The Trump administration announced today that the Covid19 task force will be disbanded by Memorial Day, just short of the end of the month. The thrust of that announcement is that election season is beginning and Trump misses his rallies, not that he thinks the danger is past. Even the new press secretary touted the audience share numbers rather than death numbers or infection numbers so there certainly is no doubt as to where this administration puts its focus.
But, all of the reopening in various states certainly doesn't mean that any danger of infection for you, for me, for your children, for your grandchildren is over. As infectious disease expert Dr. Carlos del Rio, a professor of medicine and global health at Emory University, described it, it's like having a "peeing section in the swimming pool". No one expects the pee to stay in the peeing section, nor should you expect Covid19 to stay in Florida, Georgia, or any of the other benighted states or municipalities that have loosened restrictions.
Sure, eventually the virus will have swept completely through the world picking off the low hanging fruit as it goes. But there is no reliable way to determine which person is the lowest hanging fruit. A reasonably young Broadway star is still in a coma after having his leg amputated due to Covid19 but Tom Hanks is fine. Boris Johnson, PM of Great Britain, survived with massive intervention but a five year old died. All of those examples happened when there were already some heavy-duty restrictions on movement and activity so just imagine what happens when Trump says that his re-election is more important than your health. The Trump administration is not noted for its focus but neither is it noted for its compassion.
Can I pee in your pool?
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