Trump casts criticism of his coronavirus technique as a “hoax”

The evening earlier than the South Carolina Democratic major, President Donald Trump appeared in that state at a rally in North Charleston, the place he appeared to downplay the specter of the novel coronavirus — and Covid-19, the illness it causes — by decrying it as a “hoax.”

Talking earlier than a crowd of 1000’s, Trump accused Democrats of politicizing the unfold of the Covid-19, which has killed virtually 3,000 people worldwide and infected at least 15 people (not counting those that had been identified with Covid-19 following their publicity to to the virus aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship) within the US to this point.

“Certainly one of my folks got here as much as me and mentioned, ‘Mr. President, they tried to beat you on Russia, Russia, Russia. That didn’t work out too properly. They couldn’t do it.’ They tried the impeachment hoax,” mentioned Trump. “And that is their new hoax.”

“The Democrats are politicizing the coronavirus,” Trump continued, and mocked the celebration by saying “can’t even rely their votes in Iowa,” referring to the technological and human errors that led to a delay within the release of Iowa caucuses results. In response to those that have criticized his response to the virus’ unfold, he mentioned that his administration’s closing of US borders have saved the variety of infections low domestically.

“We now have 15 folks on this large nation, and due to the truth that we went early, we went early, we may have had much more than that,” he mentioned, referencing the variety of Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) confirmed circumstances on the time of his rally. “We’re doing nice. Our nation is doing nice.”

However whether or not the nation is doing nice is a matter of some debate.

“The info during the last week, and the unfold in different international locations, has raised our degree of concern and our degree of expectation we’re going to have neighborhood unfold right here,” Nancy Messonnier, director of the Nationwide Middle for Immunization and Respiratory Ailments at CDC mentioned final week. “It’s not a query of if this can occur, however when this can occur, and the way many individuals on this nation could have extreme diseases.”

And by Friday, there have been four reported “community spread” cases — that’s, circumstances by which the purpose of publicity to the virus is unknown — recognized throughout the US.

If these circumstances are confirmed by the CDC, they might deliver the variety of infections recognized throughout the US from the 15 Trump cited in his rally to 19.

There have additionally been considerations that Trump had been too gradual to nominate somebody to handle the US response to the virus. As Vox’s Matt Yglesias wrote Tuesday, “Infectious illness response essentially entails balancing a variety of concerns from all through authorities public well being companies and significant facets of financial and international coverage. That’s why in fall 2014, the Obama administration appointed Ron Klain to serve as “Ebola czar” — a single official in control of coordinating the response throughout the federal government.”

Wednesday, Trump tried to reply critiques comparable to these by tasking Vice President Mike Pence with main the federal government’s efforts to fight the coronavirus — nevertheless, he mentioned the vp wouldn’t be the coronavirus czar. Different officers, together with the diplomat and HIV and AIDS skilled Dr. Deborah Birx and Well being and Human Providers Secretary Alex Azar, have been assigned to assist lead the response as well.

General, regardless of the president’s claims in any other case, criticism of the administration’s coronavirus response just isn’t a partisan hoax, however a bipartisan effort to make sure the nation is able to face the novel virus.

Congressional Republicans and Democrats alike have called the Trump administration’s request for $2.5 billion in outbreak response funds insufficient. And at a listening to Tuesday, one Republican senator referred to as the illness a possible existential risk.

“So cash shouldn’t be an object,” mentioned Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama. “We should always attempt to comprise and eradicate this as a lot as we are able to.”

It’s true that the unfold of Covid-19 within the US is outpaced by the illness’s unfold in different international locations — the rates of infection in Iran, South Korea and Italy in particular are surging — however public well being officers have warned that the coronavirus however must be taken critically.

On Friday, as an example, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus threat to be “very excessive at a world degree.”

In response to those considerations, different international locations have stepped up their response to the virus. The French authorities on Saturday introduced that gatherings of greater than 5,000 folks can be banned after its well being ministry confirmed 19 new circumstances on Friday. Italy has cancelled sporting events and carried out necessary quarantines in some communities. Fb and Amazon are among the many corporations cancelling domestic events requiring travel.

In the meantime, Trump argues he has the coronavirus difficulty properly in hand, telling reporters Friday, “We’ll simply hold doing job. We’re ordering a whole lot of provides, we’re ordering a whole lot of components that frankly we wouldn’t be ordering if it wasn’t one thing like this.”

And to his supporters, he argues — with out proof — that he can be doing a fair higher job, if not for his political rivals.