WEBVTT 00:10.596 --> 00:12.300 - Hey, good afternoon, everybody. 00:12.300 --> 00:13.540 Thank you for being here. 00:13.540 --> 00:15.160 As the situation continues to evolve 00:15.160 --> 00:17.640 around the COVID-19 outbreak, 00:17.640 --> 00:20.223 we wanna get you some additional information today. 00:21.210 --> 00:23.380 And then after we give some updates, 00:23.380 --> 00:25.140 we'll take some questions. 00:25.140 --> 00:27.040 So first I'll start off with the numbers 00:27.040 --> 00:28.730 that we have for the day. 00:28.730 --> 00:32.050 Right now we have 49 military cases, 00:32.050 --> 00:34.440 14 civilian cases, 00:34.440 --> 00:38.020 19 dependents, and 7 contractors. 00:38.020 --> 00:39.647 That is as of-- 00:41.222 --> 00:42.272 - [Paul] Five o'clock this morning. 00:42.272 --> 00:43.430 - Five o'clock this morning. 00:43.430 --> 00:45.453 So those are our most recent numbers. 00:46.339 --> 00:48.190 Just some other updates, as you're aware, 00:48.190 --> 00:50.250 Secretary Esper was at the White House earlier today 00:50.250 --> 00:51.500 with the president and the vice president 00:51.500 --> 00:55.070 to provide an update on DOD response to the coronavirus 00:55.070 --> 00:57.230 and the Department of Support for the whole of government. 00:57.230 --> 00:58.670 As was announced by the president, 00:58.670 --> 01:02.150 the USNS Comfort and the USNS Mercy are being prepared 01:02.150 --> 01:05.120 for deployment, as needed, to assist potentially 01:05.120 --> 01:07.773 overwhelmed communities with acute patient care. 01:08.760 --> 01:11.550 Finally, recognizing the importance of transparency 01:11.550 --> 01:13.420 during times of crisis like this, 01:13.420 --> 01:16.270 we're disappointed in the Chinese government's decision 01:16.270 --> 01:17.960 to ban reporters from the New York Times, 01:17.960 --> 01:21.190 the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. 01:21.190 --> 01:23.010 In times like this, freedom of the press 01:23.010 --> 01:25.900 and government transparency are crucial and critical 01:25.900 --> 01:29.070 to combating misinformation and keeping the public informed. 01:29.070 --> 01:31.300 We strongly encourage the government of China 01:31.300 --> 01:33.240 to reconsider this decision. 01:33.240 --> 01:35.503 So with that, we'll take your questions. 01:36.592 --> 01:39.080 - I'm wondering if you can provide some additional details 01:39.080 --> 01:42.400 on the plans for the Comfort and the Mercy 01:42.400 --> 01:47.400 as to whether either of them is ready to deploy soon 01:47.580 --> 01:49.660 or when they're gonna deploy, where they're gonna deploy, 01:49.660 --> 01:50.493 that kind of thing? 01:50.493 --> 01:52.700 - So to start off with where they're going to deploy to, 01:52.700 --> 01:55.730 I think, as mentioned this morning, earlier today, 01:55.730 --> 01:59.730 by the president, the Comfort is intended to head 01:59.730 --> 02:03.113 to New York, in that area. 02:04.010 --> 02:06.800 On timing-wise, that is a little bit more difficult. 02:06.800 --> 02:08.980 So as everyone knows, as we talked about the last few days, 02:08.980 --> 02:12.180 the Comfort's currently in for maintenance in Norfolk, 02:12.180 --> 02:14.170 and so they're gonna expedite the maintenance 02:14.170 --> 02:16.070 that they can, and prepare it. 02:16.070 --> 02:18.040 That's not a days' issue. 02:18.040 --> 02:19.260 That's a weeks' issue. 02:19.260 --> 02:21.470 So it's gonna be a little while. 02:21.470 --> 02:24.350 At that time, it's intended to head to New York, 02:24.350 --> 02:26.585 but we'll continue to evaluate the situation 02:26.585 --> 02:29.350 and make a determination on where it's best suited. 02:29.350 --> 02:30.183 - [Reporter] What about the Mercy? 02:30.183 --> 02:32.640 - With regard to the Mercy, the Mercy will be prepared 02:32.640 --> 02:34.393 and ready to go much sooner. 02:37.758 --> 02:39.250 They've had a warning order to get ready 02:39.250 --> 02:41.680 for the last few days, so they are hopefully 02:41.680 --> 02:44.730 gonna be prepared to go in days, not weeks. 02:44.730 --> 02:47.350 But we'll have more information for you later at that point. 02:47.350 --> 02:50.480 When it is prepared to sail, we will make a determination 02:50.480 --> 02:52.134 on where it is gonna go. 02:52.134 --> 02:54.130 - [Reporter] Is it gonna be fully staffed? 02:54.130 --> 02:56.080 - I'll let the General talk to the staffing situation, 02:56.080 --> 02:57.920 but as we've talked about over the last few days, 02:57.920 --> 02:59.730 staffing's an issue. 02:59.730 --> 03:01.990 We're gonna make sure that we do the best we can, 03:01.990 --> 03:03.820 and we get those resources out to the governors 03:03.820 --> 03:05.230 and to the mayors that have asked for 'em. 03:05.230 --> 03:07.300 And so we're looking to do that, 03:07.300 --> 03:08.810 but we are working through the staffing issue. 03:08.810 --> 03:13.160 - And so from a staffing standpoint, we're planning 03:13.160 --> 03:15.860 right now to staff it with a typical staff that would deploy 03:15.860 --> 03:17.570 with the hospital ships. 03:17.570 --> 03:21.190 And this, we're gonna have to adjust that, I think, 03:21.190 --> 03:23.510 as we get a better sense from the local leadership 03:23.510 --> 03:24.343 of what they need. 03:24.343 --> 03:26.860 As we shared with you during the last press briefing, 03:26.860 --> 03:28.550 these ships are designed for trauma and 03:28.550 --> 03:31.400 for combat casualties, and so that's the staff that 03:31.400 --> 03:34.300 we're planning to deploy with it right now. 03:34.300 --> 03:36.890 Our understanding is that the intent is that the ships 03:36.890 --> 03:39.800 will be used to take non-coronavirus patients, 03:39.800 --> 03:42.200 which is what our staff are best assigned 03:42.200 --> 03:44.380 and organized to do. 03:44.380 --> 03:47.330 And if that's the case, then we'll adjust the numbers 03:47.330 --> 03:49.998 and the mix of staff based on what we learn 03:49.998 --> 03:51.593 from the local leadership. 