How Prepared was the US for a Pandemic? 

By TMO Staff 

The CVOID-19 virus, also known as the Coronavirus started out in the Wuhan Province of China and slowly spread across Asia to Europe. The initial outbreak was discovered in December, but by January the virus was already across continents and oceans. Many Americans did not worry about the virus because it was mostly affecting people on the other side of the world, but because in this day and age, people travel by plane, it increases how fast the virus will spread. 

By February 2020, the virus was spreading from person to person, starting out in Washington state. By mid-March, all of the 50 states had at least one or more confirmed cases of COVID-19. Americans rushed to buy essentials like groceries, toiletries, and disinfecting wipes and sprays. Some overbought and are hoarding, and that has hurt more people than it has helped. Most states were quick to issue stay at home orders leaving only essential businesses like grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and restaurants that offer take out to stay open. Unfortunately, the negative impact of this impact is not just on the human body, but it hurts people financially. Businesses have had to close since they were not getting a lot of customers, leaving blue-collar workers to receive a pay cut or be let go from their positions.

In this time of confusion, President Trump has been attempting to reassure Americans that the pandemic will be overcome and things will return shortly. However, as the death toll rises in places like New York, things seem to be getting worse. 

Some have speculated that the United States did not have a plan in place for a pandemic. It took Congress days to push out the stimulus bill of $1 trillion dollars to help out Americans and businesses. Many have blamed President Trump for his lack of seriousness towards this pandemic as a reason for why so many people got sick. President Trump continued to meet with foreign officials, held political rallies and stayed in close proximity with many people. President Trump said on March 2^nd that a vaccine is in the works, but Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on the same said to the public: “you won’t have a vaccine” and that it would take “a year to a year a half” because creating vaccines takes a lot of time and various tests in order to find the right effective mixture. 

On March 15, President Trump and Dr. Fauci had another set of conflicting statements. President Trump said to the public that “this is a very contagious virus. It’s incredible. But it’s something we have tremendous control of,”. The president made this comment when the number of confirmed cases nationwide had passed 3,000. 

That same day, Dr. Fauci had said that “the worst is, yes, ahead for us. It is how we respond to that challenge that’s going to determine what the ultimate endpoint is going to be.” 

President Trump was wanting to reopen schools and business by Easter, but as the nationwide death toll rises, he has that social distancing will be in place till April 30, to slow down the spread. To define social distancing, it is where an individual or a family secludes themselves from people they do not live with. It is recommended that people remain 6 feet apart from each other. It does not mean that people can still go out and see their friends and family if they are 6 feet apart, which is not social distancing. People have to remain at home and only come into contact with the people they live with. They must maintain a 6 feet distance when they go outside to get groceries or fulfill other essential needs. 

The stimulus bill will provide Americans who make up to $75,000 with $1,200 and $500 per child. People who make over $75,000 will get a lesser amount. People who make more than $99,000 will not receive any money. Interest rates on student loans are at 0% and payment is deferred for all federal student loans till September 30, 2020. 

It is advised that people wash their hands continuously and do not touch their mouth, eyes, or nose.