NOW AVAILABLE
TESTS THAT ARE NOW AVAILABLE HERE IN THIS COUNTRY?
HERE IN THIS COUNTRY? >> YES --
>> YES -- LOU: -- TO THE DEGREE THAT WE
LOU: -- TO THE DEGREE THAT WE NEED THEM?
NEED THEM? BECAUSE THE RATIO, AS I SEE IT,
BECAUSE THE RATIO, AS I SEE IT, THERE’S A BETTER RATIO OF
THERE’S A BETTER RATIO OF TESTING FOR THE CORONAVIRUS IN
TESTING FOR THE CORONAVIRUS IN OTHER COUNTRIES THAN WE MAINTAIN
OTHER COUNTRIES THAN WE MAINTAIN HERE.
HERE. WE’RE ACTUALLY SCREENING FEWER
WE’RE ACTUALLY SCREENING FEWER PEOPLE BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE
PEOPLE BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE APPROPRIATE TESTING.
APPROPRIATE TESTING. >> WELL, LOU, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A
>> WELL, LOU, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A VALIDATED TEST.
VALIDATED TEST. THE CDC HAS HAD IT, THERE’S BEEN
THE CDC HAS HAD IT, THERE’S BEEN NO BACKLOG SINCE WE’VE HAD THAT
NO BACKLOG SINCE WE’VE HAD THAT UP AND RUNNING.
UP AND RUNNING. IT’S OUT IN LABS.
IT’S OUT IN LABS. WE’VE BEEN INCREASING THE
WE’VE BEEN INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF IT.
AVAILABILITY OF IT. WE INSIST ON A VALID TEST.
WE INSIST ON A VALID TEST. YOU KNOW, IN OTHER COUNTRIES
YOU KNOW, IN OTHER COUNTRIES THEY DON’T HAVE THE, THEY DON’T
THEY DON’T HAVE THE, THEY DON’T HAVE THE SAME REGULATORY
HAVE THE SAME REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR VALIDATION, AND
REQUIREMENTS FOR VALIDATION, AND SO IN OTHER COUNTRIES BASICALLY
SO IN OTHER COUNTRIES BASICALLY A HOSPITAL OR A LAB CAN JUST
A HOSPITAL OR A LAB CAN JUST TAKE THE RECIPE --
TAKE THE RECIPE -- LOU: I UNDERSTAND,
LOU: I UNDERSTAND, MR. SECRETARY, BUT THEN I DON’T
MR. SECRETARY, BUT THEN I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY AT THE SAME TIME
UNDERSTAND WHY AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE SEEING COMMUNITY SPREAD
WE ARE SEEING COMMUNITY SPREAD AND WE KNOW VERY WELL THAT THERE
AND WE KNOW VERY WELL THAT THERE HAVE NOT BEEN TEST KITS
HAVE NOT BEEN TEST KITS AVAILABLE THAT DIDN’T WORK AND,
AVAILABLE THAT DIDN’T WORK AND, IN FACT, THE CDC HAD TEST KITS
IN FACT, THE CDC HAD TEST KITS BUT THEY WERE UNWORKABLE.
BUT THEY WERE UNWORKABLE. >> ACTUALLY, LOU, THE TESTS
>> ACTUALLY, LOU, THE TESTS WORKED.
WORKED. THE TESTS WORK, THEY ARE
THE TESTS WORK, THEY ARE VALIDATED.
VALIDATED. WHAT HAPPENED WAS THERE WERE
WHAT HAPPENED WAS THERE WERE SOME MANUFACTURING ISSUES,
SOME MANUFACTURING ISSUES, APPARENTLY, IN ONE STAGE OF THE
APPARENTLY, IN ONE STAGE OF THE TEST, AND SOME LABS WERE NOT
TEST, AND SOME LABS WERE NOT ABLE TO VALIDATE IT.
ABLE TO VALIDATE IT. WE SOLVED THAT ISSUE.
