The U.S. Didn’t Need 50 Different Covid-19 Strategies
Late-acting governors’ varying public health measures demonstrate the problem with White House inaction.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey changed his mind about keeping nail salons open.
Photographer: Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump says his constitutional principles don’t allow him to issue national rules on social distancing to curtail the coronavirus pandemic. “Legally, I can,” he tried to explain earlier this month, “but morally, I — you know, I believe in our Constitution, much more so than most people.”
“Guidelines” have been all he’s willing to offer. That’s a problem because, in the absence of strong national leadership, the individual states have come up with a variety of strategies — many of them filtered through a political lens. This has put more people than necessary at risk of contracting Covid-19, and better enabled the virus to spread from state to state.