The White House COVID-19 Response Team is making good on its promise to make sure they are regularly keeping the public up-to-date on the pandemic. Today members of the team held their first virtual press briefing saying, “We made a commitment to you to be transparent and offer access to science-based updates straight from the folks who know best.” The nation’s leading infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci was joined by Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, Health Equity Task Force Chair, Andy Slavitt, Senior Advisor to the COVID-19 Response Team; and Jeff Zients, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the CDC, was also in attendance and she offered a warning that the U.S. could see up to 514,000 COVID-related deaths by February 20.
New CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky started the first Biden admin COVID-19 task force press conference by acknowledging the tragic reality of the pandemic and sharing hopeful signs pic.twitter.com/zWWaLZ4t7w
— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) January 27, 2021
The bulk of the briefing was centered on vaccine distribution. With Slavit saying, “100 million doses in 100 days is a floor, not a ceiling.” He was hopeful about the administration’s goals, but also urged patience.
WH COVID response team senior adviser Andy Slavitt:
“Right now, I want to level with the public … it will be months before everyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get one.” pic.twitter.com/vWb6bYmKRy
— The Recount (@therecount) January 27, 2021
The experts also addressed the new COVID variants. According to Walensky, “I also know that there are concerns about various viruses mutate, and we have always expected that variants would emerge, and we have been looking for them… The variants that have been identified recently seem to spread more easily. They’re more transmissible, which can lead to increased number of cases, and increased stress on our already overtaxed system.”
Toplines from the first Biden White House COVID Response Team briefing: CDC Dir. Walensky says the UK variant has been detected in 26 states so far but the South African one has not been identified here yet.
— Monica Alba (@albamonica) January 27, 2021
Watch more above.