To unmute your microphones anytime you speak. If at any time during hearing im unable to chair the hearing the human chairman colon or vice chairman of the committee congressman kennedy will serve as chair until im able to return. Documents for the record can be sent to Benjamin Tabor at the email address weve provided. All documents will be entered ininto the record with the inclusion of the hearing. The chair will not recognize herself for an Opening Statement. Today the energy and Commerce Committee continues itser oversight of the nations covid19 Pandemic Responsee examining a safe and effective covid19 vaccine that the American People can trust. In the eight months we battled covid19 over 7 million americans have had the virus and tragically over 200,000 have lost their lives. Millions ofll people face on employment and have lost their Health Insurance and families are still juggling childcare and virtual classrooms. The list of those most vulnerable to covid19 is especially on th
Good morning. This hearing will come to order. , want to thank eyewitnesses first of all for your service to this nation. On behalf of the committee, if you can thank the men and women who worked with you and apron pretty tremendous effort, trying to deal with an overwhelming situation, as a nation, we need to be grateful for your effort. Had thebly have not days off. I really do appreciate that. Toant to ask for consent have my statement entered into the record. Just a couple of facts. Just to lay out how extraordinary and overwhelming this effort has been. Not thatanuary 21, long ago, we had the first case reported of covid and eight days later on january 29, the administration established the task force. At that time, we only had five cases and zero deaths. Two days later, President Trump announced travel restrictions in china. That was not a popular decision, but it probably saved many lives and but as time to flatten what bought us time. Fema began assisting hhs. 12 cases and zero
The capacity to detect coronavirus spreading could be the key to opening the country, but the white house and the states are clashing on if there are enough tests to go around. The governors are responsible for testing and i hope they will use the tremendous amount of capacity that we have. President trump says hes putting safety first, but critics say millions of people need to be tested before the nation can truly get back to work tick thank you for joining us tonight, im andre senior. Im Cristina Rendon on peer california has been fortunate to have fewer cases on a lower death count and smaller states. Still, the humans will hear continues to grow peer governor gavin newsom said today the 95 people died in the last 24 hour period. Also today, california sadly surpassed 1000 deaths. There are nearly 6000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the bay area and 196 people have died locally. Six bay area counties are now requiring people to work Face Coverings while out in public. The ru
Requirement to wear face coverings does not take the place of social distancing. They do not need to be medical grade. Health Officials Say bandannas or cloth masks will do. If this feels like another order, it is important to realize that this actually enables us to lift other more restrictive orders. Reporter that is the hope. Right now, no easing of restrictions has been announced. Notably, Santa Clara County is not mandating masks yet. Residents say they would support it. If we can reduce the amount of, you know, spray all over the place, that is probably a good thing. It should be a requirement, i definitely feel guilty not wearing one right now, i think we have a responsibility during this quarantine to limit the spread of the virus as much as possible. Reporter for the most part, it will take effect at 11 59 tonight but it wont be enforced until april 22. Authorities want to give people who dont have masks a chance to get them. I gov. Newsoms briefing today he said california is
Out at home. The requirements to wear face coverings does not take the place of social distancing. Reporter they do not need to be medical grade, Health Officials say bandannas or cloth masks will do. This just feels like another order, it is important to realize that this actually enables us to lift other, more restrictive orders. That is the hope. Right now, no easing of restrictions has been announced. Notably, Santa Clara County is not mandating masks yet. Resident say they would support it. It is hard to distance yourself in the store when there are others around and if we can reduce the amount of come you know, spray going all over the place, that is probably a good thing. I think it should be a requirement, i feel guilty not wearing one right now. I think we have a responsibility during this quarantine to limit the spread of the virus as much as possible. Reporter the new rule will take effect tonight at 11 59 but wont be enforced until april 22. Officials want to give people en