03:52.550 --> 03:54.310 - Are they staffed from around the country? 03:54.310 --> 03:56.360 And are they both civilian and military staff? 03:56.360 --> 03:58.630 - So right now, we're looking at our military staffing, 03:58.630 --> 04:00.080 that's part of the assessment. 04:00.080 --> 04:02.540 The warning order went out Monday, 04:02.540 --> 04:04.110 based on the discussions on Monday. 04:04.110 --> 04:06.450 And so we're going through and identifying exactly where 04:06.450 --> 04:07.570 the staff will come from, 04:07.570 --> 04:09.250 which military treatment facilities 04:09.250 --> 04:10.970 or the locations the staff will come from. 04:10.970 --> 04:12.571 - [Reporter] What about military base, 04:12.571 --> 04:13.970 what military (muffled)? 04:13.970 --> 04:15.750 - Again, we're working through that. 04:15.750 --> 04:17.780 I suspect that that is gonna be the case, 04:17.780 --> 04:19.630 but that's exactly what we're working through right now 04:19.630 --> 04:21.380 is to identify where best to take them 04:21.380 --> 04:22.780 so that we balance the load. 04:24.040 --> 04:25.720 - [Reporter] Jonathan, there was a report today 04:25.720 --> 04:28.414 that a large number of coronavirus test kits 04:28.414 --> 04:32.170 had been flown by the Air Force from Italy 04:32.170 --> 04:33.160 to the United States. 04:33.160 --> 04:34.949 Can you talk about that? 04:34.949 --> 04:37.384 So how many are we talking? 04:37.384 --> 04:41.690 - So yesterday, the Air Force, I think it was 04:41.690 --> 04:45.037 a National Guard unit, transported 500,000. 04:46.210 --> 04:47.790 They were actually swabs. 04:47.790 --> 04:50.023 So it was actually the swabbing for testing. 04:50.898 --> 04:51.960 So the general can get into more detail. 04:51.960 --> 04:53.150 He knows this a little bit better. 04:53.150 --> 04:55.520 But it was the swabs, not specifically the kits, 04:55.520 --> 04:58.750 but it's part of that testing process that were transported 04:58.750 --> 05:02.330 from Italy to Memphis. 05:02.330 --> 05:04.620 And then in Memphis, they were loaded onto FedEx aircraft 05:04.620 --> 05:08.215 and distributed per HHS direction around the country. 05:08.215 --> 05:09.070 - [Reporter] They've already been distributed? 05:09.070 --> 05:10.848 - They were loaded on yesterday. 05:10.848 --> 05:14.094 - Yeah, so Mr. Hoffman is exactly right. 05:14.094 --> 05:16.719 There's multiple parts to testing. 05:16.719 --> 05:19.930 The first is the swabs that are used to collect the sample 05:19.930 --> 05:22.420 from the individual who's being tested. 05:22.420 --> 05:25.210 Then there's a liquid, that we call the transport media, 05:25.210 --> 05:26.800 that you put the swab into. 05:26.800 --> 05:29.964 So that's what composed what we brought over from Italy. 05:29.964 --> 05:33.740 This is, I believe, a great example of how nations 05:33.740 --> 05:36.100 are working together to ensure that we're meeting 05:36.100 --> 05:37.070 the global demands. 05:37.070 --> 05:39.030 So there's a company here in the United States 05:39.030 --> 05:41.900 that's working around the clock producing these swabs, 05:41.900 --> 05:44.243 and we're working with international partners 05:44.243 --> 05:47.510 to meet our full demand going forward on this. 05:47.510 --> 05:49.440 So this is, I think, a good news story 05:49.440 --> 05:51.370 of how countries work together. 05:51.370 --> 05:54.390 When the swabs get here, HHS is distributing them. 05:54.390 --> 05:55.710 And they can give you more details 05:55.710 --> 05:57.440 on where exactly they're going. 05:57.440 --> 06:00.060 - What's the next step after the swabs? 06:00.060 --> 06:01.993 And then you test it and then what? 06:01.993 --> 06:05.540 - So the swabs are sent out to the different 06:05.540 --> 06:06.480 medical facilities. 06:06.480 --> 06:08.380 They're used to test patients, and then they go 06:08.380 --> 06:13.210 to a lab that has the right equipment to analyze the swabs 06:13.210 --> 06:16.880 and see if there's coronavirus on the swab or not. 06:16.880 --> 06:19.360 - So the swabs would go to your doctor's office. 06:19.360 --> 06:20.940 The test kit would go to the lab. 06:20.940 --> 06:23.210 And so these were items that were intended to go to doctors 06:23.210 --> 06:24.900 in areas where they're taking the test, instead 06:24.900 --> 06:27.509 of the actual test kits themselves. 06:27.509 --> 06:29.099 - Is there enough equipment and lab space 06:29.099 --> 06:30.663 to get it right through to finding out 06:30.663 --> 06:32.710 if someone is positive for coronavirus? 06:32.710 --> 06:35.270 - So from the DOD perspective, we've talked a few times 06:35.270 --> 06:36.103 about that. 06:36.103 --> 06:38.540 So we have 14 labs up and running around the country, 06:38.540 --> 06:40.120 right and around the Department of Defense, 06:40.120 --> 06:41.890 that are performing these tests for us. 06:41.890 --> 06:44.950 And I know someone will ask, so I will just tell you. 06:44.950 --> 06:47.130 I've got the number here that-- 06:47.130 --> 06:48.610 I had it. 06:48.610 --> 06:49.443 I'll find it. 06:49.443 --> 06:52.620 936 patients have been tested, as of yesterday, 06:52.620 --> 06:54.720 in our DOD labs. 06:54.720 --> 06:57.170 So we've got the reagents, we've got the chemicals 06:57.170 --> 07:00.540 that we need, so we're continuing to move forward 07:00.540 --> 07:01.760 with that testing. 07:01.760 --> 07:04.170 And I'll answer a question that came up yesterday. 