WE SOLVED THAT ISSUE. WE’VE GOTTEN THE --
WE’VE GOTTEN THE -- LOU: SO THEY WERE --
LOU: SO THEY WERE -- [INAUDIBLE CONVERSATIONS]
[INAUDIBLE CONVERSATIONS] I DON’T WANT TO PLAY GAMES WITH
I DON’T WANT TO PLAY GAMES WITH YOU, AND I’M SURE YOU DON’T WANT
YOU, AND I’M SURE YOU DON’T WANT WITH ME, BUT WHEN YOU USE WORDS
WITH ME, BUT WHEN YOU USE WORDS LIKE VALIDATED AND THEN SAY ONE
LIKE VALIDATED AND THEN SAY ONE SEGMENT OF THEIR USE WAS
SEGMENT OF THEIR USE WAS INVALIDATED BY PROBLEMS, YOU
INVALIDATED BY PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, IT JUST -- THIS IS NOT
KNOW, IT JUST -- THIS IS NOT TRANSPARENCY --
TRANSPARENCY -- >> WELL, LOU, YOU DON’T WANT TO
>> WELL, LOU, YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT, BUT WE’VE BEEN
HEAR IT, BUT WE’VE BEEN TRANSPARENT AT EVERY STEP OF THE
TRANSPARENT AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
WAY. THERE ARE THREE STAGES TO THIS
THERE ARE THREE STAGES TO THIS TEST THAT THE CDC DEVELOPED.
TEST THAT THE CDC DEVELOPED. THE FIRST TWO TESTS FOR THE
THE FIRST TWO TESTS FOR THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS, THE THIRD WAS
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS, THE THIRD WAS FOR A FORM OF ANY FORM -- ANY
FOR A FORM OF ANY FORM -- ANY FORM OF CORONAVIRUS THAT WASN’T
FORM OF CORONAVIRUS THAT WASN’T NECESSARY.
NECESSARY. THE FDA CONCLUDED A WEEK AGO
THE FDA CONCLUDED A WEEK AGO THAT WASN’T NECESSARY, THE THIRD
THAT WASN’T NECESSARY, THE THIRD STEP, THAT IT WAS OVERKILL ON
STEP, THAT IT WAS OVERKILL ON THE TEST.
THE TEST. THEY AUTHORIZED THE FIRST TWO
THEY AUTHORIZED THE FIRST TWO STAGES TO BE USED TO TEST, THAT
STAGES TO BE USED TO TEST, THAT ENABLED --
ENABLED -- LOU: WHEN DID THEY DO THAT,
LOU: WHEN DID THEY DO THAT, MR. SECRETARY?
MR. SECRETARY? >> NOW TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
>> NOW TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TESTS OUT THERE --
TESTS OUT THERE -- [INAUDIBLE CONVERSATIONS]
[INAUDIBLE CONVERSATIONS] >> REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS TO
>> REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS TO NOW ALLOW US TO GET RID OF AN
NOW ALLOW US TO GET RID OF AN OBAMA-ERA BURDEN ON LABS TO
OBAMA-ERA BURDEN ON LABS TO ALLOW ANY CERTIFIED CLINICAL LAB
ALLOW ANY CERTIFIED CLINICAL LAB OUT THERE TO DEVELOP A TEST
OUT THERE TO DEVELOP A TEST BASED ON THE RECIPE THAT WE HAVE
BASED ON THE RECIPE THAT WE HAVE PRODUCED.
PRODUCED. THAT SHOULD OPEN UP HUNDREDS AND
THAT SHOULD OPEN UP HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS IF NOT
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS IF NOT MILLIONS PER WEEK OF TESTS
MILLIONS PER WEEK OF TESTS AVAILABLE, LOU.
AVAILABLE, LOU. LOU: YOU’RE MAKING MORE TESTS
LOU: YOU’RE MAKING MORE TESTS AVAILABLE?
AVAILABLE? >> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY. OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS AND
OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS AND MILLIONS PER WEEK WILL BE ARE
MILLIONS PER WEEK WILL BE ARE AVAILABLE AS A RESULT OF THE
AVAILABLE AS A RESULT OF THE REGULATORY RELIEF THAT WE
REGULATORY RELIEF THAT WE GRANTED ON SATURDAY MORNING OUT
GRANTED ON SATURDAY MORNING OUT OF THE FDA, RELIEF FROM AN
OF THE FDA, RELIEF FROM AN OBAMA-ERA FDA REQUIREMENT THAT
OBAMA-ERA FDA REQUIREMENT THAT REQUIRED ANY LAB-DEVELOPED TEST
REQUIRED ANY LAB-DEVELOPED TEST BE APPROVED BY THE FDA.
