Thread by @ClaraJeffery

<<<---Currently watching Trump give a presser on coronavirus from a hospital ward. He's blathering on about Afghanistan, it's very hard to follow.

"It's a tough one, but a lot of progress has been made"

He now counts 22 patients. That's not the full count.

Says the woman who just died was very medically at risk. Says healthy individuals will be likely to fully recover.

I mean...if they get top-flight care, yes.

He says his administration has mounted the most vigorous response in human history or something.

Wrong. It's been a shitshow.

He indicates that because so many people travel here and we have so few cases it means success.

Nope.

Pence is up. Already sounds a more somber note about other Americans in ICU units.

Then goes on to make it a praise fest about Trump.

Pence says we're banning travel from anyone who's been to Iran in last two weeks.

Also now under a "Level Four" travel advisory. Americans shouldn't travel to South Korea and parts of Italy.

(These are just going to grow)

The amount of "Dear Leader" praise heaped on Trump is just disgusting.

Pence says "the average American does not need to go out and buy a mask"

(finally some decent advice.)

DHHS Secretary Azar now up. Say "this is what we predicted, this is what we expected"

Reminder Trump told a rally last night it was a hoax.

Azar says: we expect to see more cases, we WILL see more cases. But for the average American the risk of contraction is low, and most of those that do will experience cold or flu like system.

Medically fragile people are at the greatest risk.

Says we should contain.

Dr. Anthony Fauci now up. People in health journalism thinks he's amazing; Pence has put him on short leash to speak freely.

Fauci says preventing travel to/from actively infected hotspots is key.

From within US, very aggressive public health measures.

Don't be surprised by new cases in US.

Now Dr Robert Redfield of CDC is up. Says it is aggressively evaluating "community spread" in CA, WA, and OR.

The risk is low to most Americans.

Trump says "the hoax" is the Democrats, something something like impeachment.

I couldn't begin to diagram that sentence.

Trump says Dr. Fauci is not muzzled. Makes Fauci agree. Calls journalist's "very dishonest." Fauci says the "clearance" (ie lack of it) to appear on Sunday shows was misinterpreted.

Should Americans change their daily routine. Thankfully Trump kicks this questions to CDC's Redfield, who says risk is low and people should go on with regular lives.

Another journalist asks if his use of "hoax" is going to prevent people from taking reasonable steps to prevent infection.

Trump dodges.

Q: Will Trump change his own travel and etc?

Trump indicates that rallies will go on.

Q: what do we mean by medically fragile people and morbidity in general.

Fauci: As in China, 15-20% will need advanced medical care.

Those who die likely to have underlying medical issues. But a few young totally healthy one-offs will also die. As also happens w/ flu.

15-20% needing advanced medical care does not seem low.

Fauci also says there's no indication that re-infection can occur.

Q: Did the woman who passed away travel?

A: no link to travel

Q: Are we considering travel restrictions within US?

A: didn't really answer

Q: John Bolton says this deal with Taliban is "Obama-style" deal

Trump: ......... Time for other nations to step up in Afghanistan. Like...Russia. jfc.

Q to Trump re Fed saying things it may do things to help markets re coronavirus

A: Trump goes on and on about how Fed should do more like Germany to lower interest rates. Gets angry at Fed.

Trump says people expected China to overtake US economy which won't happen as long as "somebody smart" is right here (points to podium)

Trump says process to get vaccine will go very quickly...the experts cut him off.

A vaccine is at least a year away as they've said repeatedly.

Will anybody ask about DHS workers not following protocol infecting the patient in California?

Reporter asks if Trump can guarantee if Pence won't let ideology get in way of health care, as he did in Indiana.

Trump kicks to Pence. Pence goes into state response to a single MERS patient...

Re 2015 HIV outbreak, Pence says he listened to CDC re needle exchange, which...

...is true but it took two months for him to get there.

Trump says markets will come back. "We have one problem and we have to get that into focus."

"Safety, health is #1. Markets will come back"

(that's good advice.)

But then goes on about how the Fed needs to "do it's job."

Says he has a middle class tax cut, but democrats don't like tax cuts.

Q: How soon will troops be coming back.

A: Like, today.

(that's not possible)

Trump says we can expect more pressers.

Experts come back and say for us to go with life. Travel to/from CA, WA, OR is ok.

How long until we learn this Taliban deal was announced to distract from COVID-19, I wonder.

Another prediction: Trump will be more or less on message with experts in these pressers but continue to refer to the fear over virus a hoax cooked up by democrats at rallies and other less scripted moments.