US Leads the World in COVID-19 Outbreaks, Deaths, and Mismanagement

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Trump, hardliners surrounding him, and vast majority in Congress serve America's aristocracy at the expense the expense of democracy the way it should be, the rule of law, and most important at times like now — public and personal health, along with treatment for the sick, inured, and/or infirm.

The full truth about COVID-19's origin, spread, and how serious the virus is to physical and emotional health will best be known in the fullness of time.

Clearly it's better to be safe than sorry, especially for the elderly with weakened immune systems from aging and others in poor health from heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other major health issues.

Whatever its seriousness, the Trump regime was woefully unprepared to address what's going on.

In January and early February, Chinese authorities bought around two billion N95 respirator masks for the population, the best way to prevent the virus from infecting the body through the nose or mouth other than by hazmat protection.

Initially and for some weeks, Trump and regime officials ignored COVID-19's threat to human health — despite Pentagon knowledge of a significant respiratory disease outbreak threat in early January 2017.

Nothing was done to prepare for the possibility. After outbreaks began in January, DJT was asked if a threat to public health existed.

"No. Not at all," he said, adding: (W)e have it totally under control. It's one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It's going to be just fine."

Instead of heeding warnings from public health experts, he remained in denial for weeks.

"It will all work out well," he stressed. On January 30, he said: "We have very little problem in this country at this moment."

In February, epidemiologist Willam Hanage slammed his bungled response, saying: "We just twiddled our thumbs as the coronavirus waltzed in."

Throughout most of the month, Trump claimed warm weather ahead would kill COVID-19, as contagion spread nationwide and worldwide.

Since virual outbreaks began and increased, he's only been concerned about reelection, the stock market, along with serving corporate America and the nation's privileged class, including himself and family — public health and welfare be damned.

As outbreaks began increasing significantly, he defied reality claiming claiming they're "going very substantially down, not up." 

"It's going to disappear…like a miracle…I'm not concerned at all."

Widespread testing was ignored. Trump falsely said anyone wanting a test can get one. Not so then or now.

No nationwide testing infrastructure exists in the US. It's needed with accuracy to know extent of outbreaks, followed by treatment according to appropriate public health protocols procedures. 

Epidemiologist Jeffrey Martin explained that "(t)he only way that a society can function is if the brushfires are identified and put out" to prevent them from becoming widespread.

The US lags many other developed countries in testing for the virus.

According to COVID Tracking Project data, only 7,265 Americans have been tested per million population through April 10 — about 2.4 million people, about seven-tenths of 1% of the nation's population.

China has been most active worldwide in dealing with COVID-19 infections though available data are imperfect.

Among Western countries, Germany has done the best job — testing about 16,000 per million population, followed by Italy at around 14,000, double or more their percent of population tested in the US.

Getting test results takes days when hours at most should be required for evaluation and reporting.

Containment and treatment for infected individuals are the most effective ways of halting outbreaks.

Failure to achieve this standard will continue to spread the virus and take many lives.

US outbreaks began in January. Yet the country is still way behind the curve in dealing with them effectively.

Is it by design, incompetence, indifference toward public and personal health, or all of the above?

When governance of, by, and for everyone equitably in the US is most needed, it doesn't exist. The White House and Congress share blame.

A public and personal health crisis festers because officials in Washington haven't addressed it as top priority.

Testing and treatment should be available for all Americans. It's not widely available. US labs don't have a reliable testing kit supply chain to access them.

Uninsured and unemployed Americans can't afford treatment. So-called CARES legislation mandates free testing by private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid coverage — with no co-pays or deductibles.

Yet "surprise billing" can occur. If tested out of network, you can be charged.

According to Kaiser Family Foundation's Karen Pollitz, "(w)hen your health plan has to cover (testing), that just means the health plan has to cover what it would say is a reasonable charge," adding:

"The difference between what your health plan thinks is reasonable and what the provider bills you, that's on you."

If testing occurred before March 18, when legislation for free testing took effect, billing not covered by insurance will follow.

According to a Mayo Clinic analysis, quality control of US testing kits is sub-standard, many tests perhaps producing false results.

Besides testing, US public health infrastructure needs upgrading and expansion.

Trump and hardliners surrounding him botched the handling of COVID-19 outbreaks.

Their malfeasance risks making a bad situation worse by reopening the economy on or about May 1.

According to epidemiologist Gregg Gonsalves, if this happens as reports indicate, "(t)he rest of the" US will face NY's dilemma in weeks.

"(R)elax(ing) social distancing (risks) a conflagration." Already overwhelmed emergency rooms and ICU capacity in parts of the country won't be able to handle the patient load.

Independent epidemiologists understand the risks and what needs to be done to control them.

Trump and his team are hellbent on restoring normal economic activity no matter the risk to public and personal health.

Extended social distancing is hard on everyone. 

It's a hellova lot better than risking potentially serious illness and possible death for the most vulnerable in society — who if become ill can spread contagion to others.

Note: Through Saturday, the US led the world with 533,000 COVID-19 infections and around 20,600 deaths.

Numbers continue rising significantly.

VISIT MY WEBSITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

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