Remarks shared with Governors on the May 18 call with President Trump and the First Lady

On Monday May 18, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted a video conference with all 50 state Governors. In the event your local media outlet has not published the remarks made to the Governors by Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Dr. McCance-Katz  on reopening the American economy, you can view the video and read the transcript here.

What she tell the Governors to consider? 

All American lives are precious and not every parent can survive the mental anguish of being unable to feed, care for their family due to lost unemployment.


Scroll to the 31:09 minute mark

DR. MCCANCE-KATZ: Mr. President, Vice President Pence, members of the Cabinet, and colleagues, as I've listened to states and communities struggle with mental illness issues that have arisen as a result of the virus, I wanted to ensure that governors, yesterday, heard these concerns from a medical perspective.

As my physician colleagues on the task force have been careful to rightly note, their perspective and advice centers on one aspect of the pandemic: virus containment. However, even medically, it is not the sole perspective. I felt that it was important to offer the governors a different, albeit equally important, medical perspective.

As such, I made the following remarks:

It is my privilege to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use. But today, I really speak to you more as a psychiatrist who also happens to hold a PhD in infectious disease epidemiology.

Never did I imagine the nation would be experiencing the coinciding of mental health issues and infectious disease that my training addressed. The research literature is clear on the effects of quarantine and stay-at-home practices on mental health. We know that the longer the duration of these orders, the greater the intensity of the mental health problems experienced. We also know that these symptoms persist for years to come, even once quarantine is lifted. The data tells us that when the lives of adults, children, and families are drastically changed for extended lengths of time, for many, anxiety, depression, and stress disorders will become manifest and will persist. These are real health conditions with potentially long-lasting consequences that must be taken seriously.

To put all of this in perspective, I believe it is important to point out that, pre-pandemic, we lose 120,000 lives a year to drug overdose and suicide. How many more lives are we willing to sacrifice in the name of containing the virus?

When we look at strategies to reopen, as a medical doctor, I ask that you take into account whole health, not just one narrow aspect of physical health. We continually ask ourselves what the health costs and risks may be of reopening, but I ask: What might they be of not reopening or reopening in such a restrictive way that American lives are not restored? Of course, containing the effects of coronavirus are critically important, but so too is preventing suicide. So too is keeping a person from being terrified to ever leave their home. So too is protecting the mental health of our nation's young people.

I ask you to remember that not every home is a safe home. Not every individual can withstand the trauma of not seeing or interacting physically with loved ones. Not every parent can survive the mental anguish of not being able to feed their children because of lost employment. Not every child can exist in a healthy way without the structure and support of school. We have to take a step back and recognize the other effects of our policies.

While we contain the virus, are we increasing the risk for suicide and drug overdose? Are we creating a future of substance use and addiction for millions of additional Americans? And if we are doing those things, why have we decided collectively that this is okay? We've worked so hard in states and communities across this country to combat epidemics like the opioids crisis. Why are we willing to forget those efforts now or deem them less important?
As a psychiatrist, I would argue that a life lost to suicide is just as important as a life lost to coronavirus. A family who loses someone to drug overdose experiences the same grief as a family who loses a loved one to coronavirus. Let us not forget that all American lives are precious.

Our citizens count on us to remember their health and safety in all aspects of life. The preservation of Americans’ health and the health of our citizens cannot be measured by only one metric. Virus containment cannot be our only goal, no matter the cost to Americans.
If we ignore the reality of the enormous mental health strain we’ve put on our citizens on the backdrop of an already overburdened mental healthcare system, I'm saddened but certain that the next major public health crisis of our time will be that of mental and substance use disorders, and it is not far behind.

I urge you to factor this reality into your planning, and I thank you for the work you've done thus far on behalf of the millions of Americans with mental and substance use disorders.

How is YOUR county using CARES Act dollars?

Question: are your local county commissioners promoting how taxpayer money allocated through the CARES Act signed by President Trump is helping distressed workers get through the coronavirus crisis? 

The horror stories have been on the news for weeks; people suddenly out of work, unable to make their rent, mortgage, utility payments and put food on the table due to the decision to shutdown the American economy due to the coronavirus crisis. 

In a County Examiner exclusive, we take a peek into how one Southwest Florida county board of commissioners propose spending over $134 million received under the Act.

But first a recap:

As a supplement to the Paycheck Protection Program Federal coronavirus stimulus checks of up to $1200 per adult and $500 per dependent were electronically deposited or mailed to eligible families. Federal Enhanced Re-employment relief provided an additional $600 weekly benefit for individuals eligible for state Reemployment Assistance benefits.

