Trump was too slow in virus response: poll

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 16: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the daily briefing of the White House Coronavirus Task Force in the briefing room at the White House April 16, 2020 in Washington, DC. President Trump unveiled his administrations plans to ease social distancing requirements during a call earlier with the nation’s governors. Alex Wong/Getty Images/AFP

Nearly two-thirds of Americans say President Donald Trump was too slow in taking major steps to address the threat to the United States from new coronavirus, a poll published on Thursday said.

According to the Pew Research Center, 65 percent said Trump was tardy in responding when cases of the COVID-19 illness were first reported in other countries.

He initially downplayed the virus and has been keen to end the resulting lockdowns which have crippled the world’s largest economy.

coronavirus emerged in China in late December. On January 21 US officials announced the country’s first case, and other cases began emerging outside China leading the World Health Organization on January 30 to declare a “public health emergency of international concern.”

Trump, who boasted in January that “we have it totally under control,” did not declare a government initiative to “slow the spread” until March 16.

The United States has more coronavirus deaths — in excess of 30,000 on Thursday — than any other country, according to Johns Hopkins.

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