The Four Men Responsible For America's COVID-19 Test Disaster

[PufPuf23]

The Four Men Responsible For America’s COVID-19 Test Disaster

The White House’s inability to track the disease as it spread across the nation crippled the government’s response and led to the worst disaster this country has faced in nearly a century

Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control, flanked Donald Trump at the podium in the White House briefing room. It was February 29th, the day of the first reported U.S. death from the coronavirus, and the president fielded an urgent question: “How should Americans prepare for this virus?” a reporter asked. “Should they go on with their daily lives? Change their routine? What should they do?”

In that moment, America was flying blind into a pandemic; the virus was on the loose, and nobody quite knew where. The lives of tens of thousands hinged on the advice about to be delivered by the president and his top public-health advisers. Trump began: “Well, I hope they don’t change their routine,” before he trailed off, and, quite uncharacteristically, called on an expert to finish the response. “Bob?” he said. “Do you want to answer that?”

A tall man, with a tan, freckled head, and a snow-white chinstrap beard, Redfield stepped to the podium. “The risk at this time is low,” Redfield told the country. “The American public needs to go on with their normal lives.”

This reassurance came at precisely, and tragically, the wrong time. With a different answer, much of the human devastation that was about to unfold in the United States would have been avoidable. Academic research from Imperial College in London, modeling the U.S. response, estimates that up to 90 percent of COVID-19 deaths could have been prevented had the U.S. moved to shut down by March 2nd. Instead, administration leaders dragged their feet for another two weeks, as the virus continued a silent, exponential assault. By early May, more than 75,000 Americans were dead.

Rest of article at: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/covid-19-test-trump-admin-failed-disaster-995930/

[LizBeth]

1. Being between to big states with high numbers and in an industry that served groups, I watched

this closely. On March 12 I was walking into work to deal with people in mass going to a concert. I really really did not want to come back from my weekend and wait on these people. We had a full house. I was dragging my feet. I had paid attention enough to know this was not a good idea. I had already been washing hands none stop, stepping back from people for a good three weeks to hands being raw. We were disinfecting pens and washing down front desk, phones, constantly. While handling credit card after credit card.

I was thrilled when my gov on that day shut down all groups. But by the time I stepped into shower before work at 2pm she had not canceled the concert. An hour later, the call had come thru to shut down the concert and the next two days spent were canceling reservations ahead.

That is when i knew I could step out of my job because the customers would not be there and it would be helping my employer.

People knew it. I would watch people come in using shoulders, sleeves to open doors. We weren't wearing masks. They told us they did no good. But we were paying attention washing hands religiously and most of the customers very thankful for all the disinfectant we were using.

[dem in texas]

2. more People esponsible for More deaths as of My 10.

Stores, hair salons, barber shops etc. are open in Texas, supposed to stay 6 ft apart, restaurant at 25% capacity. my daughter just called and said parking lots of stores and restaurants are full. This bad news for Texas, if anyone is to get sick and die, I hope it is a one of the gun toting, open everything up wing-nuts that support Trump.

[BigmanPigman]

3. "Up to 90% of the deaths could have been prevented

if we closed down on March 2, 2020". That is the date I started to wear my mask when I went out, and I only have gone out to my 3 doctor appointments and to buy food twice a month since that date. How and why did I do this back then? Because I listened to the news, real news, and doctors from countries already hit and I listened to what they were doing differently since they started before us. I used the sense I was born with and NEVER listened to Dear Leader or his "team", never! When they said not to wear a mask I made damn sure I did. Do the opposite of what they advise and you are better off.