I have been thinking about this. Who can one name, who is not in jail, and who would be eligible to be President, who would actually be worse than this moron, to lead the country through this crisis right now? Someone who is even more self-centered, who knows less about the world, less about proper management, who has had more business failures, who is even more divisive, who has more staffing problems, who is more petty, more insulting to reporters asking tough questions, and who generally would fuck things up even more than him? This is truly not an easy question to answer. Any suggestions? I am seriously finding it hard to name someone.
The republicans sure picked a doozy.
Just came upon this:
“Medical experts from the U.S. working at the World Health Organization were sending information about the emerging coronavirus outbreak in China late last year directly to Trump administration officials, The Washington Post reported, as the president tries to shift the blame for his shambolic COVID-19 response to WHO.”
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-world-health-organization-coronavirus_n_5e9d9871c5b63c5b5871dac8
“I am shocked—shocked—to find that gambling is going on in here!”
I agree with Piers Morgan.
Okay. That was weird.
Sorry, I’m gonna have to take a minute here.
I had the same experience when I listened to the clip…
It kinda makes you shake your head in an attempt to clear it so you can figure out what just happened.
Well, I was seeing videos of the panic in China, so it wasn’t a big secret.
Most of the early planning involved ventilators, which turned out to be mostly counterproductive. The only other shortage has been masks. Not sure what to say. Perhaps it was a mistake to allow China to have a monopoly on production of strategic medical supplies.
Any, CV is a minor problem compared to the economic chaos that’s starting. Millions of CV deaths will seem like nothing.
December 6 A man linked to the Wuhan wildlife market experiences pneumonia-like symptoms. Five days later, his wife, who had no direct connection to the market, also experienced similar symptoms, which would suggest a human-to-human spread, according to The Lancet, a peer-reviewed medical journal https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0140-6736%2820%2930183-5
December 27: Zhang Jixian, a doctor from Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, tells health authorities that the novel disease that was then affecting some 180 patients was caused by a new coronavirus, the South China Morning Post reported. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3074991/coronavirus-chinas-first-confirmed-covid-19-case-traced-back
December 31: The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto discovers that Chinese authorities began censoring certain Internet terms from social media, such as Wuhan Unknown Pneumonia, SARS Variation, Wuhan Seafood Market, and other keywords that condemned the government’s handling of the outbreak. https://citizenlab.ca/2020/03/censored-contagion-how-information-on-the-coronavirus-is-managed-on-chinese-social-media/
China reports “first discovery” to WHO
January 1 CNN features a story about Dr. Li Wenliang, one of eight doctors in Wuhan who warned about the spread of the virus on social media in late December. He not only ended up contracting COVID-19 but was labeled a “rumor-mongerer” by Wuhan police, after being detained for making false statements. He was also forced to write a self-criticism saying his warnings “had a negative impact,” according to The Wall Street Journal. XiNN: https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/03/asia/coronavirus-doctor-whistle-blower-intl-hnk/index.html WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-it-all-started-chinas-early-coronavirus-missteps-11583508932
January 3: China’s top health officials at the National Health Commission follow the Hubei Health Commission and issue a gag order directing that Wuhan pneumonia samples be moved to testing facilities or destroyed. The National Health Commission also orders institutions not to publish any scientific information related to the virus, Caixin Global reported. https://www.caixinglobal.com/2020-02-29/in-depth-how-early-signs-of-a-sars-like-virus-were-spotted-spread-and-throttled-101521745.html
US FIRST formal offer for CDC assistance made to China. China declines.
January 5: WHO releases a statement characterizing China’s initial Dec. 31 notice about a “pneumonia of unknown etiology.” The agency wrote: “Based on the preliminary information from the Chinese investigation team, no evidence of significant human-to-human transmission and no health care worker infections have been reported.” https://www.who.int/csr/don/05-january-2020-pneumonia-of-unkown-cause-china/en/
US SECOND formal offer for CDC assistance made to China. China declines.
