I wrote what follows in summer 2020. It's not exhaustive, and I thought that its usefulness passed by early 2021. Consequently, I had not checked for broken links until recently, when I learned that a number of CDC and White House articles had been deleted or archived. Also recently, I have learned that the "Trump Did Nothing" myth is still believed and circulating. I light of this, I have checked all the links for the events I cited, replaced all but one broken link, and added a few to some events for good measure.
I'm not campaigning for Trump, just providing facts to counter a partisan myth.
Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Lisa Roberts claimed: "Trump wasted more than two months of precious time downplaying the threat of this crisis ...",
https://www.mainedems.org/media/new-trump-wasted-two-months-coronavirus-response-does-senator-collins-still-think-he-did-lot . While some of the criticism claiming two months wasted focuses on masks, other PPE, and ventilators - items hospitals should have, and of which city, county, and state health commissions should have emergency supplies stockpiled, Roberts' claim is far more broad. She claimed that two months - January and February - were "wasted". The specific issue of masks, other PPE, and ventilators will be addressed elsewhere. The proper focus at first was on things that are the immediate responsibilities of the US government: dealings with foreign nations and matters handled by various Federal agencies such as the FDA, CDC, and NIH. So, what of the general, "Trump wasted two months," claim? What did Trump do in January with regard to what came to be called Covid-19?
First, the context in which Trump and his Administration were acting in January, 2020:
* Until January 20, 2020, China and the "scientists" at the World Health Organization assured the world that there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission of Covid-19,
https://www.who.int/csr/don/14-january-2020-novel-coronavirus-thailand-ex-china/en/ ,
http://wjw.wuhan.gov.cn/front/web/showDetail/2020012009077 (Chinese language),
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/human-human-transmission-coronavirus-reported-china/story?id=68403105 ;
* The first US case of Covid-19 was confirmed on January 20, 2020, and by February 29th a total of 68 cases had been confirmed in the US,
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/ , "Total Coronavirus Cases in the United States" graph.
Here are some of the actions of the Trump Administration in March 2020:
March 4, 2020 - HHS announced intent to purchase 500 million N95 respirators over the next 18 months for the Strategic National Stockpile;
https://www.contagionlive.com/view/hhs-acts-to-bolster-respirator-stockpile-for-covid19March 9, 2020 - AbbVie confirmed the company is working with European health authorities and the US FDA, CDC, N and BARDA to determine antiviral activity as well as efficacy and safety of lopinavir/ritonavir against COVID-19;
https://news.abbvie.com/2020-03-09-AbbVie-Partnering-with-Global-Authorities-to-Determine-Efficacy-of-HIV-Drug-in-Treating-COVID-19March 9, 2020 - HHS announced funding support to Hologic for the advanced development of a high-volume Covid-19 test;
https://www.mlo-online.com/disease/infectious-disease/article/21129044/hhs-helps-fund-development-of-covid-19-diagnostic-testMarch 10, 2020 - Trump and VP Pence met with health insurance companies and secured commitment to waive co-pays for coronavirus testing;
https://www.nbcnews.com/video/trump-pence-meet-with-insurance-executives-agree-to-waive-copays-extend-treatment-80407109506March 10, 2020 - Army signed agreement with Gilead on experimental COVID-19 treatment;
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/03/10/army-signs-agreement-with-drug-giant-gilead-on-experimental-covid-19-treatment/March 11, 2020 - Trump suspended travel from Europe;
https://news.yahoo.com/trump-suspends-travel-from-europe-for-30-days-as-coronavirus-cases-continue-to-grow-014314635.htmlMarch 11, 2020 - Vir Biotechnology and the NIH will work together to identify and optimize combinations of antibodies against coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, SARS and MERS, as well as antibodies that may be effective across additional types of coronaviruses;
https://investors.vir.bio/news/news-details/2020/Vir-Biotechnology-Announces-Research-Collaboration-with-the-National-Institutes-of-Health-Vaccine-Research-Center-on-Antibodies-Against-Coronaviruses-03-11-2020/default.aspxMarch 13, 2020 - Trump declared National Emergency;
https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-declaring-national-emergency-concerning-novel-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-outbreak/ ,
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-declares-national-emergency-coronavirusMarch 13, 2020 - Trump announced public-private partnerships for drive-through testing;
https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_ae427964-6580-11ea-97a3-6b67ab3e1e33.htmlMarch 13, 2020 - FDA granted emergency approval for faster coronavirus test;
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/other/487393-fda-grants-emergency-approval-for-faster-coronavirus-testMarch 13, 2020 - FDA emergency approval for Thermo-Fisher coronavirus test (within 24 hours of applying);
