Coronavirus: Business leaders tell Trump testing is key to restarting economy during taskforce phone call, report says

Call had participants from industries including banking, food, hospitality and retail, source claims

Guaranteed widespread coronavirus testing is the key to restarting the United States workforce, industry leaders told President Donald Trump on Wednesday as part of a new phone-call led business council, reports say.

Members on the call emphasised the importance of testing in the first meeting of Mr Trump’s new business council according to one person briefed on the discussions, CNN reported.

The phone call was said to be the first task force teleconference aimed at planning a strategy for reopening the country.

The call reportedly lasted for about an hour and had lots of participants from different industries including banking, food, hospitality, and retail sectors

The telephone taskforce was set up after encouragement from Mr Trump’s conservative allies that input from business leaders could counterbalance the advice of public health experts that may prioritise models and worst-case public health scenarios the report said.

An email obtained by CNN was reportedly sent to certain members of Congress by the White House on Wednesday notifying them they would be part of the new task force.

“The purpose of the task force is to provide counsel to the President on the re-opening of America in the wake of Covid-19. The formal name of this task force has not yet been announced,” the email reportedly said.

CNN noted that some of Trump’s advisers also hoped having input from American industries on decisions might lend them credibility further down the line.