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Jun 26, 2020 - Politics & Policy

White House coronavirus task force to hold first briefing in roughly two months

Orion Rummler
Deborah Birx stands in front of a graph

White House coronavirus task force coordinator Deborah Birx on May 22. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Vice President Mike Pence will hold an in-person White House coronavirus task force briefing on Friday, the first in roughly two months.

Why it matters: The coronavirus pandemic is getting dramatically worse in almost every corner of the U.S., Axios' Sam Baker and Andrew Witherspoon report.

  • The CDC now thinks the realistic estimate of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. could be as high as 23 million — 10 times the current tally — due to asymptomatic carriers.

Between the lines: The White House said that social distancing would be in place for reporters covering the event — a departure from President Trump's Rose Garden event in early June.

  • The White House did not immediately comment on whether NIAID director Anthony Fauci and task force coordinator Deborah Birx would speak at the briefing.
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