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- May 15, 2020 at 04:29AM
FDA warns fast virus test used by White House may be inaccurate
Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday night warned that users of the Abbott ID NOW point-of-care test to diagnose those with the Coronavirus - a test often used by the White House and touted by President Donald Trump - may not be accurate. 'Specifically, the test may return false negative results,' the FDA said in a statement. 'We are still evaluating the information about inaccurate results and are in direct communications with Abbott about this important issue,' the FDA added. The Thursday night statement indicated the test was accurate for positive results on the Coronavirus, but that negative results might need to be confirmed with a second review. President Trump has often talked up the Abbott test as an indicator of how well the U.S. has responded to the virus threat. 'This is a five to 15-minute test,' the President said on Monday about the Abbott test. 'These tests are highly sophisticated -- very quick, very good. This is things that didn't even exist a short while ago.' 'So we do have a great testing capability at the White House,' Mr. Trump added. The FDA statement came a day after researchers at New York University released a study which said the rapid test might miss as many as half of positive cases. Abbott had questioned the accuracy of that NYU review. President Trump has alternately trumpeted the growing testing capabilities in the U.S. - and bemoaned them as well. 'We have more cases than anybody in the world. But why? Because we do more testing,' the President said during a stop in Pennsylvania on Thursday. 'When you test, you have a case. When you test, you find something is wrong with people. If we didn't do any testing we would have very few cases. They (the press) don't want to write that. It's common sense,' Mr. Trump said.
(Feed generated with FetchRSS) - May 15, 2020 at 04:29AM FDA warns fast virus test used by White House may be inaccurate Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider
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A day after federal agents reportedly served him with a search warrant for his cell phone as part of an investigation into his stock sales after a secret briefing on the threat of the Coronavirus, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) stepped aside as Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. 'Senator Burr contacted me this morning to inform me of his decision to step aside as Chairman of the Intelligence Committee during the pendency of the investigation,' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement. 'We agreed that this decision would be in the best interests of the committee,' McConnell added. 'This is a distraction to the hard work of the committee and the members, and I think the security of the country is too important,' Burr said as he walked from his office to the Senate floor on Thursday. The moves came after the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday night that federal agents had shown up at Burr's residence in Washington, D.C. area. Burr had drawn scrutiny because of a flurry of stock sales made in mid-February, soon after the Intelligence Committee received briefings on the threat posed by the Coronavirus. The stocks which had been owned by Burr plummeted in value a few weeks later, when the markets went down in response to the virus outbreak. Burr is not the only Senator who has drawn scrutiny for trades during that time frame. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) refused to answer questions from reporters at the Capitol on Thursday about her own stock transactions, and whether she was under investigation. Loeffler has sternly denied wrongdoing.
(Feed generated with FetchRSS) - May 15, 2020 at 04:29AM Facing stock probe, Burr steps aside as Senate Intel chair Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider
The number of new Coronavirus cases and deaths in the United States have slowed in recent days, just as more states are beginning to take steps to re-open businesses shuttered by the virus outbreak, but thousands of Americans are still dying as the death toll went over 83,000 on Wednesday. A seven day average of the number of new Coronavirus deaths in the U.S. has started to fall in recent days, as so far there has been no explosion of virus cases since states began taking steps to re-open shuttered businesses, even as the death toll keeps climbing, now at over 83,000 Americans. 'There's hopeful signs,' said former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb in testimony Wednesday before a special House panel on the virus. 'We see hospitalizations and new cases going down nationally.' 'So we're seeing signs of a slowing epidemic nationally,' Gottlieb added. After the 7-day national average of deaths seemed to plateau around 1,800 per day last week, that average has now come down to 1,436 - the lowest point in a month. One reason for the drop in deaths nationally has been the improving Coronavirus situation in New York, where deaths were down to 166 on Wednesday, continuing a decline from just short of 800 a day several weeks ago. 'These are not numbers, these are families,' said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday. 'They're fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters.' New Jersey reported the most deaths in the U.S. on Wednesday with 197, followed by Illinois, which had its deadliest day yet from the virus outbreak, at 191 deaths. Massachusetts reported 174 deaths on Wednesday, with Pennsylvania at 137. After generating over a third of all deaths on some individual days in April, New York was just over 10 percent on Wednesday. But the problem is deaths have grown in other states. Back at the White House, the President again pressed governors to re-open their states, especially pushing for schools to be back in session. 'I think they should open the schools, absolutely,' Mr. Trump told reporters, as he argued that young people are not impacted as seriously by the virus. 'I don’t consider our country coming back if the schools are closed.' The President was then asked about Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. expert on infectious disease, who has become even more of a lightning rod within the GOP in recent days, as GOP lawmakers say Fauci is holding back Mr. Trump's efforts to open businesses. “Look, he wants to play all sides of the equation,” the President, with a note of derision in his voice. A day earlier at a Senate hearing, Fauci had urged caution when talking about re-opening schools in the fall - and the President did not like that. 'To me, it's not an acceptable answer,' President Trump said. “We’re opening our country. People want it open. The schools are going to be open,” Mr. Trump told reporters.