07:04.170 --> 07:06.200 Somebody had asked the Secretary of Defense 07:06.200 --> 07:08.860 about where we are with other testing opportunities. 07:08.860 --> 07:11.110 As many of you know, over the weekend, 07:11.110 --> 07:12.810 the Food and Drug Administration did 07:12.810 --> 07:16.220 an emergency use authorization for a new test 07:16.220 --> 07:19.110 to be performed in the lab that was developed by Roche, 07:19.110 --> 07:20.650 and then another one that was developed 07:20.650 --> 07:22.960 by Thermo Fisher Scientific. 07:22.960 --> 07:25.770 And so, as those roll out, we're looking at whether we have 07:25.770 --> 07:28.170 the equipment in our labs to perform those tests. 07:28.170 --> 07:30.590 And we have one lab that has the Roche equipment, 07:30.590 --> 07:32.390 and then all of the labs that 07:32.390 --> 07:34.910 are currently performing the coronavirus test 07:34.910 --> 07:37.090 can also perform the Thermo Fisher test. 07:37.090 --> 07:38.933 So we're expanding our ability. 07:40.350 --> 07:42.060 - Do we know where these swabs have been sent? 07:42.060 --> 07:44.250 Is is going to the hotspots first or-- 07:44.250 --> 07:45.740 - That's a question for HHS. 07:45.740 --> 07:48.353 So this was a request from them to support. 07:49.667 --> 07:53.190 I think the comment is that not the test kits, 07:53.190 --> 07:55.690 but part of that testing process is what this was. 07:57.210 --> 07:58.180 - If you could just give us some details 07:58.180 --> 08:00.630 on the few hospitals that were mentioned. 08:00.630 --> 08:02.443 What is the stockpile that we're talking about? 08:02.443 --> 08:04.450 Are we talking dozens in hospitals that should end up 08:04.450 --> 08:06.501 at Army Corps of Engineers or up in New York? 08:06.501 --> 08:10.210 What is the potential that could actually be provided? 08:10.210 --> 08:13.580 - Yeah, so I'm gonna not completely answer that 08:13.580 --> 08:16.020 because we typically don't lay out every deployable 08:16.020 --> 08:17.980 capability in numbers that we have. 08:17.980 --> 08:21.620 We have a variety of deployable medical units 08:21.620 --> 08:23.210 that we can provide. 08:23.210 --> 08:24.270 The Air Force has units 08:24.270 --> 08:26.610 called the Expeditionary Medical System 08:26.610 --> 08:28.370 that have 25 beds in them. 08:28.370 --> 08:31.430 Those are rapidly deployable, usually by air. 08:31.430 --> 08:34.800 The Army has Combat Support Hospitals, much larger. 08:34.800 --> 08:37.513 Those can deploy by air or by ground. 08:38.540 --> 08:39.970 And then they also have field hospitals, 08:39.970 --> 08:40.900 which are not as big. 08:40.900 --> 08:42.690 They're about 32 beds. 08:42.690 --> 08:44.190 The Navy has the two hospital ships 08:44.190 --> 08:45.590 that we were talking about before. 08:45.590 --> 08:47.950 And then they have something called an EMF, 08:47.950 --> 08:52.280 an Expeditionary Medical Facility, which has 150 beds. 08:52.280 --> 08:55.310 So, we have a variety of options, depending 08:55.310 --> 08:57.640 on what the requirement is, that we could provide, 08:57.640 --> 08:59.500 but we're not gonna provide the exact numbers 08:59.500 --> 09:02.040 of how many the DOD has of this or that. 09:02.040 --> 09:04.100 - In New York, what's the magnitude of potential-- 09:04.100 --> 09:05.880 I mean, are we talking dozens of field hospitals? 09:05.880 --> 09:07.480 Hundreds, or what is it? 09:07.480 --> 09:09.610 - Well, I don't think we know at this point. 09:09.610 --> 09:11.960 We're eager to hear the exact requirement 09:11.960 --> 09:16.290 and understand what it is and understand across the country 09:16.290 --> 09:17.743 what that requirement is. 09:19.000 --> 09:21.200 I can't speak for New York, but we're all watching 09:21.200 --> 09:23.510 the same news channels, and we're watching the numbers 09:23.510 --> 09:24.630 as they change. 09:24.630 --> 09:26.810 I think we're seeing a number of people coming back, 09:26.810 --> 09:28.923 growing numbers with positive tests. 09:29.800 --> 09:33.280 We are hoping to better understand where there's a demand 09:33.280 --> 09:35.500 on the hospital system that exceeds that 09:35.500 --> 09:37.333 hospital system's capacity. 09:38.240 --> 09:40.780 And then we'll work with HHS as the supported 09:40.780 --> 09:42.620 or the lead federal agency for this 09:42.620 --> 09:44.680 to decide what's the best capability, 09:44.680 --> 09:46.794 if we're asked to help with that. 09:46.794 --> 09:48.540 - And part of that is we want to make sure 09:48.540 --> 09:50.180 that this is our reserve. 09:50.180 --> 09:53.320 I mean, this is the government's, the whole 09:53.320 --> 09:54.770 of government's, reserve. 09:54.770 --> 09:57.804 And so once we deploy that reserve in one place, 09:57.804 --> 10:00.410 we don't have the ability to move it to another place. 10:00.410 --> 10:04.464 So we need to be able to monitor, keep track. 10:04.464 --> 10:06.910 Secretary's been having conversations with governors. 10:06.910 --> 10:07.920 He had a number of them yesterday. 10:07.920 --> 10:10.700 He's had a number of calls today to talk with them 10:10.700 --> 10:13.080 and just get a better sense of exactly what they need 10:13.080 --> 10:15.120 because they may be-- 10:15.120 --> 10:17.867 People on their team may be asking for beds. 10:17.867 --> 10:20.080 We talked to a couple governors where it's actually one type 10:20.080 --> 10:21.269 of equipment. 10:21.269 --> 10:24.420 We talked to one governor where they were looking for swabs. 10:24.420 --> 10:27.470 So there's different things they're looking for that a lot 10:27.470 --> 10:30.990 of times they're getting reported up and just, we need help. 10:30.990 --> 10:32.450 And so we've been trying to work 10:32.450 --> 10:34.450 to understand a little bit better. 