America's Pandemic

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

While reading the Kaiser Family News report from 10/28, saw an article about this 3-Part documentary in which the Washington Post examines  the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic and American history of disease outbreak preparedness since the 1990's.   I remember when President Clinton created the U.S. National  Strategic Stockpile  -- in part due to reading a book The Cobra Effect,  describing attempted bioterrorism attack on the United States, thus immediate need for PPE and medical supplies. Son loved the book.

When this docuseries was posted online 10/27/2020, 225,000 Americans had died. Today 12/1/2020, just one month later, COVID positive cases increased BY I MILLION on just 6 days over the past week; over 4 million in November.

12/01/2020 John Hopkins U.S. COVID stats :

• 192,750,000+ COVID tests
• 13.5 million positive cases
• 268,500 deaths

By February 20201, expect the Biden-Harris COVID-19 Advisory Board pandemic plan will be rolled out... at least I hope with these escalating numbers and Christmas/New Years revelry effect yet to be realized.

 

America's Pandemic

...The Washington Post explores a failed response to the coronavirus pandemic that’s left 225,000 Americans dead, despite decades of preparation in Washington.

 

Part 1:  Fair warning

Quote

Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush never faced a pandemic, but both came to understand what a major global health crisis could mean for the United States, and each took steps to prepare. Through interviews with former high-ranking officials — including Kenneth Bernard, Tommy Thompson, Mike Leavitt and Frances Townsend — ‘Fair warning’ documents Clinton’s creation of the Strategic National Stockpile in 1999, Bush’s response to outbreaks of SARS and avian flu, and the passage of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act in 2006, which fast-tracked the production of future vaccines.

 

Part 2: Guided by the science

Quote

President Barack Obama put pandemic preparedness to the side upon taking office, focusing instead on an economy in free fall. But the 2009 outbreak of H1N1, the first flu pandemic in 40 years, made health security an urgent priority for his administration; later, it would confront the emergence of Ebola in West Africa. Through interviews with former top officials — including Dennis Carroll, Nicole Lurie, Ron Klain and Chris Kirchhoff — ‘Guided by the science’ portrays a White House that quickly gained critical expertise and that left behind a pandemic playbook for the next administration to draw upon.

 

Part 3: Playing it down

Quote

Despite decades of warnings and preparation, President Trump has claimed that the novel coronavirus “came out of nowhere.” He downplayed the coronavirus as it began to take hold in the United States, disregarding the advice of experts and politicizing a health crisis. Through interviews with former Trump administration officials Mark Harvey and Olivia Troye, along with Washington Post reporters Dan Balz and Yasmeen Abutaleb, ‘Playing it down’ explores why the White House was slow to respond to the pandemic, and the far-reaching consequences of its inaction. After months of mixed messages, contradictory policies, divisive rhetoric — and more than 225,000 deaths — the president continues to insist the virus will one day disappear.

 

COVID News Reports:

11/19/2020  Transcript for CDC Telebriefing on the COVID-19 Outbreak

Quote

AMID THIS CRITICAL PHASE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, CDC IS RECOMMENDING AGAINST TRAVEL DURING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

11/21/2020 Newsweek:

U.S. Adds 1 Million New COVID Cases in Just 6 Days, Total Is Now Over 12 Million

11/27/2020 Spectrum1 News, KY:

U.S. Surpasses 13 Million COVID-19 Cases As Experts Warn Numbers Could Be Erratic Following Thanksgiving

11/28/2020 Buzzfeednews:

4 Million New COVID Cases In US In November

 

CDC video: How COVID-19 Can Spread in a Community

View more videos about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on CDC’s Youtube Channel

[toomuchbaloney]

I personally believe that the federal mismanagement of this pandemic was as much intent as it was incompetence.  The grifters have no interest in public health. 

[S.I.C.]

I guess TRUMP is the only person to blame for the pandemic. You may prove me wrong.

[Guest219794]

On 12/6/2020 at 6:14 PM, Samuel Umereweneza said:

I guess TRUMP is the only person to blame for the pandemic. You may prove me wrong.

I read the thread, but didn't see where anybody claimed that- can you clarify?

Certainly Trump is responsible for the administration's response to Covid, right?  

[S.I.C.]

Hi hhern,

Actually Trump is not really responsible for COVID-19, and is not responsible for many people who are sick or who died.  No, he is not. This pandemic hit the whole world, many people died and many people are sick now, but I can put this to any leader. I am doing  a story telling research on COVID-19, but my purpose is not to find out who is responsible, but how to respond positively in order to decrease the number of people who die.

