MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Fred Hutch researcher: ‘We need facts from experts’ in coronavirus briefings

Mar 24, 2020, 9:04 AM | Updated: 10:56 am

Health experts, press briefings, coronavirus...

Dr. Anthony Fauci at a White House press briefing. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

As daily press briefings from the White House coronavirus task force have continued, some experts have begun to question their lack of expert analysis provided by medical professionals.

Airlines cut back on flights as coronavirus scares away travelers

“[Medical professionals] should be at the forefront — not politicians,” said Seattle Fred Hutchinson researcher Dr. Steven Pergam on Sunday.

“We need facts from experts,” Pergam re-stated Tuesday morning.

Many were concerned after Monday’s White House coronavirus task briefing, the second in a row where the nation’s leading infectious disease expert — Dr. Anthony Fauci — was again absent.

This comes as President Trump has begun to weigh relaxing social distancing measures in a bid to reopen the economy, against the advice of many health experts, including Dr. Fauci.

Meanwhile, rumors continue to swirl that the President has become impatient with Fauci, who has often had to correct inaccurate information from Trump in real-time during press conferences.

Fred Hutch scientist: Coronavirus response ‘Apollo program of our time’

“Mr. Trump’s patience has started to wear thin,” alleged a recent report from The New York Times. “So has the patience of some White House advisers, who see Dr. Fauci as taking shots at the president in some of his interviews with print reporters while offering extensive praise for Mr. Trump in television interviews with conservative hosts.”

Despite that, President Trump and Fauci have both publicly downplayed any supposed rift between them.

Regardless of the state of that particular relationship, Dr. Pergam calls for more insight in daily briefings from Dr. Fauci and other experts at the Centers for Disease Control. As of publishing, the last public briefing provided by the CDC was on March 9. That has since been replaced by briefings from President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence’s coronavirus task force.

MyNorthwest News

delta sexual assault...

Frank Sumrall

Woman sues Delta Air Lines after sexually assaulted on flight by employee

Last year, a woman was sexually assaulted on a Delta Air Lines flight from Phoenix to Seattle by an airline employee.

16 minutes ago

Photo: Lewis and Clark High School students thought quickly to save their track coach's life....

Julia Dallas

Spokane high school students save track coach’s life after his heart stops

Two Spokane high school students used their quick thinking and past training to save their track coach's life last week.

2 hours ago

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

14 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

15 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

17 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

17 hours ago

Fred Hutch researcher: ‘We need facts from experts’ in coronavirus briefings