10:34.450 --> 10:36.180 The military works well if you tell us 10:36.180 --> 10:38.500 what the problem you're trying to solve is, 10:38.500 --> 10:39.930 not the resource you need. 10:39.930 --> 10:41.630 And then we can come back and say, 10:41.630 --> 10:43.680 here's the problem you have, here's what we can do to help. 10:43.680 --> 10:44.954 And that's what we're trying to do right now. 10:44.954 --> 10:46.080 Cordy. 10:46.080 --> 10:47.630 - I don't understand how that matches 10:47.630 --> 10:50.450 with putting the Mercy on a warning order then 10:50.450 --> 10:53.610 because so you must have gotten some kind of-- 10:53.610 --> 10:57.420 I feel like all we keep hearing is the request comes in 10:57.420 --> 11:00.720 for this specific capability, for this location, 11:00.720 --> 11:01.770 this many people, and stuff. 11:01.770 --> 11:05.100 So you must know where the Mercy's going 11:05.100 --> 11:06.180 and what they need from it. 11:06.180 --> 11:08.700 And I also don't really understand how we've been hearing 11:08.700 --> 11:12.040 for several days that ships like this and bringing 11:12.040 --> 11:14.750 in the military just takes these same capabilities 11:14.750 --> 11:16.650 from the civilian world because many of them 11:16.650 --> 11:18.020 are reservists and volunteers and stuff. 11:18.020 --> 11:19.860 So, how-- 11:19.860 --> 11:21.797 - I think, to your second part first, I would say 11:21.797 --> 11:24.690 nobody said that that was an insurmountable problem. 11:24.690 --> 11:26.530 We just were laying out that there was an issue there, 11:26.530 --> 11:30.460 so we're working through how to work through that concern, 11:30.460 --> 11:33.290 that trade off, and find a way to provide that. 11:33.290 --> 11:36.520 With regard to the timing of it, the reason the Mercy 11:36.520 --> 11:38.890 and the Comfort are being put on warning orders is 11:38.890 --> 11:41.690 because unlike the field hospitals, which are small, 11:41.690 --> 11:44.680 deployable, that can readily be put on an aircraft, 11:44.680 --> 11:46.550 flown anywhere in the country and dropped wherever 11:46.550 --> 11:49.860 you need them within hours or days, the Mercy 11:49.860 --> 11:52.500 and the Comfort, even after the Mercy leaves San Diego, 11:52.500 --> 11:54.753 it's still got to sail wherever it's gonna go. 11:55.654 --> 11:56.487 So it's just a longer lead time. 11:56.487 --> 11:57.870 So we're trying to lean into that. 11:57.870 --> 12:00.210 This is a fast-evolving situation. 12:00.210 --> 12:02.240 We don't know where we're gonna be in a week or two weeks. 12:02.240 --> 12:05.040 So we're trying to move forward as quickly as we can 12:05.040 --> 12:05.970 and lean forward on it. 12:05.970 --> 12:08.530 And so even when the secretary was in here yesterday 12:08.530 --> 12:11.440 and indicated we had given that warning over the weekend, 12:11.440 --> 12:13.758 so we're trying to lean forward and get ahead of it. 12:13.758 --> 12:16.453 - And this is more for you, doctor. 12:17.590 --> 12:19.850 Do you believe at this point, now it's been several days 12:19.850 --> 12:21.310 since the Mercy got their warning order, 12:21.310 --> 12:23.290 that it's gonna be uniformed military 12:23.290 --> 12:25.950 who will be staffing it, as far as medical personnel? 12:25.950 --> 12:27.960 - Yeah, so I think that's what we're gonna look at first 12:27.960 --> 12:31.030 and understand what we can do with the uniformed personnel 12:31.030 --> 12:33.070 and whether there are other options available. 12:33.070 --> 12:36.070 But it, as Mr. Hoffman said, this is dynamic. 12:36.070 --> 12:39.940 And so what I'm reluctant to do is say here's the answer 12:39.940 --> 12:42.990 for what we're gonna do in ten days or even in eight days 12:42.990 --> 12:46.870 because we're trying to find the best way to balance all 12:46.870 --> 12:48.520 of the requests that we're receiving, 12:48.520 --> 12:50.617 both from our own patients who are seeking care 12:50.617 --> 12:53.370 and from those communities that are seeking assistance, 12:53.370 --> 12:54.520 and figure out how best to support. 12:54.520 --> 12:57.172 - And then to the point on the military personnel, 12:57.172 --> 13:00.942 it's fastest for DOD to activate and deploy military, 13:00.942 --> 13:04.450 active-duty military personnel and then the reserves 13:04.450 --> 13:07.130 and then into the communities for civilian personnel. 13:07.130 --> 13:10.370 So given the short timeframe and what we're trying to do, 13:10.370 --> 13:12.390 we're gonna look at the active component first 13:12.390 --> 13:13.223 and then we'll start to work through it, 13:13.223 --> 13:14.380 given how much time we have. 13:14.380 --> 13:16.870 - Can you bring up retirees? 13:16.870 --> 13:19.130 Medical retirees, is there a precedent for that? 13:19.130 --> 13:23.270 - So, there absolutely is congress precedent for that. 13:23.270 --> 13:27.470 Congress has passed a number of laws that provide a variety 13:27.470 --> 13:30.730 of tools or mechanisms to augment the military force, 13:30.730 --> 13:33.460 but it kinda gets back to your earlier point. 13:33.460 --> 13:37.210 As we look at people who are no longer in uniform or who are 13:37.210 --> 13:40.120 in guard or reserve units, taking them out 13:40.120 --> 13:42.780 of the civilian community may not necessarily 13:42.780 --> 13:44.640 be the right risk benefit trade off. 13:44.640 --> 13:49.640 And so, I think Mr. Hoffman will vouch for this. 13:49.960 --> 13:52.300 Most of us were in here all weekend, 13:52.300 --> 13:55.310 working through different scenarios to see what's 13:55.310 --> 13:58.920 within the realm of possible that creates the least strain 13:58.920 --> 14:01.250 on the whole healthcare system, while providing 14:01.250 --> 14:04.640 the greatest options to support different communities 14:04.640 --> 14:06.090 as they need it. 14:06.090 --> 14:08.720 What we ask for is that the communities are as specific 14:08.720 --> 14:11.483 as possible about what they really need, rather than saying 14:11.483 --> 14:14.960 I want this, as was described a moment ago. 14:14.960 --> 14:16.400 We need help with ventilators 14:16.400 --> 14:19.760 or we need help with testing equipment or whatever. 