Sunday School Extra Credit 6/28/20

In our Sunday School post yesterday, we heard from a governor (a Sonofa Gov, to be specific), the House Speaker, and the vice president.

For your Extra Credit we've got two governors - Asa Hutchinson (R-AR) and Jay Inslee (D-WA), the former head of the CDC Tom Frieden, and the HHS Secretary Alex Azar. We'll do a quick drive-by of each interview, in that order.

Governor Hutchinson talked with George on This Week; here are a few highlights.

• On my Sonofa Gov's decision (with his CT/NJ counterparts) to require 14-day quarantines for travelers from hot spots: I think he's understandable as to where he's coming from...And in fact, we had the same order in Arkansas that travelers from NY needed to quarantine... but ultimately we can't be putting restrictions on each other across the country, because we have to do two things -- both manage the virus and manage the growth of our economy...I don't think NY wants to isolate themselves from - from every region of commerce that might have a spike in cases.
• On testing: ...this is a very, very serious challenge we have right now. And let me just emphasize, we doubled the amount of our testing nationally. We've got to double it again... I really think we need to look at greater use of the Defense Production Act so that we can make sure the supply keeps up with the demand that we know is going to continue growing.
• On mask requirements and messaging: We're not going to pass a mandate that is unenforceable... It is important that there's a consistent national message to take this seriously, that we are going to wear masks, that we're going to set that example, that consistent national message supplements what we're trying to do in the state...you can have two messages at a time...let's grow our economy, but let's also have the message of social distancing protecting our self and others from the virus. 

Washington's Governor Inslee talked with John Dickerson on Face the Nation; he was not gentle when talking about president Trump or the veep.

• On messaging: ...when I hear the vice president talk about how things are just hunky dory, it's just - it's just - it's just maddening. The situation is critical in many places...all the happy talk and wishful thinking in the world is not going to wash that away. 
• On mask requirements: ...we put an order in effect, including businesses' obligation in this regard. And we sure could use some leadership from the president. It is so difficult. From day one, he has downplayed and distorted and disabled our ability to fight this war... So right now, we are in an urgent national mission - or should be - to mask up... Donald Trump is for masking up like George Wallace was for integration.
• On presidential priorities: The moment Donald Trump tweeted that he wanted to liberate Michigan from the health messages of Gov. Whitmer...all of a sudden people wearing MAGA hats decided they didn't want to help out as much. And that has been very, very damaging. We need a president who will be fully committed to a message of health, you know, and instead of tweeting the other day about the importance of masks, he tweeted about monuments. We need a president who will care more about living Americans and less about dead confederates... And if we can get everybody wearing a MAGA hat to wear a mask, we're going to tame this virus...

Dr. Tom Frieden talked with Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday, giving us these matter-of-fact highlights.

• On whether we're truly making "remarkable progress" now: Well, there's no doubt we're doing more testing, our hospitals are better prepared, but there's also no doubt the virus has the upper hand. This virus is not going to go away on its own. We have to stop it and only we can do that by working together... we are all sick and tired of staying home, but you know what? The virus is not tire of making us sick. 
• On how he explains the surge in cases: We are moving too fast. If you open when cases are still increasing, as many states did, it's like leaning into a left hook. When we see Arizona, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, they are currently in a rapid upswing and sad to say, this is going to continue to get worse for weeks. Because the physical distancing that they're implementing now will only take effect -- you won't see it for another few weeks, so we are going to see a few more weeks of increases in all likelihood in several states.
• On whether case increases are tied to increased testing: As a doctor, scientist, an epidemiologist, I can tell you with 100% certainty that in most states where you're seeing an increase, it is a real increase. It is not more tests, it is more spread of the virus... you've got Arizona with nearly one out of four tests positive and at the same time you are increasing the number of tests, I can tell you with absolute certainty that's explosive spread of coronavirus.
• On getting a vaccine "very soon": There are more than 100 vaccine candidates being evaluated, some of them are looking good in some preliminary studies. It's really hard to develop a vaccine because you have to make sure it's safe. There's already too much suspicion about vaccines, we can't cut any corners. We have to make sure it's safe, it's effective, figure out the right dose, decide who's going to get it first, develop it, manufacture large quantities, get it out there, set up systems to track for bad reactions. This is not a quick fix...

And finally, HHS Secretary Alex Azar talked with Chuck Todd on MTP.

• On "why we are failing" when so many other countries are succeeding: ...we're seeing surging in cases in counties especially in the southern parts of the US... the majority of the positive cases we're seeing are age 35 and under. A large number of those are going to be asymptomatic... our fatality rates and our hospitalization rates are the lowest they've been in two months. But this is a very serious situation.
• On how we respond to the situation: This is a county by county issue...getting to the bottom of why we're seeing cases surging...in addition to the traditional contact tracing... we've got to test entire communities, find all positive cases...We've got hospital capacity in all of these areas. We have personal protective equipment... We now have treatments, we've got steroids, Remdesivir, convalescent plasma... So, we've got the tools to do this... But the window is closing. We have to act and people as individuals have to act responsibly. 
• On whether we blew it during the first shutdown: So... this isn't about reopening or not reopening. We've got many communities and states that are just as reopened as these southern states but aren't experiencing this. We've got to get to the bottom of why we're seeing these cases surge in this area...we all own, as individuals, our individual behavior to make sure that we are practicing appropriate social distancing and wearing facial covering when we're not able to. And practicing good personal hygiene. And especially protecting our most vulnerable citizens. 
• On whether he has asked the president to ask the country to wear a mask: I'm the president's secretary of health. I'm telling you, practice social distancing. Where you can't appropriately social distance, we encourage you to wear a facial covering.... But we're all saying this. The president's guidelines for reopening, the president's guidelines, his guidelines have said from day one, practice social distancing. If you can't, wear face coverings. Practice appropriate personal hygiene... Protect the most vulnerable...
• On not answering the prior question, and about large gatherings:  I'm not going to talk about politics. But we've seen mass gatherings over the last several weeks with people, rightly, expressing first amendment and political views. And this is appropriate. But my message is one of public health, which is if you're going to participate in any type of large gathering, I encourage you: consider your individual circumstance. Consider the circumstance of those you live with. And take appropriate precautions that are appropriate to yourself and your community.

Your key takeaway - cover your face, practice social distancing, and think of people other than yourself. 

But say you're worried about paying your monthly bills or having enough money in the bank to pay for home repairs or similar big-ticket items, or even if you just want to make sure you have money in your retirement accounts...what should you do?  Cover your face and practice social distancing.

If we do those things, we can reopen our economy. If we don't, we can't. It's that simple.