On January 22 I interviewed Admiral @stavridisj (UN, ret) re #coronavirus: hughhewitt.com/admiral-stavri… He and I were worried about complacency then. He joins me this AM to talk about absurd panic now gripping financial markets. Panic may break in the U.S. today, but not in Europe. 1
There's preparation and there's panic. The U.S. is now fully and publicly committed to the former --excellent, and @VP Pence is the right official to lead this, and did so at #CPAC2020 Thu and on @seanhannity show last night and needs to keep doing it all weekend and next month2.
But now that MSM has finally figured out the need for preparation for #coronavirus virus in health care world and for disruption in various supply chains, it doesn't need to fuel panic w/ breathless stories. Right now, the danger from #COVID-19 is to medically fragile people. 3
The mortality rate of between 2-3% in this "passage" of the virus is concentrated on older people with already compromised immune or respiratory systems. Not healthy young adults like 1918-1920. Good reporting will help the U.S. do its preparation and avoid panic. 4
And wile I can't expect partisans on @Twitter to skip politicizing pandemic prep and response, it is reprehensible to do so as it triggers hoarding, isolation, fear and further panic selling which only hurts the seller when the disaster doesn't arrive and economy adjusts. 5
After Acting @SECNAV Modly joins me this AM, Admiral @stavridisj makes a return visit five weeks after his first interview on #coronavirus. Join us. 6