BE APPROVED BY THE FDA. WE SAID IN THIS EMERGENCY
WE SAID IN THIS EMERGENCY SITUATION, WE ARE AUTHORIZING
SITUATION, WE ARE AUTHORIZING THOSE CERTIFIED LABS TO CREATE
THOSE CERTIFIED LABS TO CREATE THEIR OWN ON TEST BASED ON THE
THEIR OWN ON TEST BASED ON THE RECIPE THAT WE HAVE PUBLISHED --
RECIPE THAT WE HAVE PUBLISHED -- LOU: YOU HAD PLENTY -- I’M
LOU: YOU HAD PLENTY -- I’M SORRY --
SORRY -- >> TESTING IMMEDIATELY.
>> TESTING IMMEDIATELY. LOU: MR. SECRETARY, I APOLOGIZE.
LOU: MR. SECRETARY, I APOLOGIZE. I APOLOGIZE, BUT, FRANKLY,
I APOLOGIZE, BUT, FRANKLY, YOU’VE JUST SAID THAT YOU HAD
YOU’VE JUST SAID THAT YOU HAD PLENTY, AND NOW YOU’RE
PLENTY, AND NOW YOU’RE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT YOU DIDN’T.
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT YOU DIDN’T. I DON’T WANT TO GET BOGGED DOWN
I DON’T WANT TO GET BOGGED DOWN IN THIS, I MEAN, I REALLY DON’T,
IN THIS, I MEAN, I REALLY DON’T, BUT I DO WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW
BUT I DO WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW BAD IS THIS GOING TO GET.
BAD IS THIS GOING TO GET. ARE WE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT
ARE WE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT IT -- WHAT IS THE PLANNING AND
IT -- WHAT IS THE PLANNING AND THE THINKING OF THE CORONA TASK
THE THINKING OF THE CORONA TASK FORCE FOR THE AMERICANS WHO ARE
FORCE FOR THE AMERICANS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS BROADCAST WHO ARE
WATCHING THIS BROADCAST WHO ARE ALL ADULTS AND WHO WANT TO KNOW
ALL ADULTS AND WHO WANT TO KNOW THE FACTS?
THE FACTS? HARD-BOILED, STRAIGHTFORWARD, NO
HARD-BOILED, STRAIGHTFORWARD, NO SUGAR-COATING AND NO PEDANTICS?
SUGAR-COATING AND NO PEDANTICS? >> LOU, WE’RE PLANNING FOR ALL
>> LOU, WE’RE PLANNING FOR ALL SCENARIOS.
SCENARIOS. RIGHT NOW WE’VE GOT A FAIRLY
RIGHT NOW WE’VE GOT A FAIRLY LIMITED SCENARIO, BUT WE’VE
LIMITED SCENARIO, BUT WE’VE PLANNED FOR THE FULL RANGE.
PLANNED FOR THE FULL RANGE. RIGHT NOW WE’RE WORKING WITH
RIGHT NOW WE’RE WORKING WITH SANTA CLARA COUNTY AND KING
SANTA CLARA COUNTY AND KING COUNTY IN THE STATE OF
COUNTY IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON ON COMMUNITY
WASHINGTON ON COMMUNITY MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS, AND
MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS, AND THAT’S THE APPROPRIATE STEP TO
THAT’S THE APPROPRIATE STEP TO TAKE.
TAKE. BUT YOU CAN GO ALL THE WAY FROM
BUT YOU CAN GO ALL THE WAY FROM COMMUNITY TO LARGE COMMUNITY TO
COMMUNITY TO LARGE COMMUNITY TO NATIONAL MITIGATION STEPS, AND
NATIONAL MITIGATION STEPS, AND WE’LL TAKE ALL MEASURES NEEDED
WE’LL TAKE ALL MEASURES NEEDED TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. BUT WE DON’T NEED TO DO IT UNTIL
BUT WE DON’T NEED TO DO IT UNTIL THEY’RE NECESSARY, AND THAT’S --
THEY’RE NECESSARY, AND THAT’S -- THE PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN
THE PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN UNPRECEDENTED ACTION.
UNPRECEDENTED ACTION. YOU KNOW, THESE TRAVEL
YOU KNOW, THESE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS THAT HE TOOK ON
RESTRICTIONS THAT HE TOOK ON CHINA, PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT
CHINA, PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT THEM AT THE TIME.
THEM AT THE TIME. BUT THEY PROTECTED AMERICA.
