Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Global – 3,000,000/200,000; USA – 1,000,000/56,000 Meeting with Joe Grogan group in Roosevelt Room. Joe is pissed that the individual guidances for special situations, i.e. restaurants, Child care centers, etc, do not align with the various phases of re-opening. Also, CDC again were late and off on their own regarding guidelines for surveillance. CDC is tone deaf to how everyone feels that they are not up to the task. Briefed Kayleigh McEnany and Mark Meadows about the Remdesivir trial. Mark and Kaylee agree that I should announce this at a presser tomorrow. I warn Mark that we cannot allow the POTUS to ad lib and over-promise since I will be very conservative. Called up Mersad Parsey at Gilead out of courtesy to infrom him that I will be announcing this at the Presser. Amazingly, (or not) he asked me to hold off until Thursday informing the PIs at the sites tonight so that they can formulate a statement and policy to not allow an unfavorable or too favorable response of the Stock Market. I immediately told him that no way do I want to discuss the stock market with him and this was inappropriate. He backed off. PRESS: Bloomberg News (John Lauerman, print); Economics Club Podcast with David Rubenstein; Ryan Zimmerman Podcast; New York Times Sports Editor print interview; CNN “The Lead” with Jake Tapper.