I have to give a little grudging thank you to President Trump. His stop order on flights from China slowed down the introduction of the virus to the US. I do quibble with his using the occasion to needle the Chinese but otherwise it was the right call. It wasn’t all encompassing.
Thank God for the deep reporting of Trump’s nemesis the “fake news” New York Times. Take this from yesterday’s story:
430,000 People Have Traveled From China to U.S. Since Coronavirus Surfaced
There were 1,300 direct flights to 17 cities before President Trump’s travel restrictions. Since then, nearly 40,000 Americans and other authorized travelers have made the trip, some this past week and many with spotty screening.
This virus has been getting around for a long time. Another Times story laid out the still accelerating casualties just in Poorly tested America today. 300,000 cases of infection and 8,400 deaths. That’s just shy of a 3% death rate.2.8 of every 100 infected people die. And that’s before hospitals are overcrowded with too few incubators to save everyone. That is battlefield triage conditions.
What I can’t forgive Trump for are his daily untethered-to-reality reassurances. The man is a walking Pigpen of untruth.
Claudia and I took our first walk outside today since quarantining ourselves. There were couples like us about every block of our prosperous neighborhood. Married couple side by side Friends and neighbors keeping about 8 feet apart as they walked. Most did not have masks. We didn’t have any. Claudia discovered that her sewing machine was out of order. After an hour or so she gave up on her mask making project. If she continues it will be hand sewn masks.
We had planned on an Easter get together with our family but yesterday learned of some contacts that make such a fete questionable. We have extended our separation for another 14 days. Claudia is allergic to most antibiotics which has already caused difficulties before. Now with a pacemaker she is required to have antibiotics administered before having dental work done. She is suddenly part of an at risk population. And despite this we are among the most sheltered People in the world. We are lucky. We are in a position to stay that way riding this inconvenience out for the next year if necessary until a vaccine becomes a possibility.
Bless the folks taking care of us. Applause for all of them. Curse Fox News.
