The missing six weeks: how Trump failed the biggest test of his life

[Straw Man]

The missing six weeks: how Trump failed the biggest test of his life
The president was aware of the danger from the coronavirus – but a lack of leadership has created an emergency of epic proportions

When the definitive history of the coronavirus pandemic is written, the date 20 January 2020 is certain to feature prominently. It was on that day that a 35-year-old man in Washington state, recently returned from visiting family in Wuhan in China, became the first person in the US to be diagnosed with the virus.

On the very same day, 5,000 miles away in Asia, the first confirmed case of Covid-19 was reported in South Korea. The confluence was striking, but there the similarities ended.

In the two months since that fateful day, the responses to coronavirus displayed by the US and South Korea have been polar opposites.

One country acted swiftly and aggressively to detect and isolate the virus, and by doing so has largely contained the crisis. The other country dithered and procrastinated, became mired in chaos and confusion, was distracted by the individual whims of its leader, and is now confronted by a health emergency of daunting proportions.

Within a week of its first confirmed case, South Korea’s disease control agency had summoned 20 private companies to the medical equivalent of a war-planning summit and told them to develop a test for the virus at lightning speed. A week after that, the first diagnostic test was approved and went into battle, identifying infected individuals who could then be quarantined to halt the advance of the disease.

Some 357,896 tests later, the country has more or less won the coronavirus war. On Friday only 91 new cases were reported in a country of more than 50 million.

The US response tells a different story. Two days after the first diagnosis in Washington state, Donald Trump went on air on CNBC and bragged: “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming from China. It’s going to be just fine.”

A week after that, the Wall Street Journal published an opinion article by two former top health policy officials within the Trump administration under the headline Act Now to Prevent an American Epidemic. Luciana Borio and Scott Gottlieb laid out a menu of what had to be done instantly to avert a massive health disaster.

Top of their to-do list: work with private industry to develop an “easy-to-use, rapid diagnostic test” – in other words, just what South Korea was doing.

It was not until 29 February, more than a month after the Journal article and almost six weeks after the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in the country that the Trump administration put that advice into practice. Laboratories and hospitals would finally be allowed to conduct their own Covid-19 tests to speed up the process.

Those missing four to six weeks are likely to go down in the definitive history as a cautionary tale of the potentially devastating consequences of failed political leadership. Today, 86,012 cases have been confirmed across the US, pushing the nation to the top of the world’s coronavirus league table – above even China.

More than a quarter of those cases are in New York City, now a global center of the coronavirus pandemic, with New Orleans also raising alarm. Nationally, 1,301 people have died.

Most worryingly, the curve of cases continues to rise precipitously, with no sign of the plateau that has spared South Korea.

“The US response will be studied for generations as a textbook example of a disastrous, failed effort,” Ron Klain, who spearheaded the fight against Ebola in 2014, told a Georgetown university panel recently. “What’s happened in Washington has been a fiasco of incredible proportions.”

Jeremy Konyndyk, who led the US government’s response to international disasters at USAid from 2013 to 2017, frames the past six weeks in strikingly similar terms. He told the Guardian: “We are witnessing in the United States one of the greatest failures of basic governance and basic leadership in modern times.”

In Konyndyk’s analysis, the White House had all the information it needed by the end of January to act decisively. Instead, Trump repeatedly played down the severity of the threat, blaming China for what he called the “Chinese virus” and insisting falsely that his partial travel bans on China and Europe were all it would take to contain the crisis.

click here to read the rest of the article
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/28/trump-coronavirus-politics-us-health-disaster

[Coach is Back!]

Hahahahahahahahaha hahahahaha.....another leftist fail 😂😂😂

[Straw Man]

Hahahahahahahahaha hahahahaha.....another leftist fail 😂😂😂

obviously you're desperate to defend your Moron Messiah but you clearly also have to defense for his disastrous lack of leadership during the crisis

don't worry, once this is over we'll have plenty of time for a deep dive into all of Trumps lies and failures and I'm sure he'll piss and moan and complain about how unfair it all is  when confronted with nothing more than his own words and deeds.

[Coach is Back!]

obviously you're desperate to defend your Moron Messiah but you clearly also have to defense for his disastrous lack of leadership during the crisis

don't worry, once this is over we'll have plenty of time for a deep dive into all of Trumps lies and failures and I'm sure he'll piss and moan and complain about how unfair it all is  when confronted with nothing more than his own words and deeds.

