US Vice President Mike Pence said that the total number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in the country hit 77, with nine deaths in Washington State. During a coronavirus task force meeting at the White House late Tuesday, Pence announced new guidance from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that makes clear “any American can be tested” without questions.
No longer restricted to symptomatic people. Pence said that kits capable of testing one million people will be shipped imminently, with a plan for one million people tested via kits next week. He added that the task force will move all inspection resources at the state level to dealing with infectious disease.
Pence noted that Americans do not need to worry about buying masks. “It is not necessary for the American people to buy masks.” Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is “aggressively” deployed in Washington state and California.
