WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar is playing down impacts from a weekend cyberattack at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Azar told a White House briefing that the department has "extremely strong" cyber barriers and stressed that "very strong defensive actions" were implemented.He said it is not known who was behind the attack and noted that an investigation is underway.
The attack was aimed at hampering the government's response to the growing coronavirus threat.Azar said there was "no data breach."
After the cyberattack, the National Security Council tweeted, "text message rumors of a national quarantine are FAKE; there is no national lockdown."It also advised people to link up with the CDC for accurate updates on the coronavirus.
The coronavirus is showing no signs of slowing down.As of today, COVID-19 has killed at least 90 of the more than 4,600 people diagnosed with the disease in the U.S.
Globally, the death toll has reached just over 7,100, with the most aggressive outbreaks still spreading in Europe and Iran.
The White House has made it clear that the request for a 15-day mass-hiatus from public life could be extended, and that the nation's battle with the coronavirus could drag on until August.