January 6: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offers Beijing technical expertise to help with the virus. Beijing ignores the offer for over a month, along with additional offers of assistance from Heath and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and other senior U.S. officials, according to The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/health/cdc-coronavirus-china.html
CDS issues FIRST travel warning to Wuhan, China
January 7:
CDC establishes Corona Incident management system to coordinate
January 11:
CDC issues Level 1 Health Notice for Wuhan, China
January 14:
The chief of the WHO’s emerging diseases unit reports that “it is possible that there is limited human-to-human transmission, potentially among families, but it is very clear right now that we have no sustained human-to-human transmission,” Reuters reported. [Emphasis Added] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-pneumonia-who/who-says-new-china-coronavirus-could-spread-warns-hospitals-worldwide-idUSKBN1ZD16J
The WHO also sent out a tweet claiming that Chinese authorities had conducted a preliminary investigation that found no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus. https://www.foxnews.com/world/world-health-organization-january-tweet-china-human-transmission-coronavirus
This tweet was approximately TWO MONTHS BEFORE the WHO declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic (March 11) https://www.foxnews.com/health/who-declares-coronavirus-global-pandemic
January 17:
CDC implements health screenings at: LAX, SFO, & JFK.
January 20:
US announces work on vaccine options
January 21: One week later, a WHO delegation concludes a two-day field visit to Wuhan and notes that “data collected through detailed epidemiological investigation and through the deployment of the new test kit nationally suggests that human-to-human transmission is taking place in Wuhan.” https://www.who.int/china/news/detail/22-01-2020-field-visit-wuhan-china-jan-2020
CDC activates Emergency Operations Center
January 23: Chinese authorities lock down Wuhan, after letting some five million people leave the city without any medical screening in the weeks prior, The Wall Street Journal reported. https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-it-all-started-chinas-early-coronavirus-missteps-11583508932
CDC seeks emergency authorization for newly-developed test
January 27:
TRUMP tweets to Xi Jinping offering assistance to investigate. No response (formal or informal)
CDC issues LEVEL III travel warning; advising all non-essential travel to China to cease
White House Corona Virus Task Force begins meeting
January 29:
White House announces the formation of the White House Corona Virus Task Force
January 31:
Trump declares Corona a public health emergency
Trump announces travel ban to/from China
Trump announces suspension of foreign nationals posing a risk for transmission
US Funnels all incoming flights from China to 7 designated airports
February 2:
CDC announces additional screening measures at airport
February 3:
CDC response team waiting in US for permission to travel to China. Permission not granted
February 5:
White House briefs Congress on COVID response efforts
February 6: According to the South China Morning Post, China’s Internet watchdog has tightened control over social media platforms, following President Xi Jinping’s directive. Citizen journalist and former rights lawyer Chen Qiushi disappears in Wuhan after posting cell phone videos of packed hospitals and distraught families, according to The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/14/business/wuhan-coronavirus-journalists.html
CDC begins shipping COVID-19 tests to US and international labs
February 7:
Trump tells reporters that US is trying to work with China
February 9:
CV Task Force advises ALL 50 GOVERNORS of the possible impacts (National Governors Meeting in DC)
February 11:
HHS announces partnership with Jansen R&D on vaccine development
February 12:
US ships testing kits to over 30 countries
CDC response team attempts second request for travel to China. Permission not granted
February 14:
CDC working with 5 labs on surveillance testing to study/detect COVID-19
February 17:
Dr Fauci interview, “There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to wear a mask.”
