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1 00:00:04,395 --> 00:00:06,898 Mr. Earnest: Good afternoon, everybody. 2 00:00:06,898 --> 00:00:09,033 Thank you for joining us today. 3 00:00:09,033 --> 00:00:11,703 We will go straight to the questions. 4 00:00:11,703 --> 00:00:12,703 The President, as many of you know, 5 00:00:12,704 --> 00:00:14,505 is convening a meeting this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. 6 00:00:14,505 --> 00:00:17,075 in the Cabinet Room with members of his team who are 7 00:00:17,075 --> 00:00:23,414 responsible for responding to the Ebola diagnosis in Texas. 8 00:00:23,414 --> 00:00:25,750 So I'm actually manifested for that meeting, 9 00:00:25,750 --> 00:00:28,486 so I need to leave here about 3:25 p.m. 10 00:00:28,486 --> 00:00:29,854 Would be a little embarrassing to walk in late. 11 00:00:29,854 --> 00:00:30,922 The Press: Are you going? 12 00:00:30,922 --> 00:00:34,859 Mr. Earnest: Yes, so I don't want to be late. 13 00:00:34,859 --> 00:00:37,462 So, with that, Darlene, do you want to get us started? 14 00:00:37,462 --> 00:00:38,363 The Press: Thank you. 15 00:00:38,363 --> 00:00:41,065 Can you give us any more details on the meeting 16 00:00:41,065 --> 00:00:42,533 that you said you're going to? 17 00:00:42,533 --> 00:00:45,503 What does the President want to get out of it? 18 00:00:45,503 --> 00:00:47,338 Who are some of the people who are participating? 19 00:00:47,338 --> 00:00:49,674 And does this in any way affect the travel that's 20 00:00:49,674 --> 00:00:52,210 on the schedule for tomorrow? 21 00:00:52,210 --> 00:00:54,145 Mr. Earnest: Darlene, the President is convening members 22 00:00:54,145 --> 00:00:58,149 of his team who have been responsible for responding 23 00:00:58,149 --> 00:01:01,819 to the Ebola situation in this country. 24 00:01:01,819 --> 00:01:03,821 The President wants to do that because he wants to make sure 25 00:01:03,821 --> 00:01:08,158 that all of the needed resources of the federal government 26 00:01:08,159 --> 00:01:12,397 are being deployed to deal with this specific situation. 27 00:01:12,397 --> 00:01:14,465 We'll have a full manifest of those who are participating 28 00:01:14,465 --> 00:01:15,466 in the meeting for you. 29 00:01:15,466 --> 00:01:17,634 At the conclusion of the meeting you'll have the opportunity 30 00:01:17,635 --> 00:01:20,505 to hear directly from the President himself about 31 00:01:20,505 --> 00:01:24,475 what decisions were made in the course of that meeting. 32 00:01:24,475 --> 00:01:26,676 At this point, I don't have any changes 33 00:01:26,677 --> 00:01:28,679 to tomorrow's schedule to announce. 34 00:01:28,679 --> 00:01:30,915 We're obviously operating at a pretty dynamic environment 35 00:01:30,915 --> 00:01:33,117 right now, so we'll do our best to keep you updated. 36 00:01:33,117 --> 00:01:36,053 If there is something that requires a change in the 37 00:01:36,053 --> 00:01:38,789 President's schedule then we'll definitely let you know. 38 00:01:38,790 --> 00:01:40,291 The Press: Can you explain why he thought it was necessary 39 00:01:40,291 --> 00:01:42,827 to cancel both trips, both stops in New Jersey 40 00:01:42,827 --> 00:01:45,830 and Connecticut, to stay here and have this meeting? 41 00:01:45,830 --> 00:01:47,198 Mr. Earnest: Well, obviously, we have a second 42 00:01:47,198 --> 00:01:49,699 diagnosis of Ebola. 43 00:01:49,700 --> 00:01:53,638 Again, this is a health care worker who was working 44 00:01:53,638 --> 00:01:57,909 to treat the patient at Texas Presbyterian Hospital, 45 00:01:57,909 --> 00:02:01,145 the first individual who had been diagnosed with Ebola 46 00:02:01,145 --> 00:02:03,381 in this country. 47 00:02:03,381 --> 00:02:08,186 So that indicates the seriousness of this situation. 48 00:02:08,186 --> 00:02:11,589 And the President believed that it was important to convene 49 00:02:11,589 --> 00:02:13,691 the senior members of his team who are responsible for 50 00:02:13,691 --> 00:02:19,096 coordinating this response, and the President was 51 00:02:19,096 --> 00:02:21,032 not able to host that meeting and travel at the same time. 52 00:02:21,032 --> 00:02:24,869 And what we have always indicated is that 53 00:02:24,869 --> 00:02:27,371 the President of the United States is President 54 00:02:27,371 --> 00:02:30,842 wherever he goes, and that's true 24/7. 55 00:02:30,842 --> 00:02:33,277 But what's also true is if the President determines that 56 00:02:33,277 --> 00:02:36,047 it's necessary for him to return to the White House 57 00:02:36,047 --> 00:02:38,416 to fulfill his responsibilities as the leader 58 00:02:38,416 --> 00:02:40,418 of the country and as the Commander-in-Chief, 59 00:02:40,418 --> 00:02:42,420 then he'll alter his schedule accordingly. 60 00:02:42,420 --> 00:02:44,422 And the decision that we made about today's schedule 61 00:02:44,422 --> 00:02:47,758 is consistent with that guiding principle. 62 00:02:47,758 --> 00:02:49,594 The Press: I know this question was asked yesterday; 63 00:02:49,594 --> 00:02:51,095 I wanted to ask it again today. 64 00:02:51,095 --> 00:02:55,233 Does the President and the White House -- is there continued 65 00:02:55,233 --> 00:02:57,568 confidence in Dr. Frieden to lead the CDC at this time? 66 00:02:57,568 --> 00:03:00,671 And also, is the administration now going to rethink 67 00:03:00,671 --> 00:03:04,475 the idea of appointing someone to be an Ebola czar, 68 00:03:04,475 --> 00:03:07,278 given this new urgency? 69 00:03:07,278 --> 00:03:09,213 Mr. Earnest: The answer to your first question is yes. 70 00:03:09,213 --> 00:03:11,582 Throughout this process and throughout this response -- 71 00:03:11,582 --> 00:03:12,850 dating all the way back to March, 72 00:03:12,850 --> 00:03:15,853 I might add -- this administration has been guided 73 00:03:15,853 --> 00:03:18,289 by the science, by our medical experts who have 74 00:03:18,289 --> 00:03:20,625 experience in dealing with Ebola outbreaks. 75 00:03:20,625 --> 00:03:27,365 For almost four decades now, the global health community, 76 00:03:27,365 --> 00:03:29,901 led by the United States, has been dealing with Ebola 77 00:03:29,901 --> 00:03:33,004 outbreaks in Africa, and as we are dealing with 78 00:03:33,004 --> 00:03:35,540 a public health situation in this country, we continue 79 00:03:35,540 --> 00:03:39,644 to be guided by the advice of medical experts and scientists 80 00:03:39,644 --> 00:03:42,246 who have knowledge in this field and can use 81 00:03:42,246 --> 00:03:45,316 that knowledge to protect the American people. 82 00:03:45,316 --> 00:03:49,854 As it relates to a so-called Ebola czar, 83 00:03:49,854 --> 00:03:52,089 I'll reiterate what we've said in the past on this, 84 00:03:52,089 --> 00:03:55,026 which is that we have designated very clear lines 85 00:03:55,026 --> 00:03:57,562 of responsibility in terms of which agencies are 86 00:03:57,562 --> 00:04:00,898 responsible for which aspects of this response. 87 00:04:00,898 --> 00:04:05,570 We've got CDC and USAID personnel who are operating in 88 00:04:05,570 --> 00:04:08,673 West Africa to work with those local governments to try to meet 89 00:04:08,673 --> 00:04:13,311 the urgent humanitarian public health needs in those countries. 90 00:04:13,311 --> 00:04:18,249 You have a Department of Defense that is responding to the orders 91 00:04:18,249 --> 00:04:20,284 of the President of the United States to set up enhanced 92 00:04:20,284 --> 00:04:24,755 logistical capacity so that the international community can 93 00:04:24,755 --> 00:04:27,992 benefit from improved logistics as they seek to move equipment 94 00:04:27,992 --> 00:04:31,862 and personnel into the region to try to confront this outbreak. 95 00:04:31,862 --> 00:04:34,465 You've got Department of Homeland Security staffers that 96 00:04:34,465 --> 00:04:37,702 are responsible for securing our transportation infrastructure 97 00:04:37,702 --> 00:04:42,173 and monitoring individuals who are entering this country at 98 00:04:42,173 --> 00:04:46,377 ports of entry across the map. 99 00:04:46,377 --> 00:04:49,547 And then, in addition to that, you have HHS and CDC officials 100 00:04:49,547 --> 00:04:51,983 who are responsible for coordinating with state 101 00:04:51,983 --> 00:04:55,653 and local public health authorities to ensure that 102 00:04:55,653 --> 00:04:56,787 the American public is safe. 103 00:04:56,787 --> 00:04:59,823 And there are clear lines of authority for each of those 104 00:04:59,824 --> 00:05:02,960 sets of responsibilities. 105 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,329 At the same time, you have the President's chief Homeland 106 00:05:05,329 --> 00:05:08,065 Security Advisor, Lisa Monaco, working here at the White House 107 00:05:08,065 --> 00:05:11,335 who is responsible for integrating the efforts 108 00:05:11,335 --> 00:05:14,070 of all of the agencies and making sure that they have 109 00:05:14,071 --> 00:05:16,440 access to the information and resources that they 110 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:18,209 need to do their job. 111 00:05:18,209 --> 00:05:23,014 All of that said, we have said on a number of occasions that 112 00:05:23,014 --> 00:05:27,151 if additional resources or if additional staffing is necessary 113 00:05:27,151 --> 00:05:30,588 to augment the response, then we won't hesitate to consider it. 114 00:05:30,588 --> 00:05:35,326 But at this point, the lines of authority are clear 115 00:05:35,326 --> 00:05:39,163 and the person responsible for coordinating those efforts 116 00:05:39,163 --> 00:05:42,700 here at the White House continues to do that work well. 117 00:05:42,700 --> 00:05:43,300 Steve. 118 00:05:43,300 --> 00:05:44,702 The Press: So it sounds like you're not inclined 119 00:05:44,702 --> 00:05:46,671 to appoint a czar. 120 00:05:46,671 --> 00:05:47,872 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, there are clear lines 121 00:05:47,872 --> 00:05:50,207 of responsibility that are in place. 122 00:05:50,207 --> 00:05:52,209 There is an individual here at the White House, 123 00:05:52,209 --> 00:05:54,078 highly competent individual, Lisa Monaco, 124 00:05:54,078 --> 00:05:56,513 the President's Homeland Security Advisor, 125 00:05:56,514 --> 00:05:58,516 who is responsible for integrating that response. 126 00:05:58,516 --> 00:06:00,618 But, again, if we determine that additional resources 127 00:06:00,618 --> 00:06:03,487 or additional staffing or additional expertise 128 00:06:03,487 --> 00:06:07,124 is needed to augment this response, then we won't 129 00:06:07,124 --> 00:06:09,126 hesitate to take advantage of it. 130 00:06:09,126 --> 00:06:11,128 The Press: Is the President wanting to know how this health 131 00:06:11,128 --> 00:06:14,330 care worker was able to get on a commercial plane? 132 00:06:14,331 --> 00:06:17,768 Mr. Earnest: Well, there are a number of things 133 00:06:17,768 --> 00:06:18,736 that we're eager to know. 134 00:06:18,736 --> 00:06:22,106 The first is -- and this is the subject of an investigation 135 00:06:22,106 --> 00:06:26,409 by CDC officials -- is to determine exactly how this virus 136 00:06:26,410 --> 00:06:30,781 was transmitted from the so-called index patient 137 00:06:30,781 --> 00:06:34,552 in Dallas to at least two of the health care workers 138 00:06:34,552 --> 00:06:35,920 who were treating him. 139 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:40,124 That is the focal point of an investigation that the CDC 140 00:06:40,124 --> 00:06:42,226 is expediting, at the direct order 141 00:06:42,226 --> 00:06:43,994 of the President of the United States. 