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Coronavirus pandemic
Opinion
SCMP Editorial
SCMP Editorial

Opinion | US numbers tell true story of war on virus

  • With American deaths greater than those suffered in the Vietnam conflict, Donald Trump has to learn from better prepared East Asian countries and remain vigilant

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A medical technologist at Principle Health Systems and SynerGene Laboratory, loads a sample for COVID-19 antibody testing. Photo: AP
SCMP Editorial
The United States having surpassed a million infections from Covid-19 and in excess of 58,200 deaths, more than it suffered during the Vietnam war, is the grimmest of milestones. President Donald Trump, fighting accusations of his administration’s incompetence, contends the high numbers are the result of a stringent testing regime and lower figures for China are allegedly due to it not having done as good a job. That is aside from the fact he blames Beijing for the pandemic. But the unwarranted political spin, finger-pointing and diversionary tactics cannot hide the reality that Americans have not treated the pandemic as seriously as their East Asian counterparts.
Testing has always been the US weak point in fighting the coronavirus and it continues to be a challenge with pressure on states from Washington to end lockdowns and restart economic activity. Social distancing and isolating should not end until there is an accurate understanding of the rates of infection. Those lessons have been taught by Hong Kong, mainland China, South Korea and other governments that have been praised by health experts for their management of the Covid-19 crisis. Coupled with early detection, the widespread wearing of face masks, cleanliness and strict enforcement of rules, the threat has largely receded.

The US and other places continuing to struggle were perhaps at a disadvantage due to not having dealt with previous coronaviruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars). In the case of Hong Kong, that meant when reports of a mystery disease in Wuhan appeared last December, citizens were already preparing. When outbreaks occurred, they were on a war footing with the wearing of masks, hand washing and sanitising almost universal. Importantly, there was also a policy of sending people with symptoms to hospital and quarantining those who had been in contact with them for 14 days and later, strict social distancing. This has not happened to such an extent in America, where those with mild signs have self-isolated at home and infected family members.

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Trump can say what he likes, but the numbers tell the true story. Americans, like Hongkongers, have to be ever vigilant and on a war footing if the fight against the disease is to be won.

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