President Donald Trump has tried to wash his hands of the COVID-19 pandemic ever since it was first brought to his attention four months ago.
In January, Alex Azar, secretary of Health and Human Services, told the president the coronavirus was coming our way and would be nothing short of a public emergency.
The president bristled.
Three weeks later, the president rejected news reports that the virus had come ashore, saying everything was “totally under control.”
“It’s one person coming in from China,” he said.
Health authorities report the president had known otherwise, and were continuing to warn him of its impact and the need to contain its likely spread.
By late February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning to Americans to expect a major disruption to life as we know it because of the virus, including missed work and loss of income.
Even then, the president continued to spread misinformation, saying only 15 had contracted the virus and that “within a couple of days it’s going to be down close to zero, that’s a pretty good job we have done.”
THOSE PRECIOUS few weeks in January and February were critical to Americans being able to prepare for the pandemic.
We knew from China’s experience that face masks, ventilators and test kits would be in high demand.
Rather than spring break parties on Florida beaches or Mardi Gras revelers on Bourbon Street, people should have begun social distancing.
Instead, we waited and watched.
Today, the United States has one-third of the world’s cases and its death toll exceeds that of any other country.
The first American to die from COVID-19 was on Feb. 29.
The following two weeks, infectious disease specialists say, was the critical window for taking significant mitigation steps.
It wasn’t until March 15 that President Trump encouraged Americans to put some space between each other.
When governors asked for federal support in securing necessary medical equipment, Mr. Trump told them they were on their own. “Try getting it yourselves. Point of sales, much better, much more direct.”
All along, the president has deflected responsibility for the pandemic to state leaders.
