Chances are you cannot escape the non-stop news about the coronavirus (COVID-19) – and three reasons are to blame. Of course, public-service messages are necessary, because every American deserves to be advised against travel to China’s Wuhan province or mouth-kissing the sweetheart returning from Milan, Italy. As a political matter, this news should initiate from the executive branch of the federal government. Full stop.
A possible pandemic is the purview of select branches of the administrative state. The CDC should be contacted if you have symptoms and the WHO deals directly with someone in the White House. The Department of State Issues travel warnings that should be heeded. DHS, CBP and ICE enforce whatever travel bans go into effect. You’ll notice Mitch McConnell is mum on the subject. Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi should follow his example.
The American press is, of course, free to report whatever any self-serving senator says, or opine about the state of the nation. Because bad news sells, and the coronavirus is bad news, the mainstream media will err on the side of more is more. Therefore, it is up to the news consumer (we the people) to avoid the obsessive worry-watching we do when a hurricane is headed toward our beach house.
Because an “emerging” pandemic scares the average voter, no politician – especially governors and mayors – wants to be seen as asleep at the switch. We are in that news cycle now, which amplifies the breadth of coronavirus news. For example, last night (Sunday) Governor DeSantis told Floridians about two “presumptively positive” incidents of coronavirus. In fact, two people think they have the virus, but what public servant wants to be a modern-day Nero (fiddling while Rome burns)?
This defensive posturing will fuel the hysteria nationwide, meaning your local Piggly Wiggly will run out of Chlorox and Kleenex. The hysteria will cancel concerts, conventions, and classes. Heck, the NCAA is mulling over March Madness in fanless arenas. Mind you, no reporter or public servant is wrong – because it is impossible now to know fact from fiction.
The advice here is to get a flu shot, wash your hands after contact with any public touchpoint (like the gas nozzle), and call your family physician when symptoms frighten you. In addition, email politicians when they try to make political hay, expressing your disgust and lost vote.