Birx calls Bismarck’s virus protocols the worst she’s seen (Audio)

October 27, 2020

 
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The White House coronavirus response coordinator said Monday that she spent a day looking around Bismarck and found its COVID-19 protocols to be the worst she’s seen anywhere in the country.

Dr. Deborah Birx, whose tour has taken her to nearly 40 states, said she found the absence of face coverings and the lack of social distancing in the North Dakota capital to be “deeply unfortunate” and a danger to public health.

She says she is concerned about North Dakota’s increase in case numbers and deaths from the virus. And she says she is concerned that with the colder weather, more people will be indoors, and that could mean more spread.

Birx says she took time to check out retailers, restaurants and hotels around Bismarck – and she says she saw relatively few people wearing masks.