Under the $2.2 trillion CARES Act $150 billion was also allocated to provide financial relief for families, government and business impacted by the public health crisis (Lee County, Florida public information)

Under the CARES Act Florida received $8.328 billion; $4.6 billion for the state and $3.7 for local governments:

Using the presentation to the Lee County (Southwest Florida) Board of Commissioners $194 million was allocated to the County Board of Commissioners, LeeTran, Human Services, Public Safety, the Lee County Port Authority and the Lee County Sheriff's Office as follows:

As for individual assistance the presentation recommended Lee County Commissioners devote over $23 million to help eligible households with mortgage, rent and utilities relief.

There's also a proposed voucher program for daycare assistance so parents can return to work :

The above presentation to the Lee County Board of Commissioners was a spending proposal; when the minutes from the May 12 board meeting are certified, County Examiner will report on the final spending plan. 

Open government advocates IMHO should obtain this information from their own county governments so they can "follow the money" and ensure your taxpayer dollars are spent as they were intended.

White House Press Secretary to media: err, about that Johns Hopkins study you're pushing around

"As Johns Hopkins stated, their study should not be taken as a forecast".

You know the study I'm referring to. It's the study pushed around by some in the media as factual, a sort of forecast projecting the United States will have 200,000 cases of coronavirus infection per day by June 1.

Sounds scary, huh?

National Review referred to the study in a May 5 article (emphasis mine):

The big story this morning is a study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, used in a draft government report, that projects the United States will have 200,000 cases of coronavirus infection per day by June 1, “a staggering jump that would be accompanied by more than 3,000 deaths each day.” The White House and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention insisted it was a draft report and not officially endorsed, even though the report has the CDC logo on it.

Within two short hours, the White House put out a short quote from Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany (again, emphasis mine):

“The Johns Hopkins’ study being pushed around by the media as factual is based on faulty assumptions and is in no way representative of any federal government projections and, as Johns Hopkins stated, should not be taken as a forecast. 

This “study” considered zero mitigation, meaning it was conducted as though no federal guidelines were in place, no contract tracing, no expansion of testing, while removing all shelter in place protocols laid out in the phased approach of the Opening Up America Again guidelines for individuals with co-morbidities. The media should be more responsible in its reporting and give the full set of information to the American public.”

See how news outlets put forth these studies, projections as factual--using doom and gloom scenarios to make their point while hiding the methodology behind the study from their readers?

Kayleigh McEnany is on the ball doing a great job for President Trump and the American people.

Miami Beach mayor hopes stores refuse to serve customers not wearing a face mask

The idea is for the businesses to enforce the rule and turn away customers who do not have masks.

I've posted a few articles about the emerging public safety issue stemming from the SWFL media non-stop,day after day, over hyping the "safety" features of people wearing face masks in public---when in reality the message and the policies have resulted in just the opposite---four store customers and employees robbed by emboldened face mask-wearing thugs.

What would be the next rubicon crossed in the mask-wearing age of coronavirus? At the time I opined it might be the cultural phenomenon of public shaming--when I was a teenager we called it "peer pressure".

And I called it.

Over in the City of Miami Beach the Mayor actually hopes businesses refuse to service --under the pretext of "public health"---customers not wearing a facemask.

Courtesy of the Miami Herald (emphasis mine):

"...The city agrees, and on Friday Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber — with a tropical-themed mask in hand — announced an emergency measure ordering customers and employees to wear face masks at grocery stores, restaurants and pharmacies at the risk of being turned away from the businesses. 

The city’s new emergency measure, signed into law Friday evening (April 3) by City Manager Jimmy Morales, orders people to wear cloth masks, scarves, bandanas or other similar items to cover their faces. The order encourages residents not to purchase medical-grade masks. 

Like the city’s other emergency orders, violating the mask rule is a criminal offense. But, like smoking indoors, the cops aren’t going to arrest someone for baring their face at Publix, Gelber said. The idea is for the businesses to enforce the rule and turn away customers who do not have masks.

And it's a criminal offense that won't result in an arrest---noooooooo! We're waaaaayyy beyond the Rule of Law now. The Miami Beach mayor wants the business to refuse entry, hoping to shame, essentially guilt people into obeyance.

Keep in mind none of this went through the standard city council, public health department, open meeting, public comment process. 

