Senators call for information and strategy on coronavirus outbreak

Faced with five confirmed cases and dozens of potential infections being traced across the U.S., senators from both parties have called on the federal government for updates and strategies for how to contain the recent outbreak of coronavirus.

For some, the concern lay with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In a letter to Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf, U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Gary C. Peters (D-MI), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee respectively, requested information including whether the department has a plan and how DHS is coordinating its response with other federal, state, local, territorial and tribal authorities.

More specifically, the senators asked, if there is a plan, to be informed as to the nature of that plan, the airport traveler screening process, how detection of infected travelers could be made at ports of entry which lack such screening, efforts being undertaken to guarantee proper implementation of screening requirements and how access to proper supplies for screenings is being assured. They want to know who is leading coordination efforts, what updates are being provided to public health and safety officials, and what agreement might govern them all.

More than 30 other Democratic senators, led by Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee ranking member Patty Murray (D-WA), turned to Secretary Alex Azar at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for such answers. With regards to the novel coronavirus, also known as 2019-nCoV or the Wuhan coronavirus, they sought updates on the latest information regarding severity, the U.S. capacity to diagnose cases, screening systems in place, the status of potential vaccines and what steps are being taken to prepare health care workers.

“We write to express concern about the rapidly evolving 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), to urge your continued robust and scientifically driven response to the situation, and to assess whether any additional resources or action by Congress are needed at this time,” Murray and her colleagues wrote. “A quick and effective response to the 2019-nCoV requires public health officials around the world work together to share reliable information about the disease and insight into steps taken to prevent, diagnose, and treat it appropriately.”

Those senators also cited concerns regarding Trump administration efforts to cut public health program budgets at home and abroad, noting that outbreaks like the Wuhan coronavirus serve as a reminder of the need for commitment.

While federal agencies continue to insist risk to the American public is low, the senators cited more than just the situation inside the United States to press their concerns.

“On January 21, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first case of Coronavirus in the U.S.,” the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs senators wrote. “The CDC now reports that there are multiple Coronavirus cases inside the U.S. In China, the Coronavirus quickly infected thousands of people and caused multiple deaths in less than a month.”

As of this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed cases of infection by 2019-nCoV had topped 4,500, most of them in China. The death toll has also crossed 130. The CDC is now investigating 110 other potential cases across 26 states. At the same time, countries throughout the world are reporting cases.

The senators continued, “In a January 2016 report, the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General concluded that insufficient interagency coordination in the 2014 Ebola response exposed system-wide gaps in ensuring all airport travelers received full health screenings. We want to ensure that these deficiencies have been addressed.”

What’s more, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee wants an answer by Jan. 31, 2020.