From Robert A. Levine at The Moderate Voice:
Don’t let Covid dominate your life. It’s just like the flu. I feel better than I have in twenty years. These comments came from President Trump after he left Walter Reed Hospital, most likely AMA- against medical advice. But since Covid landed on our shores, it has dominated Trump’s life as he tried unsuccessfully to get the disease under control. But when you have no plan or strategy to manage the disease, how can you get it under control. Taking measures that your gut tells you are right, will not do it. A long term strategy is needed. And because of his inability to control Covid and the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have died, Trump is likely to lose the election next month.
As Trump revealed to Bob Woodward on tape, he knew how devastating the disease was going to be from the onset because it was airborne and there were no treatments. But he did not want to panic the country and did not tell the public what they were up against. And he went after it piece meal. The country did not have early testing capability and still does not have rapid tests available everywhere. Personal protective equipment was lacking for many first responders and initially there was a shortage of ventilators. But for some reason, Trump did not want to invoke the Emergency Authorization Act to get the equipment that the first responders, doctors, nurses and hospital personnel needed.
And Trump has refused from the outset to take the emergency mitigation measures that were recommended by infectious disease specialists and epidemiologists. Even at this stage where he has tested positive for the disease, he has poo-pooed wearing a mask, and social distancing. People thought that after having been infected with Covid 19, Trump would be more understanding and more reasonable about taking mitigation measures. But that never happened.