America Has Failed to Contain COVID-19: What We Can Do Now?
Image via The Guardian
Five months ago, COVID-19 swept the nation. It’s sudden and rapid spread resulted in many state-mandated stay at home orders and numerous travel restrictions. While countries that were hit hard early on like Italy are starting to return to normal, the United States remains locked down for the foreseeable future. As one of the most prominent powers in the world, how did we fail to contain the novel coronavirus?
Many factors have contributed to America's recent failure. It’s easy to shift the blame to U.S. citizens who have refused to listen to accredited scientists that have recommended several crucial precautions. One could also blame governors and mayors who have done the same and allowed their states to reopen prematurely, causing a surge in new cases. However, much of our struggle could have been avoided if President Donald Trump and his administration would have complied with early precautions suggested by many highly regarded institutions. This administration’s lackluster response has resulted in over 160,000 deaths as of August 10th, according to the CDC, and proves that they are unfit to handle a catastrophe of this magnitude.
The question remains- what can we do right now to combat COVID-19? Individually, we must follow the CDC guidelines. These guidelines include things you’re probably already doing; washing your hands, social distancing, and wearing a mask. Additionally, there are a few ways to contribute to COVID-19 research as well. People who have contracted the novel coronavirus and have fully recovered may aid in research by donating plasma, as the antibodies their blood contains can help current patients recover more quickly. Those with powerful personal computers can help by downloading Folding@home: a program that combines the processing power of computers utilizing the application to simulate COVID-19 proteins and help develop new therapeutic methods.
Our next steps don’t only involve our day to day actions, but also require us to speak with our votes during this upcoming election. Over the past five months, it’s become increasingly clear that our voices aren’t being heard. The pandemic continues to worsen and progress has seemingly come to a standstill. We must use our votes to carve a new path and provide a new presidential administration an opportunity to overcome the pandemic. Take the next step and make sure you’re registered to vote by visiting Vote.org. It’s also crucial that Americans are aware of their voting rights. You can find the ACLU website here, which provides many details on laws and systems affecting every American’s vote.
Many factors have contributed to America's recent failure. It’s easy to shift the blame to U.S. citizens who have refused to listen to accredited scientists that have recommended several crucial precautions. One could also blame governors and mayors who have done the same and allowed their states to reopen prematurely, causing a surge in new cases. However, much of our struggle could have been avoided if President Donald Trump and his administration would have complied with early precautions suggested by many highly regarded institutions. This administration’s lackluster response has resulted in over 160,000 deaths as of August 10th, according to the CDC, and proves that they are unfit to handle a catastrophe of this magnitude.
The question remains- what can we do right now to combat COVID-19? Individually, we must follow the CDC guidelines. These guidelines include things you’re probably already doing; washing your hands, social distancing, and wearing a mask. Additionally, there are a few ways to contribute to COVID-19 research as well. People who have contracted the novel coronavirus and have fully recovered may aid in research by donating plasma, as the antibodies their blood contains can help current patients recover more quickly. Those with powerful personal computers can help by downloading Folding@home: a program that combines the processing power of computers utilizing the application to simulate COVID-19 proteins and help develop new therapeutic methods.
Our next steps don’t only involve our day to day actions, but also require us to speak with our votes during this upcoming election. Over the past five months, it’s become increasingly clear that our voices aren’t being heard. The pandemic continues to worsen and progress has seemingly come to a standstill. We must use our votes to carve a new path and provide a new presidential administration an opportunity to overcome the pandemic. Take the next step and make sure you’re registered to vote by visiting Vote.org. It’s also crucial that Americans are aware of their voting rights. You can find the ACLU website here, which provides many details on laws and systems affecting every American’s vote.
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