FROLITICKS

All too often Donald Trump has claimed that the country’s stats on coronavirus are exaggerated and not to be believed.  This is in the direct contradiction to the fact that U.S. coronavirus cases approached 6 million this past week.  The most recent rise in confirmed new cases is attributed to the situation in the Midwest, especially resulting from students returning to college campuses and not taking the applicable precautions.  In addition, experts agree that coronavirus-related deaths will most likely reach the 200,000 mark by the end of September.  Indeed, some sources believe that the current statistics are very likely an “underestimation” because of lack of timely reporting by several states.  Unfortunately, the President’s claims are contributing to the belief by some, especially his supporters, that the spread and dangers of COVID-19 is all a “hoax”.

Then there is the recent assertion by one of President Trump’s top medical advisers who is urging the White House to embrace a controversial ‘herd immunity’ strategy to combat the pandemic.  This strategy would entail allowing the coronavirus to spread through most of the population to quickly build resistance to the virus, while taking steps to protect those in nursing homes and other vulnerable populations.  The approach’s chief proponent is Scott Atlas, a neuroradiologist from Stanford’s conservative Hoover Institution, who joined the White House earlier this month as a pandemic adviser.  He has advocated that the US adopt the model Sweden used in response to its virus outbreak, which of course led to Sweden having the highest coronavirus-related death rate among all Scandinavian countries — more than three times the combined total of Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland.  Although Sweden did not implement the degree of control measures taken by most countries, its economy has faired no better than other Scandinavian countries.  Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says aiming for herd immunity would lead to an “enormous” death toll.  Even the World Health Organization has warned against pinning hopes on herd immunity.

Then there is the issue of rushing out a Covid-19 vaccine before it has been proven to be safe and effective.  President Trump is reportedly considering plans to put out a vaccine before it has been fully tested, claiming a vaccine could be available before the end of this year.  The majority of international experts, including Dr. Fauci, have warned against prematurely letting a vaccine out.  Without completing the essential clinical trials, any rushed vaccine would make it difficult, if not impossible, for the other vaccines to enrol people in their trials.  People and public health officials want the usual trials completed to ensure the safety of any vaccine.  Researchers are hopeful that a vaccine will become available perhaps sometime in 2021 at the earliest.  Its eventual use should not be driven by political considerations, but instead by science.  In the meantime, the emphasis should be placed on continuing to adhere to the precautionary measures already put in place by public health authorities across the country.

Please Mr. President, stop lying about the current status of the war on COVID-19 and listen to the reputable medical and scientific experts.  Tell the American people the truth in order to obtain their support and assistance in preventing the further spread of this deadly disease.  The time for action and honesty is now!