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Senior scientist says administration ignored virus warnings

Scientist says he was fired after concerns over malaria drug
Posted at 12:05 AM, May 06, 2020
and last updated 2020-05-06 01:05:35-04

A senior government scientist is alleging that the Trump administration failed to prepare for the onslaught of the coronavirus in spite of his repeated warnings earlier this year. Dr. Rick Bright is the former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. In his whistleblower complaint, Bright also alleges that he was reassigned to a lesser role because he resisted political pressure to allow widespread use of hydroxychloroquine. President Donald Trump has pushed the malaria drug as a treatment for COVID-19, but the Food and Drug Administration now warns doctors against prescribing it except in hospitals and research studies.