Tony's Diary Package — page 30

Larry Kudlow to India with Melania. And so, it is "fixed". Azar called me to thank me for "saving his ass". Feb. 24, 2020 - 79,524/2626. Situation getting worse in Italy, Korea, Japan, Iran. More reports of transmissions by asymptomatic people. Lots of discussions of when the WHO will declare this a "pandemic". WHO is saying that they are no longer using the terminology "pandemic" Stock Market plunging today about 1000 points as a result of coronavirus reports. Mick Mulvaney called my office today to give me the cell number of Larry Kudlow who wanted to speak with me. I called and Larry wanted my take on what is evolving with COVID-19 since it is critical to him in his assessment of the potential impact on the economy. He said he trusts my opinion over anyone else. OMB will release the Supplemental Request to the Congress tonight and I have a Congressional briefing with AZAR and the HHS team tomorrow AM. They did not request any for NIAID even though I put in for $145 million. Spoke with Azar a few days ago and he said that OMB and he would not be upset if the Congress added to the Supp request for money for me. Problem is thsat until then, I may need to defend why I am not getting or do not need additional money. Had dinner over mansion of Adrienne Arst. Chris Liddell and his wife Renee were also guests. PRESS: CBS Radio (NYC); AP TV; FOX Business (Lou Dobbs) Feb. 25,2020 - 80,277/2705 Major concern ove other countries surging in cases - Italy, South Korea, Iran. Stock Market staring to crash due to COVID-19. Supply chain concerns. 1st patient evacuated from Diamond Princess to Lackland supposedly will come to NIH since patient has since converted to virus positive. Big explosion of media. On the usual CDC press briefing, Nancy Messonnier made the comment that a pandemic and community spread in the USA is not a matter of IF, but a matter of WHEN and we should prepare to do things like close schools and do telework. This caused a firestorm of media frenzy around the world. The Stock Market tanked by 1000 points; the POTUS called up Azar asking what the hell is going on. I went into the media to try to calm the waters (see press below). Also, the press was zinging the POTUS and Larry Kudlow for saying right before Nancy made her statement that everything is under control in the USA (which it is for now - 14 cases with no community spread) while CDC officials (Messonnier) were saying that a USA outbreak was inevitable. Also, zinging the POTUS who is saying that a vaccine is imminent