With reports of COVID-19 cases spreading further across the U.S. day by day, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) has become the latest lawmaker calling for swift congressional action to contain the virus.
While the novel coronavirus’s spread in the United States has remained low, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) figures sit at around 100 currently, including patients repatriated from the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship. Recently, Washington reported the first U.S. deaths from the disease, and Buchanan’s statement followed reports of Florida’s first cases.
“We need to boost funding to make sure Florida and the rest of the country have the resources they need to properly test for and contain COVID-19,” Buchanan said. “The time to act is now.”
In Florida, the first two likely cases involve residents of Manatee and Hillsborough counties. In all, the CDC reports that as of March 2, 10 states host confirmed or possible cases of the virus. It has infected nearly 89,000 worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and killed more than 3,000 — a situation that led the WHO to recently raise its Global Risk Assessment to the highest level.
Buchanan, who has previously called for restricting flights from China, is now calling for a reliable rapid test to deal with the virus, among other countermeasures. Congress has pondered a supplemental appropriation to assist such countermeasures, but as yet, these efforts have not moved forward. The nation’s diagnostic efforts also took a hit last week when the CDC was forced to recall a flawed test.
“We need to accelerate development of a vaccine, implement proper quarantine procedures and ensure the safety of health workers,” Buchanan said.