Reps. Shalala, Allred; Andy Slavitt; Will Humble; Protect Our Care Discuss COVID-19 Surge In States As Trump Gives Up On Combating Virus
NEW VIDEO: Trump Has Given Up on Fighting the Virus as Cases Spike Across Country, Infections Top 2 Million and Americans Die Needlessly Every Day
Listen to Audio of Call Here
On a press call today, Rep. Donna Shalala, Rep. Colin Allred, former Acting CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt, Executive Director for the Arizona Public Health Association Will Humble, and Protect Our Care’s Coronavirus War Room discussed the surge of new coronavirus cases as President Trump gives up on fighting the virus and rushes states to reopen against the advice of medical experts.
“Donald Trump’s rush to reopen the country without a coherent, national, science-based strategy has caused the number of COVID-19 cases to steadily rise across the United States. Without adequate testing and contact tracing, we are going to continue seeing spikes in the number of infections and deaths. The failure to follow the advice of public health experts is jeopardizing millions of Americans and will only worsen the long-term effects of this disease,” said Rep. Donna Shalala.
“As President Trump visits Dallas today, we face record-high COVID-19 cases. I have said for months we need a plan, not a date to reopen safely. Experts predicted this spike in cases and yet, this Administration still has not ramped up testing, tracing and treatment to the levels we need. We can get this done if we work together, but we need leadership,” said Rep. Colin Allred.
“In responding to the coronavirus, the president has chosen to lead a campaign of division that essentially ignores what has been going on across the country, and to make things worse, governors have taken their cues from him,” said Former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Andy Slavitt. “Although no elected official has control of the virus, they can control the response — and it didn’t have to be this way. It’s unspeakable that Trump and governors are making decisions that will cost lives.”
“There are things we can do right now to slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives, but right now our governor and his appointed officials have decided to not use tried and true best practices that would stem the tide and save lives. My fear is that the sacrifices made by the people of Arizona in March and April are being needlessly squandered because our state officials insist on using the basic one size fits all guidance produced by the president and his team,” said Executive Director for the Arizona Public Health Association Will Humble.
“This is a crisis. The virus is surging across the country after Trump rushed to reopen against pleas of medical experts. It’s clear that while Trump wants to move on from the virus — the virus isn’t ready to move on from us,” said Coronavirus War Room Director Zac Petkanas. “In fact, the lack of leadership and strategy from the White House is making things worse, and the American people are currently paying the consequences with their lives and livelihoods.”
BACKGROUND:
More than a dozen states and Puerto Rico are recording their highest averages of new cases since the pandemic began
Hospitalizations in at least nine states have been on the rise since Memorial Day.
- Texas has seen a 36 percent increase in new cases since Memorial Day, with a record high of hospitalizations as of early Tuesday afternoon.
- Arizona has reported a 49 percent increase in hospitalizations since Memorial Day.
- Arkansas has had an 88 percent increase in hospitalizations since Memorial Day.
- 12 counties in South Carolina have reached 75 percent of hospital capacity or greater.