SIMPLE & QUICK: Instead of seeking to slow & know the spread, Trump doubles down on MAGA politics— ditching testing for anti-masking and switching social distancing for social disruption

It is clear from The Donald’s performances during the Trump Administration’s daily coronavirus update press briefings that the 2020 election is on the President’s mind. What seems to be on the minds of medical professionals, epidemiologists, governors, and Dr. Fauci, is testing, testing, testing. Why is POTUS not using this conversation to implement a national testing regime so he can then later have precious reelection bragging rights?

Getting America back to work seems to go part in parcel in fully understanding how at risk we are as individuals. In understanding this, we need to test for active cases to find how pervasive the disease is. We need to test for antibodies so we know who may be protected from immediate reinfection, and thus safer to employ; and we need to be testing remedies and vaccines for their efficacy and scalability.

Since the federal government has failed to make comprehensive mass testing available for the foreseeable future, there are universities and private entities attempting their best with limited resources to gain a better understanding. America may be learning that a lot more— possibly 50x or more— Americans have encountered the novel coronavirus and have possibly developed antibodies to COVID-19. But are the tests accurate?

Unfortunately for Trump, the time to seize this narrative is quickly elapsing (it has already passed). Orchestrating mass testing quickly moves from being unfeasible to not possible. Not to mention, the current rush toward an inconsistent and cockamamie re-opening strategy will inflame ongoing resurgence clusters. Shutdowns will return and the political burden of the increasing daily death toll will weigh heavy on voters. Death in the news every day from COVID-19 is death in the news every day from COVID-19.