142 00:06:43,994 --> 00:06:47,932 The other thing that the CDC is reviewing are the protocols 143 00:06:47,932 --> 00:06:51,035 that were in place to protect the health 144 00:06:51,035 --> 00:06:55,406 of the health care workers who were treating this patient. 145 00:06:55,406 --> 00:06:59,677 It's not clear exactly what protocols were in place 146 00:06:59,677 --> 00:07:02,079 and how those protocols were implemented, 147 00:07:02,079 --> 00:07:05,750 and the CDC wants to try to get to the bottom of that so that 148 00:07:05,750 --> 00:07:11,822 they can offer advice to medical professionals and hospital 149 00:07:11,822 --> 00:07:15,126 administrators and others across the country about 150 00:07:15,126 --> 00:07:17,161 the protocols that are needed to ensure that their 151 00:07:17,161 --> 00:07:19,997 health care workers remains safe. 152 00:07:19,997 --> 00:07:23,734 What the CDC is also doing, and they're expending significant 153 00:07:23,734 --> 00:07:27,304 resources to do this, is to do contact tracing 154 00:07:27,304 --> 00:07:30,541 of the two health care workers that have contracted the virus. 155 00:07:30,541 --> 00:07:35,379 And that involves, as it sounds, tracing the contacts 156 00:07:35,379 --> 00:07:38,716 these individuals had after they got sick. 157 00:07:38,716 --> 00:07:44,155 And so you saw the news release from CDC and from one 158 00:07:44,155 --> 00:07:47,825 of the domestic airlines today indicating that they were 159 00:07:47,825 --> 00:07:52,663 contacting passengers who were on the same flight as this 160 00:07:52,663 --> 00:07:56,267 individual to make sure that they are educated 161 00:07:56,267 --> 00:08:00,237 about the risk to which they were exposed. 162 00:08:00,237 --> 00:08:02,239 Now, what our medical experts tell us is that 163 00:08:02,239 --> 00:08:03,306 that risk is quite low. 164 00:08:03,307 --> 00:08:08,746 But it is important for people to have access to that 165 00:08:08,746 --> 00:08:11,515 information so that they can get the facts about what sort 166 00:08:11,515 --> 00:08:16,520 of risk they're facing -- again, that risk is low -- and what 167 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,224 steps should be taken if necessary in the unlikely 168 00:08:20,224 --> 00:08:22,526 event that they do start to display some symptoms. 169 00:08:22,526 --> 00:08:24,495 The Press: Yesterday the President said that 170 00:08:24,495 --> 00:08:27,665 an Ebola epidemic in the United States is highly unlikely. 171 00:08:27,665 --> 00:08:29,300 Is that statement still operative today? 172 00:08:29,300 --> 00:08:30,801 Mr. Earnest: It is true. 173 00:08:30,801 --> 00:08:31,869 It's guided by the science. 174 00:08:31,869 --> 00:08:33,404 That's what our experts say. 175 00:08:33,404 --> 00:08:36,674 Our experts say that because the way that Ebola 176 00:08:36,674 --> 00:08:39,943 is transmitted is very clear and it is something that 177 00:08:39,943 --> 00:08:42,947 is not likely to happen in the United States. 178 00:08:42,947 --> 00:08:44,949 Let's walk through what that is. 179 00:08:44,949 --> 00:08:46,349 Ebola is not like the flu. 180 00:08:46,350 --> 00:08:49,386 Ebola is not transmitted through the air. 181 00:08:49,386 --> 00:08:52,323 Ebola is not transmitted though the food that 182 00:08:52,323 --> 00:08:54,324 we eat in this country and it's not transmitted through 183 00:08:54,325 --> 00:08:56,493 the water that we drink in this country. 184 00:08:56,493 --> 00:08:59,997 The only way that an individual can get Ebola is by coming into 185 00:08:59,997 --> 00:09:02,800 close contact with the bodily fluids of an individual 186 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:05,135 that is already exhibiting symptoms of Ebola. 187 00:09:05,135 --> 00:09:07,104 That's why, in this case, tragically, 188 00:09:07,104 --> 00:09:09,673 we've seen two health care workers that obviously were 189 00:09:09,673 --> 00:09:15,179 in very close contact with the index Ebola patient 190 00:09:15,179 --> 00:09:16,413 contract this virus. 191 00:09:16,413 --> 00:09:20,351 How exactly that transmission occurred is something that 192 00:09:20,351 --> 00:09:22,386 remains under investigation. 193 00:09:22,386 --> 00:09:26,055 But the risk to which they were exposed was elevated 194 00:09:26,056 --> 00:09:29,059 by the fact that they were in close contact with this 195 00:09:29,059 --> 00:09:32,695 patient trying to meet that person's medical needs. 196 00:09:32,696 --> 00:09:34,465 Mark. 197 00:09:34,465 --> 00:09:35,232 The Press: Can I follow up? 198 00:09:35,232 --> 00:09:35,900 Mr. Earnest: Sure. 199 00:09:35,900 --> 00:09:37,601 The Press: The President used the word "epidemic." 200 00:09:37,601 --> 00:09:41,071 Yesterday he used the word "outbreak" as something 201 00:09:41,071 --> 00:09:44,508 that's exceedingly -- chances are exceedingly low. 202 00:09:44,508 --> 00:09:46,710 Isn't what we've had in Dallas now an outbreak? 203 00:09:46,710 --> 00:09:49,380 We've had multiple transmissions. 204 00:09:49,380 --> 00:09:54,885 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think there is a medical professional 205 00:09:54,885 --> 00:09:57,621 who could probably give you a specific definition 206 00:09:57,621 --> 00:10:01,025 of what actually constitutes an outbreak. 207 00:10:01,025 --> 00:10:04,728 My layman's understanding that I think the vast majority 208 00:10:04,728 --> 00:10:10,099 of the American public would agree with is that 209 00:10:10,100 --> 00:10:12,703 we're talking about a situation in which two health care 210 00:10:12,703 --> 00:10:17,040 workers who were treating an individual with Ebola 211 00:10:17,041 --> 00:10:19,243 contracted the virus. 212 00:10:19,243 --> 00:10:21,512 We are -- the CDC, our medical experts, 213 00:10:21,512 --> 00:10:23,180 are conducting an investigation to determine 214 00:10:23,180 --> 00:10:26,050 how that transmission occurred. 215 00:10:26,050 --> 00:10:30,286 But that is different than images that are conjured 216 00:10:30,287 --> 00:10:32,456 up with an outbreak, where you have individuals who 217 00:10:32,456 --> 00:10:38,228 are basically in public transmitting the virus. 218 00:10:38,228 --> 00:10:41,031 That is something that we think on a large scale 219 00:10:41,031 --> 00:10:42,967 is exceedingly unlikely. 220 00:10:42,967 --> 00:10:45,569 The Press: WHO definition of an outbreak says that 221 00:10:45,569 --> 00:10:49,173 it's something that is an occurrence in excess of what 222 00:10:49,173 --> 00:10:52,977 normally would be expected in a defined community. 223 00:10:52,977 --> 00:10:56,981 And it also can be the case where a disease has long been 224 00:10:56,981 --> 00:10:58,549 absent from a population. 225 00:10:58,549 --> 00:11:00,784 That may also constitute an outbreak. 226 00:11:00,784 --> 00:11:03,187 It really sounds like, even if it's not large-scale, 227 00:11:03,187 --> 00:11:04,922 it's an outbreak. 228 00:11:04,922 --> 00:11:08,058 So I guess I wonder if that calls into question some 229 00:11:08,058 --> 00:11:09,893 of the reassurance that we've heard in this room. 230 00:11:09,893 --> 00:11:11,095 Mr. Earnest: No, I don't think it does, Mark, 231 00:11:11,095 --> 00:11:13,530 simply because what we're talking about here 232 00:11:13,530 --> 00:11:17,034 is a situation where there were health care workers who 233 00:11:17,034 --> 00:11:20,237 came into direct contact with an Ebola patient who did, 234 00:11:20,237 --> 00:11:22,805 tragically, contract the disease. 235 00:11:22,806 --> 00:11:25,442 We are very focused on making sure that those individuals get 236 00:11:25,442 --> 00:11:29,279 the treatment that is necessary, and our thoughts and prayers are 237 00:11:29,279 --> 00:11:32,983 with them and their families as they fight this terrible virus. 238 00:11:32,983 --> 00:11:36,152 But that is wholly different than, for example, 239 00:11:36,153 --> 00:11:38,989 the situation that we see in West Africa, where, tragically, 240 00:11:38,989 --> 00:11:43,127 you're seeing people who live in the same household be passing 241 00:11:43,127 --> 00:11:46,796 the virus from one to another, or we're seeing as the result 242 00:11:46,797 --> 00:11:50,300 of unsafe burial practices that individuals are contracting 243 00:11:50,300 --> 00:11:52,736 the virus from corpses. 244 00:11:52,736 --> 00:11:55,773 Again, that is a tragic occurrence. 245 00:11:55,773 --> 00:11:59,443 It is an indication of the poor 246 00:11:59,443 --> 00:12:02,713 medical infrastructure that exists in those countries. 247 00:12:02,713 --> 00:12:05,748 And that is something that poses a much broader risk 248 00:12:05,749 --> 00:12:07,751 to the population in West Africa. 249 00:12:07,751 --> 00:12:10,220 That's why the President has devoted significant resources 250 00:12:10,220 --> 00:12:13,557 from the federal government to combat that outbreak. 251 00:12:13,557 --> 00:12:17,394 But that is obviously a far cry from the situation 252 00:12:17,394 --> 00:12:19,396 that exists in Dallas right now. 253 00:12:19,396 --> 00:12:20,396 Jon. 254 00:12:20,397 --> 00:12:22,399 The Press: Josh, you said that the President still 255 00:12:22,399 --> 00:12:24,435 has confidence in the Director of the CDC. 256 00:12:24,435 --> 00:12:25,768 Let me ask you a broader question. 257 00:12:25,769 --> 00:12:28,305 You were pretty strong in defending 258 00:12:28,305 --> 00:12:31,108 the federal government's response to this yesterday. 259 00:12:31,108 --> 00:12:34,710 Now, given what we've learned about another case in Dallas and 260 00:12:34,711 --> 00:12:38,449 the fact that that individual was able to -- did fly 261 00:12:38,449 --> 00:12:41,318 on a plane while she was supposed to be monitored, 262 00:12:41,318 --> 00:12:44,021 how would you -- would you still say that the federal 263 00:12:44,021 --> 00:12:50,828 government's response to this situation has been successful, 264 00:12:50,828 --> 00:12:55,799 has been up to the President's own standards? 265 00:12:55,799 --> 00:12:57,968 Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll say a couple of things about that. 266 00:12:57,968 --> 00:13:01,538 The first is Dr. Frieden, the Director of the CDC, 267 00:13:01,538 --> 00:13:05,242 himself has said that it is unacceptable that even one 268 00:13:05,242 --> 00:13:11,582 health care worker was exposed to this virus while they 269 00:13:11,582 --> 00:13:14,351 were providing medical treatment to this patient. 270 00:13:14,351 --> 00:13:19,056 So that is an indication that there were shortcomings, 271 00:13:19,056 --> 00:13:22,025 and that is something that is being thoroughly investigated by 272 00:13:22,025 --> 00:13:25,929 the Centers for Disease Control and other medical experts. 273 00:13:25,929 --> 00:13:30,367 That investigation obviously will also now expand to cover 274 00:13:30,367 --> 00:13:32,502 the second health care worker that has now been 275 00:13:32,503 --> 00:13:34,738 diagnosed with Ebola. 276 00:13:34,738 --> 00:13:40,043 So that is a clear indication that -- well, 277 00:13:40,043 --> 00:13:43,380 let me say there is a second thing that Dr. Frieden also 278 00:13:43,380 --> 00:13:47,451 said, was that I believe it was earlier this week he noted that 279 00:13:47,451 --> 00:13:52,589 knowing what he knows now about the situation in the hospital, 280 00:13:52,589 --> 00:13:55,359 he indicated that he regretted not sending a team of experts 281 00:13:55,359 --> 00:13:58,328 to that hospital sooner to assist the hospital 282 00:13:58,328 --> 00:14:02,299 as they responded to this specific diagnosis. 