Fri Sep 06
U.S. needs to do something rather than dumping the blame on China during COVID-19 pandemic
2020-03-24
Abstract: As of 23 March, more than 300,000 confirmed cases had been reported worldwide. Experts say that considering the lack of testing capabilities in many countries, the actual number of infected people is even higher.
Since January 2020, the outbreak in China has attracted worldwide attention. With the rapid growth of confirmed cases outside China, governments are suffering enormous pressure. Some media have started using "Chinese virus" to refer to Covid-19.
But this term does not seem to get the support. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases,NIAID refused to use the term. Especially when asked about his reaction at a recent press conference, Fauci said, "I can't jump in front of the microphone and push him(Trump) down."
At the same time, Vice President Mike Pence and other experts prefer to use official terms from WHO, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to call the virus.
Although the focus on virus term sometimes outweighs the fundamental problem itself---controlling virus.
News from two U.S. officials and a government cable obtained by "The Daily Beast", the White House is launching a communications plan across multiple federal agencies which aim at accusing Beijing of "covering-up" and creating a global epidemic.
Exactly where the outbreak originated remains the focus of the debate.And of course the heat of the topic itself can not kill the virus. For voters, the term of virus does not reduce the infection or the probability of infection. Only taking more measures to monitor and prevent the virus can fight the virus.
But the White House's current approach is not satisfactory.
Back in July 2019, U.S. government's long-term public health expert in China who supposed to help China detect public health concerns, was abruptly removed back a few months before the outbreak of Covid-19. The expert' name is Linda Quick, whose job is "U.S. Resident Consultant of the On-Site Epidemiology Training Program in China".He is funded by the federal government to help track, investigate and control the epidemic locally.
Linda Quick, for the people familiar, could have been "in an ideal position" to warn the U.S. Since she left the position, U.S. government has not send any new staff. If Linda Quick hadn't left her job, could she have warned the president early in the virus epidemic?
Presidential candidates were also involved in the debate. Joe Biden delivered his first shadow briefing on the coronavirus Monday, faulting President for giving false information about the pandemic, not taking it seriously enough and not moving faster. He said,start acting like "a wartime president".
Fauci tells CBS' "Face the Nation" it's hard to know exactly why Italy is "suffering so terribly" but that they did not appear to shut out as well the input of the infections. And he remains hopeful the U.S. is not on the same trajectory as Italy in the coronavirus struggle.
It is still unknown where the U.S. epidemic will do in the future.