March 30th, 2020 by WCBC Radio
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin along with Representatives David Trone and Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) applauded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) decision to approve the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick to return to full operational capacity. This clearance will allow USAMRIID to resume conducting their full scope of research on infectious diseases during this crucial time.
“USAMRIID conducts vital research on the spread and containment of infectious diseases. As we continue to battle the coronavirus outbreak, ensuring their ability to work at full capacity is more important now than ever. We fought hard to ensure USAMRIID had the resources necessary to receive CDC approval and get back up to full operational capacity. We will continue working to support funding for USAMRIID to carry out its crucial mission,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“The capabilities of USAMRIID are unique and their work has long supported our national security and public health. During the current COVID-19 outbreak, it is a relief to have USAMRIID fully operational, and it should quickly receive the funding and resources needed to tackle COVID-19 and other threats to our nation,” said Senator Cardin.
“The highly skilled workforce at Fort Detrick has been invaluable during the novel coronavirus outbreak, immediately stepping into action to use their world-renowned capabilities to fight COVID-19,” said Congressman Trone. “The coronavirus outbreak only emphasizes the absolute necessity to fully fund USAMRIID and the work of the scientist and staff in a sustained model for years to come.”
“The scientists and researchers at Fort Detrick have been on the frontlines of our nation’s battle with the coronavirus pandemic and I feel a tremendous sense of relief knowing that USAMRIID is returning to its full operational capacity,” said Congressman Raskin. “As the spread of COVID-19 has made all too apparent, the study of infectious diseases needs to remain a central pillar of our national security strategy and we must all do our part to ensure that USAMRIID has the resources needed to keep our country safe.”
Per USAMRIID, since 1969, the Institute has served as the Department of Defense’s lead laboratory for medical biological defense research. USAMRIID protects the warfighter from biological threats and investigates disease outbreaks and threats to public health. Research conducted at USAMRIID leads to therapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics, and information that benefit both military personnel and civilians. USAMRIID is currently providing assistance in the response to the coronavirus outbreak as part of the DoD’s Global Emerging Infectious Surveillance program. USAMRIID is also duplicating samples of the coronavirus for vaccine development and sending reagents to detect for coronavirus to DoD labs worldwide. USAMRIID also provided critical research in the fight against Ebola, and their efforts are still being used in the treatment and containment of that disease.
March 30, 2020 at 4:51 pm, Hank Logsdon said:
Our delegation is a bunch of career fossilized idiots
March 30, 2020 at 5:33 pm, Ken said:
> I don’t understand. You don’t think it would be a good idea for what is likely to be the best research facility in the world on the subject of virology to go back to work on this virus?
March 30, 2020 at 5:55 pm, hollywood said:
Ken, I don’t think that’s what Hank meant. I think he was pointing out that we really don’t require Van Holland, Cardin, Trone and Raskin stating the obvious. 1st. rule of physics, In nature, Politicians will always gravitate to the nearest microphone or television camera. As far as Ft. Detrick is concerned, By far the best place to conduct this research.
March 30, 2020 at 5:26 pm, Stephen Campbell said:
who the heck is Hank Logsdon and why should I listen to him??????
March 30, 2020 at 5:48 pm, Gary said:
Excellent decision in spite of the negative comments of the first responding person.
March 30, 2020 at 6:49 pm, Joe white said:
These inane, idiotic comments keep appearing here. This is Not a Political Issue. It’s serious business, due to the fact that Trump is completely clueless as to what needs to be done.
March 30, 2020 at 7:17 pm, Dave said:
Congratulations Joe you are right to point out that this flu that has been unleashed on us by China is not a political issue to bad your inability to get over an election that happen over three years ago still effects your thinking. LET IN GO ELSA !!!!! I’m sure your beloved Hillary would have found the cure by now.
March 30, 2020 at 10:27 pm, Jay said:
Trump’s Greatest Hits:
And– we’re– we have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s—going to be just fine.
January20: I know more about viruses than anyone.”
January 22: “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China. It’s going to be just fine.”
February 2: “We pretty much shut it down coming in from China.”
February 24: “The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA… Stock Market starting to look very good to me!”
February 25: “CDC and my Administration are doing a GREAT job of handling Coronavirus.”
February 25: “I think that’s a problem that’s going to go away… They have studied it. They know very much. In fact, we’re very close to a vaccine.”
February 26: “The 15 (cases in the US) within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero.”
February 26: “We’re going very substantially down, not up.”
February 27: “One day it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.”
February 28: “We’re ordering a lot of supplies. We’re ordering a lot of, uh, elements that frankly we wouldn’t be ordering unless it was something like this. But we’re ordering a lot of different elements of medical.”
March 2: “You take a solid flu vaccine, you don’t think that could have an impact, or much of an impact, on corona?”
March 2: “A lot of things are happening, a lot of very exciting things are happening and they’re happening very rapidly.”
March 4: “If we have thousands or hundreds of thousands of people that get better just by, you know, sitting around and even going to work — some of them go to work, but they get better.”
March 5: “I NEVER said people that are feeling sick should go to work.”
March 5: “The United States… has, as of now, only 129 cases… and 11 deaths. We are working very hard to keep these numbers as low as possible!”
March 6: “I think we’re doing a really good job in this country at keeping it down… a tremendous job at keeping it down.”
March 6: “Anybody right now, and yesterday, anybody that needs a test gets a test. They’re there. And the tests are beautiful…. the tests are all perfect like the letter was perfect. The transcription was perfect. Right? This was not as perfect as that but pretty good.”
March 6: “I like this stuff. I really get it. People are surprised that I understand it… Every one of these doctors said, ‘How do you know so much about this?’ Maybe I have a natural ability. Maybe I should have done that instead of running for president.”
March 6: “I don’t need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn’t our fault.”
March 8: “We have a perfectly coordinated and fine tuned plan at the White House for our attack on CoronaVirus.”
March 9: “This blindsided the world.”
March 13: “National emergency, two big words.”>
March 31, 2020 at 5:04 am, Ken said:
> Dave, This flu wasn’t unleashed on anybody by anyone. The same can be said for the Spanish Flu, which didn’t get unleashed on the world by Spain either.
The virus predates mammals by millions of years. They are no living, by any scientific definition, and are not easily defeated for just that reason.
When Covids19 first appeared in China, it was quickly reported, once medical people understood that it was something new. Contrary to what you’ve been told, the Chinese did give us everything they had as they learned what they were up against.
One more point, yelling about who is to blame, on either side of this political argument, is not going to do anything for us. Did the Chinese make mistakes? Sure, everyone does and they are no exception. Are we making mistakes? Time will certainly tell but it does look like we could have done better.