Friday, January 24, 2020

More cities shut down by the Chinese. Now >800 cases and 26 deaths. State Department issued Level 4 (no travel at all) for Wuhan. Had meeting at EEOB381 (Anthony’s office) to discuss the evolving siautaion with 2019-nCoV. Derek Kan (Deputy Director, OMB) was there with other OMB folks to determine what the budgetary needs would be for our response. I will put together some budget numbers. I was supposed to be on this coming weekend (it is now Friday) This Week With George Stephanopoulos and Face the Nation; however, these were bumped because of impeachment trial that is onging. Call from Lena Sun (Washington Post) trying to verify (I said I knew nothing of this) that people in the USG were saying that the Chinese got to Tedros to convince him not to declare a PHEIC since it would harm their reputation. I told her that was nonsense and I probably stopped her from writing the story. She said since I am in all the important meetings that I would know. CNBC Squawk Box; CBS Radio New York; Massive press interactions prior to and after my briefing of the Senators; Clip of me on CBS This Morning from the briefing