Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Now 400 cases and 9 deaths. Chicago ORD and Atl airports added to entry screening with JFK, LAX, and SFO. Soon to funnel all flights with people from Wuhan (indirect) through these 5 airports. Another PCC with Anthony being hostile that the orgs (CDC, DHS, CBP) have not worked out how to get 100% of people coming from Wuhan screened. We are in Phase 1 (Screening at JFK, LAX, SFO). We are almost fully ready for Phase 2 (add ORD and ATL). Phase 3 is to funnel people who originate at Wuhan and want to go to USA through one of the 5 airports. Phase 4 is to screen individuals coming from many cities in China. Big argument between CDC (Redfield) and CBP/DHS regarding have 5 versus 12 USA airports do the screening. Marty Cetron was trying to explain how difficult doing 12 USA airports would be since CDC does not have staff in a few of these cities. To complicate it all, while we were in the PCC, China announced that it is cutting off all public transportation (air, ferries, train, buses, out of Wuhan City) Essentially a quarantine of the entire city of 11 million people except for absolute emergencies. This complicates the USA airport screening strategy since people will not be able to get out of Wuhan and to the USA easily. May try other means. Some confusion about what the best way to prevent establishment of infection in the USA. Anthony (with his attitude) is making matters worse. Phase I—Current Posture • Description: Foreign nationals who have been in China within 14 days prior to their actual or attempted entry into the United States are ineligible for admission under Section 212 (f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Departments and agencies may exercise certain exemptions. Any person, but specifically U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents (LPRs) who have been: (1) in Hubei province within the past 14 days may be subject to 14 day mandatory quarantine; and (2) in China (outside Hubei province) within the past 14 days may be subject to screening and self-isolation for 14 days. All direct and indirect flights from China are funneled to 11 airports with enhanced CDC medical screening. CDC is coordinating with state and local health care clinicians to identify domestic cases, isolate cases, and conduct appropriate contact tracing. o Triggers: Already being implemented. • Objectives: (1) Contain the outbreak at its source, (2) minimize domestic importation of additional cases, (3) limit potential for domestic epidemic, and (4) prepare the domestic response mechanisms. • Messaging: Daily HHS and CDC briefings and on camera task force briefings as appropriate. On the interview below (FOX Business with David Asman) one of the panel asked me to comment of a clip he played where Trump said that everything is under control. Xi Jinping told him everything is under control. I had to answer that we are taking this very seriously and that Americans should not be frightened or worry, but we are taking it seriously. Let us see if this pits me against the POTUS. 552 cases – 17 Deaths Cases now in Hong Kong and Macao WTOP Radio on Seattle case; The Morning Goods (local radio talk show); TRT World Turkish TV; Reuters TV; Fox Business (Cavuto); Bloomberg print; FOX Business with David Asman; Italian TV (Mediaset); Taped CNN in the VRC talking about the vaccine; Hong Kong Phoenix TV; Univision TV (Spanish- American TV); Bloomberg TV Asia; 24 NEWS Israeli TV over the phone