From President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence‘s ridiculous assertions that the novel coronavirus pandemic is no huge deal any longer to crowded bars in Arizona and obstruct parties in New York City City, it sure looks like Americans are ready to proceed from the general public health emergency situation that has dominated our lives given that March.
Yes, the everyday count of new infections and deaths has actually fallen since its peak in April and Might. New York City no longer is in complete crisis as the epicenter of the break out in the U.S. Stay-at-home orders have caused pain and inconvenience to virtually everyone.
But the coronavirus has actually infected more than 2 million Americans and eliminated nearly 120,000 The day-to-day tally of new cases is now increasing, not falling, both here and abroad There have been about as many new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. over the previous 2 weeks as there remained in early April– around 25,000 every day. The new hot spots are now places like Arizona, Florida and Texas, all states that have actually adopted aggressive “reopening” policies.
We may be completed with the coronavirus, but the virus isn’t ended up with us.
Whether the crest we’re now riding is the extension of the “first wave” that started in January or the onset of a “2nd wave” is a semantic distinction that absolutely doesn’t matter.
Politicians, particularly– but not specifically– Republicans like Trump, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, are plainly focusing on cash over human lives That would be bad enough, except the GOP has actually likewise politicized standard security preventative measures like social distancing and mask-wearing, putting the celebration’s own fans at the greatest danger.
It’s telling that while Trump is going on with a substantial indoor rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Saturday despite pleading from city health authorities in the middle of a major spike in COVID-19, his project is trying to indemnify itself versus claims from attendees who become ill.
This has been Trump’s playbook from the beginning: minimize the risks of the coronavirus in public while silently acknowledging its intensity. And if he cares at all about the health of his fans– or anybody else– there’s no proof to be found of it.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts notified counties in the state that they wouldn’t be qualified for monetary help if they imposed mask requirements in government structures. In Texas, Abbott has rebuffed pleas from mayors to enable them to mandate masks in public.
