USA, Donald Trump and Covid-19

ABC - Coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the US. American culture might make it uniquely vulnerable:

By North America correspondent James Glenday


In my neighbourhood in Washington DC, a lot of people mock President Donald Trump's 2020 election slogan "Keep America Great".

But deep down, they understand why it resonates with parts of the nation.

Most Americans, rich or poor, Democrat or Republican, genuinely believe they live in the greatest country on Earth, one capable of meeting any moment, leading the world and overcoming the longest odds.

It's a patriotic message they pick up from some of their earliest days at school.

History classes are heavy on local trials and triumphs with less focus on the rest of the planet.

But the coronavirus pandemic is now seriously testing American society.

The initial response here was slow, cases are rising so rapidly there are warnings the USA could soon become the new global epicentre of the outbreak and hundreds of thousands could die.

"The numbers are kind of scary and I don't know how to sugar-coat it," Rebecca Katz from Georgetown University Medical Centre says.

Like elsewhere in the world, health officials believe strict social distancing measures are the only chance of averting a catastrophe.

But in a country where individual rights, freedom and self-responsibility are valued highly, how much and for how long is everyone willing to suffer to protect the most vulnerable?

The problems started with the testing

America largely got to this point due to two main failings: one of public messaging and one structural.

For weeks, President Donald Trump contradicted health officials and played down the threat, claiming the virus was similar to the flu, telling people: "just stay calm, it will go away".

It meant precious time for early coordinated action was lost.

Bureaucratic bungling also delayed the efficient production and rollout of tests.

In Idaho, Australian woman Kim Cobb has been sick and in self-isolation for nine days, waiting to get her results to learn if she has the coronavirus or not.

"I've never been so frustrated," she said.

Drive-through testing sites are now being rapidly set up and thousands of new cases are being identified each day.

But because of the sluggish start, no-one is entirely sure how far the virus has spread undetected through the community and how big the problem is.

In New York, the centre of the American outbreak, the state's Governor Andrew Cuomo likened it to a wave.

"The question is, what is the point of the break?" he asked.

"And if when the wave breaks, does it crash over the health care system?"

New York State (not city) Governor Andrew Cuomo 

At the time of writing, there were more than 50,000 confirmed cases and at least 646 deaths.

"I want America to understand this week, it's going to get bad," Surgeon-General Jerome Adams warned.

"There are not enough people out there who are taking this seriously."

Surgeon-General Jerome Adams 

America is in the calm before the storm

The crisis has brought out the best and worst in Americans.

As the first schools and shops closed, the sweeping restrictions on everyday life sparked panic.

Since then, things seem to have settled down slightly.

Those who can afford to are donating food, equipment or supplies to the less fortunate, while the more than 40 per cent of citizens ordered to stay home are finding ever more creative ways to socialise at a safe social distance.

In all, it feels like America is now in the calm before the storm.

The horrifying pictures from Italy of coffins and people gasping for air in overwhelmed makeshift hospitals offer a glimpse of what might be to come.

Italy's dead from Covid-19 moved out by military trucks 

But still some ignore the official advice, flocking to parks in New York, beaches in California and the National Mall in Washington.

Trump seems to be wavering on strict measures

What is obvious already, however, is the enormous economic pain being inflicted on this country.

Huge numbers of people have lost their jobs with some warning unemployment could soon be higher than during the Great Depression.

"There's just no way to prepare for something like this," said Andrea Viera, who had to fire 70 staff this week from her nail salon.

"I don't think this is going to be over for four or five months."

The President, who made a strong economy the centrepiece of his re-election campaign, is clearly worried measures to address the health crisis are coming at the expense of America's financial future.

He continues to suggest things will be working again in "weeks, not months", maybe even by Easter.

His comments have been welcomed by some conservative politicians.

Dan Patrick, the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, even stated he'd be willing to risk his own life to return to normal conditions.

"No one reached out to me and said, as a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance for your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren?" he said, during a Fox News interview.

"If that's the exchange, I'm all in."

Health experts are increasingly alarmed

Immunologists are worried by the Commander-in-Chief's comments and warn lifting strict social distancing rules now would likely prove disastrous.

"[Coronavirus] would spread widely, rapidly, terribly, could kill potentially millions in the year ahead with huge social and economic impacts," tweeted Tom Inglesby, the director of the Johns Hopkins Centre for Health Security.

"We need to press ahead for now with closed schools, mass telecommuting, no gatherings, strong advisory to stay home."

There are many reasons to think Mr Trump won't get what he wants.

Most of the toughest restrictions on normal life have been introduced by the states.

Governors in Washington, California and New York seem unlikely to change course yet.

Many business owners have made it clear they won't rush to rehire workers until they are confident the threat of further disruption has passed.

Many employees will also be fearful of returning to work until the situation improves substantially.

Perhaps more than anything the President's approach demonstrates how nearly everything in this nation is coloured by partisan politics.

Many of those calling for restrictions to be relaxed are Republicans from rural parts of America, which have so far not been badly hit.

Democrats on the other hand are often centred in major cities, where the major hotspots are.
The United States has its reputation at stake

It's worth remembering there are potentially more than lives or economic growth riding on how the United States responds.

The country's reputation could also take a hit.

During many other global crises American presidents have taken an international leadership role.

This time, however, the White House is doing relatively little and China — where the pandemic originated — senses an opportunity to bolster its standing.

Beijing is offering help to several countries, while mounting a propaganda campaign to contrast its draconian efforts to tackle the virus in a positive way compared to the approach of western democracies.

Two well-known Asia observers, Kurt Campbell — who served in the Obama administration — and Rush Doshi even warned the coronavirus could help reshape the world order and allow China to play a greater international leadership role.

In a recent article they wrote this could be a "Suez moment" for the United States, a reference to the 1956 crisis that was effectively Britain's last serious fling of the imperial dice.