This is a huge story and is a key to understanding what’s been been driving the US (lack of) response. President consistently lashes out any time an official dares put public health considerations ahead of low-cases/low-risk narrative.
Important element to understanding why the USG hasn't been more proactive and aggressive: Trump consistently chooses to believe and repeat whatever message he feels is most politically convenient for him in the moment, no matter how often officials correct him.
So that means:
So that means:
- It will go away in April (it won't)
- Risk to the public is low (it wasn't)
- This is a lot like flu (it's 5-20x as deadly, prob more contagious; and there's no vaccine or treatment)
- Actually flu kills more people (only because flu is already widespread and this isn't yet)
- Risk to the public is low (it wasn't)
- This is a lot like flu (it's 5-20x as deadly, prob more contagious; and there's no vaccine or treatment)
- Actually flu kills more people (only because flu is already widespread and this isn't yet)
- Vaccines are coming soon (they aren't)
- We've kept disease under control (they hadn't)
- Cases #s are low (they weren't)
- Country is completely prepared (we aren't)
- Testing has been perfect (I mean, FFS)
- Fed response has been great (nope)
- We've kept disease under control (they hadn't)
- Cases #s are low (they weren't)
- Country is completely prepared (we aren't)
- Testing has been perfect (I mean, FFS)
- Fed response has been great (nope)
Then there's this from today (and -trigger warning- my epidemiologist friends may want to avert their eyes).
Let's just say that sitting back and waiting for an outbreak to come to you is the definition of how outbreak becomes epidemic becomes pandemic.
Let's just say that sitting back and waiting for an outbreak to come to you is the definition of how outbreak becomes epidemic becomes pandemic.
All this is STRATEGICALLY DEVASTATING to the USG ability to respond.
Not just because Trump is wrong, but because you can't orchestrate proactive whole-of-govt preparedness for a major outbreak if the President objects to that scenario and thinks it will politically hurt him.
Not just because Trump is wrong, but because you can't orchestrate proactive whole-of-govt preparedness for a major outbreak if the President objects to that scenario and thinks it will politically hurt him.
The strategy you will pursue if you believe Trump's narrative is true - or even if you just have to act like you do - is dramatically different from what needs to happen.
And USG actions to date have looked a lot more consistent with the former.
And USG actions to date have looked a lot more consistent with the former.
