By Douglas V. Gibbs
Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host
○ December 31: China reports the discovery of the coronavirus to the World Health Organization.
○ January 6: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice for Wuhan, China due to the spreading coronavirus.
○ January 7: The CDC established a coronavirus incident management system to better share and respond to information about the virus.
○ January 11: The CDC issued a Level I travel health notice for Wuhan, China.
○ January 17: The CDC began implementing public health entry screening at the 3 U.S. airports that received the most travelers from Wuhan – San Francisco, New York JFK, and Los Angeles.
○ January 20: Dr. Fauci announces the National Institutes of Health is already working on the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus.
○ January 21: The CDC activated its emergency operations center to provide ongoing support to the coronavirus response.
○ January 23: The CDC sought a “special emergency authorization” from the FDA to allow states to use its newly developed coronavirus test.
○ January 27: The CDC issued a level III travel health notice urging Americans to avoid all nonessential travel to China due to the coronavirus.
○ January 29: The White House announced the formation of the Coronavirus Task Force to help monitor and contain the spread of the virus and provide updates to the President.
○ January 31: The Trump Administration:
○ Declared the coronavirus a public health emergency.
○ Announced Chinese travel restrictions.
○ Suspended entry into the United States for foreign nationals who pose a risk of transmitting the coronavirus.
○ January 31: The Department of Homeland Security took critical steps to funnel all flights from China into just 7 domestic U.S. airports.
○ February 3: The CDC had a team ready to travel to China to obtain critical information on the novel coronavirus, but were in the U.S. awaiting permission to enter by the Chinese government.
○ February 4: President Trump vowed in his State of the Union Address to “take all necessary steps” to protect Americans from the coronavirus.
○ February 6: The CDC began shipping CDC-Developed test kits for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus to U.S. and international labs.
○ February 9: The White House Coronavirus Task Force briefed governors from across the nation at the National Governors’ Association Meeting in Washington.
○ February 11: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expanded a partnership with Janssen Research & Development to “expedite the development” of a coronavirus vaccine.
○ February 12: The U.S. shipped test kits for the 2019 novel coronavirus to approximately 30 countries who lacked the necessary reagents and other materials.
○ February 12: The CDC was prepared to travel to China but had yet to receive permission from the Chinese government.
○ February 14: The CDC began working with five labs to conduct “community-based influenza surveillance” to study and detect the spread of coronavirus.
○ February 18: HHS announced it would engage with Sanofi Pasteur in an effort to quickly develop a coronavirus vaccine and to develop treatment for coronavirus infections.
○ February 24: The Trump Administration sent a letter to Congress requesting at least $2.5 billion to help combat the spread of the coronavirus.
○ February 26: President Trump discussed coronavirus containment efforts with Indian PM Modi and updated the press on his Administration’s containment efforts in the U.S. during his state visit to India.
○ February 29: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed certified labs to develop and begin testing coronavirus testing kits while reviewing pending applications.
○ February 29: The Trump Administration:
○ Announced a level 4 travel advisory to areas of Italy and South Korea.
○ Barred all travel to Iran.
○ Barred the entry of foreign citizens who visited Iran in the last 14 days.
○ March 3: The CDC lifted federal restrictions on coronavirus testing to allow any American to be tested for coronavirus, “subject to doctor’s orders.”
○ March 3: The White House announced President Trump donated his fourth quarter salary to fight the coronavirus.
○ March 4: The Trump Administration announced the purchase of $500 million N95 respirators over the next 18 months to respond to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
○ March 4: Secretary Azar announced that HHS was transferring $35 million to the CDC to help state and local communities that have been impacted most by the coronavirus.
○ March 6: President Trump signed an $8.3 billion bill to fight the coronavirus outbreak. The bill provides $7.76 billion to federal, state, & local agencies to combat the coronavirus and authorizes an additional $500 million in waivers for Medicare telehealth restrictions.
○ March 9: President Trump called on Congress to pass a payroll tax cut over coronavirus.
○ March 10: President Trump and VP Pence met with top health insurance companies and secured a commitment to waive co-pays for coronavirus testing.
○ March 11: President Trump:
○ Announced travel restrictions on foreigners who had visited Europe in the last 14 days.
○ Directed the Small Business Administration to issue low-interest loans to affected small businesses and called on congress to increase this fund by $50 billion.
