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President Donald Trump and other administration officials will hold a press briefing on coronavirus testing on Monday afternoon, as states take steps to reopen and one top aide says it’s “scary” to work in the White House.
Trump’s scheduled 4 p.m. Eastern briefing is the president’s first in two weeks. A senior administration official said the U.S. has performed about 9 million tests to date, after Trump said Friday that number was up to 8.5 million.
States, meanwhile, are getting $11 billion from recently approved congressional legislation to put towards testing, the official said.
The Associated Press reported Monday that the administration is recommending coronavirus testing of more than 1 million nursing home residents and staff in the next two weeks.
Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said in a Washington Post op-ed on Monday that testing has been inadequate and urged the administration to do more.
“Instead of once again seeking to divide us, Trump should be working to get Americans the same necessary protections he has gotten for himself,” wrote Biden.
The pandemic has hit close to home at the White House, as one of the president’s valets and Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary have tested positive for coronavirus.
On Sunday, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that “it is scary to go to work,” and that he’d feel safer at home.
See:White House economic adviser admits ‘it is scary to go to work’ in the West Wing.
