Tony's Diary Package — page 599

COVID-19 Daily Report Reported on January 18, 2021 Sates ahead fo groups based on test positivity in the week ending Jan 13, 2021" AL, AR, AZ, CA, CT, FL. GA, DA, ID, IM, WS, ACF, Lali, OD, BAS, FeT, PHC, MEL, IN, BE, IL, MID, NY, 50, CO, DC, Ma, ME, Mi, A, Bi, WV, OH, OK, PA, SC, TM, TH, WA, Wl MN, OR, Al, Wer UT, VA, WV AR, Hi, MD, WT he 1. For the first time in weeks all indicators except fatalities are improving and are either flat at a high plateau or declining over 7 days. This suggests with full data triangulation that we have reached the post-Holiday peak in most of the country and declines should continue with continued mitigation. These gains can be sustained and can accelerate if behavior change holds and testing increases to find the asymptomatic cases to prevent community spread Had farewell conversation with Vice President Pence. I called up Marc Short to ask him to have the VP call me today since I was not sure that I would be able to attend (virtually) the last TF meeting this Tuesday. The VP called and we had a very touching and person discussion saying how much he respected me and how the TF would not have been able to accomplish what it did without me. He was very touched. I told him how important it was for his legacy that he acted with such dignity and resolve over the last days when he refused to go along with Trump's attempt to get him to overthrow the election results. WE parted by saying we will always be there for each other. Received material from Beth Cameron for my announcement on early AM of Jan. 21 that we will re-join the WHO. I will edit it and get it re-approved. Very nice that I have been chosen to be head of delegation to the WHA in Geneva (virtually) to make this announcement. Summary of some events over past few days/weeks: Jeff Zients calls me multiple times per day checking facts, etc. I brought up to him that it would be a good idea for continuity that he keep on Francis as NIH director since if he does not act to tear up the required letter of resignation, Francis automatically is gone and we have an acting (which would not be bad since Larry Tabak is great). Ned Sharpless is in the same boat as presidential appointee at NCI. And so I mentioned to Jeff that we should keep Ned on and he made it happen. And so, in fact I am responsible for keeping the NIH and NCI Directors in their jobs. A surprise is that Harold Varmus called me up and expressed great concern that Francis was staying on. He said many substantial members of scientific community (Bruce Alberts, Shirley Tilghman, etc) are quite concerned and feel that it is time for a change. I explained to Harold that this was probably