https://ir.thermofisher.com/investors/news-events/news/news-details/2020/FDA-Issued-Emergency-Use-Authorization-to-Thermo-Fisher-Scientific-for-Diagnostic-Test-Used-to-Detect-COVID-19-on-March-13-2020-3-16/default.aspxMarch 13, 2020 - FDA granted Roche AG an emergency approval for automated coronavirus testing kits;
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-13/roche-gets-clearance-for-coronavirus-test-that-s-10-times-fasterMarch 13, 2020 - HHS announced funding support to DiaSorin Molecular and Qiagen for the development of a high-speed Covid-19 tests;
https://us.headtopics.com/news/hhs-funds-development-of-covid-19-diagnostic-tests-11836562 ;
https://www.yahoo.com/news/u-health-agency-fund-two-121733886.htmlMarch 13, 2020 - Public-private partnerships allowed to open up drive-through testing collection sites;
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/13/in-declaring-national-emergency-trump-pledges-drive-thru-testing-greater-flexibility-for-doctors/March 14, 2020 - European travel ban extended to include the UK and Ireland;
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/14/white-house-adds-uk-ireland-to-travel-ban-129470March 16, 2020 - Hologic’s Molecular Test for SARS-CoV-2 Receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization;
https://investors.hologic.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2020/Hologics-Molecular-Test-for-the-Novel-Coronavirus-SARS-CoV-2-Receives-FDA-Emergency-Use-Authorization/default.aspxMarch 16, 2020 - FDA allowing states to authorize use of tests developed by labs in their states;
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3552325-fda-to-allow-states-to-authorize-coronavirus-testsMarch 17, 2020 - Defense Department to give HHS up to 5M respirator masks, 2,000 ventilators;
https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2115200/dod-poised-to-provide-masks-ventilators-labs-to-hhs-for-coronavirus-fight/March 18, 2020 - HHS to suspended regulation against doctors practicing across state lines;
https://www.medicaleconomics.com/news/coronavirus-response-doctors-can-now-practice-across-state-linesMarch 18, 2020 - Temporary closure of U.S.-Canada border to non-essential traffic; 2020,
https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/03/18/trump-announces-temporary-u-s-canada-border-closure-amid-virus-pandemic/March 18, 2020 - HUD foreclosures and evictions suspended for a at least 60 days; 2020,
https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/OCHCO/documents/20-04hsgml.pdfMarch 18, 2020 - Trump invoked the Defense Production Act delegating to the Secretary of HHS the task of determining what products and components are critical in responding to Covid-19 and President Trump's authority, as necessary, to contract for, facilitate or compel production of, and distribute where needed those products;
https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-prioritizing-allocating-health-medical-resources-respond-spread-covid-19/ ,
https://www.einpresswire.com/article/512443980/secretary-azar-statement-on-president-trump-s-invoking-the-defense-production-actMarch 18, 2020 - Pernod Ricard USDA began producing hand sanitizer at all of its US distilleries, in coordination with and assisted by the White House Task Force;
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pernod-ricard-usa-produces-hand-sanitizer-to-help-us-combat-covid-19-virus-301026216.htmlMarch 18, 2020 - HHS announced funding support to Mesa Biotech for the advanced development of a high-speed point-of-care Covid-19 test;
https://www.einpresswire.com/article/512349033/hhs-supports-mesa-biotech-to-develop-a-rapid-diagnostic-to-detect-novel-coronavirus-infectionsMarch 18, 2020 - HHS announced a partnership to develop a high-speed fill-and-finish process for vaccines and injectable drugs for the Strategic National Stockpile;
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-public-private-partnership-created-to-develop-a-us-based-high-speed-emergency-surge-drug-packaging-solution-using-mass-manufacturable-prefilled-syringes-with-optional-mobile-based-gps-tracking-and-confirmation-301026449.htmlMarch 19, 2020 - State Department global level 4 health advisory, avoid all international travel;
https://fm.usembassy.gov/global-level-4-health-advisory-do-not-travel/ ;
https://jm.usembassy.gov/u-s-government-issues-a-global-level-4-health-advisory/March 20, 2020 - US, Mexico agree to restrict nonessential cross-border traffic;
https://www.wesh.com/article/us-and-mexico-coordinating-on-plan-to-restrict-travel-across-the-border-1/31794143March 20, 2020 - HHS, DOD, and Fedex coordinated an airlift from Copan Diagnostics in Italy of 500,000 swabs and sample kits used in the COVID-19 testing process;
https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/512588107/hhs-dod-coordinate-international-airlift-of-covid-19-suppliesMarch 22, 2020 - Governors remain in command of CA, NY, and WA National Guard, Federals pay 100% of operations cost (all states);
https://www.thewrap.com/trump-fema-will-pay-100-of-cost-for-national-guard-in-new-york-california-washington/March 23, 2020 - Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to forbid hoarding, speculating, and price-gouging of PPE and sanitizing products;
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/03/26/2020-06478/preventing-hoarding-of-health-and-medical-resources-to-respond-to-the-spread-of-covid-19March 23, 2020 - Army ordered three army hospitals to deploy to New York and Washington;
