Friday, April 10, 2020

Global – 1,440,000/85,000; USA – 465,000/17,500 Concern building about the economy and when we can open the country. 17 million jobs lost within the past 4 weeks. Larry Kudlow and Steve Mnuchin are concerned that even with the massive infusion of relief dollars that we may o irreparable damage to the economy if we do not open soon. Call with Randell Stephenson – CEO of ATT wanting counsel on how to get his workforce back towork safely Call with Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas – doing a good job in AR; want counselon retunring to normal Call with Gov. Mark Gordon of Wyoming – same discussion. What advice and counsel of returning to normal. Call with Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota All these Governors are calling me because of my credibility and reputation to run their plans by me and ask for my opinion and help (message back to TF and POTUS). Unfortunately, I really cannot do much but get their messages back. Very frustrating POTUS actually joined the TF meeting right at the beginning andstarting talking about ratings of the press conferences being the best ratings on all of TV. Yikes! POTUS was again rambling at the press conference with stream of consciousness not really answering questions and spouting how well we are doing. Press focusing on whether we are prepared to re-open. Press keeps dwelling on fact that we likely do not have enough testing capability. POTUS mentioned (to my and Birx’s surpise) that he has already asked some people to be on another Task Force to help him decide on re-opening. He even mentioned that there would be prominent physicians on the call. Deb is worrie d about this. I am not surprised. During press briefing reporter asked PTUS a question about Gov. DeSantis (R- FL) wanting to open his schools in May and would not that endanger lives of people since there are many cases in Florida. He did not answer and then the reporter asked what my opionion was. I spoke generically saying I am not aware of the situation in Florida, but in general, if there are active cases in community, children in school could spread the virus. Later that afternoon DeSantis called my cell and explained that he wa evaluating the situationon a week by week basis and did not make any definitive decisions and the districts that he was considering opening the schools were districts with very few infection. PRESS: CNN New Day with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman; Sirius Doctor Radio – Marc Siegal; Press conference (see above); FOX Martha McCallum; FOX Jesse Watters; Brian Williams - MSNBC