Has US Response To Coronavirus Been Adequate?
Is the national emergency declaration and the testing announcement from the Trump administration too little too late? Or has President Trump redeemed himself for what some have called a slow and ineffective response to COVID-19? Why or why not?
The president has done the right thing from the start.
Chris Gorman, Quincy, MA
It is appropriate.
Robert Heppe, Harwich Port, MA
Our President Trump continues to do a great job for the citizens. Yes, continued outstanding proactive performance even with partisan opposition by the radical left elements at the US Congress.
William F Horan, Middletown, R.I.
President Trump has done a fantastic job in response to COVID-19! Closing travel from China, etc. immediately, in spite of intense Democratic criticism, was a smart move that Italy and other countries did not do. Compare to Obama's handling of the Swine Flu and 12K deaths. He did nothing for 6 months and not a peep out of anyone. Where was CNN, MSNBC, NYT, WAPO? Of course Obama was trying to pull together ObamaCare silence. A shame about our economy but if anyone can bring it back, President Trump is our man!
Lesley Wallace, West Barnstable, MA
His response was immediate. He banned travel from China immediately. Stop phrasing your question in such a way as to suggest otherwise.
John Rice, Centerville, MA
Too late, the President should have done this sooner so more tests, and supplies could of been made ready. Instead of waiting for things to get bad in the US we should have been preparing.
Ben Dube, Barnstable, MA
Absolutely too late. Crises define true leaders, and by every measure this president is failing the country. The national emergency declaration was a positive start, but for six weeks or more Trump put his head in the sand bringing added risk to Americans as we dithered. He downplayed the threat, failed to listen to epidemiologists and other public health experts (who continue to contradict him), and had no plan to increase testing availability, while resorting to nativist talk, fanning debunked conspiracies, and most nakedly, worrying more about the optics for himself and the impact on the stock market than for those who are most vulnerable in the country. Proven unfit.
Ken Brack, Kingston, MA
Good to see someone forced him to do this, but still seems too little, too late with the bungling of the testing rollout, no preparations with equipment orders and the awful execution of the travel restrictions resulting in a fiasco at the airports. No reason why we didn't have wide scale testing in place by end of Feb. and ventilator orders with manufacturers last month. All of these were KNOWN requirements by end of January publicly and likely at higher levels even earlier. My grade: D-/F
Michelle Olson, Lexington, MA
Trump has been a failure on this issue. He again claims no responsibility for his actions, namely:
"You say 'me.' I didn't do it I don't know anything about it It's an administration, perhaps they do that. Let people go."
- Trump, asked by NPR's Yamiche Alcindor about having disbanded his global health team in 2018
"I ran the White House pandemic office. Trump closed it."
- Beth Cameron, former senior director for global health security and biodefense on the WH National Security Council
Editor's Note: As reported in The Washington Post.
Peter Haviland, Brewster, MA
The response is appropriate. The actions may be a bit slow, but current actions taken a few weeks earlier would have seemed unbelievable to the public. Compliance would have been very low.
Dexter Wang, Concord, MA
Time will tell. Members of his party have been much less concerned than independents and Democrats. If it wakes up members of the GOP, it will be useful in the end, I expect.
Matthew Brown, Harwich, MA
NO it's not too little too late. He has done better with this crisis than any other world leaders. It's not his fault the initial testing kits were defective. People need to take a breath and give Trump a break! He took immediate action to close the borders to China and other countries who were inundated with Covid-19. His opponents and the fake news called him racist for doing this but he did it anyway, probably saving millions of USA residents from getting COVID-19. GREAT JOB! He and his team are working around the clock, keeping the country informed daily, answering questions for hours and trying their best to help our country blunt the Covid-19 curve. GREAT JOB! No matter what good he has done, the hate mongers continue spewing their hatred. Maybe this pandemic where millions of lives are at risk will make them rethink how shameful they have been.
Suzanne Carter, East Dennis, MA
At 70 years old, I am a life long Democrat (volunteered for Obama and went to his inauguration) and, after witnessing so many power hungry Democrats lead obvious hateful "witch hunts" that were nothing but a tremendous waste of time and millions of taxpayers dollars, I am now a registered Independent and, at this point, feel Trump is going a good job. I think no matter what he did, it would be dissected and judged harshly. This is uncharted waters for the world. Only history will be able to answer that question correctly. But I think he did the best he could given the facts known at the time. Trying to protect both people and the economy.
Alice Mercer-Medeiros, North Dartmouth, MA
Too little too late. He has not redeemed himself. He should have denounced those that called. It leaves me not trusting his judgement. He has also spread too much misinformation and given false hope in an effort to prioritize the economy over peoples' lives.
April Cambre, East Greenwich, R.I.
President Trump is doing great. He has the best people on his task force leading this, let him do his job. If all Americans listen to the guidelines being set we will get through this soon!
Gerry Zisk, Smithfield, R.I.
Redeemed himself.
Robert Karam, Fall River, MA
Way too little Way too late
Susan Kane, Bourne, MA
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