14:19.760 --> 14:22.530 So that we can tailor what we send forward because, 14:22.530 --> 14:24.905 as was mentioned, once the hospital ship sails, 14:24.905 --> 14:27.700 it takes a while for it to go somewhere else. 14:27.700 --> 14:28.533 It just does. 14:28.533 --> 14:30.530 Not for lack of desire, it's just physics 14:30.530 --> 14:31.870 and gravity, unfortunately. 14:31.870 --> 14:33.406 - Dave 14:33.406 --> 14:37.080 - I understand you're not gonna tell us your total capacity 14:37.080 --> 14:39.533 in mobile units. 14:41.080 --> 14:44.340 But when the secretary was talking about putting units 14:44.340 --> 14:48.270 on alert, was he talking about all the units? 14:48.270 --> 14:52.570 Or can you tell us how many hospital beds worth 14:52.570 --> 14:55.070 of units have been put on alert, 14:55.070 --> 14:57.470 as opposed to your entire capacity? 14:57.470 --> 15:01.650 - Yes, so the chairman put a number of active-duty units 15:01.650 --> 15:03.440 on alert, and this goes back to that discussion 15:03.440 --> 15:05.140 about active-duty and reserve units. 15:05.140 --> 15:08.610 We did not put reserve units on alert at this time 15:08.610 --> 15:11.050 because we're sensitive to that competing demand. 15:11.050 --> 15:15.350 So we're looking at active-duty units, and we put a number 15:15.350 --> 15:18.410 of different types on alert so that we at least have 15:18.410 --> 15:20.530 some units ready to go out the door, 15:20.530 --> 15:22.503 depending on what request we get. 15:23.530 --> 15:28.510 Again, right now what we're trying to do is make sure 15:28.510 --> 15:31.100 that we have a range of options available 15:31.100 --> 15:33.410 to meet the requests that may come to us 15:33.410 --> 15:35.070 from the Department of Health and Human Services 15:35.070 --> 15:36.550 and from other communities. 15:36.550 --> 15:38.440 I'm a little reluctant to get into specifics 15:38.440 --> 15:40.560 because if I say this unit's on alert, 15:40.560 --> 15:42.470 I'm pretty confident that in 30 minutes, someone's going 15:42.470 --> 15:44.660 to come back and say, well that's the unit that I want. 15:44.660 --> 15:48.790 So what we would recommend is as communities identify 15:48.790 --> 15:50.480 where they have a challenge, work 15:50.480 --> 15:52.430 with the Department of Health and Human Services 15:52.430 --> 15:55.320 and with FEMA and identify what that challenge is 15:55.320 --> 15:58.520 so that we can then describe which capability is best suited 15:58.520 --> 15:59.740 to meet that challenge. 15:59.740 --> 16:01.243 - How many beds are on alert? 16:02.370 --> 16:05.940 - So right now, I think we have over 1,000, 16:05.940 --> 16:08.923 not counting the hospital ships, over 1,000 beds on alert. 16:09.770 --> 16:11.740 - And a separate issue. 16:11.740 --> 16:12.950 - [Jonathan] Sure. 16:12.950 --> 16:16.000 - A soldier's been texting from Fort Bliss. 16:16.000 --> 16:20.240 He's in quarantine, and he says prisoners are treated better 16:20.240 --> 16:21.970 than they're being treated. 16:21.970 --> 16:26.970 Three to a 15 by 15 room, two meals a day, no exercise. 16:29.970 --> 16:31.210 Are you trying to do anything about that? 16:31.210 --> 16:33.670 - So, I've talked to the secretary about this earlier today, 16:33.670 --> 16:34.543 so he's aware. 16:35.410 --> 16:39.090 His response is we can do better, and we need to do better. 16:39.090 --> 16:42.910 And so, I know that the commander at Fort Bliss is aware. 16:42.910 --> 16:44.400 He has been in contact. 16:44.400 --> 16:47.110 My understanding is that he met with all the soldiers 16:47.110 --> 16:50.350 who are quarantined and talked through some 16:50.350 --> 16:51.780 of their concerns. 16:51.780 --> 16:55.750 They're looking to make some changes, such as setting up 16:55.750 --> 16:58.670 for more time for people to be outside of the rooms 16:58.670 --> 17:01.290 and being able to travel around, setting up access 17:01.290 --> 17:05.470 to AAFES so that they can get some sundries 17:05.470 --> 17:06.990 and items like that. 17:06.990 --> 17:09.820 And also looking at other bases that are doing quarantines, 17:09.820 --> 17:11.190 we're checking to see how they're holding up 17:11.190 --> 17:12.023 and doing this, as well. 17:12.023 --> 17:13.970 So, we can do better. 17:13.970 --> 17:15.803 They're aware of it, and they're working through it. 17:15.803 --> 17:19.280 - Seems like you can take passengers on a cruise ship 17:20.260 --> 17:22.003 and give them each their own room. 17:23.520 --> 17:27.690 Soldiers coming back from a war zone might deserve better 17:27.690 --> 17:29.890 than three to a room, so-- 17:29.890 --> 17:31.670 - Like I said, David, we can do better. 17:31.670 --> 17:34.250 - You're just talking about letting them out more. 17:34.250 --> 17:35.520 - David, like I said, we can do better. 17:35.520 --> 17:38.188 The commander on the ground's looking into it. 17:38.188 --> 17:40.100 So, we can get you with the Army on what they're doing, 17:40.100 --> 17:43.020 but each commander is looking at it, 17:43.020 --> 17:44.563 and we're gonna do better on this. 17:44.563 --> 17:46.810 This is something that's unusual for all these bases 17:46.810 --> 17:50.180 to be handling, and they're doing the best they can. 17:50.180 --> 17:52.310 And the secretary mentioned today that we appreciate 17:52.310 --> 17:55.980 the members who are either affected by this outbreak, 17:55.980 --> 17:59.250 either through infections, their family's infections, 17:59.250 --> 18:01.810 and even these individuals who are being quarantined. 