283 00:14:02,299 --> 00:14:06,470 So what you are seeing from the federal government, however, 284 00:14:06,470 --> 00:14:09,873 is the kind of tenacious response that reflects 285 00:14:09,873 --> 00:14:12,943 evolving circumstances. 286 00:14:12,943 --> 00:14:22,052 So Dr. Frieden indicated that he would send a whole team 287 00:14:22,052 --> 00:14:25,455 of experts earlier this week after observing that 288 00:14:25,455 --> 00:14:28,325 he believed they should have been there sooner. 289 00:14:28,325 --> 00:14:32,329 What you are seeing is after this diagnosis you are seeing 290 00:14:32,329 --> 00:14:36,465 stepped-up monitoring by health officials in Texas of other 291 00:14:36,466 --> 00:14:39,169 health care workers that were responsible for treating 292 00:14:39,169 --> 00:14:40,603 the index Ebola patient. 293 00:14:40,604 --> 00:14:45,742 So this is a response that indicates a commitment to 294 00:14:45,742 --> 00:14:49,545 protect the health and safety of the American public. 295 00:14:49,546 --> 00:14:53,116 There are other ways in which this has happened as well. 296 00:14:53,116 --> 00:14:57,187 We have adapted to circumstances by beefing up airport 297 00:14:57,187 --> 00:15:00,057 screenings, for example -- that at the end of last week, 298 00:15:00,057 --> 00:15:02,159 you'll recall that we announced new screening measures that 299 00:15:02,159 --> 00:15:05,194 would go into place at five airports across the country. 300 00:15:05,195 --> 00:15:08,165 These are airports that cover essentially 95 percent 301 00:15:08,165 --> 00:15:14,771 of the arrivals of travelers that started out in West Africa. 302 00:15:14,771 --> 00:15:18,809 Those improved or strengthened screening measures are 303 00:15:18,809 --> 00:15:22,512 indicative of our commitment to constantly evaluating our 304 00:15:22,512 --> 00:15:26,550 policies and, where possible, putting in place measures 305 00:15:26,550 --> 00:15:27,550 that would strengthen them. 306 00:15:27,551 --> 00:15:31,355 The Press: So why do so many Americans feel, first of all, 307 00:15:31,355 --> 00:15:35,225 that there's a real risk of an epidemic in this country 308 00:15:35,225 --> 00:15:38,295 and that the federal government is not doing 309 00:15:38,295 --> 00:15:39,663 enough to stop it? 310 00:15:39,663 --> 00:15:42,232 I mean, in the latest poll -- ABC-Washington Post -- 311 00:15:42,232 --> 00:15:45,202 two-thirds of Americans think the federal government 312 00:15:45,202 --> 00:15:48,438 is just not doing enough on this. 313 00:15:48,438 --> 00:15:52,141 Are they wrong? 314 00:15:52,142 --> 00:15:57,648 Mr. Earnest: Well, let me say this about that. 315 00:15:57,648 --> 00:15:59,916 It sounds to me that a significant portion of the 316 00:15:59,916 --> 00:16:03,453 American population agrees with Dr. Frieden that even one 317 00:16:03,453 --> 00:16:05,956 transmission of the Ebola virus to one health care worker 318 00:16:05,956 --> 00:16:08,492 in this country is something that is unacceptable 319 00:16:08,492 --> 00:16:10,926 and something that won't be tolerated and something that 320 00:16:10,927 --> 00:16:13,430 has prompted a review of protocols 321 00:16:13,430 --> 00:16:15,431 and a careful investigation of how 322 00:16:15,432 --> 00:16:17,434 that transmission exactly occurred. 323 00:16:17,434 --> 00:16:23,406 What people can continue to be confident in is the priority 324 00:16:23,407 --> 00:16:26,209 attention that this issue is receiving across 325 00:16:26,209 --> 00:16:28,210 the federal government and here in the White House. 326 00:16:28,211 --> 00:16:30,213 I think that's evident by the fact that the President 327 00:16:30,213 --> 00:16:32,214 is convening some of the top-ranking officials 328 00:16:32,215 --> 00:16:36,019 in his administration to discuss that response. 329 00:16:36,019 --> 00:16:38,021 But again, what I would urge people to do -- I think the 330 00:16:38,021 --> 00:16:40,357 other thing that is motivating the answer 331 00:16:40,357 --> 00:16:44,127 to that question is something related to fear. 332 00:16:44,127 --> 00:16:46,530 This is a deadly, terrible disease, 333 00:16:46,530 --> 00:16:49,065 and it is wreaking havoc in West Africa. 334 00:16:49,066 --> 00:16:53,337 It's having a debilitating effect on the population there. 335 00:16:53,337 --> 00:16:55,539 And it's genuinely tragic. 336 00:16:55,539 --> 00:16:58,275 At the same time, because of the way that that virus 337 00:16:58,275 --> 00:17:01,144 is transmitted, because of the modern medical infrastructure 338 00:17:01,144 --> 00:17:04,181 that exists in this country, the risk of a similar outbreak 339 00:17:04,181 --> 00:17:06,415 like that in this country is exceedingly low. 340 00:17:06,415 --> 00:17:08,984 That's what our medical experts tell us, 341 00:17:08,984 --> 00:17:13,322 and that is advice that we continue to follow. 342 00:17:13,323 --> 00:17:18,395 However, the administration continues to pursue the kind 343 00:17:18,395 --> 00:17:21,798 of tenacious response that will both protect the American public 344 00:17:21,798 --> 00:17:25,035 here at home, but also do what is necessary to completely 345 00:17:25,035 --> 00:17:27,671 eliminate the risk to the American public from the Ebola 346 00:17:27,671 --> 00:17:30,307 virus, and that's to stop this outbreak at the source. 347 00:17:30,307 --> 00:17:31,208 The Press: And then just two quick ones. 348 00:17:31,208 --> 00:17:33,343 Still no consideration of a travel ban from 349 00:17:33,343 --> 00:17:35,479 the affected countries in Africa? 350 00:17:35,479 --> 00:17:36,680 Mr. Earnest: That's something that is not on the table 351 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:37,047 at this point. 352 00:17:37,047 --> 00:17:38,815 And again, the reason for that -- just in case people haven't 353 00:17:38,815 --> 00:17:41,685 heard the previous answer that I've given to this question, 354 00:17:41,685 --> 00:17:43,520 it's important for people to understand exactly 355 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:45,187 why that's the case. 356 00:17:45,188 --> 00:17:49,459 Shutting down travel to that area of the world would prevent 357 00:17:49,459 --> 00:17:52,262 the expeditious flow of personnel and equipment 358 00:17:52,262 --> 00:17:53,263 into the region. 359 00:17:53,263 --> 00:17:56,366 And the only way for us to stop this outbreak and to eliminate 360 00:17:56,366 --> 00:17:59,669 any risk from Ebola to the American public 361 00:17:59,669 --> 00:18:01,671 is to stop this outbreak at the source. 362 00:18:01,671 --> 00:18:05,742 So we are mobilizing significant resources to make sure that 363 00:18:05,742 --> 00:18:08,512 supplies and personnel can get to the affected region 364 00:18:08,512 --> 00:18:10,514 and start meeting the needs of the affected region 365 00:18:10,514 --> 00:18:11,982 to that we can stop the outbreak there. 366 00:18:11,982 --> 00:18:14,651 And that's why right now the travel ban is not on the table. 367 00:18:14,651 --> 00:18:15,051 The Press: Okay. 368 00:18:15,051 --> 00:18:16,620 And the President cancelled political travel today, 369 00:18:16,620 --> 00:18:18,053 obviously, to do this meeting. 370 00:18:18,054 --> 00:18:20,857 Does he plan to cancel further political travel? 371 00:18:20,857 --> 00:18:23,427 Is the President going to continue his campaign schedule 372 00:18:23,427 --> 00:18:26,730 going forward despite the situation, 373 00:18:26,730 --> 00:18:28,899 or is this just kind of a one-day thing? 374 00:18:28,899 --> 00:18:31,200 Mr. Earnest: Well, Jon, we'll evaluate it on a daily basis. 375 00:18:31,201 --> 00:18:33,270 This is obviously a dynamic situation. 376 00:18:33,270 --> 00:18:36,039 If necessary, I have no doubt that the President will postpone 377 00:18:36,039 --> 00:18:38,975 his political travel to attend to important priorities here. 378 00:18:38,975 --> 00:18:44,214 But whether a change in tomorrow's schedule is required, 379 00:18:44,214 --> 00:18:47,517 we just don't know that yet, and when we do we'll let you know. 380 00:18:47,517 --> 00:18:48,585 Major. 381 00:18:48,585 --> 00:18:50,487 The Press: Josh, a couple of months ago, 382 00:18:50,487 --> 00:18:55,592 when the Malaysia Airlines jet was shot down over Ukraine, 383 00:18:55,592 --> 00:18:58,695 the President carried on with his campaign schedule. 384 00:18:58,695 --> 00:19:02,666 A member of the staff said, "Abrupt changes to his 385 00:19:02,666 --> 00:19:04,201 [the President's] schedule can have the unintended 386 00:19:04,201 --> 00:19:07,103 consequence of unduly alarming the American people 387 00:19:07,103 --> 00:19:10,707 or creating a false sense of crisis." 388 00:19:10,707 --> 00:19:12,309 Did you do that today? 389 00:19:12,309 --> 00:19:12,876 Mr. Earnest: No, Major. 390 00:19:12,876 --> 00:19:14,177 What drives these kinds of decisions 391 00:19:14,177 --> 00:19:16,812 are the President's responsibilities. 392 00:19:16,813 --> 00:19:19,182 And you'll recall -- I don't remember if you traveled 393 00:19:19,182 --> 00:19:21,284 on that trip with us to Delaware and New York, 394 00:19:21,284 --> 00:19:23,286 but over the course of that trip I think the President called 395 00:19:23,286 --> 00:19:25,288 five different world leaders while he was on the road, 396 00:19:25,288 --> 00:19:28,825 including President Poroshenko, including the leader of 397 00:19:28,825 --> 00:19:33,396 Malaysia, including the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, 398 00:19:33,396 --> 00:19:37,434 who -- that's the nation that bore the brunt of that tragedy. 399 00:19:37,434 --> 00:19:40,937 So the President was able to continue his schedule, 400 00:19:40,937 --> 00:19:43,206 that it did include some public -- that did include some 401 00:19:43,206 --> 00:19:46,176 political events, while also tending to his responsibilities 402 00:19:46,176 --> 00:19:48,912 as the Commander-in-Chief. 403 00:19:48,912 --> 00:19:50,914 As it relates to today's schedule, 404 00:19:50,914 --> 00:19:52,916 the schedule did need to be changed so that 405 00:19:52,916 --> 00:19:54,484 the President could fulfill his responsibilities 406 00:19:54,484 --> 00:19:56,151 as the leader of the country. 407 00:19:56,152 --> 00:19:59,256 We'll evaluate the schedule tomorrow based on his 408 00:19:59,256 --> 00:20:02,092 requirements, and if we need to make a change to his 409 00:20:02,092 --> 00:20:04,761 schedule so that he can do what's necessary here 410 00:20:04,761 --> 00:20:07,097 at the White House, then we'll change his schedule. 411 00:20:07,097 --> 00:20:09,499 I don't know yet whether that will be required. 412 00:20:09,499 --> 00:20:11,101 The Press: And is today's meeting a decision meeting? 413 00:20:11,101 --> 00:20:14,204 You had indicated at the top of your remarks that some decisions 414 00:20:14,204 --> 00:20:16,106 may very well be announced by the President. 415 00:20:16,106 --> 00:20:19,476 Is that what makes this of such signature importance 416 00:20:19,476 --> 00:20:21,311 that he had to cancel the travel plans? 417 00:20:21,311 --> 00:20:22,312 Mr. Earnest: No, again, the reason that this meeting 418 00:20:22,312 --> 00:20:24,080 is important is because we're talking about the senior members 419 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:26,616 of his team who are responsible for dealing with what 420 00:20:26,616 --> 00:20:28,852 is a pretty urgent situation here in this country. 