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2122022/dod-aims-to-fill-medical-gaps-with-military-while-states-cities-ramp-up/March 25, 2020 - Grifols announced that it has entered into a formal collaboration with the US FDA and BARDA to collect plasma from convalescent COVID-19 patients, process it into a hyperimmune globulin, and support the necessary preclinical and clinical studies to determine if it can successfully be used to treat COVID-19;
https://www.grifols.com/en/view-news/-/news/grifols-announces-formal-collaboration-with-us-government-to-produce-the-first-treatment-specifically-targeting-covid-19March 26, 2020 - Trump announced the USNS Comfort will depart for NYC;
https://news.usni.org/2020/03/26/usns-comfort-departs-for-new-york-on-saturday-with-trump-modly-in-attendanceMarch 27, 2020 - Executive order delegating to the Secretaries of HHS, DHS, and Defense President Trump's authority to make or guarantee loans, purchase and commit to purchase, and other actions to obtain and facilitate the domestic manufacture of PPE, ventilators, and other medical necessities;
https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/eo-delegating-additional-authority-dpa-respect-health-medical-resources-respond-spread-covid-19/March 27, 2020 - Trump signed a Defense Production Act order to General Motors to make ventilators;
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/27/trump-orders-general-motors-to-make-ventilators-under-defense-production-act.html ;
https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/memorandum-order-defense-production-act-regarding-general-motors-company/March 27, 2020 - Under DPA order, GM and Ventec partnering to produce ventilators; GM will also produce surgical masks at its Warren, MI, ramping up to 50K a day in two weeks, with potential to produce up to 100K per day;
https://www.venteclife.com/news/ventec-life-systems-and-gm-partner-to-mass-produce-critical-care-ventilators-in-response-to-covid19-pandemicMarch 27, 2020 - Trump announced that Boeing offered three "Dreamlifter" cargo aircraft to transport medical supplies;
https://cargofacts.com/allposts/archive/boeing-offers-dreamlifter-3d-printing-machines-for-covid-19-relief-efforts/March 27, 2020 - USNS Mercy arrived in the port of Los Angeles;
https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/03/27/coronavirus-usns-mercy-arrives-port-of-los-angeles/March 29, 2020 - Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of 2,900 bedroom temporary hospital at Javits Center in NYC;
https://www.6sqft.com/temporary-hospital-javits-center-nyc-coronavirus/March 29, 2020 - First FEMA "Project Airbridge" shipment from abroad, landed at JFK airport (masks, face shields, and other medical supplies);
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-trump-airlift-idUSKBN21G0LB/March 29, 2020 - Trump announced Cigna and Humana are waiving co-pays for coronavirus treatment;
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/490100-health-insurers-cigna-humana-waive-out-of-pocket-costs-for-coronavirusMarch 30, 2020 - HHS accepted 30 million doses of Hydroxychloroquine, donated by Sandoz, and one million doses of Chloroquine, donated by Bayer Pharmaceuticals, for clinical trials and possible treatment of coronavirus patients;
https://www.einpresswire.com/article/513310125/hhs-accepts-donations-of-medicine-to-strategic-national-stockpile-as-possible-treatments-for-covid-19-patientsMarch 30, 2020 - FDA approved Battelle's process for decontaminating tens of thousands of N95 masks per day;
https://www.wtol.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/fda-approves-use-of-battelles-mask-sterilizing-technology-at-full-capacity/512-265af79c-a9b5-4833-95b1-c4da65e81a91 ;
https://www.einpresswire.com/article/513367958/secretary-azar-statement-on-fda-authorization-of-mask-sterilization-procedure , (FDA had slow-walked this approval since 2016!)
March 30, 2020 - Trump announced MyPillow, Honeywell, Jockey, Procter & Gamble, and United Technologies will manufacture PPE;
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/30/my-pillow-lindell-trump-coronavirus-156335March 30, 2020 - HHS accelerated clinical trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by Janssen Research & Development;
https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2310789/hhs-accelerates-clinical-trials-prepares-for-manufacturing-of-covid-19-vaccines/March 30, 2020 - USNS Comfort arrived in New York Harbor;
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/03/31/usns-comfort-crowds-watch-hospital-ship-arrive-new-york-city/5093608002/March 30, 2020 - USNS Mercy Begins Treating Patients in Los Angeles;
https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2130375/usns-mercy-begins-treating-patients-in-los-angeles/March 30, 2020 - Under DPA, Honeywell has begun expansion of its Phoenix, AZ which produces N95 masks;
https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/honeywell-further-expands-n95-face-mask-production-by-adding-manufacturingMarch 31, 2020 - CytoDyn announced that the FDA had approved Phase II trials of leronlimab with mild and moderately ill Covid-19 patients;
https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/fda-clears-cytodyns-phase-2-randomized-trial-to-treat-mild-to-moderately-ill
