US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the risk to the American people of the new coronavirus is “very low” due to actions taken by his government, such as travel restrictions on people arriving from China, enacted two weeks ago.
“For everything we’ve done, the risk to the American people remains very low,” said Trump, adding that his decisions were “ridiculed” at the beginning.
Asked whether he was proposing to implement restrictions on people from countries where COVID-19 has been attacking the strongest in recent days, such as South Korea or Italy, he shot a decision for later. “We will not talk about this for now. But we will see what happens,” he replied.
“South Korea was hit very hard, in Italy it is being very difficult, in China it is obvious what happened, but the number seems to be stabilizing and decreasing in China, which is very good news. see what happens. “
Likewise, Trump said, that in case of expansion of cases, the The United States would know how to respond like China – quarantine entire cities – and are prepared for the worst scenario. “But I don’t believe that will happen. We are well prepared, our borders are well controlled.”
“Spend whatever it takes”
In addition, the US president has promised to spend whatever is appropriate to respond to the new coronavirus. The government has asked Congress for a total of $ 2.5 billion in funding to develop treatments, vaccines and maintain the stock national list of essential equipment, but Trump said he would be happy to spend more if it is “offered” by Democrats.
“We were asking for 2.5 billion, and we think it is a lot, but I think the Democrats and Senator Schumer want us to have much more than that. If so, I say that we will accept it,” he said.
For now, the US has ordered the purchase of “many” masks to deal with a possible outbreak, said the president. “We may not need it,” he told a journalist. “We are analyzing the worst case scenario, but it shouldn’t be necessary, we have everything under control. The flightsand the borders are very controlled. “
As for funding, he spoke to the Democrats. “We will spend what is appropriate, do what they want,” added Trump, who appointed deputy Mike Pence as coordinator of the national coronavirus task force. “Mike will work with professionals and doctors and with everyone else who will join the team, “said the American president.
Trump also said that US experts are working on a vaccine. “We have the best in the world. We can develop it quickly,” he guaranteed.
At the press conference, Anne Schuchat, deputy principal director of the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the United States should expect more cases of coronavirus. “Our aggressive containment strategy in the United States has worked and is responsible for the low levels of cases we have so far. However, we expect more cases. And this is a good time to prepare,” he said.
US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said the coronavirus poses a low risk to the American public. “The immediate risk to the American public was and remains low.”
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