Trump requests people be sent to aid U.K.’S PM
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump sent his best wishes Monday to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was moved into the intensive care unit of a London hospital with an infection of the new coronavirus.
Trump said he’d directed two pharmaceutical companies to send people to Great Britain to help with Johnson’s treatment, calling him “a very good friend.”
As of Monday, the number of
COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. passed 10,500, and worldwide it was nearly 75,000, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. More than 276,000 people who’d been infected with the disease had recovered, however.
During a daily briefing of the president’s coronavirus task force, Trump said that earlier in the day he’d had a warm talk lasting about 15 minutes with former Vice President Joe Biden, who shared suggestions on COVID-19 policy. Trump described the conversation as friendly and refrained from
calling Biden disparaging nicknames.
There was good news as well. A fall in New York’s death and hospitalization rates hinted that the curve in America’s hottest spot had begun to flatten. During his daily briefing, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told reporters that the state did not need additional ventilators.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has served as the friendly doctor’s face of the task force, said he did not want to declare victory too soon, but he said the New York developments represent “the kind of good signs that you look for.”
Vice President Mike Pence, Trump’s point man on the new coronavirus, announced that Nevada would get
100 out of 500 ventilators donated by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to the strategic national stockpile.
Before the briefing, Trump told Cuomo that he would grant a request to allow doctors aboard the USNS Comfort, a 1,000-bed hospital ship, to treat COVID-19 patients rather than only patients with other ailments. Trump also granted access to the ship for coronavirus patients from New Jersey.
Modly criticizes captain
Also on Monday, acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly was caught on tape bad-mouthing former USS Theodore Roosevelt Capt. Brett Crozier, whom Modly had fired, as “too naive
or too stupid to be a commanding officer.” Crozier has since tested positive for COVID-19.
Asked about the episode, Trump criticized Crozier’s decision to distribute a letter critical of the Navy but said he will investigate the episode because he doesn’t “want to destroy somebody for having a bad day.”
“It was weak,” Trump later clarified. “But I’m going to take a look.”
Crozier was cheered by the crew of the Roosevelt as he disembarked after being relieved of his duties.
Contact Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@reviewjournal. com or 202-662-7391. Follow @Debrajsaunders on Twitter.