421 00:20:28,852 --> 00:20:30,020 The Press: But will there be new decisions 422 00:20:30,020 --> 00:20:31,922 or new methods announced after this meeting. 423 00:20:31,922 --> 00:20:32,489 Is this meeting -- 424 00:20:32,489 --> 00:20:35,158 Mr. Earnest: Frankly, Major, I don't know the answer to that. 425 00:20:35,158 --> 00:20:37,092 But if there are, the President will have the opportunity to 426 00:20:37,093 --> 00:20:39,596 discuss them with all of you at the conclusion of the meeting. 427 00:20:39,596 --> 00:20:41,731 The Press: Have there been additional meetings that the 428 00:20:41,731 --> 00:20:43,867 President or his senior staff have convened here in the last 429 00:20:43,867 --> 00:20:45,769 three or four days on Ebola that have not appeared 430 00:20:45,769 --> 00:20:47,070 on the public schedule? 431 00:20:47,070 --> 00:20:48,538 Mr. Earnest: The President has frequently been updated 432 00:20:48,538 --> 00:20:50,307 and briefed on this issue. 433 00:20:50,307 --> 00:20:54,744 I don't know if there have been any other formal meetings that 434 00:20:54,744 --> 00:20:57,179 have been convened, but I know that there have been a number 435 00:20:57,180 --> 00:20:59,215 of occasions in which the President has been updated 436 00:20:59,215 --> 00:21:00,250 on this situation. 437 00:21:00,250 --> 00:21:01,551 The Press: Following up on Jon's line of question, 438 00:21:01,551 --> 00:21:05,989 can you understand that the public watching this story play 439 00:21:05,989 --> 00:21:11,428 out can have a genuine sense of either skepticism or possibly 440 00:21:11,428 --> 00:21:14,898 alarm because they hear, "we know how to deal with this; 441 00:21:14,898 --> 00:21:17,132 we are taking all the proper steps; 442 00:21:17,133 --> 00:21:19,269 all the precautions are being implemented," 443 00:21:19,269 --> 00:21:22,505 and then yet someone who has it, doesn't show symptoms, 444 00:21:22,505 --> 00:21:25,308 gets on a commercial aircraft, even though the exposure risk 445 00:21:25,308 --> 00:21:27,944 is minimal, everyone on that plane has now been in contact. 446 00:21:27,944 --> 00:21:32,115 That creates at least a low level sense of alarm by everyone 447 00:21:32,115 --> 00:21:34,217 that was on that plane, everyone who knows a person on that 448 00:21:34,217 --> 00:21:37,187 plane, and everyone who remembers hearing just a couple 449 00:21:37,187 --> 00:21:39,688 of days ago, "well, that's not going to happen, 450 00:21:39,689 --> 00:21:41,024 we've got this under control." 451 00:21:41,024 --> 00:21:44,628 Do you understand how the public is becoming less confident 452 00:21:44,628 --> 00:21:48,598 and possibly more alarmed as the story plays out? 453 00:21:48,598 --> 00:21:51,568 Mr. Earnest: People should continue to be confident in the 454 00:21:51,568 --> 00:21:53,903 response that was organized by the government in reaction 455 00:21:53,903 --> 00:21:56,740 to this specific situation. 456 00:21:56,740 --> 00:21:59,542 The reason for that is simply that we have a modern medical 457 00:21:59,542 --> 00:22:01,543 infrastructure in place that, again, 458 00:22:01,544 --> 00:22:03,380 has not been flawless -- we pointed out why that was the 459 00:22:03,380 --> 00:22:05,649 case, that even one transmission to a health care worker 460 00:22:05,649 --> 00:22:09,218 is unacceptable -- people should take solace in the fact that, 461 00:22:09,219 --> 00:22:12,555 quite frankly, we know exactly how Ebola is transmitted. 462 00:22:12,555 --> 00:22:14,524 It's not transmitted through the air, 463 00:22:14,524 --> 00:22:16,525 it's not transmitted through food or water, 464 00:22:16,526 --> 00:22:18,628 but only through close contact with the bodily fluids 465 00:22:18,628 --> 00:22:20,897 of an individual that have symptoms of Ebola. 466 00:22:20,897 --> 00:22:24,466 But this is a deadly, graphic disease. 467 00:22:24,467 --> 00:22:25,802 The Press: But Dr. Frieden said this person should 468 00:22:25,802 --> 00:22:26,569 not have traveled. 469 00:22:26,569 --> 00:22:27,337 That was a big mistake. 470 00:22:27,337 --> 00:22:30,807 That looks to me, and I think it looks to most people 471 00:22:30,807 --> 00:22:33,109 evaluating this fairly, as sort of a gap in the system, 472 00:22:33,109 --> 00:22:36,245 that something that should have been communicated very tightly 473 00:22:36,246 --> 00:22:38,748 within the Texas Presbyterian community, hey, 474 00:22:38,748 --> 00:22:41,718 don't get on a commercial aircraft, happened anyway. 475 00:22:41,718 --> 00:22:45,188 Do you understand how that can create some degree 476 00:22:45,188 --> 00:22:48,291 of uncertainty among the public when trying to evaluate where 477 00:22:48,291 --> 00:22:50,894 the story is going and how tightly you have your 478 00:22:50,894 --> 00:22:52,896 arms wrapped around this situation? 479 00:22:52,896 --> 00:22:55,130 Mr. Earnest: Major, I can certainly understand the concern 480 00:22:55,131 --> 00:23:00,570 by the American public about this terrible disease. 481 00:23:00,570 --> NaN:NaN:NaN,NaN It's a deadly disease. 482 00:23:00,270 --> 00:23:02,839 But it is a disease that we know -- whose outbreak 483 00:23:02,839 --> 00:23:06,476 we know how to contain here in this country. 484 00:23:06,476 --> 00:23:09,079 And that's what we're very focused on -- from trying 485 00:23:09,079 --> 00:23:12,315 to meet the needs of the health care workers who have contracted 486 00:23:12,315 --> 00:23:18,121 the virus, to investigating how exactly that virus transmission 487 00:23:18,121 --> 00:23:22,759 occurred, to doing the necessary contact tracing to ensure that 488 00:23:22,759 --> 00:23:25,862 other individuals who may have come in contact with somebody 489 00:23:25,862 --> 00:23:28,198 who had the Ebola virus are aware of the risk that 490 00:23:28,198 --> 00:23:32,102 they face and are monitoring their own health. 491 00:23:32,102 --> 00:23:36,873 Active monitoring has now been expanded to include all of the 492 00:23:36,873 --> 00:23:39,776 health care workers that came in contact with the index 493 00:23:39,776 --> 00:23:43,780 Ebola patient in this hospital in Dallas. 494 00:23:43,780 --> 00:23:45,915 So there are a number of steps that we have taken, 495 00:23:45,915 --> 00:23:49,586 and I think that people can be encouraged that the federal 496 00:23:49,586 --> 00:23:51,755 government is demonstrating the kind of tenacious, 497 00:23:51,755 --> 00:23:55,191 adaptive response that's required to dealing with what 498 00:23:55,191 --> 00:23:58,895 is understandably a pretty concerning situation. 499 00:23:58,895 --> 00:24:00,897 The Press: I guess my last question is, 500 00:24:00,897 --> 00:24:02,899 does the President want his response team to be more 501 00:24:02,899 --> 00:24:06,569 tenacious and more urgent, so stories and situations like 502 00:24:06,569 --> 00:24:08,238 this stop happening? 503 00:24:08,238 --> 00:24:09,506 Mr. Earnest: Well, I can tell you that the President himself 504 00:24:09,506 --> 00:24:13,042 certainly feels a very strong sense of urgency about ensuring 505 00:24:13,042 --> 00:24:17,514 that his administration and the medical experts are mobilizing 506 00:24:17,514 --> 00:24:19,549 the kind of response that will ensure the safety 507 00:24:19,549 --> 00:24:22,218 and health of the broader American public. 508 00:24:22,218 --> 00:24:24,220 That's what the President expects. 509 00:24:24,220 --> 00:24:26,222 It's what the American people expect. 510 00:24:26,222 --> 00:24:28,224 And I'm confident that will be discussed at today's meeting. 511 00:24:28,224 --> 00:24:29,225 Olivier. 512 00:24:29,225 --> 00:24:31,226 The Press: Josh, the President spoke today with 513 00:24:31,227 --> 00:24:34,531 the leaders of Japan, the U.K., France, Germany and Italy. 514 00:24:34,531 --> 00:24:37,634 Ebola was part of the conversation in each 515 00:24:37,634 --> 00:24:38,501 of these conversations -- 516 00:24:38,501 --> 00:24:39,469 Mr. Earnest: I don't mean to interrupt you. 517 00:24:39,469 --> 00:24:42,372 The conversation with the Prime Minister of Japan was 518 00:24:42,372 --> 00:24:44,574 separate from the conversations with the other leaders. 519 00:24:44,574 --> 00:24:45,108 The Press: It was. 520 00:24:45,108 --> 00:24:46,643 I didn't mean to imply they were all together. 521 00:24:46,643 --> 00:24:49,245 But he spoke to those leaders either together 522 00:24:49,245 --> 00:24:51,246 or separately, or however you want to put it. 523 00:24:51,247 --> 00:24:53,249 Mr. Earnest: There's been intense interest in the modality 524 00:24:53,249 --> 00:24:55,251 with which the President communicates with world leaders 525 00:24:55,251 --> 00:24:57,253 since the very first day I did this briefing, 526 00:24:57,253 --> 00:24:59,254 so I'm cognizant of the importance of those 527 00:24:59,255 --> 00:25:00,256 kinds of details. 528 00:25:00,256 --> 00:25:02,525 The Press: I respect that and I appreciate it. 529 00:25:02,525 --> 00:25:06,396 The President has said repeatedly now that he's not 530 00:25:06,396 --> 00:25:09,399 satisfied with the global response in terms of stemming 531 00:25:09,399 --> 00:25:11,066 Ebola at the source. 532 00:25:11,067 --> 00:25:14,504 So my question for you regarding these various conversations 533 00:25:14,504 --> 00:25:17,139 is whether he made any specific asks of these world leaders, 534 00:25:17,140 --> 00:25:19,142 or whether he is satisfied that they have 535 00:25:19,142 --> 00:25:21,144 fully stepped up to their responsibilities. 536 00:25:21,144 --> 00:25:24,247 Mr. Earnest: Well, I'll say two things about that. 537 00:25:24,247 --> 00:25:26,850 The first is, more than a month ago -- or I guess it was about 538 00:25:26,850 --> 00:25:29,985 a month ago -- the President made an announcement at the CDC 539 00:25:29,986 --> 00:25:32,589 headquarters in Atlanta that he was going to make a significant 540 00:25:32,589 --> 00:25:35,091 commitment of Department of Defense resources in Western 541 00:25:35,091 --> 00:25:39,128 Africa to put in place the logistical infrastructure 542 00:25:39,128 --> 00:25:42,497 that was needed to ramp up our response 543 00:25:42,498 --> 00:25:45,869 to the Ebola outbreak in that region of the world. 544 00:25:45,869 --> 00:25:48,303 That continues to be a priority for his administration. 545 00:25:48,304 --> 00:25:50,607 The President is receiving regular updates from the 546 00:25:50,607 --> 00:25:53,109 Department of Defense about their ongoing efforts 547 00:25:53,109 --> 00:25:57,280 to put in place that logistical capability. 548 00:25:57,280 --> 00:25:59,282 The Department of Defense has tremendous expertise 549 00:25:59,282 --> 00:26:00,283 in this area. 550 00:26:00,283 --> 00:26:05,254 And the reaction to that commitment has been an increase 551 00:26:05,255 --> 00:26:08,224 in resources and personnel that are being supplied 552 00:26:08,224 --> 00:26:10,226 by non-governmental organizations 553 00:26:10,226 --> 00:26:12,729 and from governments around the world. 554 00:26:12,729 --> 00:26:14,731 We've been heartened by that response, 555 00:26:14,731 --> 00:26:17,500 and that is an indication of just how important it is for the 556 00:26:17,500 --> 00:26:21,804 United States to show leadership in a crisis situation like this. 557 00:26:21,804 --> 00:26:24,474 Now, that said -- that all being said, 558 00:26:24,474 --> 00:26:26,676 the President does believe that we need to see more from the 559 00:26:26,676 --> 00:26:30,947 international community; that we have not seen a sufficient 560 00:26:30,947 --> 00:26:33,983 commitment of resources and personnel from other countries 561 00:26:33,983 --> 00:26:37,220 to dealing with this urgent situation in West Africa. 