COVID-19 Warnings

For future reference here are a few links citing warnings about pandemics generally and Corona variants specifically. This easy to find information is being drowned out by a surge of distractions swirling about by the Trump administration.

Obama warned Americans about preparing for a global pandemic back in 2014 pic.twitter.com/y5POSneuvg

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 8, 2020

The Obama administration prepared and left behind a detailed plan of action for future threats. It is actually called a Playbook of what to expect and how best to react.

This was tossed aside by the incoming administration as part of a pro-active effort to "drain the swamp" and defeat the so-called "deep state".

This Politico link published the story:

The Trump administration, state officials and even individual hospital workers are now racing against each other to get the necessary masks, gloves and other safety equipment to fight coronavirus — a scramble that hospitals and doctors say has come too late and left them at risk. But according to a previously unrevealed White House playbook, the government should’ve begun a federal-wide effort to procure that personal protective equipment at least two months ago. 

“Is there sufficient personal protective equipment for healthcare workers who are providing medical care?” the playbook instructs its readers, as one early decision that officials should address when facing a potential pandemic. “If YES: What are the triggers to signal exhaustion of supplies? Are additional supplies available? If NO: Should the Strategic National Stockpile release PPE to states?” 

The strategies are among hundreds of tactics and key policy decisions laid out in a 69-page National Security Council playbook on fighting pandemics, which POLITICO is detailing for the first time. Other recommendations include that the government move swiftly to fully detect potential outbreaks, secure supplemental funding and consider invoking the Defense Production Act — all steps in which the Trump administration lagged behind the timeline laid out in the playbook. 

“Each section of this playbook includes specific questions that should be asked and decisions that should be made at multiple levels” within the national security apparatus, the playbook urges, repeatedly advising officials to question the numbers on viral spread, ensure appropriate diagnostic capacity and check on the U.S. stockpile of emergency resources.

NPR noted the creation of a number of stockpiles of supplies in preparation for future pandemic threats.

President Bush warned about pandemics as early as 2005.
The arrival of a new strain of Corona virus is not a big surprise to those who have been paying attention.
But all these warnings were tossed aside when Donald Trump came into office.

While I'm at it, here's a sample of what is being done as of this posting regarding the coming of summer and opening the crippled economy.