As Donald Trump urges states to reopen, the reality of the pandemic hit home. Two White House staff members with access to him and Vice President Pence have tested positive with coronavirus.
The White House is now testing anyone who has contact with the president and VP, which is just the latest irony since Trump has long minimized the need for testing.
Politico’s Playbook writes: “If the virus can penetrate the fortress that is the West Wing of the White House, how can Americans have any confidence their local restaurants, grocery stores or workplace are safe?“
The New York Times writes:
With more than 77,000 deaths in the United States so far and cases rising by the day, states and employers are wrestling with when and how to reopen without putting workers, customers and clients at risk.
But the federal government has not detailed the best way to minimize risk, much less avoid more deaths. Even as it has experienced positive tests of its own, the White House has so far blocked the release of a set of recommendations developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deeming them overly prescriptive. As a result, businesses have been left to make their best guesses with lives on the line.
The White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters:
“We’ve put in some additional protocols over the last 48 hours” to reduce the risk and expressed confidence that the president could be protected. “This is probably the safest place that you can come to,” he said.
Not exactly comforting words for the staff of the White House or the nation.
