President Trump’s strategy to contain the coronavirus and prevent its continued spread is exactly what the country needs.
Trump announced Wednesday night in an Oval Office address that the federal government will be restricting travel from Europe, with the exception of the United Kingdom, for the next 30 days. Insurance companies will waive all co-pays on coronavirus tests. Trump also called on Congress to take legislative action to aid small businesses, workers, and all those who might be financially affected by this pandemic. He added that the Small Business Administration would aid companies harmed by the pandemic through low-interest loans.
Make no mistake: These are extreme steps. But they are also serious and necessary steps. The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, spreads rapidly and unnoticeably, which left unprepared countries such as China and Italy vulnerable. As a result, hospitals in Italy have been completely overrun, a national quarantine has been enacted, and its economy has screeched to a halt. The U.S. has the chance to avoid a similar fate, and Trump’s strategy is aimed at doing just that.
This strategy makes it clear that Trump is taking the pandemic seriously, and it’s about time. For the past few weeks, he has downplayed its risks in an attempt to bolster markets and public confidence. But now, Trump seems to understand that a temporary economic hit should not be the federal government’s primary concern and that the health and well-being of its citizens are much more important.
Trump’s leadership will continue to be tested over the next few weeks as his administration rolls out this plan. But this is a step in the right direction. Let’s hope there are more to follow.
