Jon Cohen’s (staff writer for Science) interview with Anthony Fauci shows how difficult it is to deal with truth in the daily coronavirus Press Conferences.

Like many of you, I’ve tuned into these “daily” Coronavirus Task Force press briefings. I don’t know about you, but I’m usually infuriated by Trump. His history of lying and misrepresenting the truth is fed to us on live TV, and unfortunately, the media is contributing to this.

The only inkling of truth and accurate factual information happens is when Dr. Anthony Fauci, directory of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), or Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force take the podium.

I’ve wondered how Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx have dealt with being front and center during the worst pandemic that the world has experienced since the Flu Pandemic of 1918. More than 50 million people died during the two years of this pandemic, with at least 500,000 Americans perishing. In that pandemic, the only approach that seemed to stem the growth of the virus was social distancing. We are at the same point in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump’s COVID-19 response was too late, and as a result governors are scrambling to do the right thing and get the medical tools that hospitals need. And the right thing is to tell people to stay at home, and for the Federal government to act right away to provide the front line of health care works with tools, and equipment they need to deal with surge of patients that are overcrowding our hospitals.

How do these two scientists who interact daily with Trump as members of the Coronavirus Task Force deal with the mixed messages, untruths, and real concerns of the American people.

Interview with Dr. Fauci

I came across in my daily read of Science an interview with Anthony Fauci which was conducted yesterday by Jon Cohen. The interview brings out some of the frustration, but also the resolve of Dr. Fauci as he deals with Trump’s view of this disease. As he said to Jon Coen, “So, I’m going to keep pushing.”

Here is one of the questions that Jon Coen asked in his interview with Anthony Fauci.

Q: You stood nearby while President Trump was in the Rose Garden shaking hands with people. You’re a doctor. You must have had a reaction like, “Sir, please don’t do that.”

A: Yes, I say that to the task force. I say that to the staff. We should not be doing that. Not only that—we should be physically separating a bit more on those press conferences. To his credit, the vice president [Mike Pence] is really pushing for physical separation of the task force [during meetings]. He keeps people out of the room—as soon as the room gets like more than 10 people or so, it’s, “Out, everybody else out, go to a different room.” So with regard to the task force, the vice president is really a bear in making sure that we don’t crowd 30 people into the Situation Room, which is always crowded. So, he’s definitely adhering to that. The situation on stage [for the press briefings] is a bit more problematic. I keep saying, “Is there any way we can get a virtual press conference?” Thus far, no. But when you’re dealing with the White House, sometimes you have to say things one, two, three, four times, and then it happens. So, I’m going to keep pushing. Source: Jon Coen, Science Magazine, March 22, 2020.

You can read Jon Coen’s full interview here.