(Feed generated with FetchRSS) - May 14, 2020 at 03:59AM Coronavirus cases and deaths still high, but start to drop Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider
The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday specifically warned researchers doing work on the Coronavirus to be aware of stepped up hacking efforts by groups tied to the Chinese government, warning those working on vaccines, treatments or general research to be wary of possible computer intrusions. 'Health care, pharmaceutical, and research sectors working on COVID-19 response should all be aware they are the prime targets of this activity and take the necessary steps to protect their systems,' the FBI statement read. In the warning, the FBI said groups tied to Beijing had already been targeting American organizations doing a variety of research efforts related to the virus outbreak. 'These actors have been observed attempting to identify and illicitly obtain valuable intellectual property (IP) and public health data related to vaccines, treatments, and testing from networks and personnel affiliated with COVID-19-related research,' the FBI stated. 'The potential theft of this information jeopardizes the delivery of secure, effective, and efficient treatment options,' the FBI concluded. Earlier this week the President all but acknowledged the Chinese hacking efforts. 'So what else is new with China? What else is new?' the President said in the White House Rose Garden on Monday when asked by Steve Holland, a reporter for Reuters. 'I'm not happy with China,' Mr. Trump added. 'So now you're telling me they're hacking? So, I just say this, Steve: What else is new? We're watching it very closely.' In a series of recommendations to researchers, the FBI said anyone doing work related to the Coronavirus should assume - that if they are getting publicity in the news media - then they are probably going to get attention from hackers as well.
(Feed generated with FetchRSS) - May 14, 2020 at 03:59AM FBI sounds alarm on Chinese hacking linked to Coronavirus Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider
With no sense that economic troubles linked to the Coronavirus outbreak are going to vanish anytime soon, Democrats in the House rolled out a sweeping $3 trillion aid package Tuesday, combining more direct payments to Americans with emergency aid for state and local governments, and another $75 billion for virus testing and tracing efforts. 'Not acting is the most expensive course,' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said outside of her office in the Capitol. 'We must think big for the people, now,' Pelosi added. 'The number of 33 million Americans who have filed for Unemployment Insurance is almost unimaginable,' Pelosi added. 'This is a moment when many millions of our fellow Americans are in deep suffering.' The plan - over 1,800 pages in all - was negotiated only among Democrats, and seemed unlikely to gain GOP support, as Republicans swiftly mocked the size, the cost, and the scope of the measure, declaring it dead on arrival. 'What a joke,' said Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA). 'This multi-trillion dollar monstrosity was dreamed up behind closed doors with zero bipartisan input,' said Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL). 'Taxpayers deserve better.' 'The House Democrat proposal is not a serious attempt to legislate,' said Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC). The plan from Democrats includes extra unemployment benefits, more money for food assistance, housing aid, and much more. The fine print has $3.6 billion to help states better plan and prepare for the November elections - which could feature a big increase in the number of absentee and mail-in ballots. There was also $25 billion in emergency aid for the Postal Service to help buy personal protective equipment for workers, to safeguard them on the job. Democrats were told to expect a vote as soon as Friday in the House. It is unclear what the Senate will do with the measure.
(Feed generated with FetchRSS) - May 13, 2020 at 03:29AM House Democrats unveil $3 trillion Coronavirus aid measure Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider
With President Donald Trump urging states to relax their restrictions from the Coronavirus outbreak, the top government health voice on the virus said Americans may see spikes in virus cases as businesses re-open, as Dr. Anthony Fauci said the nation has certainly helped suppress the spread of the virus. “I think we are going in the right direction, but the right direction does not mean we have by any means total control of this outbreak,” Fauci said to a Senate hearing. Appearing by remote video - like all the other witnesses and most Senators - Fauci warned there could be further hot spots that flare, especially if states open too quickly. 'There is a real risk that you will trigger an outbreak that you might not be able to control,' Fauci testified. Joined by the head of the Food and Drug Administration, the chief of the Centers for Disease Control, and another top federal health aide who has worked with the President, Fauci again navigated his way through a partisan mine field over how the White House response has been viewed politically. 'There is certainly not a confrontational relationship,' Fauci said in response to a question from Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA). Fauci testified amid frustration over his influence in some circles within the GOP, and it flared as Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) bluntly told the longtime infectious disease expert that his counsel was harming the nation by restricting business activity. 'I don't think you are the end-all,' Paul told Fauci. Fauci said he sticks to health policy. 'I've never made myself out to be the end-all,' Fauci replied. 'Please reassure the public that Dr Fauci is only one of many counselors,' Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) tweeted to President Trump during the hearing. 'I'm tired of hearing it's the administration's fault,' said Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN), who criticized a one-size-fits-all kind of response which left many businesses closed around the nation. While Democrats used the hearing to complain about what they say has been an inadequate response by President Trump, there were also some notes of GOP dissatisfaction as well. Noting infection hot spots at meatpacking plants in his state and others, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) said a better testing regime is needed to help in getting those plants back to work. 'Four an hour is not a rapid test,' Roberts said of the pace of the virus testing machines, as he said the Coronavirus was hurting farm states. 'We're not in good shape,' said Roberts, who was wearing surgical gloves while sitting at his desk, testifying like many by remote video hookup. A few minutes later, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) was much more blunt in his criticism. 'I find our testing record nothing to celebrate,' Romney said, a day after President Trump had trumpeted that record. The hearing itself was a commentary on where the nation is in dealing with the virus outbreak - some Senators on hand, but many back in their offices on video, along with all of the witnesses. “We need widespread testing,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), who chaired the hearing while his dog slept behind him at his home.
(Feed generated with FetchRSS) - May 13, 2020 at 03:29AM Fauci: US going in right direction, but virus spikes possible as states re-open Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider
In a notable switch, the White House on Monday ordered staffers to wear masks after two employees tested positive last week for the Coronavirus, as new precautions were undertaken in public to keep President Trump away from federal health experts in an afternoon event on virus testing in the Rose Garden. 'I see everybody, just about everybody has a face mask on,' the President said, standing in front of a big banner hanging outside the Oval Office which proclaimed, 'America leads the world in testing.' Asked about the new safeguards at the White House - both in public view and away from the television cameras - the President downplayed the seriousness of the threat to himself. 'Everybody coming into the President's office gets tested,' Mr. Trump told reporters. 'And I felt no vulnerability what so ever.' Earlier on a conference call with reporters, a senior administration confirmed that they were taking 'extra precautions here at the White House.' 'I'm not close to anybody,' the President noted from his podium, which was behind a row of plants, setting him aside from the second podium in the Rose Garden. 'I'm very far away from everyone,' Mr. Trump added, noting the number of White House aides - who last week did not wear any masks - were now wearing one. 'Just about everybody I've seen today has worn a mask,' the President noted. Pressed on when regular working Americans would see access to tests and contact tracing at the White House, the President instead lashed out at the reporter who asked the question. The President used his Rose Garden appearance on Monday to announce the White House was sending $11 billion in funding to the states to help with testing. “We have more testing than any country by far,” the President said, as he complained the news media was not giving him credit for ramping up testing for the states. As for Vice President Mike Pence, who had
(Feed generated with FetchRSS) - May 12, 2020 at 03:05AM White House makes major changes after positive Coronavirus tests Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider
A review by the Centers for Disease Control of deaths in New York City during the first eight weeks of the Coronavirus outbreak found at least 24,000 more people died in that city than should normally be expected, a key statistic which can demonstrate the severity of a public health emergency. 'Reporting of excess deaths might provide a more accurate measure of the impact of the pandemic,' the CDC review found. From March 11 - the date of the first known Coronavirus death in New York City - through May 2, there were a total of 32,107 deaths, many more than the normal 8,000 to be expected for that same period of almost eight weeks. During that time frame, nearly 19,000 people died - almost 14,000 with confirmed tests showing the Coronavirus, and another 5,000 'probable' cases. The CDC says it's safe to assume some of the other 'excess' deaths over the regular average in New York City were tied to the virus outbreak as well. 'Counting only confirmed or probable COVID-19–associated deaths, however, likely underestimates the number of deaths attributable to the pandemic,' the CDC review stated. 'The 5,293 excess deaths not identified as confirmed or probable COVID-19–associated deaths might have been directly or indirectly attributable to the pandemic,' the report added.