18:01.810 --> 18:03.520 We owe it to 'em, and we're gonna look into it 18:03.520 --> 18:04.510 and try to do better. 18:04.510 --> 18:05.550 Barbara. 18:05.550 --> 18:07.700 - I have a number of medical questions, 18:07.700 --> 18:08.533 if I might. 18:08.533 --> 18:09.366 The first-- 18:09.366 --> 18:10.199 - Is that for me or for him? 18:10.199 --> 18:11.440 - For Dr. Friedrichs, if that's okay. 18:11.440 --> 18:13.777 So when you said, "1,000 beds on alert, 18:13.777 --> 18:16.740 "not including the two hospital ships," 18:16.740 --> 18:18.610 to make sure I understand, you were talking 18:18.610 --> 18:20.650 about field hospitals. 18:20.650 --> 18:24.660 - So the field hospitals are an Army capability, and then 18:24.660 --> 18:26.618 as I mentioned, the Air Force-- 18:26.618 --> 18:28.420 - [Barbara] 4,000 beds, if I might. 18:28.420 --> 18:31.910 So, they're deployable beds in a variety of different units. 18:31.910 --> 18:34.770 And again, these are tent-based units. 18:34.770 --> 18:37.540 These are not we're gonna come and build a hospital 18:37.540 --> 18:38.857 in ten days or anything like that. 18:38.857 --> 18:41.870 - And so the units that you put on alert, 18:41.870 --> 18:46.300 are those all medical hospital related units? 18:46.300 --> 18:48.785 - [Paul] Yes, just as we described last time. 18:48.785 --> 18:51.890 - Can you just consider letting us know 18:51.890 --> 18:53.363 what their capabilities are? 18:54.310 --> 18:58.160 - So these are all designed for combat casualty care, 18:58.160 --> 18:59.880 for taking care of deployed units, 18:59.880 --> 19:02.570 and so their primary capability is surgical. 19:02.570 --> 19:04.810 That's what they're designed to do, 19:04.810 --> 19:07.250 as far as the most challenging cases. 19:07.250 --> 19:08.340 And then they take-- 19:08.340 --> 19:09.970 - What I really wanted to ask you is 19:09.970 --> 19:12.190 at the White House briefing, Dr. Birx talked 19:12.190 --> 19:14.490 about new data that they're receiving 19:14.490 --> 19:18.600 that indicates a serious concern of young people 19:18.600 --> 19:23.200 in France and Italy now suffering serious cases 19:23.200 --> 19:24.680 of coronavirus. 19:24.680 --> 19:27.670 Younger people than they expected. 19:27.670 --> 19:31.310 I'm wondering if you guys are seeing any data yet 19:31.310 --> 19:36.310 that lead you to modify, amend, or be concerned 19:36.800 --> 19:41.420 about your overall conclusions that 19:41.420 --> 19:44.840 the U.S. military is generally a young, healthy force, 19:44.840 --> 19:48.350 and you expect and hope for minimal impact. 19:48.350 --> 19:52.940 Are you seeing any data yet that increases your concern 19:52.940 --> 19:56.100 about the infection rate in younger people? 19:56.100 --> 19:59.180 And the secretary now is very forward leaning 19:59.180 --> 20:01.663 on military assistance, when just a few days ago, 20:01.663 --> 20:06.663 he was more traditional about it, calling it a last resort. 20:06.760 --> 20:11.760 What have you seen medically in the country that is leading 20:12.500 --> 20:15.430 to that change, as well as the younger people concern? 20:15.430 --> 20:17.350 - I can take the second question first 20:17.350 --> 20:19.850 because I think what the secretary's comments the other day 20:19.850 --> 20:22.740 were is laying out what the facts were 20:22.740 --> 20:25.140 about what our capabilities were and what we are able to do 20:25.140 --> 20:27.670 in the timelines and setting the groundwork for that. 20:27.670 --> 20:30.570 So, the people like the secretary, the president, the media, 20:30.570 --> 20:32.940 the governors are able to have conversations 20:32.940 --> 20:37.790 about what capabilities we have in an informed manner. 20:37.790 --> 20:38.650 And so I think that's what we've seen 20:38.650 --> 20:40.170 over the last few days. 20:40.170 --> 20:41.920 And I think we've had a good conversation 20:41.920 --> 20:43.530 about what the trade offs are. 20:43.530 --> 20:45.090 I think that was part of what we've been talking 20:45.090 --> 20:47.240 about the last few days, of activating the Mercy 20:47.240 --> 20:48.490 or the Comfort, there are trade offs. 20:48.490 --> 20:50.230 - [Barbara] What changed his mind? 20:50.230 --> 20:52.470 - Well, I think it's not just the secretary. 20:52.470 --> 20:53.717 So, the secretary works for the president, 20:53.717 --> 20:55.990 and the president makes determinations 20:55.990 --> 20:59.070 about military assets and personnel. 20:59.070 --> 21:01.500 And the president and his entire team, 21:01.500 --> 21:02.390 I don't want to speak for them, 21:02.390 --> 21:05.530 but the whole government approach is to lean very forward. 21:05.530 --> 21:09.260 And so, leaning forward with the Comfort is we need 21:09.260 --> 21:12.610 to start getting ready so that in days, weeks, not days, 21:12.610 --> 21:13.990 that we're able to deploy it. 21:13.990 --> 21:15.250 So, we're monitoring it. 21:15.250 --> 21:17.320 We're gonna be making changes every day and trying 21:17.320 --> 21:20.269 to get new assets available and online if they need to be, 21:20.269 --> 21:23.180 but it's a very dynamic, very fluent situation. 21:23.180 --> 21:24.013 And your questions was-- 21:24.013 --> 21:25.980 - So I think on the medical questions, 21:25.980 --> 21:28.390 the short answer to your question is among the active duty 21:28.390 --> 21:31.750 who have gotten sick so far in our population, 21:31.750 --> 21:35.390 we're not seeing that they're having an unexpectedly 21:35.390 --> 21:38.230 more severe infection, which is good news. 21:38.230 --> 21:39.720 Could that change? 