Lol...he hands the left their asses daily😂😂😂

[Grape Ape]

Every single gov't on the planet has failed to some capacity on this, but are working  through it.

But people are failing to realize the true blame is China, and China only.

Politicizing it shows people's true nature, but we arlready knew that.

[OzmO]

Standard personal attacks aside...

It's easy to second guess this.

Everything that's done before its a real problem is called an over reaction.

Then once it's a real problem, you didn't do enough to prepare.

Maybe you haters on both sides can calm your jets a bit.  FFS.

[Yamcha]

Standard personal attacks aside...

It's easy to second guess this.

Everything that's done before its a real problem is called an over reaction.

Then once it's a real problem, you didn't do enough to prepare.

Maybe you haters on both sides can calm your jets a bit.  FFS.

It's funny that you don't hear people/media complain about hospitals and healthcare providers being sorely under-prepared and under-staffed with medical professionals - especially since epidemics have been around since the DAWN OF MAN! 

[Soul Crusher]

click here to read the rest of the article
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/28/trump-coronavirus-politics-us-health-disaster

Does that include Deblasio and Cuomo who didnt shut down NYC and called people racist for not wanting to go to the chinatown festival?

F off w this crap and blame who is really at fault here - the chinese communist disgusting bat eating chink maoists.   

[Soul Crusher]

Every single gov't on the planet has failed to some capacity on this, but are working  through it.

But people are failing to realize the true blame is China, and China only.

Politicizing it shows people's true nature, but we arlready knew that.

Thank you - partisan HACKS can't grasp this. 

[OzmO]

It's funny that you don't hear people/media complain about hospitals and healthcare providers being sorely under-prepared and under-staffed with medical professionals - especially since epidemics have been around since the DAWN OF MAN! 

I've seen articles of overworked staff and under prepared institutions as well as articles of needed medical supply shortages.  They had some ER doctor talking about it on CNN or Fox yesterday morning as they interviewed her in the hospital.

Also, its impractical to over-staff when something of this magnitude last happened in 1918.  The hospitals we have are there in proportion to the average need in the area, not the exception.  Although, I do agree with you somewhat..  we could have been better prepared.  But that's easy to say now isn't it?

[loco]

serious crises test
some people rise to the task
some will not
some can not

The honourable thing for those who can not rise to the task is to hand the baton on to some one who can

We are where we are and recrimination in the middle of a crisis distracts costs action

we are where we are and we have sufficient information to no longer deny the seriousness of the crisis.
It is incumbent for those in leadership to lead, not dally in self absorption and blame management.   

Where are you?

[loco]

in front of the computer now go off and mind your own business

That's what you keep complaining about, being in front of a computer?  Count your blessings.

[Straw Man]

Every single gov't on the planet has failed to some capacity on this, but are working  through it.

But people are failing to realize the true blame is China, and China only.

Politicizing it shows people's true nature, but we arlready knew that.

Blaming China IS POLITICIZING IT

Every country is responsible for how they respond

Many countries took this seriously in January or at least by early February

Trump did NOTHING except lie (claimed we had it under control when they were actually doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING)

Claimed we only had 15 cases and it would soon be down to zero (neither were remotely true when he said this)

Trump continues to LIE to this very day

Trump OWNS his words and deeds

That's how life works

[Soul Crusher]

You are deranged and sick in the FNG head. 

This thing was spreading for two months before we realized what was going on based upon their lies. 

Honestly - your TDS is worse than covid 19 

Blaming China IS POLITICIZING IT

Every country is responsible for how they respond

Many countries took this seriously in January or at least by early February

Trump did NOTHING except lie (claimed we had it under control when they were actually doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING)

Claimed we only had 15 cases and it would soon be down to zero (neither were remotely true when he said this)

Trump continues to LIE to this very day

Trump OWNS his words and deeds

That's how life works

[Grape Ape]

Blaming China IS POLITICIZING IT

Every country is responsible for how they respond

Many countries took this seriously in January or at least by early February

Trump did NOTHING except lie (claimed we had it under control when they were actually doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING)

Claimed we only had 15 cases and it would soon be down to zero (neither were remotely true when he said this)

Trump continues to LIE to this very day

Trump OWNS his words and deeds

That's how life works

Somebody remind the board idiot he cannot speak directly to me, but convey these sentiments:

1. Blaming China is fact.  If they didn't hide this, it never gets out of their country.

2. Trump banned travel from China and was called racist by Democrats/Schumer.

3. Strawman is a miserable shittard.

[OzmO]

Somebody remind the board idiot he cannot speak directly to me, but convey these sentiments:

1. Blaming China is fact.  If they didn't hide this, it never gets out of their country.

2. Trump banned travel from China and was called racist by Democrats/Schumer.

3. Strawman is a miserable shittard.

I have to agree.  If its found out that China allowing exotic meat markets to exist with out some sort of sanitary standard or disease prevention and this is a result of eating a bat at that market, then they are to blame.  

