In order to restart the economy, we need to be able to quickly detect and stamp out new Covid-19 brush fires and that depends on widespread testing. Otherwise we risk, almost assure, another widespread outbreak, hundreds of thousands of lives lost and further collapse of economic activity. Even if the relief payments were enough to keep families going, which they are not, we cannot support our population on borrowed money, so the path forward requires we do two things at once, carefully reopen key businesses while keeping tight control of the virus. The states need Federal funding for sufficient medical materials to do greatly increased testing. We should not be arguing about this. It is most distressing to hear, argument in some quarters that the economy is more important than increased loss of life. Some groups are at greater risk from the disease, who should be sacrificed? We must do both and we must come together as a nation to do it. Childish blame gaming and political posturing don’t get it done. As president, if I gotta eat crow, I eat crow but we get on with expanded testing to get Covid-19 under control until treatment and cure can be found.
A national shout out to all our hospitals and care providers, some working under difficult and dangerous conditions, treating cases of Covid-19. A shout out to those research institutions working 24-7 to find effective treatments.
And lastly, blaming the Chinese and de-funding the World Health Organization is just senseless at this stage. Human error is inevitable. The World Health Organization is also working to prevent so many diseases in poorer nations.