Still think some of this mask-wearing, media overhype, virtue signaling is for "public health and safety"? Or to make people feelz good? 

Mask-wearing suspect sought in robbery of Lee County 7-Eleven

In yet another edition of a problem associated with pushing Americans to wear face masks in public comes this blog post on a fourth mask-wearing robbery in Southwest Florida. 

Last week County Examiner shared stories reported by Southwest Florida news outlets NBC-2.com and the Englewood Sun about the law enforcement search and subsequent arrest of a man (emphasis mine) wearing a makeshift face mask who robbed a woman at a Publix supermarket.

Three days later two North Fort Myers convenience stores were robbed by a man wearing a bandana over his face.

And now the Lee County Sheriffs Office is asking the public for help identifying the black mask-wearing man who robbed a 7-Eleven store.

From Wink News:

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying and tracking down an armed man who robbed a Lehigh Acres 7-Eleven store early Tuesday. 

According to LCSO, the man entered the 7-Eleven store, located at 4325 Lee Blvd., just after 4:30 a.m., with a semi-automatic handgun. After firing several shots, he demanded all the cash from the register. The clerk complied and handed over an unknown amount of cash, after which the suspect fled on foot southbound toward Gunnery Road. No injuries were reported. 

The man is believed to be between 20 and 30 years old, approximately 5’10” with shoulder-length dreads with blonde tips and shells at the end. He was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, khaki pants and a black facemask.

At the time I opined how criminal opportunists are more emboldened  to rob people and businesses under even the slightest mention of guidelines or suggestions about folks wearing masks in public.

I haven't read a single blog or news article pointing out the public safety issue associated with being ROBBED as all this mask-wearing talk circulates in the era of cononavirus.

So I'm wondering; what's next? Public shaming (or worse) for NOT wearing a mask while out and about?

Report: 34 long-term care facilities in Florida have confirmed cases of COVID-19

The Florida Division of Emergency Management reports 1,227 cases of Coronavirus throughout the state with the counties of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough and Duval counties representing 60% of all Florida resident cases.

FloridaDisaster.org data through March 23 identifies Miami-Dade County with 265 Florida residents, Broward County with 252 Florida residents, Palm  Beach County with 81 Florida residents, Hillsborough County with 70 Florida residents and Duval County with 46 cases of Coronavirus.

Additional analysis published by the FDEM reveals 34 cases are in residents of long-term care facilities, with 14 cases in Duval County and 13 cases in Broward County.

With data available now down to the city level, the FDEM reports the nine cities and counties with over 30 cases each. They are:

• Miami, Dade 152 

• Missing 59 *

• Hollywood, Broward 58 

• Tampa, Hillsborough 51 

• Fort Lauderdale, Broward 51 

• Jacksonville, Duval 42 

• Orlando, Orange 37 

• Miami Beach, Dade 35 

• Naples, Collier 30 

Death detail is available from the FDEM with 17 deaths through 10:20pm March 23, three in Broward County, two in Clay County, 3 in Duval County, and two in Lee County round out the top ten.

While County Examiner cannot independently confirm their information at this time, on March 23 the Palm Beach Post reported the bulk of the long-term care facilities with the 33 cases are in Jacksonville (Duval County) or Broward County, where two residents of the same nursing home died of COVID-19. 

White House statement on how America will get it done!

Late last night, Wednesday March 11 the Office of the White House Press secretary released the following statement outlining the steps the Trump Administration are taking to respond to the coronavirus and protect the health & safety of the American people.

