President says “America needs to be a truly independent nation.”
President Trump said that America is beginning to see the “light at the end of the tunnel,” as the number of coronavirus cases doubles every two or three days in the U.S.
He said again that he wants the country “back open by Easter,” April 12. He said he would love to see churches packed on that day. We’ll only do it if it is good. It may only be sections of a country at a time.
He said the Senate appears to be inching closer to a deal on the massive stimulus bill, following several rounds of negotiations between Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
Dr. Deborah Birx relayed new statistics on the numbers of cases and fatalities. She also mentioned actions being taken in other countries, such as the 21-day nationwide shutdown of India.
She said that in 8 days the U.S. has done more testing that South Korea did in 8 weeks, to the credit of healthcare workers across the nation.
We will be watching for that curve to start coming down, but that is not going to happen in the next days.
Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke about testing and the new opportunity for mitigation on the spread of the virus. He said the situation in New York is very serious. But now, understandably, people want to get out of New York—to Florida and other locations. But with so many New Yorkers having been exposed to the virus, they need to be willing to self-isolate for two weeks when they get to wherever they are going.
As for the testing of drugs, randomized clinical trials are being done on more than just the anti-malarial drugs combined with antibiotics. Serums for antibodies and other drugs are giving hope.
Beginning the question and answer period, President Trump said large companies need help but it will be going to them in the form of loans.
He again spent a good deal of time discussing New York and the other regions of the country where the virus has not penetrated as much. So some areas will need to be treated flexibly different from other areas. We need to collect more data.
The question and answer period was very abbreviated, with the president concluding that Americans are itching to get back to work, and we want to see that happen as soon as possible. “They’re raring to go,” he said.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For discernment for the president as he works to protect the nation.
- For guidance for the president and administration officials as they work to do what is in the best interest of the nation.
Sources: White House, Fox News