In the middle of my research, I can read some encounter some situations like old age more than 80 years, not following health authorities' guidelines, freedom of not wearing masks... could be factors.  So, I repeat that Trump is innocent, and is not to blame even for his administration's response.  There is not evidence that suggests that.  I said that statement as a researcher, only to get opinions from my fellow nurses, since I am conducting this research on COVID-19 now, comparing Canada, USA, and some Asian Countries.

[Guest219794]

6 minutes ago, Samuel Umereweneza said:

Hi hhern,

Actually Trump is not really responsible for COVID-19, and is not responsible for many people who are sick or who died.  No, he is not. This pandemic hit the whole world, many people died and many people are sick now, but I can put this to any leader. I am doing  a story telling research on COVID-19, but my purpose is not to find out who is responsible, but how to respond positively in order to decrease the number of people who die.

In the middle of my research, I can read some encounter some situations like old age more than 80 years, not following health authorities' guidelines, freedom of not wearing masks... could be factors.  So, I repeat that Trump is innocent, and is not to blame even for his administration's response.  There is not evidence that suggests that.  I said that statement as a researcher, only to get opinions from my fellow nurses, since I am conducting this research on COVID-19 now, comparing Canada, USA, and some Asian Countries.

I am stumped here.

Who is responsible for the response of the Trump administration, if not Trump?  

[S.I.C.]

 Hi! hhern,

As a researcher, I cannot say that Trump's administration is responsible for COVID-19 response, because research deals with evidence, and I don't have that now.  However, If I was American, I would have the right to say something, but I am not.  In my opinions, only Americans have the right to say that, even if they could not prove it with evidence.

For me to say that Trump is innocent, I say it as researcher,  because I have no evidence to prove that.  Maybe I can also ask you this question.  Do you believe that Trump administration is responsible for COVID-19' RESPONSE? 

[londonflo]

18 minutes ago, Samuel Umereweneza said:

So, I repeat that Trump is innocent, and is not to blame even for his administration's response.  

Trump claims he and his administration are responsible for anything he views as good. Here is a discussion from a very reputable journalist source/

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/11/trumps-lies-about-coronavirus/608647/

The Whitehouse released the following article. These are the positive actions the Trump implemented to fight Covid in the US.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-trumps-historic-coronavirus-response/

I have pulled out one thing that is cited:

Quote

Enacted mitigation measures to slow the spread

This is what what Trump did, according to his PR team:

Quote

President Trump released guidance recommending mitigation measures critical to slowing the spread of the virus, and the American people stepped up to do their part.

 

The only action of his that I can think of as 'guidance' was a mass mailing US citizens received. I have posted a copy here:

There is no mention of masks or social distancing in this mailing.

How does this correlate to his comment he would not wear a mask, refused to wear a mask when touring factories, and created 'superspreading' events with his rallies?

Additionally this was said by the Whitehouse;

Quote

Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx have attested to the fact that President Trump took action as soon as the data was presented to him.

We now know Trump stopped attending the Covid 19 task force meetings pretty early on and recommended Hydroxychloroquine which he encouraged many to also take and even boasted he was taking it himself. These actions encouraged many to take it limiting the available supply for those who take it for certain autoimmune diseases.

I believe that instead of providing guidance and health care resources (like an adequate amount of PPE) Trumps actions were detrimental to the American people.

 

 

[S.I.C.]

Oh! Yes,

I can see those are evidences.  I understand very well, and of this information is great help to my research! I agree with you.

[Guest219794]

55 minutes ago, Samuel Umereweneza said:

Oh! Yes,

I can see those are evidences.  I understand very well, and of this information is great help to my research! I agree with you.

Hi- I noticed you have the same name of a gentleman with the following credentials:

International Affairs Officer, Researcher, and Nursing Lecturer at Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Saraburi, Thailand

Same guy?

As a researcher involved with a university, do you really feel that a nursing forum is the best place to get evidence about a subject which has been widely reported and dissected by countless qualified experts?

Or is that a different guy?

 

[S.I.C.]

Hi, hherrn

Thank you very much for the question.  Yes, I am the same guy.

Nursing forum is not place to discuss or find evidence related to this topic.

In my opinion, we should not discuss that topic.  Not only that we are not experts in the matter, and have no enough evidences; but also because it is a very sensitive topic that may put us into troubles for nothing.  Research deals with evidence "something you can prove" but in this topic, we may not have enough evidences to support our cause, but even if we would have them, for me, I would run away from topic that is sensitive and that deals with politics.

But this is my own position. Another person may have another position.  You may consult an authority in your state and jurisdiction.  As far I am concerned, we should not.  But your question is very important, I will consult some peoples in the country where I live now. If I get a different answer from my own position, I will let you know.