Dr Fauci interview, “The masks sold at drugstores aren’t even good enough to truly protect anyone”
Dr Fauci interview, “the danger [of transmission] of which is just minuscule.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/02/17/nih-disease-official-anthony-fauci-risk-of-coronavirus-in-u-s-is-minuscule-skip-mask-and-wash-hands/4787209002/
February 19: Beijing’s relationship with the American media worsens when three Wall Street Journal reporters had their press credentials revoked. The reporters covered the outbreak in Wuhan, according to the Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-expels-three-wall-street-journal-reporters-11582100355
February 22:
A WHO team of scientists (NOT US CDC) arrives in Wuhan to investigate
US CDC team still not permitted to travel to China
February 24:
President Trump requests $2.5 Billion to help combat the spread of COVID-19
Nancy Pelosi publicly invites all to, “Come to Chinatown. Here we are, careful, safe and come join us.” https://dailycaller.com/2020/03/30/flashback-nancy-pelosi-san-francisco-chinatown-coronavirus-trump/ https://youtu.be/eFCzoXhNM6c?t=75
February 25:
HHS Secretary testifies in the Senate on COVID efforts to date
February 26: Li Zehua, a citizen journalist who had worked at CCTV, is detained, according to the Guardian newspaper. He records the encounter.
President Trump raises issue with Indian PM Modi
February 29:
FDA expedites certified labs to begin to develop test kits and begin testing (while applications are still pending)
Trump announces Level IV travel advisory to Italy and South Korea
Trump bars all travel to/from Iran
Trump bars the entry of foreign citizens that visited Iran in last 14 days (Feb 15)
March 3:
CDC lifts federal restrictions to allow any American to be tested “subject to Dr orders”
Trump donates his Q419 salary to help fight COVID-19
March 4:
Trump announces purchase of 500,000,000 n95 masks over next 18 months
HHS announces $35milion relief to most effected state (WA, CA, NY)
March 6:
Trump announces $8.3 Billion bill to fight the outbreak
$500 million in telehealth waivers
$7.76 billion to federal, state, and local authorities
March 9:
Trump requests Congress to pass a payroll tax cut for workers
March 10:
Trump and VP Pence meet with health insurance executives
Trump announces agreement with companies to waive any co-pays related to COVID testing or treatment
NY Mayor Bill de Blasio announces, “We want to encourage” NYers going out”
NY Mayor Bill de Blasio declares, “If you’re under 50 & you’re healthy, which is most NYers, there’s very little threat here.
NY Mayor Bill de Blasio cites the only threat is primarily to those with pre existing conditions such as “lung disease, heart disease, cancer, diabetes”
NY Mayor Bill de Blasio affirms, “This disease, even if you were to get it, basically acts like a common cold or flu.” https://twitter.com/i/status/1244016912281059329 (MSNBC, Morning Joe)
March 11 Researchers from the University of Southampton, in the United Kingdom, said that if Beijing responded early to the outbreak there would have been significantly fewer cases. The researchers said if Beijing responded three weeks sooner, 95 percent of its cases could have been avoided.
Trump announces travel restriction to Europe
Trump directs the SBA to provide low-interest loans to small business
Trump directs Treasury to defer tax payments for individuals and businesses
March 13:
Trump declared a national emergency
Trump announces drive-through testing via public-private partnerships
Trump pauses all interest payments on student loans
Trump orders a purchase of oil for the Strategic National Reserve
FDA grants Roche AG approval for emergency testing kit
FDA issues emergency approval to Thermo Fisher for testing kit
HHS announces new rapid test kit (results within the hour)
March 14:
COVID relief bill passes Congress
Trump announces European travel ban applies to UK & Ireland
March 15:
Trump convenes calls to national grocers regarding food supplies
HHS announces 1.9 million test available across 2,000 labs nationwide soon
Google announces they will support website for prevention & education
FEMA contacted all 50 states and outlines federal support for state-led efforts and actions
March 16:
Trump conference call with all governors; announces responses plans
Trump conference call with G7 leaders about response and maintaining global economic confidence
Trump announces frist potential vaccine
Trump announces official “15-days to slow the spread” (quarantine)
FDA empowers states to authorize tests within their state’s labs
HHS confirmed availability of 1 million test kits “this week”; 2 million next week; and 5 million by first week of April
March 17:
CMS will expand telehealth benefits for Medicare
HIPPA will not be enforced (to facilitate telehealth)
Army Corps of Engineers on ”standby” to assist federal & state governments
Trump convenes with major fast-food companies; confirms CDC guidilnes for drive-thru services
Trump convenes with tourism, retail, and wholesaling companies to assess impact
Ag Sec Perdue announces rural children meal plan
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin meets on stimulus plan
Treaury Dept add $10 billion to the Federal Reserve’s commercial paper funding facility
Treaury Dept defers $300 billion in tax payments f
Defense offers HHS up to five million respirator masks and 2,000 ventilators
March 18:
Trump signs Families First Coronavirus Response Act (free testing; paid sick leave; etc)
Trump announces closure of US-Canda board to non-essential
Trump announces he plans to invoke Defense Production Act (DPA)
Trump announces FEMA has been activated in every region and on highest level response
Trump directs USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy hospital ships to prepare to sail for NY and LA
Trump announces all foreclosures and evictions will be suspended for a period of time.
