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Pence's Press Sec Calls Out NYT For 'Dangerously Wrong' Article on Coronavirus

Leah Barkoukis
Leah Barkoukis  |  March 03, 2020 8:05 AM

Update: The New York Times appears to have corrected language in the story, changing "administered" to "ready." No editor's note was included offering an explanation, however. 

The Trump administration said on Monday that nearly a million tests for the coronavirus could be ready by the end of this week, as the government prepares to escalate screening as the American death toll reached six and U.S. infections topped 100.

Original Story: 

Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary, Katie Miller, blasted The New York Times on Tuesday for a “dangerously wrong” article on coronavirus.

“The press has the same responsibility to the American people as public officials. This article from the @nytimes is DANGEROUSLY wrong,” she said along with a screen shot of the story, titled, “Close to a Million in U.S. Could Be Tested for Coronavirus This Week.”

“Testing CAPACITY is far different than tests COMPLETE,” she added.

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The first paragraph of the article said nearly a million tests for the coronavirus “could be administered” in the U.S. by the week’s end.   

The Trump administration said on Monday that nearly a million tests could be administered for the coronavirus in the United States by the end of this week, a significant escalation of screening as the American death toll reached six and U.S. infections topped 100. (NYT)

Miller clarified what FDA commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn actually stated: “The estimates that we’re getting from industry right now, by the end of the week close to 1 million test WILL BE ABLE TO BE performed.”

She said a correction has been requested and asked all reporters to check their facts before hitting publish. “It’s too important,” she urged. 

The article comes as Democrats have been busy politicizing COVID-19 and lying about President Trump calling it a "hoax."