Coronavirus in the United States - news and thoughts

That is the problem with child Covid deaths. Not the low numbers nationally, but the heart break for each individual death.

 

I agree he stood on that no mask hill a little too long. That would not of mattered early on though as we were told by multiple agencies mask are not necessary.

In order to help PPEs for healthcare workers, we were even told to not purchase mask. Amazon wouldn’t even sell it to us.


But yes once that was no longer an issue and when we were finally told that mask should be used, Trump should have embraced that.

 

I agree that everyone should wear masks in public, but there is a strong debate among scientists about their efficacy especially clothe masks. There are places like Holland where their national health director has said masks don't work so people don't wear them in public.

Taiwan engaged in strong mask use at the outset and has an amazing lack of infections, but they also engaged in rapid fire infection tracing right at the beginning which is easy to do when you are an island with a modest land area.

Fauci admitted that he did not recommend masks at the beginning to protect the supply of PPE to hospitals, but if he believed masks worked then he could have encouraged homemade masks at the outset which might have helped reduce the onslaught on New York hospitals.

One thing is for sure: "experts" and "models" can't mask that they have taken a strong hit.

 

A timeline of the conflicting messages by the administration.

Unmasked: How Trump's mixed messaging on face-coverings hurt U.S. coronavirus response

 

not all masks are equal. People using that argument seem to fail to differentiate between N95 masks and cloth masks that were widely available in March/April.

 

I'll bullet point a few highlights, but if you want to know where Trump went wrong in regards to the Pandemic Playbook, here is one link, second link, and a third link. Here are some lowlights:

• Take the virus seriously from day one and avoid making silly comments like "It's under control..." "It will magically disappear..." "It's just 15 cases...."
• Take the time in Jan and early Feb to prepare the country by ramping up mask production
• Accept the WHO tests and offer them, nation-wide, for free. Instead, relied on CDC to create tests and insurance to cover. For non-insured, tests were $100 or more, and not everyone who needed a test took one because of cost
• Create a robust testing and contact tracing system (see S. Korea as an example of what it should look like)
• Let the Medical Professionals lead, especially during press conferences. All medical question should have been deferred to Fauci and/or Birx. Would have avoided the ingest bleach/UV light comments.
• Encourage states to strictly follow CDC guidelines for reopening. Not only did this not happen, Trump encouraged people to liberate their states!
• Wear a damn mask from Day 1 it was encouraged by the CDC, and encourage everyone in the country to do so

That's a good start. Would things have been perfect? Of course not. Would have they been better had the playbook been followed a lot more closely? Absolutely.

 

Implement the quarantining system for all people that return from China. Begin developing a testing system if that doesn't work. Begin developing protocols for monitoring the spread of the disease. All of these actions could be called back if the disease profile turns out to be more like H1N1, with high spread but a very low death rate. They can also be adjusted in case the disease has a very high death but low spread rate (i.e., Ebola), although that seemed less likely based on what we knew in January. Starting preparing for moderate spread rate/moderate death rate would have allowed the most flexibility to adjust as the empirical data flows into the country.

 

California Woman strikes again.

 

Interesting take by a physician who has three children and is well versed on the virus. It details the process he went through to decide whether his children should return to school.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta: Why I am not sending my kids back to school - CNN

 

He’s able to afford computers, people to assist his kids if his wife doesn’t , and all the other small details. Then there are the hunger issues his kids don’t face like those that depend on a school lunch for nourishment. Regular parents, especially single ones, can’t afford not to work.

You just can’t compare a doctor to regular people.

 

I can’t argue with that. This virus has been devastating to rank and file Americans. I also can’t dispute your implication that these Americans have to roll the dice, send their kids to school and take their chances. I’m glad i don’t have to make that decision. My kids are grown.

 

Why should Trump admit errors when governors aren't? Doesn't adjust his views to facts on the ground? He set the stage for the first shut down and then extended it beyond what he initially called for. The virus has been largely a hoax in the way it's been presented. From the stats just posted in this thread, if you're under 55 and no pre-existing conditions, your chance of death is basically nil. That's not how it's been presented. The children being immune thing is just another liberal play on words. Everybody knows what he meant. And he said "almost immune". As in most kids don't even get sick from it. That would be true.

 

How did Trump set the stage for the first shut down?

 

We're the richest country in the world, and we can't find a way to get kids in need a Chrombook and Internet connectivity? Or mobilize food banks and school resources to ensure kids that get free or reduced lunches get at least one decent meal every day?

These seem to be solvable problems, if we had the right leadership. Instead, we get Trump, who first thought this was a hoax, encouraged people to liberate their states, and think it would be a travesty if one year of college football is delayed or cancelled.

And it's not just about kid's health. It's about the teachers and staff, all of whom are adults. And the parents and caregivers of the kids, all of whom are adults also. Kids are not immune to this disease! While most will not suffer serious consequences, 6% will. And kids will spread the disease to others, including adults, who are more likely to have serious consequences. Most of which is preventable, if we only had a plan to follow, and a leader with the ability to execute it.

 

The CDC recommended wearing face masks on April 3rd.

Trump put a mask on for the first time on July 11th. That's 99 days. That's a LOT too long. That's "now we have community spread" too long.

Otherwise I completely agree with your post.

 

Coronavirus-Gear Broker Used Political Ties to Sell Goods to States, Data Show

 

Richest country in the world? You may want to re think that one.
U.S. National Debt Clock : Real Time