Covid Condition In America

 Why does America's corona expansion never stop?

What is behind that

The spread of the new coronavirus continues in the United States. Recently, more than 70,000 new infections have been reported daily. This is more than double the cumulative number of infected people confirmed in Japan. The death toll has exceeded 150,000, making it one of the best in the world. Why doesn't the United States work while other developed countries are controlling infections? A Japanese journalist who has covered the local life in the US media will explain. (Tomoya Shimura, journalist in the United States)

 Lockdown tiredness and too urgent deregulation

In order to unravel the cause of the current disaster, I will first introduce the state of Orange County, California, where the author lives. What happened in this city on the outskirts of Los Angeles is also a microcosm of all parts of the United States.

In Orange County, where there are many immigrants and visitors from Asia, a state of emergency was declared at the earliest in the United States. Initially, most of the infected were wealthy people traveling abroad on cruise ships such as the "Diamond Princess."

On March 19, the Governor of California issued a ban on meetings by going out ahead of other states. Although not as strict as lockdowns in Italy and France, they were ordered to stay at home except in essential cases such as buying food.

All businesses were banned from business and became less popular from office districts and shopping centers. Residents were surprised to be able to drive at the speed limit on the Los Angeles highway, which is famous for its chronic congestion.

Thanks to that, the number of newly infected people in Orange County remained flat. California's swift response has been praised in comparison to New York, the epicenter of the infection.

However, in May, lockdown fatigue begins to appear. I can't go out for two months and I can't meet people, so I get stressed. Furthermore, the number of unemployed and bankrupt companies has increased rapidly due to the suspension of economic activities. There was also a protest demonstration by the right wing, who hates government regulation.

The medical collapse that was worried about in New York did not occur. The number of patients other than Corona has decreased, and the hospital in Orange County was rattled.

A change from an optimistic mood

"Isn't it melancholy?" Has spread, Bernadette Rostenko-Albara, director of public health programs at the University of California, Irvine, said in a panel discussion in the local media.

"It is impossible for people to stay locked up for months," Governor Newsom said at a press conference on June 15. "We must also consider the health hazards of bankruptcy of our lives and livelihoods."

As a result, the number of newly infected people in California, which was less than 2000 per day, increased sharply from June. There are days when the number of people exceeds 10,000. In Orange County, the infection is spreading mainly in areas where many people engage in "essential" occupations such as the service industry.

"People started going out too early and the regulations were relaxed," said Bowden-Albara. "I feel relaxed and neglected to take measures (masks, social distancing, etc.). It's a very bad situation."

The same thing is happening outside of California. Out of 50 states, the infection spread in about 40 states, mainly in the south and southwest.

"The main reason is that people under the age of 35 are gathering without masks," Assistant Secretary of Health and Welfare Brett Giroa testified in Congress.

It has been pointed out that the increase in the number of tests is pushing up the number of infected people, but Assistant Secretary Giroa said, "Because the positive reaction rate is also increasing, the infection is definitely spreading."

At the beginning of the pandemic, a large number of people died in the elderly home. According to the New York Times, it accounts for 40% of the death toll in the United States.

Currently, it is spreading mainly to young people, but the intensive care unit is still starting to fill up, a hospital official in Orange County warns.

Different views on corona due to political thought

Further complicating the situation in the United States is the conservative (right) vs. liberal (left) conflict. Differences in political thought have a great influence on how people perceive the corona.

Conservative President Donald Trump, who is worried about the impact on the economy, has repeatedly stated the nuance that Corona is not a big deal from the beginning. When the lockdown began, he pressured states to resume economic activity.

He also said that liberal Democrats and mainstream media are using the corona to hurt him.

Trump's words and deeds, which are extremely popular with conservatives, have a great influence on his support base. In the first place, American conservatives tend to dislike government regulation. Some Trump supporters even categorically reject masks and social distances, believing that Corona is no different than a cold.

For medical personnel and liberals, such a conservative attitude can only be seen as a selfish person who ignores high-risk people and society as a whole.

There are even studies that show which political party is more influential on American behavior than on actual public health and economic conditions. For example, according to an Ipsos poll, 62% of conservative Fox News viewers believe that the actual number of corona deaths is lower than published figures.

Mr. Bowden-Albara, mentioned above, criticizes the Trump administration's stance of disrespecting the opinions of experts. He says he has undermined confidence in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has continued to disseminate valuable information about public health.

"Unfortunately, COVID-19 has become politically colored. Now is the time to go back to the roots. Everyone has the right to not get the disease. should not do"

In addition to the conflict of ideas, in the United States, corona countermeasures are difficult depending on the region.