COVID-19 has spread to 7 states now. The US will struggle to limit the danger and damage from the virus for several reasons, not just the incompetence & secrecy of the Trump Administration. Without universal health insurance & the need for a public option in ACA, people may
not go to the clinic. Then the Trump Admin decided to pass responsibility for creating tests to private businesses, ensuring they will be more expensive. The Trump Admin's neglect of Puerto Rico has already led to drug shortages and serious shortages of saline.
Then there are all the occupations that don't get sick pay. People cannot forego their rent and utilities for the community good. Then there are the places where an absence means getting fired. We are very punitive to employees in many occupations disallowing sickness.
Add to that the occupations that don't pay sick leave and fire employees for being sick tend to be public-oriented, service industry jobs like restaurant, food service workers, gas station attendants, etc. So the people who see the most people are least likely to get sick leave.
And perhaps this is a moment to recognize the one person who prevented the ACA from having a public option all along, Joe Lieberman. Between this and undercutting Gore's effort to get the votes counted in 2000, I sure wish he had just run as a Republican when he started politics