[Board_SHERIF]

And add this:  The great WHO - the Gay Muslim supported this fine corrupted group..

[SOMEPARTS]

Blaming China IS POLITICIZING IT

Every country is responsible for how they respond

Many countries took this seriously in January or at least by early February

Trump did NOTHING except lie (claimed we had it under control when they were actually doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING)

Claimed we only had 15 cases and it would soon be down to zero (neither were remotely true when he said this)

Trump continues to LIE to this very day

Trump OWNS his words and deeds

That's how life works

"come on man, you know...the...the thing"

[Straw Man]

I have to agree.  If its found out that China allowing exotic meat markets to exist with out some sort of sanitary standard or disease prevention and this is a result of eating a bat at that market, then they are to blame.  

South Korea jumped into action as soon as they had their first case

Why didn't our government do that and if they had where would be be today

Is that China's fault?

[OzmO]

South Korea jumped into action as soon as they had their first case

Why didn't our government do that and if they had where would be be today

Is that China's fault?

Who was responsible for starting the virus potentially due to negligence or whatever and how well  or inefficiently a particular country responded to it are 2 different things.

[Straw Man]

Who was responsible for starting the virus potentially due to negligence or whatever and how well  or inefficiently a particular country responded to it are 2 different things.

What difference does it make in regard to our governments lack of action not to mention our president LYING about it for weeks instead of taking action

[Soul Crusher]

South Korea jumped into action as soon as they had their first case

Why didn't our government do that and if they had where would be be today

Is that China's fault?

Um you libtwinks called trump racist for stoping travel remember ?

[OzmO]

What difference does it make in regard to our governments lack of action not to mention our president LYING about it for weeks instead of taking action

All the difference in the world in the context of the assertion and my answer. 

[loco]

All the difference in the world in the context of the assertion and my answer.  

And this isn't the first time in recent years that we have had a pandemic for a virus originating in China.  This doesn't even include the latest Coronavirus:

History of influenza pandemics in China during the past century

2018 Aug 10

Five influenza pandemics had occurred during the past century (1918 "Spanish flu" , 1957 "Asian flu" , 1968 "Hong Kong flu" , 1977 "Russian flu" and 2009 H1N1 Pandemic), accounting for hundreds of millions of people infected and tens of millions dead. China was influenced by all the five pandemics, and three of them (1957 "Asian flu" , 1968 "Hong Kong flu" and 1977 "Russian flu" ) were originated from China. The pandemics triggered the establishment of public health agencies and influenza surveillance capacities. In addition, more resources were allocated to influenza-related research, prevention and control. As a leader in the field of influenza, China should further strengthen its pandemic preparedness and response to contribute to global health.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30180422

2009 H1N1 Pandemic
Contrary to the popular assumption that the new swine flu pandemic arose on factory farms in Mexico, federal agriculture officials now believe that it most likely emerged in pigs in Asia, but then traveled to North America in a human.
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/health/24flu.html

[Soul Crusher]

These dirty freaking people eat rats , bats, cats, dogs, etc. 

Ever walk through Flushing Queens in the Summer?  Horrible!  Smells like complete death.   

And this isn't the first time in recent years that we have had a pandemic for a virus originating in China.  This doesn't even include the latest Coronavirus:

History of influenza pandemics in China during the past century

Five influenza pandemics had occurred during the past century (1918 "Spanish flu" , 1957 "Asian flu" , 1968 "Hong Kong flu" , 1977 "Russian flu" and 2009 H1N1 Pandemic), accounting for hundreds of millions of people infected and tens of millions dead. China was influenced by all the five pandemics, and three of them (1957 "Asian flu" , 1968 "Hong Kong flu" and 1977 "Russian flu" ) were originated from China. The pandemics triggered the establishment of public health agencies and influenza surveillance capacities. In addition, more resources were allocated to influenza-related research, prevention and control. As a leader in the field of influenza, China should further strengthen its pandemic preparedness and response to contribute to global health.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30180422