○ Directed the Treasury Department to defer tax payments for affected individuals & businesses, & provide $200 billion in “additional liquidity.”
○ Met with American bankers at the White House to discuss coronavirus.
○ March 13: President Trump declared a national emergency in order to access $42 billion in existing funds to combat the coronavirus.
○ March 13: President Trump announced:
○ Public-private partnerships to open up drive-through testing collection sites.
○ A pause on interest payments on federal student loans.
○ An order to the Department of Energy to purchase oil for the strategic petroleum reserve.
○ March 13: The Food & Drug Administration:
○ Granted Roche AG an emergency approval for automated coronavirus testing kits.
○ Issued an emergency approval to Thermo Fisher for a coronavirus test within 24 hours of receiving the request.
○ March 13: HHS announced funding for the development of two new rapid diagnostic tests, which would be able to detect coronavirus in approximately 1 hour.
○ March 14: The Coronavirus Relief Bill passed the House of Representatives.
○ March 14: The Trump Administration announced the European travel ban will extend to the UK and Ireland.
○ March 15: President Trump held a phone call with over two dozen grocery store executives to discuss on-going demand for food and other supplies.
○ March 15: HHS announced it is projected to have 1.9 million COVID-19 tests available in 2,000 labs this week.
○ March 15: Google announced a partnership with the Trump Administration to develop a website dedicated to coronavirus education, prevention, & local resources.
○ March 15: All 50 states were contacted through FEMA to coordinate “federally-supported, state-led efforts” to end coronavirus.
○ March 16: President Trump:
○ Held a tele-conference with governors to discuss coronavirus preparedness and response.
○ Participated in a call with G7 leaders who committed to increasing coordination in response to the coronavirus and restoring global economic confidence.
○ Announced that the first potential vaccine for coronavirus has entered a phase one trial in a record amount of time.
○ Announced “15 days to slow the spread” coronavirus guidance.
○ March 16: The FDA announced it was empowering states to authorize tests developed and used by labs in their states.
○ March 16: Asst. Secretary for Health confirmed the availability of 1 million coronavirus tests, and projected 2 million tests available the next week and 5 million the following.
○ March 17: President Trump announced:
○ CMS will expand telehealth benefits for Medicare beneficiaries.
○ Relevant Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act penalties will not be enforced.
○ The Army Corps of Engineers is on ”standby” to assist federal & state governments.
○ March 17: President Trump spoke to fast food executives from Wendy’s, McDonald’s and Burger King to discuss drive-thru services recommended by CDC
○ March 17: President Trump met with tourism industry representatives along with industrial supply, retail, and wholesale representatives.
○ March 17: Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin met with lawmakers to discuss stimulus measures to relieve the economic burden of coronavirus on certain industries, businesses, and American workers.
○ March 17: Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced a partnership between USDA, Baylor University, McLane Global, and Pepsi Co. to provide one million meals per weak to rural children in response to widespread school closures.
○ March 17: The Treasury Department:
○ Contributed $10bil through the economic stabilization fund to the Federal Reserve’s commercial paper funding facility.
○ Deferred $300 billion in tax payments for 90 days without penalty, up to $1mil for individuals & $10mil for business.
○ March 17: The Department of Defense announced it will make available to HHS up to five million respirator masks and 2,000 ventilators.
○ March 18: President Trump announced:
○ Temporary closure of the U.S.-Canada border to non-essential traffic.
○ Plans to invoke the Defense Production Act in order to increase the number of necessary supplies needed to combat coronavirus.
○ FEMA has been activated in every region at its highest level of response.
○ The U.S. Navy will deploy USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy hospital ships.
All foreclosures and evictions will be suspended for a period of time.
○ March 18: Secretary of Defense Mark Esper confirmed:
○ 1 million masks are now immediately available.
○ The Army Corps of Engineers is in NY consulting on how to best assist state officials.
○ March 18: HHS temporarily suspended a regulation that prevents doctors from practicing across state lines.
○ March 18: President Trump spoke to:
○ Doctors, physicians, and nurses on the front lines containing the spread of coronavirus.
○ 130 CEOs of the Business Roundtable to discuss on-going public-private partnerships in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Anyone who claims he was slow to respond, or has fallen short, is a liar.
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary