Quote from: kurious on March 08, 2020, 07:49:26 PM

Quote from: HairyMaclairy on March 08, 2020, 07:29:16 PM

Given Trump seems actively involved in trying to cover up US cases of Covid-19, I now think there is a better than 50% chance this will bring him down.

Maybe. He scrapped the pandemic team in 2018. Then the tests they were using (in spite of tried-and-tested better ones being available) didn't work.

Also, they have only managed to test around 6,000 people, while the UK has tested 25,000 and other countries are way ahead (Korea is at 170,000). This is more concerning.

Not testing means figures for 'cases' are meaningless. It does not mean 'there are no cases' if no large scale testing is in place.... and with no centralised chain of command to collate data and coordinate efforts, things are not looking like they got off to a good start. Plus 28% of people have no easy access to any healthcare and, oh yeah - with no statutory sick pay rules, people have an incentive to go to work rather than stay at home if they are ill.

America is at risk of being found systemically ill-prepared.

I am guessing we are about to see how a lack of a universal care system (not the norm in first world countries) works in a real time experiment.

Then again if it is #justaflu, I am sure it will all be OK and Trump will come up smelling of roses, he seems just the man for the job.

EDIT: @HM I think you covered a little extra than I first read - and better than I did.

Trump will go down together with his Titanic stock market, his comedia del arte energy indepency and be shot midship by the little critter with bubble needles!