Managing the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak: HHS Command Center prepares for response as one of VP Pence's first steps to the the Coronavirus task force
By Mona Austin
As the public outcry demands more attention from Washington on the Coronavirus, government agencies have worked swiftly to respond to the CDC warning of its potential spread in the United States.
Pres. Trump tapped Vice Pres. Pence to lead the response to the disease as it gradually shows up stateside. Pence and members of his Coronavirus task force (Sec. of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams) gave members of the press a tour of the Command Center where the when critical information on the virus is being gathered on Thursday.
In the Health and Human Secretary Operations Center, the Coronavirus is monitored 24/7. As of Thursday afternoon, the running tally of deaths in Hubei Mainland China was 2,641, Iran 26, and Italy 14 as indicated on a map.
Top 5 countries with widespread transmission of the novel Coronavirus:
- China
- Iran
- Italy
- Japan
- South Korea
The virus has been detected on every continent except Antarctica and is impacting 50+ countries.
The SOC is the primary emergency operations center for HHS, and is suited to track data globally in real time. Importantly, this team plays the role of tracking the spread of the disease and can directly communicate pertinent information to the appropriate U.S. officials.
Press Secretary Judd Deere said Pence was selected due to his experience overseeing ad HIV/AIDS crisis when he was the governor of Indiana. The president has been criticized for not placing someone with more direct qualifications in the role such as either Azar or Dr. Adams.
Azar said the workers in the center sit in a horseshoe area to plan logistics. According to a press pooler in the room, a large video screen at the front of the room was a map of Asia with different sized dots noting points of outbreak areas, etc. The screen indicated there were 2,810 deaths and 33,252 recovered worldwide.