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2020

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP HAS TAKEN UNPRECEDENTED STEPS TO RESPOND TO THE CORONAVIRUS AND PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF AMERICANS “Together we are putting into policy a plan to prevent, detect, treat and create a vaccine against coronavirus to save lives in America and the world. America will get it done!” – President Donald J. Trump   RESTRICTING TRAVEL FROM IMPACTED AREAS: President Donald J. Trump is taking further action to curb the spread of the coronavirus to the United States from other countries. President Trump is issuing a proclamation under section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to restrict travel to the United States from foreign nationals who have recently been in certain European countries. Section 212(f) of the INA only applies to the movement of human beings, not goods or cargo. The restriction applies to foreign nationals who have been in the Schengen Area, 26 countries in Europe with open borders agreements, in the last 14 days.    Those who are exempt from these restrictions, such as American citizens, will be directed to a limited number of airports where screening can take place. There is extensive travel back and forth between Europe that heightens the risk here in the United States.  LOOKING OUT FOR AMERICAN BUSINESSES AND WORKERS: President Donald J. Trump is committed to protecting American businesses and workers from the impacts of coronavirus. The President is announcing an economic assistance package to help support businesses and workers who have been harmed by this outbreak.   President Trump has instructed the Small Business Administration (SBA) to exercise available authority to provide loans to businesses affected by the coronavirus. These loans will help overcome disruptions caused by the coronavirus.  The President is calling on Congress to increase funding for this program by an additional $50 billion. The President will be instructing the Department of the Treasury to defer tax payments for certain individuals and businesses negatively impacted by the coronavirus.   This action will provide more than $200 billion of additional liquidity to the economy. President Trump is calling on Congress to immediately pass payroll tax relief.   The President announced that he will soon be taking emergency action to provide financial relief for workers who are ill, quarantined, or caring for others due to the coronavirus. The President also called on Congress to take action to extend this relief for workers. LEADING AN AGGRESSIVE, WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH: President Trump has taken unprecedented steps to protect the health of Americans in response to the coronavirus. The President is leveraging all of our resources to respond to the coronavirus, bringing together government and private industry in a collaborative response. The Trump Administration declared a public health emergency in January to bolster response efforts. President Trump took early action to help curb the spread of the virus from other countries to the United States, providing important time for response and preparations. In January, President Trump acted quickly to restrict travel from foreign nationals traveling from China. In February, the President restricted travel for individuals recently traveling from Iran. The Administration put into place mandatory screening for all travelers coming into the country from Italy and South Korea. Travel advisories for severely impacted areas like Italy and South Korea have been raised to their highest level. Today, the President directed his Administration to make general-use face masks available to our healthcare workers.  The Administration’s actions will help make millions of general-use respirators available to keep healthcare workers safe and mitigate transmission of the virus. President Trump signed into law more than $8 billion to fund response efforts. The Administration has taken bold steps to incentivize the development of therapeutics and vaccines to treat and prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Working across the public and private sectors, the Trump Administration continues to drastically expand testing capacity. More than 1 million tests have been distributed nationwide, with another 4 million tests being shipped out by the end of the week. Testing is now available in every State lab in the country and commercial labs are now deploying tests, which will help generate a dramatic increase in availability. The Trump Administration has released guidance on how to keep businesses, schools, community gathering places, and families safe. From the start, President Trump has made keeping the public informed a top priority. The Administration has announced that health plans with health savings accounts will be able to cover coronavirus testing and treatment without co-payments.

BOOM! Secretary Azar tells lawmakers Obama FDA put up roadblocks controlling testing kits

For all the Democrats bellyaching, crying and whining about the availability of coronavirus testing kits, it seems their wrath should be directed to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) under President Obama and not the Trump Administration. 

Here's what happened yesterday while you were preoccupied with voting, wall-to-wall media coverage of Super Tuesday and Fed Chair Jerome Powell remarks. 

President Trump held a roundtable briefing on coronavirus yesterday at the Vaccine research Center at the National Institutes of health in Bethesda, Maryland.

During that briefing HHS Secretary Azar was asked the following question: 

Mr. Secretary, can you talk about your meeting with lawmakers today and what specifically they’re asking the federal government?  What’s their biggest concern?

Here's his response:

As you know, our excellent teams down at the CDC developed the test really in record time, within t CD- -- at the FDA, under an emergency use authorization in record time.weeks of getting the genetic sequence back in January.  And we approved the diagnostic at CD- -- at the FDA, under an emergency use authorization in record time.

We’ve been able to be testing at CDC throughout, without any backlog in testing.  Our throughput has been great there.  We've had 12 labs qualify to be able to do the testing.  We did suffer a manufacturing issue on that test as it went out to the rest of the public health labs.

We've gotten that issue solved in the last week, so that’s up and running in the public health labs.  We also have gotten this test produced by this contractor to get it out.  So we will, this week, have up to 75,000 tests shipping out there to public health labs, as well as available to hospitals who order it.

And then something really important happened on Saturday morning.  

So one of the biggest issues around testing that people don’t understand is, during the Obama administration, the FDA, for the first time, asserted control and regulatory jurisdiction over what are called "lab developed tests."  

Before that, if a hospital or a lab, like a Quest Diagnostics, a Lab Corps, or an academic medical center would develop a test on their own with reagents and tests, they could just do that if they were a certified clinical lab, called a CLIA lab. 

