In Texas, California and Florida, COVID-19 cases and deaths are soaring above the national average. As a result, Dr. Deborah Birx has issued a dire warning. “What we have right now are essentially three New Yorks with these three major states,” Dr. Birx, the White House coronavirus coordinator, told reporters.
Birx’s warning underscores the White House’s recent reversal on their COVID-19 strategy. For months, President Donald Trump has downplayed the effects of the virus. He has pointed to what he claimed were low death rates to say that the issue was mostly contained. However, this week he canceled many of the Republican National Convention activities that were to take place in Florida over fear of the virus.
In many places over the last week, President Trump has conceded on issues relating to COVID. He backed off his insistence upon schools reopening in the fall amid widespread backlash. Similarly, he has begun enthusiastically embracing masks as a way to stop the spread of the virus. Prior to this week, Trump was adamant that masks were more of a personal choice than a necessary health precaution.
This counters weeks of Trump’s base resisting widespread mask mandates. Some have painted the issue as one of personal freedom. However, medical experts agree that wearing a mask is one of the best ways to prevent spreading COVID-19. As such, people are encouraged to wear a face covering when in public to slow the spread of the virus.
Trump’s about-face on the virus could have as much to do with public polling as an actual change of heart. Public approval of Trump is at an all-time low following months of the coronavirus pandemic. Many people seem to have grown exhausted by the virus response, some four months in to the pandemic. Others who wanted to take classes in-person will have to go to school online instead. Online IT certifications and bachelor’s degrees will be common this year.
Some have blamed the Trump Administration for the lockdowns dragging on even as other countries are returning to normal.
Many polls show Trump lagging behind former vice president Joe Biden by a double-digit margin. This is well outside the margin of error, and could suggest serious trouble for the GOP in November. As such, Trump making moves now to soften the views of moderate voters could be critical in his bid for reelection.
