Before February 27 , and prior to the pandemic , with zero deaths registered , Trump stated that Americans had virtually no risk of being affected by the coronavirus .
On February 26 , with no deaths yet reported , Trump said that the risk to Americans was still very low , and appointed Vice-President Mike Pence to take charge of the nation 's response to the virus . The White House later clarified that the statement about the vaccine refers to the Ebola virus , not COVID-19.On February 26 , with no deaths yet reported , Trump said that the risk to Americans was still very low , and appointed Vice-President Mike Pence to take charge of the nation 's response to the virus .
2020 coronavirus pandemic in the United States