562 00:26:37,220 --> 00:26:41,791 The stakes are high, and impact on the local population 563 00:26:41,791 --> 00:26:42,926 there is tragic. 564 00:26:42,926 --> 00:26:46,729 And we need to see a more significant commitment of 565 00:26:46,729 --> 00:26:49,966 resources from countries around the world to dealing 566 00:26:49,966 --> 00:26:51,367 with this effort. 567 00:26:51,367 --> 00:26:52,435 The Press: At the risk of restating my question, 568 00:26:52,435 --> 00:26:55,370 did he make any specific asks of the world leaders today? 569 00:26:55,371 --> 00:27:00,009 Or is he satisfied that the countries involved have 570 00:27:00,009 --> 00:27:02,078 met that challenge? 571 00:27:02,078 --> 00:27:04,379 Mr. Earnest: Well, we'll have a more detailed readout of the 572 00:27:04,380 --> 00:27:08,318 secure video teleconference that the President conducted today 573 00:27:08,318 --> 00:27:10,586 with those European leaders. 574 00:27:10,586 --> 00:27:13,823 But as a general matter, I can tell you that the President 575 00:27:13,823 --> 00:27:18,161 did urge those world leaders to commit to make a more 576 00:27:18,161 --> 00:27:21,431 significant commitment to dealing with the Ebola outbreak 577 00:27:21,431 --> 00:27:22,565 in West Africa. 578 00:27:22,565 --> 00:27:23,566 Justin. 579 00:27:23,566 --> 00:27:26,002 The Press: I wanted to circle back on the question about 580 00:27:26,002 --> 00:27:28,004 why the President is staying here in town today. 581 00:27:28,004 --> 00:27:31,908 I know that you said it was necessary to respond 582 00:27:31,908 --> 00:27:34,543 to the outbreak, but I'm wondering why that is, 583 00:27:34,544 --> 00:27:39,482 especially since not only with the Malaysia Airline plane 584 00:27:39,482 --> 00:27:42,819 that went down, but everything from Ferguson to Egypt 585 00:27:42,819 --> 00:27:45,321 to the Fort Hood shooting, we've seen the President 586 00:27:45,321 --> 00:27:47,290 either maintain his political schedule 587 00:27:47,290 --> 00:27:49,292 or is vacation schedule. 588 00:27:49,292 --> 00:27:52,261 Mr. Earnest: Each of these situations we consider 589 00:27:52,261 --> 00:27:54,797 on a case-by-case basis, as you would expect. 590 00:27:54,797 --> 00:27:57,800 In this situation, the President felt it was important to convene 591 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:00,436 a meeting of the senior members of his administration who 592 00:28:00,436 --> 00:28:04,340 are responsible for responding to this particular incident. 593 00:28:04,340 --> 00:28:06,442 And so the President is convening that 594 00:28:06,442 --> 00:28:07,543 meeting this afternoon. 595 00:28:07,543 --> 00:28:10,513 And because of the meeting was this afternoon, 596 00:28:10,513 --> 00:28:14,550 the President had to postpone the political travel that 597 00:28:14,550 --> 00:28:15,851 he had already planned. 598 00:28:15,852 --> 00:28:18,521 We do anticipate that the President will be able 599 00:28:18,521 --> 00:28:22,358 to reschedule this trip in advance of Election Day. 600 00:28:22,358 --> 00:28:23,860 The Press: And the reason that I ask -- I mean, presumably, 601 00:28:23,860 --> 00:28:26,963 Air Force One has got a phone, a video conference; 602 00:28:26,963 --> 00:28:28,931 he could do it while he was traveling, 603 00:28:28,931 --> 00:28:30,433 as he did in these other instances. 604 00:28:30,433 --> 00:28:32,902 But we're three weeks out in the midterm elections and this 605 00:28:32,902 --> 00:28:36,172 is obviously a story that's come to dominate headlines. 606 00:28:36,172 --> 00:28:38,074 And so I'm wondering if this was made out of any sort 607 00:28:38,074 --> 00:28:39,642 of political consideration. 608 00:28:39,642 --> 00:28:41,210 Mr. Earnest: It was not. 609 00:28:41,210 --> 00:28:43,546 The Press: And then, generally, I guess, 610 00:28:43,546 --> 00:28:46,215 can you evaluate how you guys see this politically? 611 00:28:46,215 --> 00:28:49,118 I know that you've said repeatedly that politics don't 612 00:28:49,118 --> 00:28:52,722 come into your decision of how to respond to the crisis, 613 00:28:52,722 --> 00:28:55,725 but obviously this is something that's dominated every question 614 00:28:55,725 --> 00:28:58,394 of this briefing, and we're in a political time. 615 00:28:58,394 --> 00:29:01,364 so I'm wondering how you guys see this playing into 616 00:29:01,364 --> 00:29:02,231 the midterm election. 617 00:29:02,231 --> 00:29:04,133 Mr. Earnest: Well, to be candid with you, Justin, 618 00:29:04,133 --> 00:29:06,135 I try to consider my words carefully when I speak up here, 619 00:29:06,135 --> 00:29:08,104 and the fact is I haven't given any thought 620 00:29:08,104 --> 00:29:10,239 to the political consequences of this response. 621 00:29:10,239 --> 00:29:12,008 The Press: Have you not thought at all about the politics? 622 00:29:12,008 --> 00:29:12,708 Mr. Earnest: I haven't. 623 00:29:12,708 --> 00:29:16,245 It's been a very busy day here that's been focused on making 624 00:29:16,245 --> 00:29:18,680 sure that we're mobilizing an appropriate response 625 00:29:18,681 --> 00:29:19,682 to this urgent situation. 626 00:29:19,682 --> 00:29:21,684 I'm sure there are many people who have considered the 627 00:29:21,684 --> 00:29:24,387 political ramifications of this response 628 00:29:24,387 --> 00:29:26,389 and of today's decision to alter the schedule. 629 00:29:26,389 --> 00:29:29,758 But the fact is that hasn't crossed the minds of the 630 00:29:29,759 --> 00:29:31,861 President's senior advisors here at the White House. 631 00:29:31,861 --> 00:29:33,763 Move around. 632 00:29:33,763 --> 00:29:34,362 Scott. 633 00:29:34,363 --> 00:29:35,998 The Press: Josh, Dr. Frieden said today that, going forward, 634 00:29:35,998 --> 00:29:40,870 the CDC would make sure that people who are at risk of having 635 00:29:40,870 --> 00:29:43,805 been exposed would not be getting on commercial airliners. 636 00:29:43,806 --> 00:29:45,708 But when he was pressed on the authority for that, 637 00:29:45,708 --> 00:29:49,011 he said just that the CDC work with state and local officials. 638 00:29:49,011 --> 00:29:51,581 And I'm curious, does the White House feel like that 639 00:29:51,581 --> 00:29:55,885 authority is clear, or do you need some extra powers? 640 00:29:55,885 --> 00:29:58,488 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, in terms of the powers that 641 00:29:58,488 --> 00:30:01,657 are necessary, I'd refer you back to the CDC. 642 00:30:01,657 --> 00:30:03,326 They are the ones who are principally responsible 643 00:30:03,326 --> 00:30:05,728 for monitoring the health and, therefore, 644 00:30:05,728 --> 00:30:07,730 the movements of these individuals. 645 00:30:07,730 --> 00:30:09,732 So I'd refer you to them for what they feel 646 00:30:09,732 --> 00:30:13,269 is necessary for them to do that successfully. 647 00:30:13,269 --> 00:30:14,403 The Press: It sounds a little vague. 648 00:30:14,403 --> 00:30:16,739 I mean, it sounds like, well, we're going to trust that 649 00:30:16,739 --> 00:30:20,943 the folks in Dallas are going to, and folks in Ohio are 650 00:30:20,943 --> 00:30:23,012 going to keep these folks off airplanes. 651 00:30:23,012 --> 00:30:25,014 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, Scott, I'd refer you 652 00:30:25,014 --> 00:30:27,250 to the CDC that's principally responsible for this. 653 00:30:27,250 --> 00:30:30,019 Let me just take this opportunity to remind you and 654 00:30:30,019 --> 00:30:36,225 everybody who's watching that the risk that has been presented 655 00:30:36,225 --> 00:30:38,928 to those individuals who are on the airplane with the second 656 00:30:38,928 --> 00:30:44,433 health care worker earlier this week do not face 657 00:30:44,433 --> 00:30:45,735 a significant risk here. 658 00:30:45,735 --> 00:30:47,736 In fact, the risk is, according to our 659 00:30:47,737 --> 00:30:50,106 medical professionals, rather low. 660 00:30:50,106 --> 00:30:54,710 But what we will do, because of our -- as is guided 661 00:30:54,710 --> 00:30:57,079 by the tenacious response that you've seen, 662 00:30:57,079 --> 00:30:59,248 is contact these individuals, encourage them to contact 663 00:30:59,248 --> 00:31:01,984 the CDC to make sure that they are properly educated 664 00:31:01,984 --> 00:31:03,886 about the risk that they do face. 665 00:31:03,886 --> 00:31:06,856 And in the unlikely event that any sort of health concerns 666 00:31:06,856 --> 00:31:10,159 should arise, that they have the available information 667 00:31:10,159 --> 00:31:14,664 about what they should do in response to that. 668 00:31:14,664 --> 00:31:15,698 Mike. 669 00:31:15,698 --> 00:31:20,069 The Press: So I want to follow up Jon and Major a little bit. 670 00:31:20,069 --> 00:31:22,838 There are crises that happen that are instantaneous, 671 00:31:22,838 --> 00:31:27,109 that the response then sort of starts on that day or that 672 00:31:27,109 --> 00:31:29,712 moment that the crisis happens -- an earthquake 673 00:31:29,712 --> 00:31:31,681 or a terrorist attack. 674 00:31:31,681 --> 00:31:33,349 This is not one of those, right? 675 00:31:33,349 --> 00:31:37,352 The presence of Ebola in the United States, 676 00:31:37,353 --> 00:31:40,256 starting with the first patient and proceeding through 677 00:31:40,256 --> 00:31:44,227 the other two, was something that was -- that could have 678 00:31:44,227 --> 00:31:47,630 been anticipated easily in the weeks and months before, 679 00:31:47,630 --> 00:31:53,336 as the Ebola situation in West Africa was playing out. 680 00:31:53,336 --> 00:31:56,806 And so when you talk about the "tenacious response," 681 00:31:56,806 --> 00:32:00,209 I guess I'm wondering if the President is angry, 682 00:32:00,209 --> 00:32:05,815 if you guys are frustrated, if there is a level of upset at the 683 00:32:05,815 --> 00:32:11,320 fact that each time another kind of moment in this crisis has 684 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:14,357 played out since Ebola arrived here in the United States, 685 00:32:14,357 --> 00:32:19,028 the CDC has responded to it, but hasn't anticipated it. 686 00:32:19,028 --> 00:32:23,633 So the issue of flights of medical personnel, 687 00:32:23,633 --> 00:32:28,638 shouldn't that have been talked about in meetings six weeks ago, 688 00:32:28,638 --> 00:32:33,476 and determined that what the policy of the CDC is going 689 00:32:33,476 --> 00:32:37,413 to be is that medical workers that might be infected 690 00:32:37,413 --> 00:32:39,749 by a patient are not going to be allowed to travel? 691 00:32:39,749 --> 00:32:42,184 Shouldn't that have been decided long before 692 00:32:42,184 --> 00:32:43,485 it ever arrived here? 693 00:32:43,486 --> 00:32:46,389 Shouldn't issues of transportation of materials 694 00:32:46,389 --> 00:32:48,390 or -- I mean, all the things that we've gone through, 695 00:32:48,391 --> 00:32:52,395 you've described being satisfied with the tenacious response 696 00:32:52,395 --> 00:32:55,298 after the things happened, but is that good enough 697 00:32:55,298 --> 00:32:57,300 for the President that these things weren't 698 00:32:57,300 --> 00:33:01,169 anticipated and figured out ahead of time? 699 00:33:01,170 --> 00:33:06,642 And is he frustrated that these scientists have repeatedly told 700 00:33:06,642 --> 00:33:10,046 him and you and the other people in this building, "we got this, 701 00:33:10,046 --> 00:33:12,048 we got it under control," and then something happens and they 702 00:33:12,048 --> 00:33:14,250 say, "okay, well, now we've got in under control;, 703 00:33:14,250 --> 00:33:18,254 now we're going to do something to respond to the thing that 704 00:33:18,254 --> 00:33:19,655 we now see is the case"? 