Covid-19: Scientist testifies against the Trump administration

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Rick Bright was dismissed on April 20 from his duties as director of the US government agency responsible for developing treatments for coronavirus. Heard on Thursday May 14 by Congress, he accused the Trump administration of ignoring his warnings.

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Until the end of April, Dr. Richard Bright headed the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, a government agency responsible for developing treatments and vaccines against the new coronavirus. Transferred since to another post , "  more limited  ", he claims to have been placarded mainly because of his opposition to the wide use of chloroquine, a drug once touted by Donald Trump.

“  Our action window closes. If we do not manage to improve our response now, based on science, I fear that the epidemic will worsen and continue,  "he said on Thursday in Congress. And to warn: "  Without better preparation, next winter could be the darkest in modern American history  ." 

The scientist denounces serious shortcomings of the administration in the management of the pandemic. "  We should have done better, we could have done better  ," he asserts. Rick Bright claims, for example, to have tried to alert his hierarchy on several occasions from January on the shortages of medical equipment, reports our correspondent in Washington, Anne Corpet .

“  There have been dozens of alerts. I have passed them all on to the responsible teams. Each time, I encountered a profound indifference. I was told that they were too busy, that they had no plan, that they did not know who was responsible for supplying this material, a number of excuses, but never any action . "  

The United States Department of Health responded after this prosecution testimony, and accused Rick Bright of peddling "  misinformation  ". "  I do not know the so-called whistleblower Rick Bright (...) but I seem to be an embittered employee, neither appreciated nor respected by the people I have spoken to and who, because of his attitude, does not should no longer work for our government!  "Wrote Donald Trump on Twitter.

I don't know the so-called Whistleblower Rick Bright, never met him or even heard of him, but to me he is a disgruntled employee, not liked or respected by people I spoke to and who, with his attitude, should no longer be working for our government!

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• United States
• Coronavirus
• Donald trump