It hasn't aged well though. China had a terrible start with the WuFlu, but they've done an excellent job managing its spread:okaydo said:
This article from a few weeks back is very good.
It explains a lot.
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/02/coronavirus-and-blindness-authoritarianism/606922/
Unlike other nations, they didn't have the luxury of understanding the devastating potential of this viral epidemic, but once they saw the crisis unfurl in Wuhan, they've reacted well.
https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99c
Their authoritariansim (coupled with a national sense of civic duty) has actually helped them here, the centralized response has been successfully implemented. They've also managed to expand their capacity with the construction of 16 megawards in a matter of weeks.
Trump's speech was pretty good overall, at least given the low expectations and the "just the flu" mindset he has had. It sounds like he's got some good advice and has finally turned the corner, better late than never I suppose. His lackadaisical response to date has actually been very similar to those of nearly every other western leader, he's in the middle of that pack, a little better than Merkel, Johnson or Trudeau, who have been at least as pathetic.
Trump is indirectly blaming Europe and China, by closing all air travel from Europe, but at this point the cat is out of the bag in the US, with probably over10,000 cases domestically today, so he should also consider domestic air travel. Washington State has about the same or higher infection rate as say Spain or Sweden, and higher rates than many parts of Europe.
Trump should also have issued guidance for the prompt closure of the school system nationwide and other measures like church services and other social gatherings ahead of St Patrick's Day.
