If someone in Washington, D.C. is actually in charge of the federal response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, U.S. Senator Patty Murray would certainly like to know.
Murray, Washington state’s senior senator, blasted the White House for its response to the spread of the deadly virus and pressed top government health officials at a Senate health committee hearing Tuesday about the country’s ability to quickly expand testing for COVID-19.
At the hearing, Murray (D-WA) asked officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration about the government’s ability to quickly scale up testing, following reports of new cases across the country and in Washington state.
Nine people have died from the outbreak in Washington, and health officials said Tuesday that 27 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the state.
In her opening remarks, Murray outlined the need for an emergency supplemental funding agreement that would beyond the Trump Administration has proposed; one that would also reimburse state and local public health officials in Washington state and across the country, support the development of a vaccine, and invest in public and global health programs to prepare for future emergencies.
Murray also asked about the public health implications of not guaranteeing paid medical leave.
Currently, many people cannot follow the advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stay home from work if they are sick without losing a paycheck.
“I’m hearing from people who want to get tested and believe they have been exposed — but nobody can tell them where to go. I’m hearing that even when people can get tested — and it’s very few — the results aren’t coming back as fast as we’ve been told they would,” Murray said.
“The administration had months to prepare for this — and it is unacceptable that people at risk of infection in my state and nationwide can’t even get an answer as to whether or not they are infected,” she added.
“To put it simply, if someone at the White House or in this administration is actually in charge of responding to the coronavirus, it would be news to anyone in my state. And I have been on the phone with officials for days now.”
Murray added that Washington is now seeing community transmission of COVID-19.
“Families deserve to know — and fast — when testing will actually be ready to scale up, what they should be doing, and most importantly what we are doing,” Murray said.
The response to the outbreak needs to be guided by science, experts and facts, Murray said, and that accurate information and transparency are essential components to an effective response.
“And, unfortunately, I have to say that while I’m profoundly grateful for the work public health officials are doing — I’m frustrated at the steps the president himself has taken, from repeatedly contradicting experts’ advice, to downplaying the seriousness of the threat we face, to appointing a politician, to lead this response,” she said.
