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It only took one tweet to catch the nation’s attention: President Trump has COVID-19. Late last week, the president and first lady tested positive for the virus, but what does this mean for our election and response to COVID-19?
It should not be a surprise to the general public that President Trump had top-tier medical care following his diagnosis, after all, he is the president of our country. But, there are a few key points to note about his medical care.
While the left-wing would have you believe Trump had specialized care just for him, this is not the case.
Since the virus made its way into the U.S. in early February, doctors, researchers and scientists have been working around the clock to not just find a long-term cure, but also immediate treatment. The fatalities that came from the virus are far too many, but over the months we have watched as medical professionals have found short-term solutions to prevent the progression of the virus. Solutions have included hydroxychloroquine*, remdesivir, glucocorticoids, among others. Looking past the science jargon, it is clear that we have made significant progression since early 2020 when our only hope was staying locked inside to prevent catching the virus.
Had the president gotten COVID-19 in February, we could have seen very different results. The president’s treatment was only made possible from seven long months of work and research by doctors and scientists.
The president, no matter who, is deserving of top-tier care. But how can we get this same care to those across the United States? Our COVID-19 response should be shifting not just to finding a vaccine, but ensuring that when we do have one, everyone will have access to it.
Trump’s implementation of the Right to Try Act, cutting of red tape, keeping pharmaceutical prices low, and ensuring medical access across the country are just a few of the programs already in place to promote a national level of access to healthcare, regardless of your medical background.
We can only hope that with Trump’s recent diagnosis, voters will feel pushed to elect a president who promotes these things.
Healthcare just became the next big voting issue.
Both political parties would agree that any death from the virus is horrible and saddening, but I find it interesting that when it comes to the left-wing’s archnemesis, they abound with glee and wish death on him, one of them being an ex-Obama staff member. I find that the President’s diagnosis, and now recovery, have spotlighted a problem that must be addressed in preparation for the election: hate.
Our nation is more separated than ever before, and it is up to our government officials to end this polarization, hate and violence so that we can come together to find solutions that will be accessible to all Americans.
*The CDC reported Sept. 4, 2020, “Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are approved to treat autoimmune diseases and to prevent and treat malaria. Earlier this year, they were widely reported to be of potential benefit in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19; however, current data indicate that the potential benefits of these drugs do not outweigh their risks.”
Written By: Hannah Nelson
Grace Gaines