White House adviser Kellyanne Conway is speaking out to defend Vice President Mike Penceâs latest op-ed dismissing the idea of possibly a second wave of coronavirus.
During an appearance on Fox Newsâ âAmericaâs Newsroomâ Wednesday, Conway was asked about Penceâs portrayal of the coronavirus.
Host Sandra Smith recalled Penceâs dialogue in his Wall Street Journal piece titled, âThere Isnât a Coronavirus Second Wave.â Smith noted that Pence blasted the media for its reporting of the virus despite evidence of the number of cases surging in multiple states.
âIn recent days, the media has taken to sounding the alarm bells over a âsecond waveâ of coronavirus infections,â Pence wrote. âSuch panic is overblown.â
Smith described Penceâs op-ed as a âvery rosy pictureâ of the ongoing pandemic.
âHeâs painting a very rosy picture of what we are seeing and saying basically that the American public is being misled,â Smith said of Penceâs piece.
She went on to question whether or not Penceâs stance aligns with the observations and projections of the Coronavirus Task Forceâs medical experts advising the White House.
âIs that, perhaps, too rosy a picture, and is that in line with medical professionals advising the White House?â Smith asked.
See Conwayâs remarks below:
Conway fired back in Penceâs defense saying he has done an âincredible jobâ leading the White House Coronavirus Task Force.
âThe president put him in that role because the president knew how important that role would be,â Conway said.
She added, âI donât think thatâs a rosy picture. Itâs this: That weâre still in the first wave. So those who are irresponsibly⌠the non-professional professional critics are telling us, âWeâre in the second wave. Weâre about to have a second wave. Weâre still in the first wave. Thatâs why we want people to know that.â
âAt the same time, we need to reopen our country and what this vice president is making clear, what Dr. Fauci said yesterday is weâre still in the first wave,â Conway said.
Conway went on to note the progress being made with testing expansion and clinical studies for potential vaccines.
Conwayâs remarks come just one day after President Donald Trumpâs press briefing in the Rose Garden where he, too, discussed clinical vaccine studies.
The president pressed for an expedited timeline for a vaccine while praising scientists saying, âThese are the people â the best, the smartest, the most brilliant anywhere, and theyâve come up with the AIDS vaccine. Theyâve come up with ⌠various things.â
However, it is important to note that there is no vaccine for the AIDS virus.
As of Wednesday afternoon, there are more than 2.2 million positive coronavirus cases in the United States. Over 20 states are now facing an uptick in cases after reopening. Like the number of cases, the death toll is also continuing to rise as it nears 119,500.
