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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 12 May 2020
Trump faces virus at White House amid push to ‘reopen’ U.S.

By ZEKE MILLER and travel to the state on Thurs-
KEVIN FREKING day, according to adviso-
Associated Press ries from the Federal Avia-
WASHINGTON (AP) — As he tion Administration.
encourages the country to Alongside Trump's encour-
"reopen," President Donald agement to reopen, the
Trump is confronting cases administration moved
of the coronavirus in his Monday to address signifi-
own home, spotlighting the cant death rates in nurs-
challenge the White House ing homes and other senior
faces in instilling confi- care facilities. On the call
dence in a nation still reel- with governors, Pence and
ing from the pandemic. Birx recommended that ev-
Two known cases of CO- ery occupant and staffer
VID-19 among staffers in be tested for COVID-19 in
one of the most-protect- the next two weeks, with
ed complexes in America vigilant monitoring going
have sent three of the na- forward, especially of staff.
tion's top medical experts Decisions about how fast
into quarantine and Vice to reopen are being made
President Mike Pence into with the general election
"self-isolation." The scare less than six months away,
comes as the White House and Trump and other in-
this week is emphasizing to Vice President Mike Pence reacts to audience members after a roundtable with agriculture and cumbents facing it in the
the American people the food supply leaders about steps being taken to ensure the food supply remains secure in response midst of a public health
steps being taken to assure to the coronavirus pandemic, Friday, May 8, 2020, in West Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press and economic crisis.
their safety — in hopes that "If we do this carefully,
will coax them to resume with governors from an iso- lergy and Infectious Diseas- tration officials taking such working with the gover-
normal activities. lated room, after his press es, Dr. Robert Redfield, di- precautions come as states nors, I don't think there's a
"This week - you'll hear the @ secretary tested positive Fri- rector of the CDC, and the seek to loosen economic considerable risk," Treasury
WhiteHouse talk about pre- day. Dr. Deborah Birx and commissioner of the Food restrictions put in place to Secretary Steven Mnuchin
paredness & confidence," other staffers participated and Drug Administration, mitigate the virus' spread. said on "Fox News Sun-
tweeted Alyssa Farah, the as usual from a conference Dr. Stephen Hahn, were Trump on Monday was day." "Matter of fact, I think
White House director of room in the Situation Room, all quarantining after ex- complaining that Demo- there's a considerable risk
strategic communications. Pence said, explaining the posure to the White House cratic governors were too of not reopening. You're
"The Trump Admin is work- "slightly different circum- staffer. slow in lifting restrictions in talking about what would
ing around the clock to stance." The three experts are their states. be permanent economic
build our testing capacity, "We are taking the appro- scheduled to testify before "The great people of Penn- damage to the American
grow our PPE stockpiles, priate countermeasures a Senate panel Tuesday sylvania want their free- public."
distribute therapeutics, & to protect the president's on "Safely Getting Back to dom now, and they are Mnuchin was one of sev-
get $ to states to SAFELY re- health," Pence added, ac- Work and Back to School." fully aware of what that eral economic advisers the
open in a way Americans cording to a recording ob- However, they, along with entails," he tweeted. "The White House dispatched
can have CONFIDENCE in." tained by the AP. The White committee chairman La- Democrats are moving on Sunday to place the
Yet, that message was un- House was moving to daily mar Alexander, R-Tenn., slowly, all over the USA, focus on the merits of loos-
dercut by the exposure of testing of some staff mem- will all participate remotely. for political purposes. They ening restrictions on the
senior government officials bers to detect the disease. Alexander is quarantining would wait until November economy. Yet attention to
to positive cases at the The stepped-up protective after a staff member of his 3rd if it were up to them. possible risks of infection
White House itself. measures comes as Dr. An- own tested positive for CO- Don't play politics. Be safe, also turned to how the virus
Pence on Monday led the thony Fauci, the director of VID-19. move quickly!" even found its way into the
White House's weekly call the National Institute of Al- The images of top adminis- Trump was scheduled to White House.q
Park: Crowds stayed manageable during reopening of Smokies

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) some restroom facilities be- across open areas in the
— Crews had to rescue came accessible for the park.
one hiker and dealt with first time Saturday when the She said the park would
congestion in a few popu- attraction became one of continue to push its #Smok-
lar places when the Great the country's first national iesSafe messages online
Smoky Mountains re- parks to reopen after clos- and on social media to
opened over the weekend, ing in March to prevent the help people plan a safe
but crowds stayed man- spread of the coronavirus. visit. She said that includes
ageable, a park spokes- Popular areas including Ca- adhering to social distanc-
woman said Monday. des Cove and Newfound ing guidelines of staying at
"The Smokies was a busy Gap were open along with least 6 feet apart.
place this weekend, but more than 50 trails. The reopening was an-
conditions never became Some spots were crowded, nounced after making sure
overwhelming for staff or including Rainbow Falls the park was aligned with
visitor congestion," spokes- This Wednesday, May 6, 2020 image from a tweet by Interior Trail, where the parking lot federal, state and local au-
Secretary David Bernhardt, the Interior Secretary talks with
woman Dana Soehn said Cassius Cash, the park superintendent, as he visits National overflowed and people thorities and had enough
after officials evaluated the Parks Service employees at Great Smoky Mountains National parked roadside. personal protective gear
weekend's events. Major Park. But overall, Soehn said for employees, Soehn has
roadways, most trails and Associated Press visitor use was dispersed said.q