Donald Trump declared a public health emergency in the United States days after the country had its first case of COVID-19. Based on data, a 35-year-old man who had returned from Wuhan, China became the first known case, and was confirmed on January 20.
Nine days later, officials established the White House Coronavirus Task Force with Alex Azar as its chair. Vice President Mike Pence replaced the Secretary of Health in the position a month later.
For the first few months, reports said that the task force would meet every day. The U.S. President would, then, brief the media, alongside the members of the task force, inside the White House.
But, this setup has seemingly changed these past few weeks. Speaking to NPR, Dr. Francis Collins said that the Coronavirus Task Force continues to meet regularly. However, they would only do it "at least once a week" behind closed doors, and without a "direct connection" with Donald Trump.
The NIH Director explained, though, that Mike Pence continues to preside all of the meetings. He added that the Vice President remains "engaged" with everything, including all deliberations and decisions. The case is different, however, with the U.S. President as the task force has not, reportedly, met with him for "quite some time."
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who, also, plays a huge role in the White House Coronavirus Task Force, echoed Dr. Francis Collins' statements. He told MSNBC that Donald Trump has not seen the task party for "several months" now, according to CNBC.
When the network's Chuck Todd asked him about the last time that the U.S. President attended a meeting, he shared that they interact with Mike Pence. Fauci continued that the chair would make their "feelings," as well as the things that they discuss, known to Trump afterward.
The White House's spokeswoman, Sarah Matthews, later on, told the network that Donald Trump receives COVID-19 briefings "routinely." She noted in the official statement that the U.S. President, then, moves forward upon receiving the briefings, which feature all the "big decisions."
The statements from the health experts come amid the continued rise of COVID-19 cases in the United States. Worldometers' latest data shows that the country now has a total of 229,284 deaths with over 8.7 million cases.
Reports, then, recalled that Donald Trump "ridiculed" Dr. Anthony Fauci earlier this month, stating that he is a "disaster." Trump added that the American public is "tired" of hearing the government's top pandemic fighter, including especially Dr. Fauci.
