I’m at USF Health in downtown Tampa where Vice President Mike Pence and Gov. Ron DeSantis will address reporters after discussing the state’s coronavirus response. The meeting comes on a record-breaking day in Florida with 10,000 new positive cases and rising rate of death. 
Just got word that the motorcade has left Tampa International Airport and is on its way toward us. Pence and DeSantis will meet with doctors and hospital officials here and then speak with reporters for 35-40 minutes, we're told.
Pence and DeSantis briefly spoke with pool reporters before their meeting. @KirbyWTweets has some of the details:
VP Pence is in Tampa right now
Eight weeks ago, Gov. DeSantis declared Florida HAD flattened the curve.
Several Tampa General and USF Med school folks just emerged from the close-door meeting. Expecting Pence and DeSantis any second.
Here we go, DeSantis to the podium. Starts with how many people are getting tested "generating a lot of additional cases."
Dr. Birx, DHS Secretary Azar and Pence followed DeSantis out of the closed-door meeting.
DeSantis:"The message we've really been sending for folks, I think because we had such a quiet May...it kinda fell out of the news beginning of May to June, people weren't focused on it as much any more." I don't know what newsoutlet hasn't covered this story vigilantly frm day 1
Pence now at the podium, says DeSantis has had a "seamless partnership" with White House coronavirus team.
Pence: "We really are here to assure the people of Florida as we see the rising cases...that we're going to do whatever it takes." Said governor and Pence talked about medical personnel that they will be processing. Not sure what that means. Are they sending doctors down here?
Pence is now touting today's job numbers, and says we don't need to choose between health and opening up America. Unemployment is above 11% and new coronavirus cases are increasing.
Pence: "The record of Florida in protecting the most vulnerable is among the best in the nation."
Pence now speaking to young people, asks them to heed state and local guidance to help those who are most vulnerable. DeSantis and Pence had mentioned masks. Outside, about 2-3 dozen pro-Trump supporters welcomed the VP with signs/cheering. I didn't see any of them wearing masks.
Birx said they were watching Tampa from March, April and May and saw low positive test rate of 4 percent. Now it's 17 percent.
"This virus came to Tampa, and spread to Tampa some time in the end of May."
"This virus came to Tampa, and spread to Tampa some time in the end of May."
Birx asks anyone in Florida who attended any kind of large gathering who are under 40 to get tested.
Azar now at the podium: "If you're young, you know the risk to you are quiet low. But you're protecting vulnerable people in your household. But you're also protecting the person next to you in the grocery line."
FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn now at the mic, asks people who have recovered from coronavirus to donate plasma because convalescent plasma has been an encouraging treatment for other patients.
Hahn: "Your FDA is on the job, we will not cut corners" to deliver a vaccine. Said there's progress and he's "cautiously optimistic."
Q to Gov. DeSantis & Vice President Mike Pence: Does any part of you feel at all personally responsible for the people who are getting sick from this virus and who are dying during a time when most states and countries are seeing a decline in new cases?
Both danced around the ?
Both danced around the ?
When asked if Gov. DeSantis takes any personal responsibility for the rise in cases and deaths when other states are seeing decreases he responded:
"Do you give credit for Florida having much lower fatalities than those other states?"
"Do you give credit for Florida having much lower fatalities than those other states?"
Pence was asked if he would advise people over 65 and with underlying health conditions to avoid he RNC in Jacksonville. He didn't answer the question, but said there are “very sophisticated plans to make sure it’s a safe and healthy environment."
Pence said Florida will have the supplies and testing to meet this moment. For the first two days of the new testing site at Tropicana Field, it had to shut down early because they ran out of tests.
Here's the quick story of Vice President Mike Pence's visit to Tampa on Florida's record-breaking day.
tampabay.com/florida-politi…
tampabay.com/florida-politi…
