Trump hails progress on vaccine in first remarks since election
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday hailed developments in the race for a vaccine for the resurgent coronavirus as he delivered his first public remarks since the election.
Trump spoke from the Rose Garden as the nation sets records for confirmed cases of COVID-19, and as hospitalizations near critical levels and fatalities climb to the highest levels since the spring. He said a vaccine would ship in “a matter of weeks” to vulnerable populations, though the Food and Drug Administration has not yet been asked to grant the necessary emergency approvals. In addition, there's no information yet as to whether the vaccine worked in vulnerable populations or only in younger, healthier study volunteers.
Public health experts worry that Trump's refusal to take aggressive action on the pandemic or to coordinate with the team of President-elect Joe Biden during the final two months of his presidency will only worsen the effects of the virus and hinder the nation's ability to swiftly distribute a vaccine next year.
During the speech Trump made it clear he would not issue any type of lockdown.
“This administration will not go to a lockdown” he said. “But we will be careful.”