705 00:33:19,655 --> 00:33:22,558 I mean, all this feels like they should have anticipated this 706 00:33:22,558 --> 00:33:23,559 before, shouldn't they? 707 00:33:23,559 --> 00:33:27,530 Mr. Earnest: Well, let me say it -- there are a variety 708 00:33:27,530 --> 00:33:29,165 of ways I'm trying to think I can answer your question. 709 00:33:29,165 --> 00:33:30,299 The Press: It was a long question, I apologize. 710 00:33:30,299 --> 00:33:31,834 Mr. Earnest: But it's an understandable one, 711 00:33:31,834 --> 00:33:33,969 so let me try to answer it in a couple of ways. 712 00:33:33,969 --> 00:33:36,739 The first is, there are a number of things 713 00:33:36,739 --> 00:33:38,474 that the President is concerned about. 714 00:33:38,474 --> 00:33:40,309 We're talking about a deadly disease, 715 00:33:40,309 --> 00:33:43,579 and we're talking about now two American health care 716 00:33:43,579 --> 00:33:47,015 workers who have contracted this disease in this country. 717 00:33:47,016 --> 00:33:50,720 Now, they have done that when they were treating a patient 718 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:54,056 with Ebola that had originally contracted the disease 719 00:33:54,056 --> 00:33:57,460 in West Africa, so the circumstances are important. 720 00:33:57,460 --> 00:33:59,462 But yet the concern that the President 721 00:33:59,462 --> 00:34:01,664 has exists nonetheless. 722 00:34:01,664 --> 00:34:03,766 The President is also concerned about making sure that we're 723 00:34:03,766 --> 00:34:07,303 monitoring the health of the other health care workers who 724 00:34:07,303 --> 00:34:11,340 came into close contact with this individual patient, 725 00:34:11,340 --> 00:34:15,411 the index patient, as he's often described. 726 00:34:15,411 --> 00:34:18,781 What the CDC is also doing, and what the President is concerned 727 00:34:18,781 --> 00:34:21,250 about, is making sure that we do all the necessary contact 728 00:34:21,250 --> 00:34:23,819 tracing, particularly as it relates to those individuals 729 00:34:23,819 --> 00:34:28,524 who were also passengers on the plane from Cleveland to Dallas. 730 00:34:28,524 --> 00:34:33,395 That is -- again, the risk to those passengers is low, 731 00:34:33,396 --> 00:34:38,267 but the President and everyone in the administration believes 732 00:34:38,266 --> 00:34:41,770 that it's important for that contact tracing to take place. 733 00:34:41,771 --> 00:34:43,773 The other thing the President is concerned about and focused on 734 00:34:43,773 --> 00:34:46,175 is making sure that health care professionals across the country 735 00:34:46,175 --> 00:34:48,444 are getting clear guidance from the Centers 736 00:34:48,444 --> 00:34:50,612 for Disease Control about what protocols they 737 00:34:50,612 --> 00:34:52,348 should put in place. 738 00:34:52,348 --> 00:34:54,483 He wants to make sure that those health care professionals are 739 00:34:54,483 --> 00:35:00,222 appropriately aware of the need to be cognizant of the fact that 740 00:35:00,222 --> 00:35:03,893 there could be other Ebola patients that present themselves 741 00:35:03,893 --> 00:35:06,996 for treatment at health care facilities across the country. 742 00:35:06,996 --> 00:35:08,964 He wants to make sure the health care professionals are getting 743 00:35:08,964 --> 00:35:11,299 guidance about how to handle that individual 744 00:35:11,300 --> 00:35:15,271 when they present themselves, how to diagnose Ebola, 745 00:35:15,271 --> 00:35:17,706 and then what protocol should be put in place from there. 746 00:35:17,706 --> 00:35:19,708 So that clear communication is something that 747 00:35:19,708 --> 00:35:21,710 the President is very focused on. 748 00:35:21,710 --> 00:35:23,712 So I think it's appropriate for you to describe 749 00:35:23,712 --> 00:35:25,714 the President as very concerned about this situation. 750 00:35:25,714 --> 00:35:29,384 And that's why the President is urgently convening this meeting 751 00:35:29,385 --> 00:35:31,821 this afternoon to make sure that the response 752 00:35:31,821 --> 00:35:36,725 is commensurate with the level of concern that he feels. 753 00:35:36,725 --> 00:35:41,464 At the same time, I think it's also important to point out that 754 00:35:41,464 --> 00:35:46,502 there are a number of health care workers who were Americans 755 00:35:46,502 --> 00:35:50,005 who were conducting relief missions in West Africa who 756 00:35:50,005 --> 00:35:55,144 tragically contracted this virus who were then safely flown back 757 00:35:55,144 --> 00:35:59,448 to the United States, were treated in medical facilities 758 00:35:59,448 --> 00:36:03,986 in the United States, recovered from that illness, 759 00:36:03,986 --> 00:36:07,156 based on the sound medical treatment that they received 760 00:36:07,156 --> 00:36:08,591 in this country. 761 00:36:08,591 --> 00:36:13,895 And to date, we do not yet know of any situations where a health 762 00:36:13,896 --> 00:36:16,131 care worker who was treating those individuals 763 00:36:16,131 --> 00:36:17,633 contracted the virus. 764 00:36:17,633 --> 00:36:23,506 So the Director of the CDC has already indicated his concern 765 00:36:23,506 --> 00:36:27,142 that more experts were not deployed sooner to Dallas to 766 00:36:27,142 --> 00:36:31,145 help them deal with this Ebola diagnosis in their hospital. 767 00:36:31,146 --> 00:36:34,550 But the fact is that there are multiple other patients who have 768 00:36:34,550 --> 00:36:38,754 been treated and recovered from the disease at other facilities 769 00:36:38,754 --> 00:36:41,656 in the United States where those health care workers, 770 00:36:41,657 --> 00:36:44,226 at least as far as we know now, weren't put 771 00:36:44,226 --> 00:36:47,396 at risk of catching Ebola themselves. 772 00:36:47,396 --> 00:36:53,602 So there have been situations where the response and treatment 773 00:36:53,602 --> 00:36:57,106 of patients has been consistent with the expectations 774 00:36:57,106 --> 00:36:59,174 of the President and with the American people. 775 00:36:59,174 --> 00:37:02,511 And the fact that that treatment was rendered in a way that did 776 00:37:02,511 --> 00:37:06,615 not ultimately pose a risk to those health care workers 777 00:37:06,615 --> 00:37:11,120 contracting Ebola I think is an indication that what our 778 00:37:11,120 --> 00:37:13,589 medical experts tell us about having the necessary 779 00:37:13,589 --> 00:37:18,694 knowledge to treat Ebola is correct. 780 00:37:18,694 --> 00:37:21,964 And we need to make sure that the necessary protocols are in 781 00:37:21,964 --> 00:37:27,202 place so that when -- and again, our medical experts tell 782 00:37:27,202 --> 00:37:30,606 us this too, there are likely to be more cases of Ebola -- 783 00:37:30,606 --> 00:37:32,608 what the President and what our administration is focused 784 00:37:32,608 --> 00:37:34,677 on is making sure that when those cases present themselves, 785 00:37:34,677 --> 00:37:37,880 that those patients get the treatment that they need to 786 00:37:37,880 --> 00:37:41,250 recover, that those patients can be treated in a way that doesn't 787 00:37:41,250 --> 00:37:44,653 put health care workers at a significantly elevated level 788 00:37:44,653 --> 00:37:47,856 of risk, and that we can ensure the safety 789 00:37:47,856 --> 00:37:50,693 of the broader public. 790 00:37:50,693 --> 00:37:52,561 And that's hard work. 791 00:37:52,561 --> 00:37:56,632 Dr. Frieden himself has said that fighting Ebola is hard. 792 00:37:56,632 --> 00:38:01,737 But if you consider the wide range of the government's 793 00:38:01,737 --> 00:38:04,306 response, there's plenty of reason for people 794 00:38:04,306 --> 00:38:08,510 to feel confident about what we're doing. 795 00:38:08,510 --> 00:38:10,713 But there is a reason that the President and people all across 796 00:38:10,713 --> 00:38:13,115 the country are concerned about this deadly disease. 797 00:38:13,115 --> 00:38:15,584 And we're going to make sure that we're mobilizing the kind 798 00:38:15,584 --> 00:38:19,120 of response that is up to the expectations not just 799 00:38:19,121 --> 00:38:20,889 of the President but of the people he serves. 800 00:38:20,889 --> 00:38:22,057 The Press: Just one real quick follow-up. 801 00:38:22,057 --> 00:38:22,890 I promise I won't be long. 802 00:38:22,891 --> 00:38:26,128 So is there a fear that by expressing that concern 803 00:38:26,128 --> 00:38:31,300 as criticism of CDC or of the government itself, 804 00:38:31,300 --> 00:38:36,639 that that undermines the need to keep public confidence high 805 00:38:36,639 --> 00:38:38,207 and not cause a panic? 806 00:38:38,207 --> 00:38:41,210 Is that why the concern is not expressed as a criticism 807 00:38:41,210 --> 00:38:43,379 of the response so far? 808 00:38:43,379 --> 00:38:45,413 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think what you've -- what's evident I think 809 00:38:45,414 --> 00:38:47,416 from this President's leadership style is that 810 00:38:47,416 --> 00:38:51,954 he's focused on solving problems, that pointing 811 00:38:51,954 --> 00:38:56,525 fingers of blame will not be constructive here. 812 00:38:56,525 --> 00:38:59,094 And that's why the President is focused on results. 813 00:38:59,094 --> 00:39:01,597 And that's why the President is convening the meeting today with 814 00:39:01,597 --> 00:39:05,200 his team who is responsible for responding to this situation. 815 00:39:05,200 --> 00:39:06,201 Jim. 816 00:39:06,201 --> 00:39:08,203 The Press: Josh, getting back to Lisa Monaco. 817 00:39:08,203 --> 00:39:11,373 You said she's overseeing the federal response on Ebola -- 818 00:39:11,373 --> 00:39:14,877 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, I hate to be nitpicky here, 819 00:39:14,877 --> 00:39:16,879 but what she's really doing is she's coordinating the 820 00:39:16,879 --> 00:39:20,082 activities of all the government agencies who are themselves 821 00:39:20,082 --> 00:39:22,685 responsible for responding to specific areas 822 00:39:22,685 --> 00:39:24,153 of their own expertise. 823 00:39:24,153 --> 00:39:25,187 So she's not overseeing -- 824 00:39:25,187 --> 00:39:26,221 The Press: So who's in charge? 825 00:39:26,221 --> 00:39:27,656 Who's in charge? 826 00:39:27,656 --> 00:39:29,625 Mr. Earnest: Well, she's not overseeing the construction 827 00:39:29,625 --> 00:39:31,860 of Ebola transmission units in West Africa. 828 00:39:31,860 --> 00:39:33,595 The Department of Defense is responsible for that. 829 00:39:33,595 --> 00:39:34,897 The Press: I understand that, but who is in charge of -- 830 00:39:34,897 --> 00:39:36,031 Mr. Earnest: She's not responsible for coordinating -- 831 00:39:36,031 --> 00:39:36,899 The Press: -- who is in charge of the overall response? 832 00:39:36,899 --> 00:39:37,966 Mr. Earnest: She's not responsible for coordinating 833 00:39:37,966 --> 00:39:40,502 the activities of the international community as they 834 00:39:40,502 --> 00:39:43,238 interact with local governments in West Africa. 