Dear John  

Congress got back to work this week after the President's Day recess, and as you might imagine, the Coronavirus dominated a lot of the talk on Capitol Hill.  As it has become clear that China's efforts to contain the virus have failed, and there have been 3 cases of "community transmission" (person-to-person) here in the U.S., concern has grown about a possible outbreak here at home.  This week we've seen that concern directly with what has happened on Wall Street with the markets.

With all this news, and the almost non-stop coverage in the media, it would be easy to become panicked.  But instead of panic, it's better to be prepared and to get informed

This week President Trump appointed Vice President Mike Pence to head up the federal government's efforts to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus here in the United States. I've known Vice President Pence for more than a decade now and consider him a close friend. So, I can say without hesitation, I cannot think of a better person to head up this task force. Mike Pence at the helm gives me a lot of comfort and it should you as well.

President Trump and the Vice President will bring the full resources of the federal government to bear in fighting and containing this potential risk.

According to the CDC, here are some practical tips to follow in order to reduce risk of infection:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Vaccinations - Stay up to date on vaccinations, including the influenza vaccine.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Maintain at least six feet of distance from anyone exhibiting obvious symptoms.
• Stay home when you are sick.