21:39.720 --> 21:40.610 Quite possibly. 21:40.610 --> 21:42.580 And, yes, I have seen some of the data coming out 21:42.580 --> 21:44.580 of Europe and also out of Korea. 21:44.580 --> 21:47.000 And we've made this comment several times. 21:47.000 --> 21:50.400 The good news is the Italians, the Koreans, 21:50.400 --> 21:52.130 and our other European allies are being 21:52.130 --> 21:54.760 very transparent in sharing their full data 21:54.760 --> 21:57.380 about what they're seeing with their patient population. 21:57.380 --> 21:58.450 That's invaluable. 21:58.450 --> 22:01.270 That's what every responsible country should do, 22:01.270 --> 22:03.390 should have done from day one with this, 22:03.390 --> 22:05.520 so that we have a clear understanding 22:05.520 --> 22:07.170 about exactly what's gonna happen 22:07.170 --> 22:10.140 as this affects our own country. 22:10.140 --> 22:13.770 So we're not seeing that yet in our military population. 22:13.770 --> 22:14.603 Will we? 22:14.603 --> 22:15.436 I don't know. 22:15.436 --> 22:17.360 We're certainly tracking it very, very carefully. 22:17.360 --> 22:18.830 We've got people around the clock 22:18.830 --> 22:20.750 as the data comes in, looking at it to see 22:20.750 --> 22:22.890 if there's anything noteworthy from that. 22:22.890 --> 22:23.960 - So, I need to-- 22:23.960 --> 22:25.580 We've got a couple more minutes, and I need to get 22:25.580 --> 22:27.900 to some of the people who are on the phone quota 22:27.900 --> 22:29.460 to instill confidence in our 22:29.460 --> 22:31.628 teleconferencing abilities here. 22:31.628 --> 22:35.878 So I'm going to go open the lines for Fadi Mansour. 22:37.549 --> 22:38.599 - [Fadi] Hi, Jonathan. 22:38.599 --> 22:39.432 Thank you for doing this. 22:39.432 --> 22:40.857 I have two questions. 22:40.857 --> 22:43.524 One for the general on COVID-19. 22:44.410 --> 22:46.490 General, number of days ago, I asked you 22:46.490 --> 22:50.040 about the measures taken to deal with COVID-19, 22:50.040 --> 22:52.020 and you told me that at that time, 22:52.020 --> 22:55.410 you thought that the season of flu is more dangerous 22:55.410 --> 22:56.550 than COVID-19. 22:56.550 --> 23:00.620 I'm wondering if you still hold that view, and if not, 23:00.620 --> 23:04.520 how did this change the way you're dealing with it 23:04.520 --> 23:05.490 within the department? 23:05.490 --> 23:08.890 And one question for Mr. Hoffman. 23:08.890 --> 23:12.550 It's about Iraq and pulling out from al-Quaim base? 23:12.550 --> 23:17.550 Can you talk about the latest movement of the U.S. military 23:18.360 --> 23:20.660 in Iraq, number of bases you're pulling out from, 23:20.660 --> 23:25.660 and whether the pullout from al Aqar will open the door 23:25.850 --> 23:30.680 for Iraqi militia associated with Iran to move in 23:30.680 --> 23:32.740 and out of Syria? 23:32.740 --> 23:34.315 Thank you. 23:34.315 --> 23:36.410 - So I think to start with the question about the flu, 23:36.410 --> 23:38.360 I believe what I said, or at least what I intended 23:38.360 --> 23:41.600 to convey, was at the time, and still is the case, 23:41.600 --> 23:44.240 there are more people with the flu 23:44.240 --> 23:47.012 than there are people with the coronavirus. 23:47.012 --> 23:50.110 The difference between the two, as we've talked about 23:50.110 --> 23:52.340 before in other sessions and as Dr. Fauci 23:52.340 --> 23:55.210 and others have discussed, is the coronavirus is easier 23:55.210 --> 23:56.310 to spread. 23:56.310 --> 23:57.770 And as we collect more and more data, 23:57.770 --> 24:00.160 that's becoming very clear that the coronavirus 24:00.160 --> 24:03.690 spreads more easily than the seasonal flu does. 24:03.690 --> 24:06.440 So, there is no question about that that there are 24:06.440 --> 24:10.070 more people right now with the flu infection 24:10.070 --> 24:12.570 and have been over the course of the flu season 24:12.570 --> 24:15.410 than there are people with the coronavirus infection. 24:15.410 --> 24:17.670 That does not change the fact that we are concerned, 24:17.670 --> 24:19.707 as we watch how quickly the coronavirus has spread. 24:19.707 --> 24:20.900 And the reason we've been out here 24:20.900 --> 24:23.320 for the last several weeks is 'cause we are concerned 24:23.320 --> 24:24.890 about this new virus. 24:24.890 --> 24:26.210 One of the reasons we're concerned, 24:26.210 --> 24:28.930 and we mentioned this before, is unlike with the flu 24:28.930 --> 24:31.400 for which we have a vaccine to minimize 24:31.400 --> 24:34.210 how many people become infected, we don't yet have 24:34.210 --> 24:35.790 a vaccine for the coronavirus. 24:35.790 --> 24:37.830 We're doing a lot of great work on that, and I'm happy 24:37.830 --> 24:40.340 to talk about that at a follow-up session. 24:40.340 --> 24:42.310 We also don't have medical counter-measures 24:42.310 --> 24:44.710 for the coronavirus, like we have for the flu. 24:44.710 --> 24:48.230 So you can go out and you can get Tamiflu 24:48.230 --> 24:51.490 from your pharmacy, from your doctor, if you have the flu, 24:51.490 --> 24:53.670 that shortens the duration and the severity 24:53.670 --> 24:54.700 of the infection. 24:54.700 --> 24:56.240 We don't have similar drugs yet. 24:56.240 --> 24:58.180 We're doing a lot of testing on a lot of drugs, 24:58.180 --> 25:00.570 both in this country and with other partners, 25:00.570 --> 25:02.740 so that we can identify whether there are drugs 25:02.740 --> 25:05.610 that will be similarly effective for coronavirus infections. 25:05.610 --> 25:07.480 But right now, we don't have those. 25:07.480 --> 25:10.554 And so, not having those measures is one of the reasons 25:10.554 --> 25:14.090 that we are paying a great deal of attention to this 25:14.090 --> 25:17.550 because we don't know exactly how this is gonna unfold. 