835 00:39:43,238 --> 00:39:45,073 USAID is involved in that effort. 836 00:39:45,074 --> 00:39:46,642 They have an area of expertise. 837 00:39:46,642 --> 00:39:47,676 The Press: You understand my question -- 838 00:39:47,676 --> 00:39:48,844 Mr. Earnest: She's not diagnosing people in the field. 839 00:39:48,844 --> 00:39:49,812 So the point is -- 840 00:39:49,812 --> 00:39:50,546 The Press: I get you're interrupting me 841 00:39:50,546 --> 00:39:51,480 because you feel like you have a point to make. 842 00:39:51,480 --> 00:39:52,514 But you understand my question. 843 00:39:52,514 --> 00:39:54,349 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think the point that 844 00:39:54,349 --> 00:39:55,451 I have to make is directly relevant -- 845 00:39:55,451 --> 00:39:56,652 The Press: You seem to be reluctant to say 846 00:39:56,652 --> 00:40:00,122 who's in charge of the federal response to Ebola. 847 00:40:00,122 --> 00:40:02,424 Mr. Earnest: Jim, I think that I'm reciting very clearly to you 848 00:40:02,424 --> 00:40:11,300 who specifically is responsible for which activities when it 849 00:40:11,300 --> 00:40:13,302 comes to this government's tenacious response to Ebola. 850 00:40:13,302 --> 00:40:15,304 And that is the Department of Defense who is responsible for 851 00:40:15,304 --> 00:40:17,306 putting in place the logistical capacity in West Africa. 852 00:40:17,306 --> 00:40:19,308 That's USAID that's trying to meet the needs of communities in 853 00:40:19,308 --> 00:40:21,310 West Africa so that we can stop this outbreak at the source. 854 00:40:21,310 --> 00:40:23,312 We see CDC lending their expertise to West Africa 855 00:40:23,312 --> 00:40:25,314 to help local governments mobilize the resources 856 00:40:25,314 --> 00:40:27,316 that they need to stop this outbreak. 857 00:40:27,316 --> 00:40:29,852 You've seen the Department of Homeland Security play their 858 00:40:29,852 --> 00:40:32,254 role in ensuring the safety of the American public, 859 00:40:32,254 --> 00:40:34,556 whether that's people traveling across the globe, 860 00:40:34,556 --> 00:40:36,558 or individuals who are attempting 861 00:40:36,558 --> 00:40:37,993 to enter this country. 862 00:40:37,993 --> 00:40:41,697 You have the responsibility of HHS and CDC who are responsible 863 00:40:41,697 --> 00:40:43,699 for working with hospitals and doctors all across 864 00:40:43,699 --> 00:40:46,869 the country to treat Ebola patients if they 865 00:40:46,869 --> 00:40:48,871 materialize at their medical facilities. 866 00:40:48,871 --> 00:40:49,872 So -- 867 00:40:49,872 --> 00:40:50,806 The Press: There's not one person in charge? 868 00:40:50,806 --> 00:40:53,008 Mr. Earnest: I think that there are individuals who are -- 869 00:40:53,008 --> 00:40:53,908 The Press: Or is that the President? 870 00:40:53,909 --> 00:40:55,177 Mr. Earnest: There are individuals who are directly 871 00:40:55,177 --> 00:40:57,546 responsible for their line of responsibility. 872 00:40:57,546 --> 00:41:01,884 And you have an individual here at the White House who 873 00:41:01,884 --> 00:41:03,886 is responsible for coordinating the actions of those government 874 00:41:03,886 --> 00:41:05,888 agencies to make sure that they are properly integrated. 875 00:41:05,888 --> 00:41:07,990 I think that is a completely reasonable management structure. 876 00:41:07,990 --> 00:41:13,796 And if it is determined that additional resources are needed 877 00:41:13,796 --> 00:41:16,665 to manage this response, then we won't hesitate to add them. 878 00:41:16,665 --> 00:41:19,101 The Press: The only reason why I ask is because Lisa Monaco 879 00:41:19,101 --> 00:41:22,070 is also the Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Advisor. 880 00:41:22,070 --> 00:41:25,707 With the threat posed by ISIS and various other terrorist 881 00:41:25,707 --> 00:41:27,475 groups around the world, it seems like she has a lot 882 00:41:27,476 --> 00:41:28,644 on her plate right now. 883 00:41:28,644 --> 00:41:30,444 Mr. Earnest: She does have a lot on her plate. 884 00:41:30,445 --> 00:41:31,680 The Press: She can do that and Ebola? 885 00:41:31,680 --> 00:41:34,216 Mr. Earnest: She is a highly capable individual who can 886 00:41:34,216 --> 00:41:37,553 fulfill her responsibilities in terms of coordinating the 887 00:41:37,553 --> 00:41:40,923 government's response, the government agencies' response 888 00:41:40,923 --> 00:41:44,192 to this Ebola situation, while at the same time ensuring 889 00:41:44,193 --> 00:41:46,295 that she is playing the role that she plays 890 00:41:46,295 --> 00:41:48,564 in protecting our homeland. 891 00:41:48,564 --> 00:41:50,699 The Press: And on Dr. Frieden, I mean he mentioned yesterday he 892 00:41:50,699 --> 00:41:53,101 said he wished he had done this sooner with the special teams 893 00:41:53,101 --> 00:41:55,904 that go in and supervise the treatment. 894 00:41:57,172 --> 00:41:59,474 Today he said that this second patient is going 895 00:41:59,474 --> 00:42:02,711 to be transferred to the Emory Ebola experts. 896 00:42:02,711 --> 00:42:05,747 That suggests that that precautionary step of having 897 00:42:05,747 --> 00:42:10,185 teams in place to supervise care may not be enough. 898 00:42:10,185 --> 00:42:14,723 Do you think that what the CDC is recommending right now 899 00:42:14,723 --> 00:42:19,661 is a crystal-clear set of protocols when it comes 900 00:42:19,661 --> 00:42:22,331 to dealing with Ebola patients? 901 00:42:22,331 --> 00:42:26,635 Mr. Earnest: Well, there are experts from the CDC who are 902 00:42:26,635 --> 00:42:29,504 on the ground in Dallas who are doing a variety of things. 903 00:42:29,504 --> 00:42:32,708 One is they're offering some expertise about the treatment 904 00:42:32,708 --> 00:42:34,810 of those Ebola patients that are currently under 905 00:42:34,810 --> 00:42:38,212 the care of Texas Presbyterian Hospital. 906 00:42:38,213 --> 00:42:41,483 You also have experts from the CDC who are nurses 907 00:42:41,483 --> 00:42:44,786 who are doing some peer-to-peer training when 908 00:42:44,786 --> 00:42:48,657 it comes to the use of personal protective equipment. 909 00:42:48,657 --> 00:42:52,494 You have experts in infection control and experts in dealing 910 00:42:52,494 --> 00:42:56,164 with the Ebola virus itself who are advising hospital 911 00:42:56,164 --> 00:42:59,935 administrators and doctors there about treating 912 00:42:59,935 --> 00:43:01,937 these individual patients. 913 00:43:01,937 --> 00:43:04,906 You have CDC experts who are responsible for doing 914 00:43:04,907 --> 00:43:07,109 the contact tracing that is necessary, 915 00:43:07,109 --> 00:43:09,877 not just of the index patient himself and his family who he 916 00:43:09,878 --> 00:43:13,181 spent some time with before he was admitted to the hospital, 917 00:43:13,181 --> 00:43:17,653 but also doing the contact tracing that is related 918 00:43:17,653 --> 00:43:19,888 to the two health care workers that contracted the virus. 919 00:43:19,888 --> 00:43:22,223 That's a pretty work-intensive effort. 920 00:43:22,224 --> 00:43:24,626 The Press: The administration said these patients can 921 00:43:24,626 --> 00:43:26,028 be treated in hospitals. 922 00:43:26,028 --> 00:43:29,363 Now the second patient is going to Emory. 923 00:43:29,364 --> 00:43:31,366 Isn't there an inconsistency there? 924 00:43:31,366 --> 00:43:33,335 Mr. Earnest: Jim, I think what you're seeing is you're seeing 925 00:43:33,335 --> 00:43:36,104 an adaptation in terms of the government's response. 926 00:43:36,104 --> 00:43:40,875 I just talked earlier about how the facility at Emory had 927 00:43:40,876 --> 00:43:43,378 successfully treated other health care workers who 928 00:43:43,378 --> 00:43:45,414 contracted the virus in West Africa. 929 00:43:45,414 --> 00:43:47,316 Those individuals were treated. 930 00:43:47,316 --> 00:43:49,384 They recovered and were released. 931 00:43:49,384 --> 00:43:52,454 And that treatment was rendered without the health care 932 00:43:52,454 --> 00:43:55,924 workers themselves contracting the Ebola virus. 933 00:43:55,924 --> 00:44:03,398 So that may be an indication that they have expertise that 934 00:44:03,398 --> 00:44:05,767 can be used and dedicated to this specific case. 935 00:44:05,767 --> 00:44:09,203 But again, the treatment of these individuals is going 936 00:44:09,204 --> 00:44:12,174 to be guided by our medical experts and by the science. 937 00:44:12,174 --> 00:44:14,109 I guess if you have additional questions about that 938 00:44:14,109 --> 00:44:15,877 I'd encourage you to reach out to CDC. 939 00:44:15,877 --> 00:44:17,312 The Press: You said that there were shortcomings 940 00:44:17,312 --> 00:44:19,014 and flaws with the response. 941 00:44:19,014 --> 00:44:20,349 You acknowledge that. 942 00:44:20,349 --> 00:44:23,151 Did the President register his frustration -- 943 00:44:23,151 --> 00:44:25,153 Mr. Earnest: What I acknowledged is something 944 00:44:25,153 --> 00:44:27,154 that our medical experts themselves have acknowledged. 945 00:44:27,155 --> 00:44:29,157 The Press: You acknowledge that medical experts 946 00:44:29,157 --> 00:44:31,159 said that there are shortcomings and flaws. 947 00:44:31,159 --> 00:44:33,328 Did the President tell Dr. Frieden he's dissatisfied 948 00:44:33,328 --> 00:44:34,329 with that? 949 00:44:34,329 --> 00:44:36,331 Mr. Earnest: Well, I think it's fair for you to assume 950 00:44:36,331 --> 00:44:38,433 that the President shares the view that the transmission 951 00:44:38,433 --> 00:44:41,636 of the Ebola virus to even one health care worker 952 00:44:41,636 --> 00:44:43,605 is something that is not acceptable. 953 00:44:43,605 --> 00:44:44,873 The President does share that view. 954 00:44:44,873 --> 00:44:47,042 The Press: Josh, you said you have confidence in Dr. Frieden. 955 00:44:47,042 --> 00:44:49,344 On the question of who is in charge, 956 00:44:49,344 --> 00:44:51,179 we notice on the morning television today it was not 957 00:44:51,179 --> 00:44:54,116 Dr. Frieden, it was Sylvia Burwell at HHS -- 958 00:44:54,116 --> 00:44:55,117 not Lisa Monaco. 959 00:44:55,117 --> 00:44:57,986 And then the conference call that happened about an hour or 960 00:44:57,986 --> 00:45:00,922 so ago with Dr. Frieden, at the last minute it was, well, 961 00:45:00,922 --> 00:45:03,125 it's not going to be on camera with him anymore. 962 00:45:03,125 --> 00:45:05,627 Sylvia Burwell at HHS is going to be on the call 963 00:45:05,627 --> 00:45:07,629 with him and she's going to start it off. 964 00:45:07,629 --> 00:45:09,631 Doesn't that suggest that now she's taking on a more hands-on 965 00:45:09,631 --> 00:45:12,267 role and yet another personm is involved at the top? 966 00:45:12,267 --> 00:45:15,303 Mr. Earnest: Again, Ed, a couple of times I've described the 967 00:45:15,303 --> 00:45:18,640 important role that HHS has to play in terms of protecting the 968 00:45:18,640 --> 00:45:22,377 American public here at home and communicating with public health 969 00:45:22,377 --> 00:45:25,180 officials across the country at the state and local level 970 00:45:25,180 --> 00:45:28,149 and also communicating with doctors and nurses, 971 00:45:28,150 --> 00:45:30,152 health care providers and hospital administrators. 972 00:45:30,152 --> 00:45:33,422 So there's been an important role for HHS to play in this 973 00:45:33,422 --> 00:45:36,124 response from the beginning; they have played that role. 974 00:45:36,124 --> 00:45:39,026 And the Secretary of Health and Human Services has been actively 975 00:45:39,027 --> 00:45:39,995 engaged from the beginning. 