NYT: Trump pardons former chief strategist Steve Bannon
— The New York Times is reporting that President Donald Trump has pardoned Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist who was charged with defrauding people.
Health Team
CDC director: 'distressing trend' in US COVID cases
HHS Secretary Alex Azar met with CDC Director Robert Redfield and agency leadership today to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 response and Operation Warp Speed. The group held a press briefing afterwards and warned of a "distressing trend" in the U.S.. (WXIA)
covered 19 is the most significant public health challenge our countries faced in more than a century, and the pandemic is not over. I know it's been a difficult year for Americans. What? We are going to come through this on the other side. I'm also optimistic that will have a limited supply of one arm or co vid vaccines available for distribution before the end of this year. The CDC is science based on data driven and as a consequence, as we get more data and understand the science of co vid, we're going to continue to incorporate that in our recommendations. Originally, contact. As you know, that was considered to be high risk for potential exposure to cove it with someone within 6 ft. That was for more than 15 minutes. There is some recent data, uh, that has been determined an individual who had a Siris of shorter contacts but over time added up to more than 15 minutes became infected. Unfortunately, we're seeing a distressing trend here in the United States, with covert 19 cases increasing in nearly 75% of the country. I recognize that we are all getting tired of the impact that Cove in 19 has had on our lives. We get tired of wearing masks, but it continues to be as important as it's ever been. And I would say it's more important than ever. As we movinto the fall season, we expect that we would have by the end of this year enough vaccine to be that is FDA authorized to be able to vaccinate all of our vulnerable into the most vulnerable individuals. Then, by the end of January, we expect we have enough to vaccinate all seniors as well as our health care workers and first responders. And by the end of March to early April, enough vaccine for all Americans who would want to take a vaccine? Our guidance is the same. Regardless of setting. Wash your hands, watch your distance where your face carving when you can't watch your distance and avoid settings where you can't do those things for anybody, reconnect to school, reconnected work, going back to worship or reconnecting to health care or engaging in the political and civic life of our country. Our advice remains the same, which is wash your hands. Watch your distance where face coverings when you can't watch your distance and avoid settings where you don't where you are going to be able to do do those things.
