On May 12 2020, National Institutes of Health Director Anthony Fauci, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield, Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir and Food and Drug Association Commissioner Steven Hahn testified at the Senate Coronavirus hearing.
When Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey questioned top Coronavirus health expert Dr. Fauci, asking him to “outline his basic concern” with regard to the “State’s reopening,” Fauci stated that “pulling back on mitigation” leaves a “real risk” that will inevitably trigger an outbreak the country “might not be able to control.” He added that this potential second wave of infections will not only lead to “suffering and death that could be avoided,” but will also set the State back from economic recovery. Essentially, Fauci cautioned that the Trump administration’s attempt to get the country back up and running could paradoxically “turn the clock backward” rather than moving forward.
Despite the U.S. death toll rising exponentially each day, President Trump dismissed Dr. Fauci’s concern on the reopening of the economy. At the hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions at the White House on Wednesday, President Trump expressed that Dr. Fauci’s response at the Senate testimony was an “unacceptable answer,” clearly revealing that Fauci’s guidance was not in line with the plans of the Trump administration.
The President went on to state that the Coronavirus “is a disease that attacks age and health,” but with young children and students, the “statistics are amazing”. He seemed to imply that the reopening of the economy and schools nationwide was a decision driven by the low mortality rates of cases in the younger demographics.
Whilst it is true that children respond much better to the virus than older adults or patients with underlying health conditions, it is important to establish that children are not immune to the virus’ “deleterious effects.” Dr. Fauci noted that “we don’t know everything about the virus” and therefore “should be very careful” in making decisions. For example, children infected with the Coronavirus have shown certain inflammatory symptoms, similar to those of the life-threatening Kawasaki syndrome, which were not previously reported on in studies done in China and Europe, similar to those of the life-threatening Kawasaki syndrome. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also mentioned that “severe outcomes have been reported in children, including three deaths.”
As Dr. Fauci repeatedly stressed, information about COVID-19 and its effect on different demographics is being newly discovered and developing at every moment; thus, the worry for unexpected future surges in numbers if essential workplaces and schools were to reopen.
Regardless of the cautions from many public health officials, President Trump seems to be pushing the reopening, perhaps to see light at the next U.S. Presidential Election in November. His administration is pressured to revive the economy, put forward income support and stimulus packages, and consider the well-being of Americans in order to secure substantial support for his next presidency.
In these unprecedented times, a united perspective from the authorities is crucial in making the best decisions to recover from the long-lasting economic and social damages the pandemic caused to our societies. The Trump administration must take into consideration the scientific opinions of public health officials as well as the effects of the current economic destruction in taking the country forward in the best possible direction, perhaps with less political considerations.
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