This week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finally acknowledged that the coronavirus can spread through microscopic respiratory particles known as aerosols that float in the air for minutes or even hours before being inhaled. The CDC added a warning against frequenting crowded, poorly ventilated indoor spaces. As a result, the CDC has long recommended that masks be worn when near others and are useful both indoors and outdoors for preventing the spread of the virus.
Why is this message important? One has only to look at the big news of the week wherein it was reported that President Trump had tested positive for COVID-19, along with his wife and over a dozen of his top advisors and White House staff. There was a lot of speculation about how the coronavirus was spread, given the number of events where the President and his entourage were involved in over the last month. Some believe that airborne transmission may have occurred at the Sept. 26th White House Supreme Court nomination ceremony for Judge Amy Coney Barrett. The event included a large gathering outside in the Rose Garden and a smaller indoor reception. As was the usual White House scene, photographs show that in both locations few people wore masks and that social distancing guidelines were not widely followed. There were also reports that the participants were really close to each other, they were hugging each other, and they were shaking hands.
Wow, why would anyone be surprised that the President, his wife and others, including reporters, tested positive after such events! Talk about a total disregard by this administration for the health of others. For months, the CDC and researchers have been advocating various precautions that need to be taken to avoid becoming infected with the coronavirus. Most leaders in other countries, including here in Canada, have implement stringent guidelines to ensure the health and safety of their families and senior staff. Those who did not introduce precautionary measures such as masks, like the U.K.’s Boris Johnson back in March, saw the consequences. The virus ripped its way through the top levels of the U.K. government — infecting ministers and senior advisers. Like Donald Trump, Mr Johnson was admitted to hospital — although Downing Street stressed this was “a precautionary step”. Shortly after his hospitalization came the shocking news that his condition had “worsened”, and the Prime Minister had to be moved to the intensive care unit. Fortunately, he survived.
While President Trump is now out of hospital, some expert medical practitioners have stated that he is not yet out of the woods. Unfortunately, the same prognosis could be true for the infected White House staff and reporters. Meanwhile, much of his administration is in quarantine for up to ten days or more. Still, Trump has arrogantly declared that people shouldn’t fear the coronavirus. Maybe, he would like to tell that to the over 200,000 Americans that to date have died from this virus!
