Donald Trump claimed he had learned from experiencing being hospitalised with the Covid virus, but he doesn’t seem to have learned anything useful. To the contrary. He has set bad examples for dealing with Covid infections.
The normal practice for people with Covid is to isolate or quarantine them to avoid spreading the virus, which has proven to be very contagious. But Trump doesn’t do normal practice.
When leaving hospital Trump touched railings as he descended steps. I presume someone had to follow him disinfecting everything.
When Trump returned to the White House he symbolically removed his mask before going inside. There have already been a number of cases amongst White House staff, but Trump doesn’t seem to care about anyone else, it is all about his own ego.
Trump portrayed his dealing with Covid as some sort of sign of great leadership, as has his campaign, and also media fans – see Sean Hannity Compares Trump’s COVID Response to FDR and Churchill
Hannity asked if people wanted “a leader who’s willing to fight every minute of every day, for the country” or a “shadow of a man who hides in his basement bunker.”
Talking about the nation being “land of the free and home of the brave,” he went on to share famous words from FDR and Churchill.
Trump suggested he was an “invincible hero”:
And Trump continues to seriously downplay the seriousness of Covid, to the extent that Twitter slapped a warning on a tweet:
Presidents don’t usually get hospitalised and treated with steroids and experimental drugs for the flu.
Hundreds of Americans are still dying a die from Covid, with the total death toll 215,000. Many survivors have severe complications.
And Trump seems to be wrong about flu deaths: Trump compares COVID-19 to flu in tweet, Twitter raises red flag
On Monday, Trump told Americans “to get out there” and not fear COVID-19 as he returned to the White House after a three-night hospital stay to be treated for the new coronavirus and removed his white surgical mask to pose for pictures.
During the 2019-2020 influenza season, the flu was associated with 22,000 deaths, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. (bit.ly/30ByG1m)
So Trump seems to be as misleading as ever – and continues to dangerously set a bad example.
He is also taking a huge campaign risk. His treatment may have got him through his Covid infection remarkably fast, but there’s a real possibility he isn’t over it yet and he could have further problems.
Reuters: Trump steroid treatment for COVID-19 raises potential side effect risk
U.S. President Donald Trump is being treated for COVID-19 with a steroid that is recommended for severe cases of the illness and that comes with risks of serious side effects, including mood swings, aggression and confusion.
As a number of people have pointed out, that sounds like Trump before taking steroids.
The Infectious Disease Society of America says dexamethasone is beneficial to people with critical or severe COVID-19 who require extra oxygen. But studies show the drug may be harmful in people with milder COVID-19 because it can suppress their natural immune response.
In addition, side effects can include physical problems such as blurred vision and irregular heartbeat, as well as personality changes and difficulty thinking, according to the International Myeloma Foundation.
That’s just possible side effects of one drug Trump is still taking intravenously at the White House.
If it turns out that Trump is not free of Covid and it causes further problems his bravado will look like stupidity. And potentially dangerous.
FiveThirtyEight: Trump Is Giving Dangerous Advice. Being Afraid Of COVID-19 Has Helped Us Control COVID-19.
…the best evidence we have suggests that these simple actions work. A June study published in Nature estimated as many as 60 million COVID-19 infections were avoided thanks to social distancing and lockdown efforts. And disease modelling projects that tens of thousands of lives could be spared with widespread adoption of social distancing and mask-wearing.
The president’s message not to be afraid of the virus is dangerous if it encourages Americans to reject the things they do because they’re afraid of the virus. And that has implications for all of us. Think of the grocery store worker who has to stock shelves while dozens of strangers brush past them, or the nurse who has to come in close proximity with patients daily, many of whom may have active COVID-19 infections. Without the fear of what this disease can do to you, there’s little motivation to protect them.
It’s easier to feel secure when you’re the president of the United States, of course. But that’s not a reality the rest of us live day to day. In our reality, fear is rational, and it’s what pushes us to act. By telling us there’s nothing to fear, Trump is both ignoring the experience of millions of Americans, and giving further fuel to those whose response to fear is denial. Fear on its own isn’t useful. But neither is a dismissal of reality.
New York Times: ‘Don’t Be Afraid of Covid,’ Trump Says, Undermining Public Health Messages
Public health experts had hoped that President Trump, chastened by his own infection with the coronavirus and the cases that have erupted among his staff, would act decisively to persuade his supporters that wearing masks and social distancing were essential to protecting themselves and their loved ones.
“Don’t be afraid of Covid,” he wrote. “Don’t let it dominate your life.”
Scientists, ethicists and doctors were outraged by the president’s comments about a disease that has killed nearly 210,000 people in the United States.
“I am struggling for words — this is crazy,” said Harald Schmidt, assistant professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania. “It is just utterly irresponsible.”
Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical School, called the president’s message “dangerous” because it encouraged his followers to ignore basic recommendations to keep themselves safe.
“It will lead to more casual behavior, which will lead to more transmission of the virus, which will lead to more illness, and more illness will lead to more deaths,” Dr. Schaffner said.
This is fairly obvious stuff.
It is also obvious that trump doesn’t really care about the health of Americans. All he cares about is his own ego, being seen as a hero, and winning the election.
Covid would have been much worse if drastic action wasn’t taken to limit the spread of the virus. If could still be much worse if too many people follow Trumps example and advice.
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