Trump Administration Shoots Down Rumors Of Nationwide Quarantine

On Monday, the Trump administration and other government officials shot down rumors of a possible nationwide quarantine to address the coronavirus pandemic, alleging that people are being duped by a foreign disinformation campaign.

“There is an ongoing effort to spread disinformation and cause undue panic,” a senior official in the Trump administration told Fox News on Monday. “There is no national quarantine for the United States. It’s important we remain vigilant in ensuring our information is coming from verified sources.”

According to the Associated Press, the foreign disinformation campaign has spread fear and division throughout the country. On Sunday, a cyberattack at the Department of Health and Human Services and rumors of a text message campaign hitting cellphones across the country spurred officials into clarifying that no national quarantine is currently underway.

“Text message rumors of a national #quarantine are FAKE,” tweeted the National Security Council. “There is no national lockdown.”

Text message rumors of a national #quarantine are FAKE. There is no national lockdown. @CDCgov has and will continue to post the latest guidance on #COVID19. #coronavirus

— NSC 45 Archived (@WHNSC45) March 16, 2020

Ken Cuccinelli, acting Deputy Homeland Security Secretary, also warned against a “serious misinformation” campaign. “Hey folks, we’re not shutting down the United States,” he tweeted. “Lots of serious mis-information being peddled out there!”

Hey folks, we’re not shutting down the United States. Lots of serious mis-information being peddled out there!

— Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli (@HomelandKen) March 16, 2020

Reporters claimed Monday morning that the Trump administration was considering a “nationwide curfew,” but the Vice President’s press secretary, Katie Miller, shot that down as well.

This is not correct. https://t.co/Wh458d8TAK

— Devin O’Malley 45 Archived (@VPPressSec45) March 16, 2020

Though no national lockdown or quarantine has gotten underway, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and member of the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, did say that he favors a national lockdown, strongly encouraging Americans to hunker down while they can.

“I think Americans should be prepared that they are going to have to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing,” said Fauci.  “Everybody has got to get involved in distancing themselves socially … Everything is on the table. Right now, myself personally, I wouldn’t go to a restaurant. I just wouldn’t because I don’t want to be in a crowded place. I don’t want to be in a situation where I’m going to be all of a sudden self-isolating for 14 days.”

“I would like to see a dramatic diminution of the personal interaction we see in restaurants and in bars. Whatever it takes to do that, that’s what I would like to see,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK) has also said he favors an immediate, national shutdown, arguing it could be the best preventative measure against the United States becoming like Italy.

“Two weeks ago, Italians were merrily sipping wine and coffee at bars and restaurants. Today, elderly Italians are denied care at hospitals and instead administered last rites because their health-care system is collapsing,” tweeted Cotton. “I understand these extraordinary measures will impose many hardships, but if we take them now, we can shorten the risk to Americans’ health and the economic hardships.”

“Stop all but essential activity. Call it what you want—a shutdown, quarantine, curfew, whatever. But only absolutely essential work should continue: groceries, pharmacies, supply transport, health care, electricity, water, sanitation, etc. Everyone else should stay home,” Cotton continued. “Shut down all but essential government agencies & services. At federal, state, and local levels, officials working to arrest the virus’s spread and mitigate its economic harm (and other essential services like food aid and VA care) must continue working. No one else should.”

“The military must prepare for defense support of civil authorities, especially at hospitals, nursing homes, etc., & do whatever is needed to increase our capacity to treat patients,” Cotton concluded. “Our military plans for exactly this kind of contingency. Our doctors and nurses may need them.”