Thursday Coronavirus Update: Solar Light

Indianapolis – April 23, 2020 – President Donald Trump opened today’s press briefing praising the House of Representatives for being ready to pass the latest addition to the Paycheck Protection Program. During today’s brief, the latest bill of $484 billion was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 388 to 5.

Also in attendance for today’s briefing were Vice President Mike Pence, William Bryan, Under Secretary for Science and Technology at the Department of Homeland Security and Dr. Deborah Birx.

President Trump talked about how awe-inspiring it has become to see states starting to open. “In 23 states, any new COVID-19 cases have declined,” Trump noted. He reminded everyone that the re-opening of the economy does not mean we are letting down our guard. “Until we feel it’s safe, we’re going to be extending the social distancing guidelines.”

The president also updated the quantity of Personal Protective Equipment that has already been created in the U.S. and the equipment that is currently being produced. “We finalized three contracts to produce 39 million more N95 masks in 90 days.”

William Bryan reported new revelations on the Wuhanvirus today during the press briefing. After weeks of studying, Bryan said “Solar light has a powerful effect on COVID-19. … For every 18 hours, the life of the Coronavirus is cut in half and as the temperatures and humidity increases, the virus dies at a higher rate.”  In addition, the virus dies the quickest in direct sunlight. “Every week or two weeks we are finding out something new or different about the COVID-19 virus,” Bryan said.

Slide presentation by William Bryan

Vice President Pence was pleased to report that the metro areas that have been monitored, continue to show signs that the infection rates have peaked. “We’re making meaningful progress, but our only conclusion is we’re getting there, America.” By early summer we could be a much better place as a nation.

Pence also updated everyone that nearly 5 million COVID-19 tests have now been performed in the United States. And Pence announced that he will have another conference call on testing with all governors tomorrow.

Vice President Pence announced that across the country, 35,000 military personnel from the National Guard have been deployed and 4,500 active duty medical professionals have also been deployed in the United States.

After all remarks, President Trump returned to the podium to field questions from the media.

The full transcript of today’s briefing can be read here.

Full video of today’s briefing:

(courtesy of White House YouTube)

Clips of today’s briefing:

Congress is answering President @realDonaldTrump's call to deliver additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program! pic.twitter.com/gb2uPnjL8p

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 23, 2020

"We finalized three contracts to produce 39 million more N95 masks in 90 days." pic.twitter.com/pzKvvKqKyi

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 23, 2020

We will defeat this plague and restore the full measure of American power and prosperity. pic.twitter.com/b88sDtIShD

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 23, 2020

We salute the heroic officials on the front lines! pic.twitter.com/Vj8zPrVB91

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 23, 2020

Every American needs to remain vigilant to keep up our momentum in the battle against the virus! pic.twitter.com/Lmdho642Ft

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 23, 2020

(courtesy of White House Twitter)