Pandemic 2020 and the repercussions for the nation - Part Two

The Pandemic 2020 begins:

The COVID-19 (Corona type, Novel Virus of December 2019) originated in Wuhan province of China with a Chiroptera (Bat) vector. China downplays the possibility that human to human transmission is possible until a couple of weeks after the WHO found out about the outbreak in Wuhan when a person outside of China who had not been to the fish market where it all had started. By this time two travelers had returned from China to the US with the virus. A couple days later Germany develops a test for exposure.  Almost another week later China confirms that Person to person transfer is evident. President Trump is alerted and the CDC develops its own test. Trump tells the US public that it is all under control, without any direction from the CDC or WHO.  China begins drastic quarantine implementation to stop the virus. President Trump reluctantly begins to implement some measures though they are downplayed. By the third week China places 11 Million citizens into forced quarantine and suspends all public transportation. France announced their first case the next day. Prominent US medical professionals stated that COVID-19 has acquired affective airborne transmission capabilities and suggest N-95 masks should be used to prevent transmission after other measures have been implemented. The CDC puts into effect a level 3 travel advisory. Congressional meeting is planned and just 14 congressmen attended. FDA asks for test development proposals for the US.  Almost a month has gone by and the CDC says that if asymptomatic  transmission is possible that they don’t have a plan in place that will work. The next day Trump announces a Pandemic task force. The Whitehouse trade advisor tells the president that this could infect 100,000,000 and kill 1-2 million and argues that a more aggressive stance needs to be taken. The Pandemic task force concentrates primarily on border control and repatriation of citizens. HHS Secretary warns Trump that it is going to be a pandemic and needs to be addressed directly. The State Department issues a level 4 do not travel to China. President issues a statement that it is all under control and that there’s like five cases is all in the US (not accurate). By the end of the month HHS is running out of money to respond to COVID-19, they are told that other things will be cut to get the money. Three days later the CDC began shipping test kits but they have a flaw in them and are found to be unusable. The administration took a few weeks to ask Congress for more funding, meanwhile the cases in the US were exponentially rising. Top officials ask the CDC to expedite the (working) tests out to clinics. The CDC pushes back and says the FDA has to approve the new tests. South Korea approves their first test in a week after they met with companies who make them. FDA provides an emergency “ok” for the tests. Four days later the CDC starts shipping out tests. HHS secretary asks to appropriate $2B for masks and such and is turned down. The CDC tests are far inadequate in quantity as the WHO distributes far more to other countries. A week into February the Federal Reserve warns of a risk to the economy. NYC lab finds a flaw in the new tests while the death toll exceeds SARS. Task force meets with all of the state governors and let them know how serious this is.  Presidential announcement that everything is going to be fine and by spring it will get warmer and it’ll go away.

Five days later COVID-19 became the official name.  The next day the CDC admits that the tests they sent state labs were unreliable. Democratic senators ask for more funding to respond. The president is strongly urged that a “stay at home” avoid mass gatherings should be implemented. President announces to US public “we’re in very good shape”.  The CDC is overruled by the President that 14 infected individuals should not share a charter flight with 300 evacuees. By almost two months only 3 of over 100 labs have begun testing. 

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus states during a press briefing that the U.S. has not contacted the WHO directly regarding President Trump's decision to withdraw from the agency.

The COVID-19 task force shifts from trying to keep the virus out of the US to the mitigation and containment stage. The US Government calls for the closing of all but essential businesses and advises telework and homeschooling. Concerts, Cinemas, and groups of ten or more are prohibited. President Trump also asks people nationwide to avoid eating and drinking in restaurants and bars, and to cut out discretionary travel. 

CDC tells state officials to limit tests. Trump asks for $1.25 billion from Congress and Democrats say amount is too low. Stock market drops. Trump announces it is completely under control. 

Cleaning supplies, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, paper towels, and some food stuffs become scarce at stores due to stockpiling. 

Trump states that he has been on hydroxychloroquine for two weeks as a prophylaxis and makes claims that it is effective. Even though there was pushback because of the risks associated with hydroxychloroquine and advising that there is no proof of its effectiveness the government rushes to add the drug to the National Stockpiles. Trial testing determines that there is no benefit to taking the drug, and serious heart rhythm problems were found in COVID-19 patients that took it, the FDA revoked the emergency use authorization. The government had already distributed 31 million tablets of hydroxychloroquine to state and local health departments, hospitals and research institutions; 63 million tablets remain in the National Stockpile and don’t really have a use according to Carol Danko, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services. 

The buzzwords “social distancing” and “self isolation” become standard operating procedures.

The WHO advises that medical masks be worn by anyone working within clinical areas of a medical facility, even if they are not caring for patients with COVID-19; they also advise that people over 60, or with underlying health conditions, in areas where community transmission is likely should wear a medical mask if physical distancing or barriers are not possible; and advise that governments should encourage their citizens to wear masks in places of widespread transmission where physical distancing is difficult, IE; public transportation or in stores. 

The agency also says that fabric masks should be used only if they consist of at least three layers of different material, depending on the material used.

Beijing finally closes the market area where the COVID-19 originated after several more new cases were reported.

According to a paper from the Institute of Labor Economics in Bonn, Germany, appropriate masks can reduce the daily spread of new infections by 40%.

Africa surpasses 200,000 cases (100,000 in 98 days and the rest in 18).

Limited reopening of businesses starts and is based on cases in the areas.

By the first week in June cases worldwide had surpassed 7 Million with 400,000 deaths and over 100,000 new cases a day. 

By the last day in June, 10.4 Million cases (2.7 Million from US), 507,000 deaths (128,000 from US) and 5.3 Million recoveries (811,000 from US).

Some businesses have been closed once more in response to surges in cases in their areas, likely due to their reopening.

There are currently no antiviral drugs approved by the FDA to treat COVID-19.