(Feed generated with FetchRSS) - May 12, 2020 at 03:05AM CDC: large number of excess deaths in New York City during virus outbreak Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider
Trying to return to a semblance of normal legislative activity on Capitol Hill during the Coronavirus outbreak, Senators did their best last week to use video hookups to join a series of hearings, reducing the number of lawmakers traipsing the halls and sitting in hearing rooms, fully embracing technology in a way which might have been frowned upon by solons of the past. 'I think this was an unmitigated success today doing this hearing this way,' said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) via video hookup to a Tuesday hearing. But the remote video sessions weren't used just by Senators who were back in their home states, as a number of members in both parties joined various hearings from the comfort and safety of their offices - keeping their distance from their colleagues. 'We are holding this hearing in unusual circumstances,' said Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), who alternated between going to hearings in person and joining them by remote video. The video appearances by Senators were notable mainly for how normal they seemed in the midst of a completely disruptive virus outbreak. Senators made their statements, asked their questions of the witnesses and used their time just as if they had been sitting on the dais. Maybe the only odd part was the witnesses answering questions to a large screen television monitor instead of a live Senator - but the hearings did not suffer. Yes, there were a few hiccups at times for the Senators on video - with their cameras slightly askew or out of focus, not enough light on the Senator, or in one case, the dog barking in the background. For example, Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) spent some time at one hearing reading from his notes - the problem was his camera was only catching the top of his head for most of the period where he was reading. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) seemed to need some more light for his appearance, as he and Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) spent some time on camera looking more like the view through a pair of smudged glasses. But for the most part, the effort seemed to be a bipartisan success, and there were no sounds of a toilet flushing - as happened during one U.S. Supreme Court telephone argument. Senators were taking advantage of technology after agreeing to change the rules governing the use of video conferencing for Senators, something the House has yet to agree upon. 'Sen. (Roy) Blunt (R-MO) and I worked hard in the Rules Committee to get this done,' said Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), as she joined a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing by video conference. 'I'm glad that we are seeing Senators there as well as remotely,' Klobuchar added, though her audio cut in and out a few seconds later, as Senators embraced technological change in the World's Greatest Deliberative Body 'Here I am, is this working?' said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in a jovial voice, as he tried to start his questioning via video at a judicial nomination hearing. 'We hear you, now we see you,' said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). 'You look great.' 'Oh, thanks,' Whitehouse said with a big grin.
(Feed generated with FetchRSS) - May 10, 2020 at 01:05AM Dealing with virus, Senate embraces remote video at hearings Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider
As the Labor Department reported Friday that 20.5 million Americans had lost their jobs in April, pushing the nation's unemployment rate to 14.5 percent, the highest level ever recorded since the feds began tracking jobless numbers in 1948. 'It's fully expected - there's no surprise, everybody knows that,' President Donald Trump told 'Fox and Friends,' as the Fox News hosts interrupted their lengthy morning telephone call with the President to inform him of the latest jobs numbers. 'What I can do is bring it back,' President Trump said of a rebound from the economic devastation wrought by the outbreak of the Coronavirus, which has shuttered thousands of businesses. The details from the jobs report were staggering - 20.5 million jobs lost, a 14.7 percent jobless rate, the unemployment rate for blacks soared to 16.7 percent, and the number of people holding multiple jobs plummeted with the job losses as well. And with the jump in unemployment, the Labor Force Participation Rate also showed a decline, dropping to 60.3 percent, the lowest point since 1973. 'Behind every one of these job losses is a family that could be struggling at this very moment to decide between paying rent, keeping the lights on, or putting food on the table — to say nothing of planning for the future,' said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Not since the giant economic downturn known as the Great Recession in 2008-2010 had there been so much economic damage shown in the Labor Department report. But during that time, the jobless rate hit 10 percent only in October of 2009, the second highest figure since mid-1983, when unemployment went to 10.1 percent. In GOP circles, the report was evidence that it was time for a major change in how states and the federal government are handling the response to the Coronavirus. 'The cure has been worse than the disease,' Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) said of the move to shutdown businesses as part of the effort to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. 'Time to reopen America’s society and economy, while taking precautions to protect our most vulnerable,' Biggs said Friday.
(Feed generated with FetchRSS) - May 09, 2020 at 12:11AM Trump: Massive job losses 'fully expected' Click on this headline to read the full story at Jamie Dupree - Washington Insider |
Jamie DupreeJamie Dupree is the Washington Bureau Chief for Cox Communications. He writes and produces radio reports with the aid of digital reconstructions of the voice he lost in 2012.. Archives
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