But under the Obama administration, the FDA asserted jurisdiction and said, "You have to come to us first and get approval of that test before you can do it."  On Saturday morning, Commissioner Hahn issued guidance saying, under an emergency use authorization, we are permitting these labs -- these public health labs, these hospital labs, commercial labs -- to go ahead, get the test going, do your own test, make it available, and come to us for approval after the fact under emergency use authorization.

That will make, as Commissioner Hahn has said, millions of tests per week available quite rapidly. 

I'm beginning to wonder if it's even necessary to hold a Congressional vote on a coronavirus supplemental spending bill. 

Trump, Pence, coronavirus taskforce to meet with Pharma at 3:00 pm eastern

In advance of President Trump's Keep America Great rally in Charlotte, North Carolina later today the President received his intelligence briefing and is scheduled to meet with Vice President Pence and members of the Coronavirus Task Force and pharmaceutical executives at approximately 3:00 pm Eastern.

Earlier this morning Beatriz Pascual Macías of EFE, a leading Spanish news agency shared this pool report with remarks from President Trump:

Trump mentioned that he is going tonight to North Carolina for a rally. "We are working very hard with the CDC with everybody on a subject that has become a very big subject, our country is doing very well, our professionals are doing really an incredibly job., We are also working with other countries to help them , because they really have a fear of the unknown, we are working very much with a lot of other countries, including Colombia"
 
"Again we are doing very well. Some additional people were reported. We are in good shape but we have additional people that were reported, and not very many in the United States. "
 
"I am also meeting with the pharmaceutical companies, right around this afternoon."
 
"We're talking about a vaccine; maybe a cure is possible. So, we'll see about that. But we're about a vaccine; and they're moving along very quickly, all of the pharmaceutical companies, are moving along very quickly"
 
"We've asked them to accelerate whatever they're doing in terms of a vaccine. Absolutely."

 

President Trump expands coronavirus travel restrictions to include Iran

Recall that President Trump imposed travel restrictions on non-U.S. citizens present in or transiting through China into the United States due to the coronavirus on January 30, 2020. Earlier today those travel restrictions were expanded to include Iran.

Expect the Open Borders crowd who believes everyone on the planet who can make it to the United States is entitled to healthcare courtesy of the U.S. taxpayer to go bat-S@#$ crazy.

SUSPENSION OF ENTRY AS IMMIGRANTS AND NONIMMIGRANTS

OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PERSONS WHO POSE A RISKOF TRANSMITTING 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS - - - - - - - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION 

     On January 31, 2020, I issued Proclamation 9984 (Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus and Other Appropriate Measures To Address This Risk).  I found that the potential for widespread transmission of a novel (new) coronavirus (which has since been renamed "SARS-CoV-2" and causes the disease COVID-19) ("SARS-CoV-2" or "the virus") by infected individuals seeking to enter the United States threatens the security of our transportation system and infrastructure and the national security.  Because the outbreak of the virus was (and is) centered in the People's Republic of China, I suspended and limited the entry of all aliens who were physically present within the People's Republic of China, excluding the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States, subject to certain exceptions.

    CDC has determined that the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) is experiencing sustained person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2.  As of February 28, 2020, Iran had 388 cases of COVID-19, a significant increase from prior days.  In response to that increase, on February 28, 2020, CDC raised its infectious disease alert to level 3, its highest level, which recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Iran.  According to the World Health Organization, as of February 28, 2020, 97 COVID-19 cases have been exported from Iran to 11 other countries.

     Iran is not a trustworthy state actor, as it has repeatedly demonstrated through its history of engaging in malign activity, and confirmed most recently by its repeated denials of responsibility for shooting down an international airliner.  The United States Government is therefore unable to rely on official information disseminated by Iran, undermining the effective evaluation and monitoring of travelers continuing to arrive from that country. 

     The potential for undetected transmission of the virus by infected individuals seeking to enter the United States from Iran threatens the security of our transportation system and infrastructure and the national security.  Given the importance of protecting persons within the United States from the threat of this harmful communicable disease, I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within Iran during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, hereby find that the unrestricted entry into the United States of persons described in section 1 of this proclamation would, except as provided for in section 2 of this proclamation, be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and that their entry should be subject to certain restrictions, limitations, and exceptions.  I therefore hereby proclaim the following:
 
     Section 1.  Suspension and Limitation on Entry.  The entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the Islamic Republic of Iran during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States is hereby suspended and limited subject to section 2 of this proclamation.

     Sec. 2.  Scope of Suspension and Limitation on Entry.

