President Donald Trump delivers an update on the coronavirus outbreak and his hopes for a potential vaccine. EPA
President Donald Trump delivers an update on the coronavirus outbreak and his hopes for a potential vaccine. EPA
President Donald Trump delivers an update on the coronavirus outbreak and his hopes for a potential vaccine. EPA
President Donald Trump delivers an update on the coronavirus outbreak and his hopes for a potential vaccine. EPA

Donald Trump sets up clash with New York while pushing imminent vaccine availability


Simon Rushton
  • English
  • Arabic

President Donald Trump on Friday offered a rosy update on the race for a coronavirus vaccine as he delivered his first public remarks since his defeat by President-elect Joe Biden.

Mr Trump spoke from the Rose Garden as the nation sets records for confirmed cases of Covid-19, hospitalisations reach near critical levels and fatalities climb to the highest levels since the spring.

With more than 100,000 new confirmed US cases reported daily for more than a week, Mr Trump was more focused on tracking the roll-out of a vaccine, which won’t be widely available for months.

He said a vaccine would ship in “a matter of weeks” to vulnerable populations, though the Food and Drug Administration has not yet been asked to grant the necessary emergency approvals.

Mr Trump also said he would not ship vaccines to hard-hit New York until Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo signs off, noting that the state has promised to do its own vaccine review to ensure their safety. “The governor will let us know when he’s ready,” the president said.

Public health experts worry that Mr Trump’s refusal to take aggressive action on the pandemic, and to not co-ordinate with the incoming Biden team will hinder the nation’s ability to swiftly distribute a vaccine next year.

As states impose new restrictions in the face of rising caseloads, Mr Trump asked all Americans to remain “vigilant”. But he ruled out imposing a nationwide “lockdown”.

“This administration will not be going to a lockdown,” he said. “Hopefully whatever happens in the future, who knows, which administration it will be I guess time will tell, but I can tell you this administration will not go to a lockdown.”

Mr Trump said vaccines would “arrive within a few weeks,” saying they were ready and merely awaiting approval – and would be given “to high-risk individuals right away”.

In fact, there’s no guarantee that Pfizer’s product, currently the front-runner in the race to developing a successful vaccine, will get rapid authorisation for emergency use.

Even if it does, there’s no information yet indicating if the vaccine works in older adults or just younger, healthier adults.

Mr Trump took no questions Friday from reporters. He hasn’t answered questions since before Election Day.

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SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY

Centre Court (4pm UAE/12pm GMT)
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) v Heather Watson (GBR)
Rafael Nadal (ESP x4) v Karen Khachanov (RUS x30)
Andy Murray (GBR x1) v Fabio Fognini (ITA x28)

Court 1 (4pm UAE)
Steve Johnson (USA x26) v Marin Cilic (CRO x7)
Johanna Konta (GBR x6) v Maria Sakkari (GRE)
Naomi Osaka (JPN) v Venus Williams (USA x10)

Court 2 (2.30pm UAE)
Aljaz Bedene (GBR) v Gilles Muller (LUX x16)
Peng Shuai (CHN) v Simona Halep (ROM x2)
Jelena Ostapenko (LAT x13) v Camila Giorgi (ITA)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x12) v Sam Querrey (USA x24)

Court 3 (2.30pm UAE)
Kei Nishikori (JPN x9) v Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x18)
Carina Witthoeft (GER) v Elina Svitolina (UKR x4)

Court 12 (2.30pm UAE)
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x8) v Ana Konjuh (CRO x27)
Kevin Anderson (RSA) v Ruben Bemelmans (BEL)

Court 18 (2.30pm UAE)
Caroline Garcia (FRA x21) v Madison Brengle (USA)
Benoit Paire (FRA) v Jerzy Janowicz (POL)