BUT THEY PROTECTED AMERICA. THEY DELAYED THIS IMPACT HERE IN
THEY DELAYED THIS IMPACT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES SIGNIFICANTLY,
THE UNITED STATES SIGNIFICANTLY, AND NOW EVERYBODY’S PRAISING HIM
AND NOW EVERYBODY’S PRAISING HIM FOR THOSE MEASURES, AND WE’LL
FOR THOSE MEASURES, AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO TAKE BOLD,
CONTINUE TO TAKE BOLD, AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS.
AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS. HE WON’T HESITATE.
HE WON’T HESITATE. WE’D RATHER OVERREACT THAN
WE’D RATHER OVERREACT THAN UNDERREACT TO THIS SITUATION IS.
UNDERREACT TO THIS SITUATION IS. LOU: I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT
LOU: I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT STEPS THE PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN,
STEPS THE PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN, WHICH I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH
WHICH I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH YOU, WERE WITH THE FORESIGHT AND
YOU, WERE WITH THE FORESIGHT AND WERE THE EXACT NECESSARY STEP TO
WERE THE EXACT NECESSARY STEP TO TAKE.
TAKE. YOU KNOW, AS A MATTER OF FACT,
YOU KNOW, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I’LL GO FURTHER, YOU KNOW, THIS
I’LL GO FURTHER, YOU KNOW, THIS PRESIDENT WAS LOOKING IN 2017 AT
PRESIDENT WAS LOOKING IN 2017 AT THE DEPENDENCY OF THIS COUNTRY
THE DEPENDENCY OF THIS COUNTRY ON OFFSHORING AND -- ACROSS THE
ON OFFSHORING AND -- ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE ENTIRE WORLD,
COUNTRY, THE ENTIRE WORLD, FRANKLY, THE DEPENDENCY ON
FRANKLY, THE DEPENDENCY ON SOUTHEAST ASIA AND CHINA FOR
SOUTHEAST ASIA AND CHINA FOR SUPPLY CHAINS.
SUPPLY CHAINS. AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IT
AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IT THREE YEARS AGO.
THREE YEARS AGO. SO I’M KEENLY AWARE OF HIS
SO I’M KEENLY AWARE OF HIS THINKING ON THIS.
THINKING ON THIS. AND THE REALITY IS I’M TALKING
AND THE REALITY IS I’M TALKING ABOUT THE PUBLIC’S RIGHT TO KNOW
ABOUT THE PUBLIC’S RIGHT TO KNOW HERE.
HERE. AND THAT’S QUITE A DIFFERENT
AND THAT’S QUITE A DIFFERENT THING.
THING. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. LOU: I HAVE ABSOLUTE FAITH IN
LOU: I HAVE ABSOLUTE FAITH IN THE LEADERSHIP.
THE LEADERSHIP. MY CONCERN IS HOW MUCH THE
MY CONCERN IS HOW MUCH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE BEING TOLD
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW, AND THAT
THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW, AND THAT IS, I THINK, EVERYTHING.
IS, I THINK, EVERYTHING. >> SO, LOU, THEY’RE BEING --
>> SO, LOU, THEY’RE BEING -- THEY HAVE BEEN --
THEY HAVE BEEN -- LOU: LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY --
LOU: LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY -- >> IN FACT, WE JUST IN 2017
>> IN FACT, WE JUST IN 2017 UPDATED WHAT’S CALLED THE
UPDATED WHAT’S CALLED THE PANDEMIC ACTION PLAN.
PANDEMIC ACTION PLAN. THAT’S A PUBLIC DOCUMENT THAT
THAT’S A PUBLIC DOCUMENT THAT GOES THROUGH HOW ONE DEALS WITH
GOES THROUGH HOW ONE DEALS WITH A PANDEMIC --
A PANDEMIC -- LOU: WAIT A MINUTE, DID YOU SAY
LOU: WAIT A MINUTE, DID YOU SAY PANDEMIC?
PANDEMIC? >> THAT IS WHAT WE PREPARE FOR,
>> THAT IS WHAT WE PREPARE FOR, PANDEMIC STATUS OF THIS --
PANDEMIC STATUS OF THIS -- LOU: DO WE HAVE ONE?
LOU: DO WE HAVE ONE? >> FROM ACTIVE CONTAINMENT,
>> FROM ACTIVE CONTAINMENT, THROUGH COMMUNITY MITIGATION,
THROUGH COMMUNITY MITIGATION, LARGE SCALE COMMUNITY
LARGE SCALE COMMUNITY MITIGATION.
