President Trump: We are getting through the coronavirus crisis as one American family
President Trump leads daily briefing of White House coronavirus task force.
Vice President Mike Pence on Friday said more than 5 million Americans have now been tested for the deadly coronavirus as President Trump surprised observers by abruptly ending the daily press conference and taking no questions.
The record short coronavirus briefing -- lasting a little over 21 minutes -- comes after a rocky appearance yesterday where Trump seemingly suggested that household disinfectant might be used for treatment in humans for coronavirus.
Pence touted progress on testing in the U.S. that has been expanded to 5.1 million Americans and warned that the number of infections will continue to rise as more people have access to tests.
"As testing increases dramatically across the country, cases will increase as well," Pence said. "But people should not be discouraged by those numbers. We are looking at very positive trends in hospitalization, in emergency room entrances, and we continue to see...positive progress."
TRUMP SIGNS $484B SMALL BUSINESS CORONAVIRUS RELIEF BILL INTO LAW
But as soon as Pence finished his statements, Trump left the briefing room with his vice president and took no questions from the inquiring press, stunning those in the audience who are accustomed to marathon Q and A sessions.
Trump did take reporters' questions earlier in the day in the Oval Office, however, where he backed off the idea of injecting disinfectant in humans, saying he was just being "sarcastic."
But Trump's White House suggestions were taken so seriously that Lysol and even the EPA had to put out statements reminding people that disinfectants should not be ingested or injected into the human body.
Friday's press conference started at 5:39 pm with Trump reading prepared remarks on signing into law a fourth round of economic relief legislation and praising the progress made in fighting the virus.
"We are getting through this challenge together as one American family," Trump said.
After five minutes, Trump turned over the spotlight to FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn who touted the Administration's speed in testing approval. Now 63 diagnostic and antibody tests have gotten the OK, including one new at-home test, he said.
Pence closed out the briefing with words of hope that governors are working collaboratively. Federal and private efforts have resulted in nearly 67 million N-95 face masks being shipped to states, along with 105 million surgical masks and more than 10,000 ventilators, he said.
"We are slowing the spread," Pence said. "We are protecting our most vulnerable and I truly do believe that the day will soon come when we will heal our land, and we'll be able to reopen America, and put this great nation back to work."
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.
More from Politics
