Coronavirus: Trump administration not considering 'immunity certificates' despite other countries using them
For a White House that frequently says it is considering just about anything floated its way to combat the coronavirus outbreak, there is one think not on the table.
Americans won't be getting get-out-coronavirus-jail-free cards anytime soon.
Germany already is issuing "immunity certificates" to coronavirus patients when they have recovered from the highly spreadable disease, meaning they no longer have to remain in quarantine. A spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday he would "consider" such a move.
German officials are planning to issue the certificates if antibody tests – showing an infected person is now healthy actually become widely available there.
Senior Trump administration officials have discussed antibody tests as a potential way to identify those who might have carried Covid-19 but never had symptoms. Like those who did get sick, those individuals might be immune from catching it again.
But a source with knowledge of the White House's discussions about how to deal with the deadly pandemic said "immunity certificates" have not been seriously considered.
That's notable for a president and White House that often says it is and will consider just about any option.
Whether it's Donald Trump asked about strict domestic airline flight restrictions or one of his economic advisers when asked about tax cuts, administration officials have launched a slew of news headlines declaring they are "considering" a slew of measures.
Take Mr Trump on Wednesday night when asked about locking down flights between cities like New York and Miami, both hit hard by Covid-19.
"It's very tough. And you have them going, in some cases, from hotspot to hotspot. If you notice, they're usually hotspot to hotspot [with] very few flights. New York to Miami," he said. "And – but we're thinking – we're certainly looking at it. But once you do that, you really are, you really are clamping down on an industry that is desperately needed."
And when asked the same evening during his daily coronavirus briefing if he might re-open enrolment on the Obamacare health insurance exchanges to help those who currently do not have coverage but might contract the virus, Mr Trump added that to the long list of things he allegedly is considering.
He called it a "very fair question," saying: "It's something we're really going to look at because it doesn't seem fair."
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