Defense Sec announces 1 million masks available now (adds to 1 million from HHS March 16 announcement)
Army Corps of Engineers in NY advising state & local officials
HHS temporarily suspends doctors from practicing across state lines
Trump meets with 130 CEOs about on-going public-private response
March 19:
Trump mentions encouraging progress for Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)
Trump announces agreement by Carnival to make ships available as hospitals (non COVID)
State Dept issues Level IV health advisory; avoid all international travel
Trump convenes FEMA call with VP, FEMA, & all 50 governors
March 20:
US & Mexico agree to restrict nonessential cross-border traffic.
Treasury Sec announces moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15 for all taxpayers & businesses
Trump holds call with Senator Schumer about response & stimulus measures
CDC invokes Title 42 to provide border patrol with tools to secure the borders, including hazard pay
So, you can copy and paste FOX News talking points. That’s nice. You could just link to the original article, you know.
Did you have a point?
You do realize that implicit in the racist blame-the-chinese rhetoric is the fact that the US gov. was aware of the magnitude of the problem in January and the White House can only rally a couple of half-assed measures instituted in the following month.
A travel restriction that bars foreigners but not US citizens or Permanent Resident Aliens coming from China from entering the US isn’t really grounds for self-congratulation, mate.
Also, your claim
is unrelated to reality. I am not sure how to respond. Let’s just say that they screwed up on supplying test kits, ventilators, and PPE. That’s the trifecta. Is there anything the WH did get right?
“You take a solid flu vaccine, you don’t think that could have an impact, or much of an impact, on corona?” DJT, still as ignorant as ever, March 5th.
Your list of talking points included:
Wow. That’s quite the achievement. Irresponsibly touting an unproven treatment because a guy who plays a doctor on TV mentioned it. For an encore, he asked a patient who had recovered from Covid-19 “So you took the hydroxy?…Why did you take the hydroxy? Why did you do that? You saw it on television?”
Think maybe he’s fishing for anecdotal evidence to justify his unfounded assertions?
petrushka,
Wow, he was quite busy. What was he saying to the public about the virus for this period of time? Say January to February?
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/329438/9789241516839-eng.pdf
Did you miss the travel ban?
Nope,
Here is some more
“Looks like by April, you know, in theory, when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.”
“The Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA. … Stock Market starting to look very good to me!”
“It’s going to disappear. One day, it’s like a miracle, it will disappear.”
I think that was March.
That was possibly symbolic, but it was a clear signal to the public, and it was denounced.
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-trump-executive-order/partly-false-claim-president-trump-signed-executive-order-13769-temporarily-barring-foreigners-from-entering-the-us-if-they-had-been-to-china-idUSKBN21739V
Trying to upload image. Not sure what to make of this, but it seem like a pretty clear trend. From nyc.gov
Note that this is not a truncated graph.
This has become a right wing thing, the travel ban concerning China and a addendum to the previous 2017 ban on “terrorists”
“On January 31 2020, this ban was further expanded to include some citizens from Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania in certain cases ( here ).”
This was denounced , notably by Pelosi ,xenophobic and religious discrimination.
The China Ban was too late avoid the virus ,obviously, but did give some time to prepare and create a strategy.Unfortunately, that is not the forte of this White House.