Tony's Diary Package — page 107

Less POTUS actually joined the TF meeting right at the beginning andstarting talking about ratings of the press conferences being the best ratings on all of TV. Yikes! POTUS was again rambling at the press conference with stream of consciousness not really answering questions and spouting how well we are doing. Press focusing on whether we are prepared to re-open. Press keeps dwelling on fact that we likely do not have enough testing capability. POTUS mentioned (to my and Birx's surpise) that he has already asked some people to be on another Task Force to help him decide on re-opening. He even mentioned that there would be prominent physicians on the call. Deb is worrie d about this. I am not surprised. During press briefing reporter asked PTUS a question about Gov. DeSantis (RFL) wanting to open his schools in May and would not that endanger lives of people since there are many cases in Florida. He did not answer and then the reporter asked what my opionion was. I spoke generically saying I am not aware of the situation in Florida, but in general, if there are active cases in community, children in school could spread the virus. Later that afternoon DeSantis called my cell and explained that he wa evaluating the situationon a week by week basis and did not make any definitive decisions and the districts that he was considering opening the schools were districts with very few infection. PRESS: CNN New Day with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman; Sirius Doctor Radio - Marc Siegal; Press conference (see above); FOX Martha McCallum; FOX Jesse Watters; Brian Williams - MSNBC April 11, 2020 - Light day. TF, but no press conference. Important discussion about the fact that the sensitivity of the Abbott ID Now (15 minute test) machine is queationable. We have not had a single positive at the WH with press and secret service and staff. We will bring a machine to NIH to use on people with documented COVID-19. I am still concerned about our ability to dothe tsting that we keep reassuring the public that we can do. Deb very much suspicious and restrained hostile towards Brett Giroir whom she does not trust. Gave extra copies of the HHS Guidelines to Marc Short. They plan to have me present it to POTUS on Monday, April 13.