Charles PillerScience's COVID-19 reporting is supported by the Pulitzer Center and the Heising-Simons Foundation.This story was also supported by the Science Fund for Investigative Reporting.
Please help Science pursue ambitious journalism projects.On the morning of 13 July, more than 20 COVID-19 experts from across the U.S.
government assembled in a conference room at the Department of Health and Human Services, steps from the Capitol. The group conferred on how best to gather key data on available beds and supplies of medicine and protective gear from thousands of hospitals.