In the midst of a national crisis, public officials should provide clear and consistent guidelines, utilizing the latest available data. However, throughout the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, multiple politicians have given conflicting signals, often amounting to outright hypocrisy. In the realm of travel restrictions and social distancing, politicians from both parties have changed their tune, while ignoring the lessons learned from COVID-19 outbreaks in other countries and advice from the scientific community.
In the months following the implementation of President Trump’s travel restrictions, multiple media outlets and Democratic Party figures attacked them as a hysteric promotion of xenophobia. Democratic congressman Eliot L. Engel stated “The United States and other countries around the world have put in place unprecedented travel restrictions in response to the virus. These measures have not proven to improve public health outcomes, rather they tend to cause economic harm and to stoke racist and discriminatory responses to this epidemic.” The presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden tweeted after the announcement of new travel restrictions on those who recently traveled to China “We need to lead the way with science – not Donald Trump’s record of hysteria, xenophobia, and fear-mongering.” Despite such criticisms early on, the Trump administration imposed further travel restrictions on European countries affected by COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases and a member of the president’s Coronavirus Task Force, applauded the implementation of foreign travel restrictions. In an interview with ABC News, Dr. Fauci stated, “…the president’s decision to essentially have a major blocking of travel from China, that already had an effect of not seeding the way, in Europe.” In that same interview, he added that the purpose of travel restrictions will be to mitigate the number of imported cases of the virus. After hearing the support of public health officials for travel restrictions, Democratic lawmakers and media figures have largely abandoned criticism of the measure. Joe Biden’s campaign changed its position, saying since April 3rd that the former vice president supports President Trump’s travel restrictions for foreign nationals entering the United States.
Another area in which some politicians have failed to give clarity to the American people has been social distancing. Although most of the country has adopted this measure, multiple politicians ignored it, some as recently as March 5th, when New York City mayor, Bill DeBlasio, took a ride in the NYC subway system to calm New Yorkers. Even in early February, city officials encouraged people to participate in the Lunar New Year celebrations. Councilman Mark D. Levine tweeted a photo of thousands of New Yorkers gathered to celebrate the Lunar New Year, saying, “In powerful show of defiance of coronavirus scare, huge crowds gathering in NYC’s Chinatown for ceremony ahead of annual Lunar New Year parade. Chants of ‘Be Strong Wuhan!’ If you are staying away, you are missing out.” NYC Health Commissioner, Oxiris Barbot, did not dissuade New Yorkers from taking the subways, saying, “There is no risk at this point in time — we are always learning more — about having it being transmitted in casual contact. We’re telling New Yorkers, go about your lives, take the subway, go out, enjoy life, but practice everyday precautions.” However, large gatherings and the use of public transport is something federal health officials have discouraged. Even in early March, the White House Coronavirus Task Force released guidelines on slowing the spread of COVID-19, including limiting gatherings of people to ten or fewer, as well as staying at home if possible. Despite these guidelines, even some Republican politicians have ignored warnings about social gatherings by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) officials. Georgia governor, Brian Kemp, only issued a stay-at-home order on April 3rd, claiming he just learned that asymptomatic individuals can transmit the virus. However, that could not be the case, as C.D.C. director Dr. Robert Redfield said as early as mid-February that asymptomatic transmission was still possible. Such mixed signaling between federal officials and state/municipal governments only creates more confusion when the American people need a unified set of guidelines, not a mixed salad of clashing directives.
In politics, it is expected that politicians and government officials switch positions as time goes on. However, in the midst of a nationwide battle against the invisible enemy, COVID-19, it is unacceptable for public figures, media outlets, and politicians to send mixed signals to their constituents and fellow citizens. In an ever-increasing environment of fear and uncertainty, our officials should be expected to give clear, guided instruction, instead of switching policies to save their reputations.
