Mike Pence to Lead Task<br />Force to Combat Coronavirus On Feb. 26, President Donald Trump<br />appointed Vice President Mike Pence to<br />lead the country’s response to COVID-19. The decision to create a task force comes just as the CDC confirmed a new case of coronavirus infection in California. The COVID-19 case in question was not linked<br />to overseas travel, marking a concerning<br />development in the virus’ spread. According to Trump, Pence is qualified<br />for the position due to his past experience<br />handling health crises as Indiana’s governor. A number of politicians disagree, with<br />Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez saying<br />it is “utterly irresponsible” to appoint Pence. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,<br />via Twitter Referenced by Ocasio-Cortez is the HIV outbreak in Indiana<br />that occurred in 2015, during Pence’s time as governor. The outbreak was one of the most severe to ever occur in<br />the state, with a total of 200 new cases of HIV occurring. Many people believe Pence’s slashing <br />of public health spending, as well as his moral <br />opposition of safe needle exchanges was to blame.
