[Mariner]

"Shortly after that, Kennedy questioned Wolf about the exact mortality rate for the coronavirus, which Wolf was unable to produce, saying it was “under 2 percent.” He said that was comparable to the mortality rate for the flu, which he said was “right around that percentage” — that is, 2 percent.

“You sure of that?” Kennedy asked.

“Yes, sir,” Wolf said.

The mortality rate for the flu is about 0.1 percent, making it about 20 times less deadly than the coronavirus.

Kennedy persisted, interrogating Wolf about whether there were enough “respirators” and “face masks.” He appeared to be referring to a supply adequate to cover the entire American population, not just the doctors who might constitute a first line of response.

Wolf appeared to be confused by the question, which only further angered Kennedy."

It's apparent to me many in this administration do not take this seriously at all and think it's no big deal.

[bigdaddy45]

Good for Kennedy. Wolf appears to be pretty clueless.

[DannyTN]

Having not seen the exchange, you don’t need a mask for every person in the US. You need multiple masks for every healthcare worker, for every shift, and probably multiple masks per shift. because you can’t reuse the masks. Unless they have sterilizable masks, and I don’t think they do.

[kingu]

I think you’ll find he’s actually right, 2%, mostly due to only about 1 in 20 getting actually tested. And you’re right, in that it’s twenty times as deadly to the general population then (common) flu. Victoria is the strongest strain this year and it has hit some communities particularly hard. The flu vaccine was only 10% efective, and the pneumonia vaccine was 17% effective.

[Prince of Space]

First of all, China won’t let us in to help them fight this so all we know is what they’re telling the world. Therefore any numbers would be purely conjecture. And secondly, 2 weeks ago Trump was “right on top of this,” with even Democrats grudgingly approving of his robust response. Now that the media is fanning the flames of CV hysteria, Republicans are starting to blame POTUS? What a bunch of pussies!

[FreeReign]

It's apparent to me many in this administration do not take this seriously at all and think it's no big deal.

Reading the Yahoo account which removes a bunch of administration quotes from their full context as they add their own context, yes I see how you come to you opinion.

I would need to see the full transcript.

[Zhang Fei]

[It’s apparent to me many in this administration do not take this seriously at all and think it’s no big deal. ]

---

There are issues beyond what can be answered easily in front of the media. He could say that with 1st world medical care (vs China’s), he expects the mortality rate to be far lower. But if he said that, would the State Department (and Trump) be OK with that and the likely caterwauling from the Chinese Embassy and state media screaming racism? What if mortality rates outside of China turn out to be far higher as this bug really gets going, because non-Chinese have never been exposed to this coronavirus ever because they don’t make a habit of eating bats and pangolins? Basically, public-facing administration people need to get together and work out a script that Trump is comfortable with, and doesn’t say “Mission Accomplished” just before this evolves into the 21st century version of the Spanish flu.

[griswold3]

Administration officials underestimate the potential for panic. There’s not enough information they can give at this point. Unknown unknowns