U.S. response to coronavirus continues to be an epic failure

Several weeks ago, the United States turned down an offer from the Word Health Organization for coronavirus test kits.

About 60 other countries accepted this invaluable resource and began the gargantuan job of finding out how widespread the infestation was in their respective countries. America decided to go it alone (you know … America first). The result was a failure of epic proportions.

The president lied last week about that demonstrable fact when he amazingly said if you need a test you can go get one. Not even close to being true. We’ve been flying blind.

Weeks later, the United States still is not up to speed. We are lagging far, far behind. In the world of communicable viruses, every single day matters. When the world was fighting Ebola in 2014, America led the way, providing the expertise of our incredible scientists, doctors, nurses, marines and more. And the world won.

Now we’re playing a brutal game of catch up. Our lives are being affected in ways we could never have imagined. Schools are closing. The NBA canceled the rest of its season. Disney is shuttered, etc. Can we please stop these self-congratulatory press conferences? Yes, we know, we know. The president has performed miraculously. He holds no blame for decisions related to test kit failure or anything else … even implying former President Obama screwed things up.

Whatever. Just please fix this. If we could benefit from the experiences of China, South Korea, Germany, the World Health Organization, etc., then please don’t let false pride get in the way. A little humility never hurt. Do whatever you can do to help the American people get through this.

Michael F. DeSantiago, Niles

Special treatment

Amazing! I just read that our president has been tested for the coronavirus. I am so happy that, though millions of test kits have yet to reach the masses, one was dropped off at his house.

Dennis Terdy, Glen Ellyn

Slow rollout

Once anyone reaches 6 years old, they know better than to say what Trump said when asked about the slow rollout of testing for the coronavirus: “I don’t take responsibility at all.” Lee Knohl, Evanston

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