Monday, March 2, 2020

89,197/3038. 2nd death in the USA (Washington State man). Several more community based cases plus a NYC case that returned from Iran. We will need to move to mitigation + containment in Washington State, which has declared state of emergency. 89 cases in USA with more cases each day. 6 deaths in USA Deb Birx on board. Had a slight run in with her when she told me that the WH was pissed at me for sayng on n NBC interview today that we have an outbreak and “likely a pandemic”. It all go cleared up after I spoke with Katie Miller who is now running the Comms shop for COVID-19. She is the VP’s Comms person. Someone trying the hurt Azar by leaking to press (Politico and WSJ)that on a phone call wher we discussed the contamination problem with the CDC test that Azar and Brian Harrison said to send the tests out anyway even though they are defective. The leaker said that I was on the call and tried to persuade them not to do this. The entire story was a fabrication and Brian Harrison, Redfield and Steve Hahn talked the reporter out of it. Met in the Cabinet Room with POTUS, VP and multiple CEOs of PHARMA to discuss contribution on industry to treatment and vaccine effort. POTUS very deferential to me at meting. Getting many, many e-mail and press writing about my role helping the country. Much press exposure (daily WEH briefing from press room) Having a daily Task Force meeting at 4:00 PM will destroy my schedule to do anything else. PRESS: CNN New Day with Alisyn Camerota; CNN with Chris Cuomo; Daily press conference from WH press room. Mutliple spinoffs