MITIGATION. ALL THOSE STEPS, LOU, EVERYTHING
ALL THOSE STEPS, LOU, EVERYTHING IS LAID OUT VERY TRANSPARENTLY
IS LAID OUT VERY TRANSPARENTLY ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD
ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RECOMMEND.
RECOMMEND. ALSO OUR STATES HAVE, THANKS TO
ALSO OUR STATES HAVE, THANKS TO THE WORK THAT I DID WITH
THE WORK THAT I DID WITH PRESIDENT BUSH BACK IN THE
PRESIDENT BUSH BACK IN THE 2000s FOR PANDEMIC FLU
2000s FOR PANDEMIC FLU PREPAREDNESS, EVERY STATE HAS
PREPAREDNESS, EVERY STATE HAS PANDEMIC PLANS THAT WE EXERCISE,
PANDEMIC PLANS THAT WE EXERCISE, THAT INTEGRATE INTO A NATIONAL
THAT INTEGRATE INTO A NATIONAL PANDEMIC ACTION PLAN.
PANDEMIC ACTION PLAN. AS THIS DISEASE PROGRESSES, AND
AS THIS DISEASE PROGRESSES, AND WE HOPE IT WILL NOT, BUT AS IT
WE HOPE IT WILL NOT, BUT AS IT PROGRESSES, WE WILL SEE A
PROGRESSES, WE WILL SEE A CONTINUED EDUCATION CALCULATION
CONTINUED EDUCATION CALCULATION OF DIFFERENT TYPES -- ESCALATION
OF DIFFERENT TYPES -- ESCALATION OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF STEPS, AND
OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF STEPS, AND WE’RE GOING TO MODIFY THOSE --
WE’RE GOING TO MODIFY THOSE -- LOU: WHAT ARE YOU PROJECTING
LOU: WHAT ARE YOU PROJECTING WILL BE THE NUMBER OF CASES IN
WILL BE THE NUMBER OF CASES IN THIS COUNTRY OVER THE NEXT WEEK?
THIS COUNTRY OVER THE NEXT WEEK? >> LOU, I COULDN’T POSSIBLY
>> LOU, I COULDN’T POSSIBLY PREDICT WHAT THE NUMBER OF CASES
PREDICT WHAT THE NUMBER OF CASES OVER THE NEXT WEEK WILL BE.
OVER THE NEXT WEEK WILL BE. ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS WE ARE
ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS WE ARE GOING TO SEE MORE CASES AND,
GOING TO SEE MORE CASES AND, UNFORTUNATELY, WE SAW NEW
UNFORTUNATELY, WE SAW NEW FATALITIES THIS MORNING, AND I
FATALITIES THIS MORNING, AND I FEAR WE WILL, WE’LL CONTINUE TO
FEAR WE WILL, WE’LL CONTINUE TO SEE MORE.
SEE MORE. THERE’LL BE AN INCREASE.
THERE’LL BE AN INCREASE. BUT ONE CAN’T PREDICT THE NUMBER
BUT ONE CAN’T PREDICT THE NUMBER OF CASES WE’RE GOING TO SEE.
OF CASES WE’RE GOING TO SEE. NO CUP’S BEEN ABLE TO -- NO
NO CUP’S BEEN ABLE TO -- NO ONE’S BEEN ABLE TO PREDICT ANY
ONE’S BEEN ABLE TO PREDICT ANY CASES.
CASES. I WISH I COULD, I WISH I COULD,
I WISH I COULD, I WISH I COULD, BUT YOU CAN’T DO THAT.
BUT YOU CAN’T DO THAT. LOU: OKAY.
LOU: OKAY. WELL, WITH THAT, WHAT DO YOU
WELL, WITH THAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO
THING FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PANDEMIC?
KNOW ABOUT THIS PANDEMIC? >> IN SPITE OF HOW YOU’VE BEEN
>> IN SPITE OF HOW YOU’VE BEEN DESCRIBING IT, LOU, FOR EVERYDAY
DESCRIBING IT, LOU, FOR EVERYDAY AMERICANS RIGHT NOW THIS
AMERICANS RIGHT NOW THIS SHOULDN’T IMPACT THEIR DAILY
SHOULDN’T IMPACT THEIR DAILY LIVES.
LIVES. THEY SHOULD GO ABOUT NORMAL --
THEY SHOULD GO ABOUT NORMAL -- LOU: HOW DID I DESCRIBE IT?
LOU: HOW DID I DESCRIBE IT? I MISSED THAT PART.
