Vice President Mike Pence and Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, spoke with governors Monday.
Administration officials on the White House Coronavirus Task Force told governors Monday they are concerned the nationwide protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in late May could lead to a rise in coronavirus infections.
During a conference call with governors, an audio recording of which was obtained by CBS News from a participant, Vice President Mike Pence and Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, said they’re closely tracking coronavirus cases in the wake of the large-scale demonstrations.
The Daily Beast first reported the contents of the Trump administration’s call with governors.
“It’s an issue our team is following and there is concern,” Pence said in response to a question from Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo about outbreaks stemming from the protests. “We respect the right of every American to exercise their First Amendment rights, but we want to encourage them to do so safely.”
Birx told governors most major metropolitan areas were experiencing a significant decline in new cases through May and into June.