25:17.550 --> 25:19.934 We still don't know if it's gonna be seasonal. 25:19.934 --> 25:22.180 Best case, it may prove to be seasonal, 25:22.180 --> 25:23.930 and this is gonna start tapering off. 25:23.930 --> 25:25.820 It doesn't seem to be happening right now, 25:25.820 --> 25:28.830 but that's part of what we are also watching. 25:28.830 --> 25:30.730 It's a known unknown, if you will. 25:30.730 --> 25:32.670 So I'm sorry if I created confusion earlier, 25:32.670 --> 25:34.921 but I hope that clarifies my comment. 25:34.921 --> 25:37.850 - With regard to Iraq, I'm not gonna be able 25:37.850 --> 25:40.130 to give you a lot of detail on that right now, 25:40.130 --> 25:42.070 and I apologize. 25:42.070 --> 25:45.070 I'll have to get you in touch with Joint Task Force Iraq 25:45.070 --> 25:47.270 or CENTCOM to give a little bit more detail. 25:48.360 --> 25:51.270 Been focused on coronavirus a great deal around here, 25:51.270 --> 25:53.340 so I don't have more on that. 25:53.340 --> 25:55.253 Next, Dan Lamothe, Washington Post. 25:59.180 --> 26:00.530 - [Dan] Yes, thank you. 26:00.530 --> 26:02.440 I was hoping you could walk us 26:02.440 --> 26:06.070 through the quarantine policy, if there is one, 26:06.070 --> 26:09.120 when it comes to returning from Afghanistan, returning 26:09.120 --> 26:12.900 from Iraq, and essentially in some of these cases, 26:12.900 --> 26:15.410 these service members are also transiting 26:15.410 --> 26:18.006 through a place like Kuwait or Ireland, 26:18.006 --> 26:20.280 where there's multiple hops, 26:20.280 --> 26:23.330 and those countries are also involved. 26:23.330 --> 26:24.913 - Yeah, so thanks, sir. 26:25.795 --> 26:27.780 And we're basically following the same guidance 26:27.780 --> 26:30.050 that the CDC has put out for all Americans, 26:30.050 --> 26:32.360 and it's a pretty straight-forward approach, 26:32.360 --> 26:37.360 14 days after leaving a CDC Level 2 or Level 3 country. 26:37.410 --> 26:40.920 And the CDC has recommended home isolation, 26:40.920 --> 26:43.370 if you're not having any symptoms. 26:43.370 --> 26:45.240 The challenge with home isolation if you live 26:45.240 --> 26:48.930 in a barracks is that that's not exactly the ideal place 26:48.930 --> 26:51.610 if you've got an open bay barracks. 26:51.610 --> 26:54.573 So we're adapting, and as was mentioned earlier, 26:55.452 --> 26:57.410 on some of the bases, they're finding solutions, 26:57.410 --> 27:00.210 seeing what works, and then adjusting as they go forward. 27:00.210 --> 27:02.690 But the goal is to minimize the risk that 27:02.690 --> 27:05.180 someone would come back into this country, bring the virus, 27:05.180 --> 27:08.060 and then immediately get out into the community, 27:08.060 --> 27:08.994 and spread it. 27:08.994 --> 27:10.930 And so that's what we're very mindful of that 27:10.930 --> 27:13.220 not only do we have an obligation to the health 27:13.220 --> 27:16.010 of our service members and to their families, 27:16.010 --> 27:18.390 we also have an obligation to preserve our ability 27:18.390 --> 27:21.160 to do our military mission, and we have an obligation 27:21.160 --> 27:23.040 to the communities in which we have bases. 27:23.040 --> 27:26.510 So we're doing exactly what the CDC recommended 27:26.510 --> 27:28.780 with folks who are coming back from overseas 27:28.780 --> 27:31.564 so that we minimize the risk in all those areas. 27:31.564 --> 27:34.943 - All right, Paul Henley, AFP, will be the last question. 27:39.060 --> 27:40.900 - [Paul] Hello, Paul Henley from AFP. 27:40.900 --> 27:45.396 Look, I'm wondering if I can follow-up on the Iraq stuff. 27:45.396 --> 27:49.220 Do you think you've reduced the spread of attacks 27:49.220 --> 27:50.343 from the militias? 27:51.546 --> 27:53.110 You haven't responded in a few days 27:53.110 --> 27:55.520 to recent attacks that we know of. 27:55.520 --> 27:57.680 Is there a kind of response coming? 27:57.680 --> 28:00.270 And I had a second follow-up. 28:00.270 --> 28:02.260 Is there any worry that the spread 28:02.260 --> 28:06.020 of the COVID-19 virus might affect the ability 28:06.020 --> 28:11.020 to keep ISIS detainees in Iraq and in Syria? 28:11.300 --> 28:14.959 - So on the first part of that, I think that 28:14.959 --> 28:19.959 we still are looking at how we may respond to any type 28:20.870 --> 28:23.140 of attack on American forces anywhere in the world. 28:23.140 --> 28:25.270 We retain the right to defend ourselves. 28:25.270 --> 28:28.050 I don't have an update for you on anything 28:28.050 --> 28:31.560 that's being considered or evaluated. 28:31.560 --> 28:34.220 But, obviously, if something were to happen, 28:34.220 --> 28:37.580 we will keep everybody in the press corps informed of that. 28:37.580 --> 28:40.790 With regard to detainees, General, I know very little 28:40.790 --> 28:43.720 about the COVID-19 and our detainees. 28:43.720 --> 28:45.300 I would have to get somebody get back to you on that, 28:45.300 --> 28:46.180 unless the general-- 28:46.180 --> 28:49.970 - Yeah, no, I would say that we are continuing to take care 28:49.970 --> 28:54.690 of every one of our service members going forward, 28:54.690 --> 28:56.780 so I have nothing on detainees either. 28:56.780 --> 29:00.150 We're focused on taking care of our U.S. service members 29:00.150 --> 29:02.214 and our allies and partners going forward. 29:02.214 --> 29:04.450 So I don't have anything more on that. 29:04.450 --> 29:06.140 - Yeah, sorry. 29:06.140 --> 29:08.390 We'll get somebody from CENTCOM in touch with you 29:08.390 --> 29:10.020 to address that question. 29:10.020 --> 29:10.853 Thank you, guys. 29:11.840 --> 29:12.673 - Thank you.