Hyderabad: They have strength and power. They are the world leaders in science and technology. Yet, a microscopic organism is sending tremors across the nation. The super power is floundering like never before. The US, which ranked first with a score of 83.5 in the Epidemic Preparedness Index, has terribly failed in facing the COVID-19.
Despite strong indications and warnings about the pandemic, the US could not control the spread. Analysts believe that the reasons behind such a dismal show are fear about economic slowdown, overconfidence in their healthcare systems, neglect and lack of precautionary measures. Trump, who he described himself as wartime president, neglected the scientific evidences and facts during the initial days of virus outbreak. His lackluster measures have put the US in great crisis.
Many prosperous and highly advanced nations are stumbling, thanks to the contagion. The US, Italy, Spain and France are the most impacted. Analysts say laxity in the US hierarchy, shortage of testing kits and equipment, lack of coordination between the federal and state governments have become major problems. While South Korea had tested 8,000 for every 10,00,000 population, the US tested only 3,300 by the end of last week. There is still not a single nationwide policy to fight the virus. Several US states have not announced lockdowns yet. Virus outbreaks have increased exponentially as a result of uncontrolled crowds. In Florida, the lockdown came into effect only last week.
After the pandemic began to claim lives, the Trump administration took several measures on a war footing basis. Besides announcing a financial stimulus package, the government started importing masks, ventilators and drugs from other countries. The army was deployed. 3,000 military doctors were sent to virus hotspots like New York. Military engineers have converted the Javits Convention Center in New York into one of the largest hospitals. 22 temporary hospitals are being built across 18 states. Hospitals have ramped up the testing. The government says it has supplied 1.17 crore N95 masks, 2.65 crore surgical masks, 23 lakh face masks, 44 lakh surgical gowns and 2.26 crore hand gloves all over the country. These stocks have been imported from various countries through 20 military aircrafts.
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Though Trump has accused the WHO of misleading them about the virus, there is criticism that he never paid heed to the medical experts. The first COVID-19 case was recorded in the US on January 21. China has locked down the virus epicenter Wuhan on January 23. The next day, Trump claimed that the US was in control. On February 28, the first COVID-19 death was recorded in the US. Since it was a case of community transmission, the death rang danger bells. The same week, Trump declared that the novel coronavirus would miraculously disappear. On March 6, a team of epidemiologists from Imperial College, London warned that 81 percent of the US population would be infected with the virus if the government failed to act on time. Even then, Trump continued to say that the country was safe.
Deborah Birx, the Coronavirus Response Coordinator for the Trump’s Task Force, said at a media conference on March 16 that no more than 10 people should gather at a place. Trump, who was standing beside her during the press meet, opposed her views. He said that many US states had no traces of the virus. With the skyrocketing cases and deaths in the later days, he announced that the government would test maximum number of people. Owing to his unpreparedness, there was a shortage of testing kits.
In 2018, President Trump dissolved the White House’s National Security Council Directorate for Global Health Security and Defense. The Directorate’s mission was to do everything possible within the powers and resources of the US government to prepare for the next disease outbreak. The officials were shocked when Trump decided to dissolve the Directorate. The Public Health Emergency Fund set up 1999 has long been empty. At one stage, the government said that it cannot supply medicines to the states from this Fund. After Trump declared COVID-19 a health emergency on March 13, he asked the states to procure drugs on their own. The Trump government annexed this Fund to the US Department of Health and Human Services. There was criticism that the move would defeat the purpose of Emergency Fund.
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Following are some of the tweets by America’s who’s who;
- We are learning much about the Invisible Enemy. It is tough and smart, but we are tougher and smarter! – Donald Trump
- This will be regarded as the worst public health disaster in America in a century. The root cause of the disaster was the lack of readiness to understand where, how and when the disease was spreading – Eric Topol, American cardiologist and geneticist
- Countries that assessed the threat and prepared for sacrifices got through this with lesser damage. America has failed in this regard. The USG would wait 6-8 weeks into a pandemic before acting – Jeremy Konyndyk, senior policy fellow at the Center for Global Development Trump has convinced some of his followers that climate change, so they are naturally leaning into any suggestion that coronavirus fears are overblown, as well – Naomi Oreskes, science historian at Harvard University
