Trump Insists Coronavirus Risk 'Very Low' Despite Pandemic Warning
Donald Trump has insisted the risk coronavirus presents to the US “remains very low” – despite officials from within his own government warning of “the possibility of a pandemic”.
Appearing at a White House press conference on Wednesday evening, the president defended his administration’s response to the virus and said health experts were “ready, willing and able” to move quickly in the case of it spreading.
“The risk to the American people remains very low,” Trump said, flanked by public health officials and vice-president Pence, who has been named as the lead on the response to the virus by the president.
Trump went on to say that the spread of the virus was not “inevitable”, adding: “It probably will, it possibly will. It could be at a very small level, or it could be at a larger level. Whatever happens we’re totally prepared.”
His statement contradicted those made by health officials working for the US government.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases, said that while the virus was contained in the United States, Americans must prepare for a potential outbreak as transmissions spread outside of China.
“We have to be alert to the possibility of a pandemic,” Peter Marks, director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in an interview.
US Health and Human Services secretary Alex Azar said the United States has 59 coronavirus cases, including 42 American passengers repatriated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Japan.
Trump’s comments came just hours before Australian prime minister – and close ally – Scott Morrison – warned that “the risk of a global pandemic is very much upon us”.
“We need to take the steps necessary to prepare for such a pandemic,” he added, becoming one of the world’s first leaders to acknowledge the threat of the virus spreading beyond global containment efforts
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