Politico reports:

Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday touted “great progress” against the coronavirus pandemic during the first White House task force briefing in months as the country experiences record-high cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

“America has never been more prepared to combat this virus than we are today,” Pence told reporters. He declined to take questions despite the worsening crisis and tensions following the presidential election, even as President Donald Trump’s refusal to concede could hamper the fight against coronavirus.

Task force coordinator Deborah Birx and the government’s top infectious disease doctor, Anthony Fauci, touted progress on efforts to develop a vaccine, but urged the public to continue social distancing, wearing masks and avoiding gatherings until the vaccine is widely available, as community spread continues to rage across the country.

“If you are fighting a battle and the calvary is on the way, you don’t stop shooting. You keep shooting until the help gets there,” Fauci said. Officials have cautioned that a vaccine won’t be available to the general public until spring 2021, at the earliest. [Continue reading…]