I MISSED THAT PART. HOW DID I DESCRIBE IT?
HOW DID I DESCRIBE IT? >> YOU’RE -- I THINK YOU’RE JUST
>> YOU’RE -- I THINK YOU’RE JUST TRYING TO WHIP PEOPLE UP INTO A
TRYING TO WHIP PEOPLE UP INTO A FRENZY HERE, LOU --
FRENZY HERE, LOU -- LOU: ABOUT WHAT?
LOU: ABOUT WHAT? >> I’M TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO
>> I’M TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNMENT HAS A
UNDERSTAND THE GOVERNMENT HAS A PLAN, WE HAVE STEPS, WE EXERCISE
PLAN, WE HAVE STEPS, WE EXERCISE THIS.
THIS. BUT IN THEIR DAILY LIFE AT THIS
BUT IN THEIR DAILY LIFE AT THIS POINT, AND THAT COULD CHANGE, AT
POINT, AND THAT COULD CHANGE, AT THIS POINT THERE ISN’T A CHANGE
THIS POINT THERE ISN’T A CHANGE IN PEOPLE’S DAILY EXISTENCE
IN PEOPLE’S DAILY EXISTENCE EXCEPT FOR NORMAL GOOD
EXCEPT FOR NORMAL GOOD PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES, THE
PREPAREDNESS ACTIVITIES, THE SAME STUFF WE WOULD HAVE
SAME STUFF WE WOULD HAVE RECOMMENDED SIX MONTHS AGO.
RECOMMENDED SIX MONTHS AGO. GO TO CDC.GOV FOR
GO TO CDC.GOV FOR RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHAT YOU
RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING ALL ALONG
SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING ALL ALONG AND THE KINDS OF STEPS YOU
AND THE KINDS OF STEPS YOU SHOULD TAKE NOW.
SHOULD TAKE NOW. WE’RE WORKING WITH YOUR
WE’RE WORKING WITH YOUR COMMUNITIES ON DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES ON DIFFERENT MITIGATION APPROACHES TO PLAN
MITIGATION APPROACHES TO PLAN FOR, WE HAVE A PLAN, TO EXERCISE
FOR, WE HAVE A PLAN, TO EXERCISE WHAT THEY WOULD DO.
WHAT THEY WOULD DO. HOW DO YOU, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU
HOW DO YOU, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY OUTBREAK IN AN
HAVE A COMMUNITY OUTBREAK IN AN AREA, DO YOU CLOSE A SCHOOL?
AREA, DO YOU CLOSE A SCHOOL? MAYBE THERE’S SOME GOOD
MAYBE THERE’S SOME GOOD MITIGATION STEPS THERE LIKE YOU
MITIGATION STEPS THERE LIKE YOU DON’T JUST HAVE SESSIONS IN THE
DON’T JUST HAVE SESSIONS IN THE AUDITORIUM OR LARGE SCALE
AUDITORIUM OR LARGE SCALE RECESSES WHERE THE KIDS
RECESSES WHERE THE KIDS CONGREGATE.
CONGREGATE. THESE ARE SOME LEARNINGS WE’VE
THESE ARE SOME LEARNINGS WE’VE GOTTEN THROUGH HONG KONG AND
GOTTEN THROUGH HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE, AND WE’RE USING THEM
SINGAPORE, AND WE’RE USING THEM AS WE WORK WITH SANTA CLARA
AS WE WORK WITH SANTA CLARA COUNTY AND KING COUNTY OUT IN
COUNTY AND KING COUNTY OUT IN THE SEATTLE AREA TO HELP ADVISE
THE SEATTLE AREA TO HELP ADVISE THEM AS THEY WORK ON THE
THEM AS THEY WORK ON THE COMMUNITY CONTAINMENT THAT
COMMUNITY CONTAINMENT THAT THEY’RE FACING NOW.
THEY’RE FACING NOW. LOU
LOU MR. SECRETARY, WE APPRECIATE
MR. SECRETARY, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
YOUR TIME. I PROMISE NOT TO WHIP ANYBODY
I PROMISE NOT TO WHIP ANYBODY INTO ANYTHING, YOU KNOW,
INTO ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, CONCERNED ABOUT THE -- WELL, THE
CONCERNED ABOUT THE -- WELL, THE BODY OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE IN A
BODY OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE IN A FREE SOCIETY M I, YOU KNOW, GOD