“There are countless more examples of problems with people getting access to tests all across the country, including in my home state of Florida. We need to have someone in charge of making sure that as many people as possible across this country have access to getting tested as soon as possible. Who is that person? Is it you? Is it the vice president? Can you give us the name of who can guarantee that anyone, but especially health care workers, who need to be tested can be?” “As I tried to explain to Congressman Green, from the C.D.C. perspective —” “OK, I’m asking for a name. Who is in charge of making sure that people who need to get tested, who are indicated to be tested, can get a test? Who?” “Yeah, I was trying to say that the responsibility that I have at C.D.C. is make sure all the public health labs have it, and they can make the judgment on how they want to use it.” “But they’re referencing people who have been advised to be tested to you, and they’ve been turned down. So is it you?” “As I said, I’m going to look into the specifics — “I know that. So basically you’re saying, reclaiming my time, basically you seem to be saying, because you can’t name anyone specifically, that there’s no one specifically in charge that we can count on to make sure that people who need to be tested — health care workers or anyone else — there’s not one person that can ensure that these tests can be administered. Yes or no?” “My colleague is looking at me to answer. The system, the system does not, is not really geared to what we need right now, what you are asking for. That is a failing.” “A failing, yes.” “It is a failing. Let’s admit it. The fact is, the way the system was set up is that the public health component that Dr. Redfield was talking about was a system where you put it out there in the public and a physician asks for it and you get it. The idea of anybody getting it easily the way people in other countries are doing it — we’re not set up for that. Do I think we should be? Yes, but we’re not.” “OK that’s really disturbing, and I appreciate the information.”