976 00:45:39,995 --> 00:45:42,998 The Press: Okay, so the CDC today is saying it was improper 977 00:45:42,998 --> 00:45:45,834 for the health care worker to fly from Cleveland 978 00:45:45,834 --> 00:45:47,569 to Dallas Fort Worth. 979 00:45:47,569 --> 00:45:50,105 Why is it still appropriate for the U.S. 980 00:45:50,105 --> 00:45:53,642 to allow people to fly into America from the hot zone? 981 00:45:53,642 --> 00:45:56,011 Mr. Earnest: Quite simply, Ed, because there are -- 982 00:45:56,011 --> 00:45:58,146 there is a multilayered screening protocol that's 983 00:45:58,146 --> 00:46:01,049 in place to ensure that individuals that may have 984 00:46:01,049 --> 00:46:03,051 symptoms consistent with Ebola are not 985 00:46:03,051 --> 00:46:06,254 even able to board planes in West Africa. 986 00:46:06,254 --> 00:46:09,156 As we've discussed, dozens of people have been denied boarding 987 00:46:09,157 --> 00:46:12,127 over the last few months because they are exhibiting symptoms 988 00:46:12,127 --> 00:46:14,029 consistent with Ebola. 989 00:46:14,029 --> 00:46:16,331 There's also a screening that's in place on international 990 00:46:16,331 --> 00:46:19,134 flights to ensure that our flight crews are aware of what 991 00:46:19,134 --> 00:46:21,203 they should be looking for in terms of people exhibiting 992 00:46:21,203 --> 00:46:22,204 symptoms of Ebola. 993 00:46:22,204 --> 00:46:25,073 And then there is also a layered screening -- a screening layer 994 00:46:25,073 --> 00:46:27,942 here in this country where we have CBP officers who are 995 00:46:27,943 --> 00:46:32,013 responsible for observing people who are reentering the country 996 00:46:32,013 --> 00:46:34,915 and subjecting those who have traveled in West Africa 997 00:46:34,916 --> 00:46:36,885 to additional screening to make sure that 998 00:46:36,885 --> 00:46:39,387 those individuals aren't symptomatic. 999 00:46:39,387 --> 00:46:43,892 Obviously, that multilayered screening approach does is not 1000 00:46:43,892 --> 00:46:46,895 in place for domestic flights. 1001 00:46:46,895 --> 00:46:47,896 And that's the difference. 1002 00:46:47,896 --> 00:46:49,865 The Press: And I wonder if you can address nurses unions and 1003 00:46:49,865 --> 00:46:54,535 just nurses around the country who are expressing alarm 1004 00:46:54,536 --> 00:46:56,538 not just at health care workers being exposed, 1005 00:46:56,538 --> 00:46:59,808 but they say that Mr. Duncan was in an emergency room at this 1006 00:46:59,808 --> 00:47:02,978 hospital in Dallas for hours in an area with not just 1007 00:47:02,978 --> 00:47:05,780 health care workers but citizens sitting there, 1008 00:47:05,780 --> 00:47:09,518 and that waste -- once he was admitted in, 1009 00:47:09,518 --> 00:47:11,019 waste was piling up. 1010 00:47:11,019 --> 00:47:13,988 The nurses were around this waste. 1011 00:47:13,989 --> 00:47:16,625 How concerned is the White House about that and how many 1012 00:47:16,625 --> 00:47:19,161 more people could have been exposed, and why 1013 00:47:19,161 --> 00:47:21,163 that just was not handled properly? 1014 00:47:21,163 --> 00:47:23,165 He was sitting in an open area for hours. 1015 00:47:23,165 --> 00:47:25,167 Mr. Earnest: Well, but again, Ed, 1016 00:47:25,167 --> 00:47:27,169 the thing that's important for people to understand 1017 00:47:27,169 --> 00:47:29,171 is to understand how the Ebola virus is transmitted. 1018 00:47:29,171 --> 00:47:31,306 The Ebola virus is not transmitted through the air, 1019 00:47:31,306 --> 00:47:34,709 so people who breathe the same air as this individual 1020 00:47:34,709 --> 00:47:35,577 when he was -- 1021 00:47:35,577 --> 00:47:36,344 The Press: -- come into contact with him when 1022 00:47:36,344 --> 00:47:38,613 he's in a public area and has Ebola. 1023 00:47:38,613 --> 00:47:40,147 Mr. Earnest: Well, again, they have to come in contact 1024 00:47:40,148 --> 00:47:43,785 with his bodily fluids in order to contract Ebola. 1025 00:47:43,785 --> 00:47:46,687 There are very clear guidelines for how this 1026 00:47:46,688 --> 00:47:48,290 disease is contracted. 1027 00:47:48,290 --> 00:47:51,459 Now, that all being said, it's the CDC's responsibility to 1028 00:47:51,459 --> 00:47:54,029 communicate clearly with hospitals and health care 1029 00:47:54,029 --> 00:47:57,265 facilities across the country about the proper protocol for 1030 00:47:57,265 --> 00:48:00,100 evaluating individuals that may have symptoms consistent with 1031 00:48:00,101 --> 00:48:03,972 Ebola and for isolating those individuals that need 1032 00:48:03,972 --> 00:48:06,274 to be isolated based on their travel history. 1033 00:48:06,274 --> 00:48:09,644 There's also a protocol that the CDC has in place for rendering 1034 00:48:09,644 --> 00:48:11,745 treatment to those individuals who have been diagnosed, 1035 00:48:11,746 --> 00:48:14,382 who have tested positive for Ebola. 1036 00:48:14,382 --> 00:48:16,585 The CDC is reviewing those protocols. 1037 00:48:16,585 --> 00:48:19,621 They're constantly assessing and reassessing those protocols. 1038 00:48:19,621 --> 00:48:21,690 And I mentioned earlier that one of the things that we are 1039 00:48:21,690 --> 00:48:25,727 concerned about is making sure that the CDC is offering clear 1040 00:48:25,727 --> 00:48:28,964 guidance to health care professionals across the country 1041 00:48:28,964 --> 00:48:31,066 about what those protocols should be and how 1042 00:48:31,066 --> 00:48:33,033 those protocols should be implemented. 1043 00:48:33,034 --> 00:48:35,036 And that continues to be a priority and it continues 1044 00:48:35,036 --> 00:48:37,038 to be something that the President is worried about. 1045 00:48:37,038 --> 00:48:42,010 It's evident in this particular situation in Dallas that 1046 00:48:42,010 --> 00:48:45,213 there was -- that something unacceptable occurred; 1047 00:48:45,213 --> 00:48:48,950 that we saw a health care worker contract the Ebola 1048 00:48:48,950 --> 00:48:51,019 virus after treating somebody that had Ebola. 1049 00:48:51,019 --> 00:48:54,656 So there are some protocol changes that are being reviewed 1050 00:48:54,656 --> 00:48:58,860 by CDC, and when those changes are determined to be necessary, 1051 00:48:58,860 --> 00:49:00,695 CDC will make those announcements and communicate 1052 00:49:00,695 --> 00:49:01,529 them clearly. 1053 00:49:01,529 --> 00:49:03,698 The Press: One other topic so others can go. 1054 00:49:03,698 --> 00:49:05,834 The New York Times has a story about American troops 1055 00:49:05,834 --> 00:49:08,502 being exposed to chemical weapons in Iraq. 1056 00:49:08,503 --> 00:49:10,005 I know that exposure, at least most of it, 1057 00:49:10,005 --> 00:49:12,207 appears to have happened during the Bush administration, 1058 00:49:12,207 --> 00:49:15,076 but the story is alleging that the Pentagon kept this 1059 00:49:15,076 --> 00:49:18,546 secret from troops, from veterans, continuing into 1060 00:49:18,546 --> 00:49:19,681 the Obama administration. 1061 00:49:19,681 --> 00:49:22,784 So I wanted you to address when President Obama was briefed 1062 00:49:22,784 --> 00:49:26,087 on this first, and why this administration appears 1063 00:49:26,087 --> 00:49:29,190 to have continued to keep this secret. 1064 00:49:29,190 --> 00:49:31,793 Mr. Earnest: Ed, let me say a couple things about that. 1065 00:49:31,793 --> 00:49:34,129 The first is we've seen the reporting about U.S. 1066 00:49:34,129 --> 00:49:37,464 military personnel and Iraqi exposure to chemicals related 1067 00:49:37,465 --> 00:49:40,635 to Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction programs. 1068 00:49:40,635 --> 00:49:42,604 Needless to say, we have the deepest concerns 1069 00:49:42,604 --> 00:49:44,339 for these individuals. 1070 00:49:44,339 --> 00:49:46,341 The Department of Defense has indicated that they're going 1071 00:49:46,341 --> 00:49:49,044 to conduct a review of this specific situation.** 1072 00:49:49,044 --> 00:49:52,379 There's a full statement that I won't read from here, 1073 00:49:52,380 --> 00:49:54,649 but I'd refer you to the Department of Defense to get 1074 00:49:54,649 --> 00:49:57,852 a better understanding of exactly how we're responding 1075 00:49:57,852 --> 00:49:58,987 to this particular situation. 1076 00:49:58,987 --> 00:50:02,791 I know that Secretary Hagel, who himself is a combat veteran 1077 00:50:02,791 --> 00:50:04,793 and somebody who was wounded in combat while serving his 1078 00:50:04,793 --> 00:50:07,295 country, so he obviously takes these kinds of issues very 1079 00:50:07,295 --> 00:50:11,433 personally, and I'm confident that they will conduct the kind 1080 00:50:11,433 --> 00:50:13,234 of detailed review that's necessary.** 1081 00:50:13,234 --> 00:50:14,869 Mr. Schultz: The President's meeting is starting. 1082 00:50:14,869 --> 00:50:15,537 Mr. Earnest: Okay. 1083 00:50:15,537 --> 00:50:17,038 Kristin, I'll give you the last one and then I'd better run. 1084 00:50:17,038 --> 00:50:17,639 The Press: Okay. 1085 00:50:17,639 --> 00:50:19,908 Does this underscore the need for a surgeon general 1086 00:50:19,908 --> 00:50:20,842 to be installed? 1087 00:50:20,842 --> 00:50:22,811 And who should the American people be listening 1088 00:50:22,811 --> 00:50:23,912 to right now? 1089 00:50:23,912 --> 00:50:25,613 And talk about the fact that we're hearing from a number of 1090 00:50:25,613 --> 00:50:27,549 different people and I think there is a confusion -- 1091 00:50:27,549 --> 00:50:29,718 obviously we're trying to get at the idea of who is in charge, 1092 00:50:29,718 --> 00:50:31,786 but who should people be listening to right now? 1093 00:50:31,786 --> 00:50:34,322 President Obama is not out here answering our questions. 1094 00:50:34,322 --> 00:50:38,760 Mr. Earnest: Well, you've heard a number of medical experts talk 1095 00:50:38,760 --> 00:50:43,031 about the necessary protocols, about the low risk that faces 1096 00:50:43,031 --> 00:50:45,066 the American public right now. 1097 00:50:45,066 --> 00:50:48,136 You've heard the President on a number of occasions talk about 1098 00:50:48,136 --> 00:50:52,707 the need for a robust response in West Africa 1099 00:50:52,707 --> 00:50:55,542 to deal with this outbreak at the source. 1100 00:50:55,543 --> 00:50:57,479 So there are a number of administration officials 1101 00:50:57,479 --> 00:50:59,180 who have been talking about this publicly. 1102 00:50:59,180 --> 00:51:02,783 All of them are talking based on the guidance 1103 00:51:02,784 --> 00:51:04,619 of our medical professionals. 1104 00:51:04,619 --> 00:51:09,557 They are all talking about how our response reflects our 1105 00:51:09,557 --> 00:51:13,694 commitment to the safety and security of the American public, 1106 00:51:13,695 --> 00:51:17,198 and how those principles are guided by the science. 1107 00:51:17,198 --> 00:51:18,566 The Press: But the buck stops with the President, right? 1108 00:51:18,566 --> 00:51:19,234 Mr. Earnest: No doubt. 1109 00:51:19,234 --> 00:51:20,502 That's always true. 1110 00:51:20,502 --> 00:51:21,169 That's always true. 1111 00:51:21,169 --> 00:51:22,103 Thanks, everybody. 1112 00:51:22,103 --> 00:51:24,005 I've got to run to this other meeting. 1113 00:51:24,005 --> 00:51:25,407 Send me an e-mail and I'll see what 1114 00:51:25,407 --> 00:51:26,274 I can do to get you an answer.