Former President Barack Obama weighed in on the coronavirus outbreak, saying it was not an overreaction for the NBA to suspend its season and for the March Madness tournament to be canceled.
“If you’re wondering whether it’s an overreaction to cancel large gatherings and public events (and I love basketball), here’s a useful primer as to why these measures can slow the spread of the virus and save lives. We have to look out for each other,” the former president said Thursday in a tweet.
He attached a Vox article titled “How canceled events and self-quarantines save lives, in one chart.” The article argues for countries to attempt “flattening the curve” of infection by not going to major gatherings or events.
If you’re wondering whether it’s an overreaction to cancel large gatherings and public events (and I love basketball), here’s a useful primer as to why these measures can slow the spread of the virus and save lives. We have to look out for each other. https://t.co/Ld7Uc8sPTQ
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 12, 2020
So far, the United States has had over 1,200 cases of the coronavirus, with 36 people killed. D.C. has declared a state of emergency because of the virus.
