US could face ‘darkest winter in modern history’
A top US vaccine doctor who was removed from his role in April is to testify shortly that the Trump administration was unprepared for the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr Rick Bright was head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which sought to develop countermeasures to use on the virus.
He will say the US could face the “darkest winter in modern history”, according to prepared testimony obtained by CNN.
He is expected to say: “Our window of opportunity is closing. If we fail to develop a national co-ordinated response, based in science, I fear the pandemic will get far worse and be prolonged, causing unprecedented illness and fatalities.”
Bright is due to testify before a subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Last week he filed a whistleblower complaint alleging he was removed from his position for opposing the use of hydroxychloroquine – an unproven drug touted by the US president – as a treatment for coronavirus.
Reuters
