This year, the 15th of April came and went. It was not the day our taxes were due. (Thankfully for our clients, since we were barred from working on the 15th due to the major Jewish festival.) Another change in this world due to COVID-19. Of course, my calendar is not changed by the pandemic- last night marked the end of the Pesach (Passover) holiday. When work is not permitted.
Who needs the Best and the Brightest, when Ass-Lickers are available?
It was obvious to anyone who paid attention that the CDC didn’t have an effective COVID-19 test. Sure, they promised it was operational in meetings on 15 January. Just five days after the genetic code of the virus was published and shared world-wide. Which is when testing would have been optimal to begin.
The situation was made even worse when the FDA did not allow the CDC test to be released to public health labs. And, when TheDonald refused to accept the WHO (World Health Organization) tests to be brought and used in the USA. (Let us not forget that TheDonald attempted to buy the German firm that was making this test, keeping it just for use in the USA. The German firm refused the tender.) Until HHS (Health and Human Services) Secretary Azar declared a public emergency on 30 January. That meant the FDA could terminate the dissemination to testing centers of all the creative (and useful) tests that were being developed. Further leaving the American population at risk.
But, by 8 February, it was clear the proposed CDC test was ineffective. It didn’t help that despite our national threat assessment, TheDonald’s administration considered the impending pandemic to be a hoax. One perpetrated by his political opponents that would “disappear quickly”, as he averred that “we have it totally under total control”.
How as the CDC test flawed? Controls- samples of pure water- demonstrated the same positive results as patient’s blood samples. Obviously, not the way a test should manifest. Moreover, they knew what the fix was, but under FDA rules, changing the protocol would make running the test illegal.
So, it’s not surprising that despite the protestations of academia, public health officials, and hospital staff, no alternative testing protocol was ever discussed. For a full 3 weeks. By then, testing became THE issue. Because if we don’t know who has the disease- and the disease has permeated populations, then the only choice is mitigation, not quarantine and control. It’s the only way we can have America return to normal- when we know who is sick, who is contagious, and who is healthy.
It took until 26 February for the FDA to have the flawed component removed and render the test capable. And, then, on 29 February, the FDA opened the floodgates to let non-governmental clinical labs perform COVID-19 testing. Finally, mass (by comparison) population testing.
This is not an isolated case of engineered failure during TheDonald’s administration. There were plans to assist a second firm to produce N95 masks. The effort was to be effected by a division of Owens and Minor, a broad-based hospital supply firm, headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The division, Halyard, was previously a component of Kimberly Clark, and is based in Alpharetta Georgia. The N95 project had been funded under BARDA, the HHS equivalent of the Pentagon’s DARPA, during the Obama administration. The plan was to produce 1.5 million masks a day- 10X the level of existing production. By 2018, Owens and Minor scooped this division away from Kimberly Clark. Which is about the time funding dried up.
And, yet another firm, Applied Research Associates of Albuquerque, was contracted to develop a sterilizable mask- one that could be reused safely. Something that would prove really useful in the current pandemic. This project was also terminated under TheDonald’s presidency.
The real problem is when the President is more worried about his image and is so unsure of his abilities that he demands sycophancy, rather than sophisticated and talented efforts.
Or, a delay in the $1200- $2400 stimulus checks just so his name can appear on those checks.
Stay safe- and I hope your governor makes the right decisions for your state.
I was just thinking about how this is all happening on his watch. And everything he has done wrong in dealing with it will be permanently attached to his presidency. And our history. in the past, it seems like when pandemics, plagues, etc., make history, they are the star of the story. But this time, his terrible mismanagement will give it some competition.
You should read Alice Gerard’s comment, Jeanine. It will definitely give you pause.
I am in awe of my governor, Gavin Newsom. I wish he would run for President but as my daughter said, he is sort of busy right now handling a crisis without federal help. The governor of Michigan when asked my Rachel Maddow if she would be interested in being VP if Biden asked… loved her response, “I can’t even think about that right now.” Have you seen the figures in Michigan? And the people making it worse by showing up in a big group proclaiming praise on the cult leader they worship?
I enjoy your blog because I can let my political thoughts out, safely. No stepping on eggshells.
Julie JordanScott recently posted..Speaking of Trees: How Listening Like a Tree May Make You More Human
Welcome to my world, Julie!
Our governor has opened the boat launch sites on the waterway but only 2 people per boat unless it’s family. Being a tourist state, I’m concerned about vacationers come back too soon.
Martha recently posted..Missing our Neighbor Part 2
It’s not just the vacationers you need to fear- it’s your neighbors who can just as easily infect you.
Trump is now encouraging his fan club to defy the stay at home orders in their states. I have to question his judgment. But, assuming that he exercises any judgment at all might be a reach. This is some scary stuff.
Alice Gerard recently posted..Life in these strange times: nameless wonders
He is daring his followers to die for his cause. That’s really scary.
When someone writes an paragraph he/she keeps the idea of a user in his/her brain that how a user can know it.
Thus that’s why this post is perfect. Thanks!
spectra s1 vs s2 recently posted..spectra s1 vs s2
I’m honored by your thoughts. Thank you so much.
Trump is daring his followers to “liberate” their states, and points out, while he is at it, that Virginia passed “anti-2nd amendment” legislation. We’d be in good shape if the coronavirus was visible and these people could shoot it every time the virus tried to infect someone. If only. (Meanwhile, my brother in law remains hospitalized and on high flow oxygen). Soon, when all those fools marching to liberation and crowding Florida beaches start to get sick, the health care providers will risk their lives to treat them. They don’t get it. How can we make them get it? Is it even possible to convince them, without millions more dead?
Alana recently posted..Parks (And no Recreation)
This is the reason why I predicted there would be multiple waves of COVID-19. Because of the stupidity of the current administration (read US and states), leaving citizens at risk.
Thanks for the addition to the conversation, Alana!