     (a)  Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply to:

          (i)     any lawful permanent resident of the United States;

          (ii)    any alien who is the spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident;

          (iii)   any alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21;

          (iv)    any alien who is the sibling of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that both are unmarried and under the age of 21;

          (v)     any alien who is the child, foster child, or ward of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or who is a prospective adoptee seeking to enter the United States pursuant to the IR-4 or IH-4 visa classifications;
 
          (vi)    any alien traveling at the invitation of the United States Government for a purpose related to containment or mitigation of the virus;
(vii)   any alien traveling as a nonimmigrant pursuant to a C-1, D, or C-1/D nonimmigrant visa as a crewmember or any alien otherwise traveling to the United States as air or sea crew;
          (viii)  any alien

               (A)  seeking entry into or transiting the United States pursuant to one of the following visas:  A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 (as a foreign government official or immediate family member of an official), E-1 (as an employee of TECRO or TECO or the employee's immediate family members), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 (or seeking to enter as a nonimmigrant in one of those NATO categories); or

               (B)  whose travel falls within the scope of section 11 of the United Nations Headquarters Agreement;
 

 
          (ix)    any alien whose entry would not pose a significant risk of introducing, transmitting, or spreading the virus, as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the CDC Director or his designee;

          (x)     any alien whose entry would further important United States law enforcement objectives, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees, based on a recommendation of the Attorney General or his designee;

          (xi)    any alien whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designees; or

          (xii)   members of the U.S. Armed Forces and spouses and children of members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

     (b)  Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to affect any individual's eligibility for asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the regulations issued pursuant to the legislation implementing the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, consistent with the laws and regulations of the United States.
 
     Sec. 3.  Implementation and Enforcement.  (a)  The Secretary of State shall implement this proclamation as it applies to visas pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may establish.  The Secretary of Homeland Security shall implement this proclamation as it applies to the entry of aliens pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may establish.

     (b)  Consistent with applicable law, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that any alien subject to this proclamation does not board an aircraft traveling to the United States.

     (c)  The Secretary of Homeland Security may establish standards and procedures to ensure the application of this proclamation at and between all United States ports of entry.

     (d)  An alien who circumvents the application of this proclamation through fraud, willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or illegal entry shall be a priority for removal by the Department of Homeland Security.
 
     Sec. 4.  Amendments to Proclamation 9984.  Proclamation 9984 is amended as follows:

     (a)  Section 2(a)(viii) of Proclamation 9984 is amended to read as follows:  "(viii)  any alien (A) seeking entry into or transiting the United States pursuant to one of the following visas:  A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 (as a foreign government official or immediate family member of an official), E-1 (as an employee of TECRO or TECO or the employee's immediate family members), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 (or seeking to enter as a nonimmigrant in one of those NATO categories); or (B) whose travel falls within the scope of section 11 of the United Nations Headquarters Agreement;"

     (b)  Section 3(c) of Proclamation 9984 is amended to read as follows:  "(c)  The Secretary of Homeland Security may establish standards and procedures to ensure the application of this proclamation at and between all United States ports of entry."

     (c)  Section 5 of Proclamation 9984 is amended to read as follows:
 
     "Sec. 5.  Termination.  This proclamation shall remain in effect until terminated by the President.  The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, as circumstances warrant and no more than 15 days after the date of this proclamation and thereafter on the first and fifteenth day of each calendar month, recommend that the President continue, modify, or terminate this proclamation and any other proclamation suspending or limiting the entry of foreign nationals into the United States as immigrants or nonimmigrants because of the threat posed by the virus."

     Sec. 5.  Termination.  This proclamation shall remain in effect until terminated by the President. 

     Sec. 6.  Effective Date.  This proclamation is effective at 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time on March 2, 2020.  This proclamation does not apply to persons aboard a flight scheduled to arrive in the United States that departed prior to 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time on March 2, 2020.
 
     Sec. 7.  Severability.  It is the policy of the United States to enforce this proclamation to the maximum extent possible to advance the national security, public safety, and foreign policy interests of the United States.  Accordingly:

     (a)  if any provision of this proclamation, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this proclamation and the application of its provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby; and

     (b)  if any provision of this proclamation, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid because of the lack of certain procedural requirements, the relevant executive branch officials shall implement those procedural requirements to conform with existing law and with any applicable court orders.
 
     Sec. 8.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
 
          (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
 
          (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
 
     (b)  This proclamation shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
 
     (c)  This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-ninth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fourth.