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US Health Chief Rejects Notion of Coronavirus Failure

Ken Bredemeier

   The United States leads the world with nearly 90,000 coronavirus
   deaths, but the U.S. health chief on Sunday rejected the notion that
   the government had failed its people.

   "You can't celebrate a single death," Health and Human Services
   Secretary Alex Azar told CNN, but contended, "It could have been
   vastly, vastly worse."

   President Donald Trump said on Twitter, "Doing REALLY well, medically,
   on solving the CoronaVirus situation (Plague!). It will happen!"

     Doing REALLY well, medically, on solving the CoronaVirus situation
     (Plague!). It will happen!
     -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) [1]May 17, 2020

   Azar said the U.S. over the last two months was "able to flatten the
   curve" of the number of coronavirus cases in order to give health care
   workers a chance to deal with the onslaught of patients needing care.

   "While the burden has been tragic and severe, it's been controllable,"
   he said.

   Still, he said, "We do have greater health risks here in the United
   States," from people who are obese, or have high blood pressure and
   diabetes.

   But even as the U.S. coronavirus death toll is projected to reach
   147,000 by August, Azar said, "We're now in a position where we can
   reopen" businesses in the country.

   All but two of the country's 50 state governors have eased restrictions
   on businesses, stores, restaurants and factories reopening, albeit
   often with recommendations for continued social distancing of at least
   two meters between people and that people continue to wear masks.

   Azar said there are "serious health concerns to keep us shut down.
   We've got to get this economy heating again."

   But with millions of Americans suffering from the cabin fever of two
   months of confinement at home, the reopening of bars and restaurants in
   the midwestern states of Ohio and Wisconsin have led to scenes of
   people crowding together and socializing as if there were no remaining
   health concerns from the pandemic.

References

   1. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1262020427582451717?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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