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New Facts: Despite Repeated Warnings, Washington Republicans Failed to Prepare for Coronavirus Outbreak, Leaving Public Health System & Americans Vulnerable

Series of Reports Detail How White House Ignored Lessons, Widespread Testing Delays, Health Supply Shortages

A series of reports reveal how the White House – despite repeated, credible and urgent warnings – failed to prepare for the coronavirus outbreak and has left our public health system and Americans vulnerable. 

The New York Times details today how the Trump administration ignored warnings from a simulation held last year on a pandemic flu originating in China and spreading around the world, as well as lessons from previous real-world outbreaks like H1N1 and Ebola. Now, as the coronavirus has spread to all 50 states and cases have increased by 40% in the last 24 hours, hospitals are reporting shortages of protective gear and health care workers, and states hit hardest are facing a severe delay in tests.

“It’s becoming disturbingly clear that Washington Republicans ignored repeated warnings to adequately prepare for a pandemic, and now our country faces a significant public health and economic crisis,” said DSCC spokesperson Helen Kalla. “The failures have left our public health system and Americans vulnerable, and underscore the urgent need to bring relief to working families and our health care providers on the front lines of this crisis, as well as hold the administration accountable.”

New York Times: A Cascade of Warnings, Heard but Unheeded, Before Virus Outbreak

Wall Street Journal: America Needed Coronavirus Tests. The Government Failed.

Washington Post: Shortages of face masks, swabs and basic supplies pose a new challenge to coronavirus testing

Washington Post: CDC, the top U.S. public health agency, is sidelined during coronavirus pandemic

Bloomberg: Trump’s 500 Million Respirators Could Take 18 Months to Deliver

Bloomberg: Hospital Workers Make Masks From Office Supplies Amid U.S. Shortage

POLITICO: Hospitals need a surge — of doctors

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