Pretend you could go back in time to Jan. 15th, 2020. At this time, the world knew that the corona virus was spreading in the Wuhan Province but there were no confirmed cases in the United States yet(the first case of corona virus in the United States was confirmed on Jan. 20th, 2020 (Links to an external site.) ). You’ve been hired by the Trump administration to make a series of recommendations on how to respond to the Coronavirus.

QUESTION

Pretend you could go back in time to Jan. 15th, 2020. At this time, the world knew that the corona virus was spreading in the Wuhan Province but there were no confirmed cases in the United States yet(the first case of corona virus in the United States was confirmed on Jan. 20th, 2020 (Links to an external site.) ). You’ve been hired by the Trump administration to make a series of recommendations on how to respond to the Coronavirus.

Your policy recommendations should be as close to comprehensive as possible, here are some topic you may want to think about and address:

Travel restrictions/closing borders
Shelter in place/stay at home policies
Production of make-shift hospitals, ventilators, masks, gloves etc.
Recruiting medical personnel (bringing them back from retirement, allowing students to graduate earlier and begin working, etc.)
Economic relief policies for those out of work if “stay at home” orders are imposed
****^ these are just suggestions to build off of, try to come up with more specific and additional recommendations
Policy recommendation should be a minimum of 500 words and use 3 credible sources as well as include a bibliography.

Here are some articles that may help you get started:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/opinion/coronavirus-united-states.html (Links to an external site.)

ANSWER

Comprehensive Policy Recommendations for Responding to the Coronavirus Outbreak in the United States

Introduction

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan Province, China, in December 2019 posed a significant threat to global health. As an advisor to the Trump administration, I would recommend a comprehensive response to effectively mitigate the spread of the virus in the United States. This response should encompass travel restrictions, shelter-in-place policies, healthcare infrastructure reinforcement, recruitment of medical personnel, and economic relief measures.

Travel Restrictions and Border Control

Immediate and stringent travel restrictions should have been imposed to limit the entry of individuals from high-risk areas. This would involve screening passengers at airports, seaports, and land borders, as well as implementing mandatory quarantine for those exhibiting symptoms or coming from affected regions. Collaboration with international health organizations and sharing information with other countries is crucial for effective border control

Shelter-in-Place and Stay-at-Home Policies

Early implementation of shelter-in-place and stay-at-home policies would have been vital to reduce community transmission. These measures should be imposed in areas with confirmed cases and where community spread is likely. Public awareness campaigns emphasizing the importance of social distancing, hand hygiene, and wearing masks should be launched to ensure compliance.

Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure

To address the potential surge in COVID-19 cases, it is crucial to rapidly establish make-shift hospitals and increase the production of essential medical supplies such as ventilators, masks, gloves, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Collaborations with private industries should be initiated to mobilize resources and expedite production.

Recruiting Medical Personnel

To augment the healthcare workforce, strategies such as bringing retired healthcare professionals back into service and expediting the graduation of medical students should be implemented. Temporary licensure and streamlined certification processes can be established to fast-track the inclusion of qualified personnel into the workforce.

Economic Relief Measures

Given the economic impact of stay-at-home orders, comprehensive economic relief policies should be implemented to support individuals and businesses affected by the pandemic. This includes direct financial assistance, expanded unemployment benefits, small business grants, and loan forgiveness programs. Ensuring timely and efficient distribution of relief funds is crucial to mitigate the financial burden on individuals and stabilize the economy.

Conclusion

In responding to the coronavirus outbreak, it is essential to adopt a comprehensive and proactive approach. The policy recommendations outlined above encompass travel restrictions, shelter-in-place policies, healthcare infrastructure reinforcement, recruitment of medical personnel, and economic relief measures. By implementing these recommendations in a timely and efficient manner, the United States can effectively curb the spread of the virus, protect its citizens, and mitigate the social and economic consequences of the pandemic.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html
2. World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Updated WHO Recommendations for International Traffic in Relation to COVID-19 Outbreak. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/articles-detail/updated-who-recommendations-for-international-traffic-in-relation-to-covid-19-outbreak
3. National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2020). COVID-19 Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7228705/
4. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). (2020). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2763852
5. New England Journal of Medicine. (2020). Mobilizing the Health Care Workforce during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Retrieved from https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2006141
6. American Medical Association (AMA). (2020). AMA Applauds Legislation to Reduce Regulatory Obstacles during COVID-19. Retrieved from https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-applauds-legislation-reduce-regulatory-obstacles-covid-19
7. Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). (2020). New AAMC Data Confirms Looming Physician Shortage as COVID-19 Continues to Surge. Retrieved from https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/press-releases/new-aamc-data-confirms-looming-physician-shortage
8. U.S. Department of the Treasury. (2021). Economic Impact Payments. Retrieved from https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares
9. Congressional Research Service (CRS). (2021). COVID-19 Economic Relief: Unemployment Insurance. Retrieved from https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11275