It appears Donald Trump is finally heeding his own warnings and at least *attempting* to act responsibly amid the coronavirus outbreak.
On Saturday, the President, who has already been exposed to vicitms of COVID-19, announced he has been tested for the rapidly-spreading virus and is awaiting lab results within the next few days. Speaking live from the White House press room, he told reporters:
“I took the test last night. I decided I should based on the press conference yesterday, people were asking ‘Did I take the test?’”
Well, it’s about damn time — isn’t it?!
Related: Donald Trump Called Out By Doctors For Irresponsible Coronavirus Tweet!
As we reported, many were stunned (read: disgusted) to see the POTUS shake hands with several people before declaring a state of national emergency during a presser on Friday. It’s especially alarming considering his recent exposure to the virus and the CDC has recommended that everyone abstain from close contact for obvious, very common sense reasons.
Trump noted his temperature was taken before Saturday’s press conference started (all reporters present were required to do as well) and it was “totally normal.” We’ll hopefully know more about his condition when results come back but in the meantime, he made a rather confusing request for others to follow his lead. When a reporter asked him why he’s still shaking hands and sending “mixed messages” to the public, he replied:
“It almost becomes a habit and it’s a hard habit to get out of, and frankly, I was a non-hand shaker for the most part. I never believed in shaking hands. Once you become a politician… people come up to me, they shake hands, they put their hand out. It’s sort of a natural reflex and we’re all getting out of it.”
This all sounds like a, “do as I say, not as I do” type of scenario and it’s just another infuriating example of how Donny’s handled things thus far. Even if it is just a reflex, he certainly has an obligation to lead by example at this point!! Hear him say it all in his own words (below):
WATCH: President Trump tells @KellyO that he has now been tested for coronavirus, and he is awaiting the results of the test; he also asks public to work to get out of habit of shaking hands to help avoid spreading coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/ZS2mzZpP0f
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 14, 2020
Apart from that bit, there were a few other important updates shared with the public during his speech.
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Trump shared his administration might implement domestic travel restrictions after the Pentagon instructed its service members’ not to get on domestic flights unless absolutely necessary. He echoed the sentiment, adding:
“If you don’t have to travel I wouldn’t do it… we want this thing to end.”
JUST IN: Pres. Trump says he is considering domestic travel restrictions "specifically from certain areas," after Pentagon restricted service members' domestic travel.
"If you don't have to travel I wouldn't do it… we want this thing to end." https://t.co/5lEVV2i6Gg pic.twitter.com/J8bjHXVdLr
— ABC News (@ABC) March 14, 2020
Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the COVID-19 task force, also gave an update about travel restrictions between America and the UK and Ireland.
“The president just foreshadowed in our task force meeting today, the president has made a decision to suspend all travel to the United Kingdom and Ireland effective midnight Monday night, eastern standard time.”
The decision came after health experts reportedly saw increased activity and cases pop up in those areas.
“As the president just suggested, all of our health experts presented information, Dr. Fauci will reflect on some of those numbers, made a unanimous decision to the president that we suspend all travel from the UK and Ireland that will be effective midnight Monday night eastern standard time. Again, Americans in the U.K. or Ireland can come home, legal residents can come home, but as the secretary will detail they will be funneled through specific airports and processed.”
As part of another major turning point in how the virus has been handling so far, Pence outlined the Families First Coronavirus Response Act will provide free testing for every single American who requests it — insured or not!
Vice Pres. Mike Pence outlines Families First Coronavirus Response Act that passed the House, now set to head to the Senate: "It provides free coronavirus testing for uninsured Americans…so now testing will be free for every American." https://t.co/9yBsta0r77 pic.twitter.com/kt2lbzVYHG
— ABC News (@ABC) March 14, 2020
Wow. This is pretty big news considering the reported lack of resources and access to testing across the nation right now. Reactions to all of this, Perezcious readers?
[Image via Global News/YouTube]
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