This week will be an interesting one.
On one hand, we hear the WH saying this upcoming week will be brutal. On the other, increased testing is providing data that while COVID-19 is bad, it isn't Spanish Flu bad. Whether that's the result of isolation measures or actual severity (or a combination of things) is still up for debate. HOWEVER....
I can't help but wonder if the "two hands" (see, paragraph above) aren't contradictory. Is it possible that Trump is "leading and pacing" to juggle the opposing views (i.e., "it's bad" and "it's nothing") to get us thru this week with the goal of easing up restrictions on/about Easter (as he promised a couple of weeks back). This would be masterful; addressing the concerns of the opposing views and taking the political advantage away from those who are using COVID-19 as a political weapon against him.
What's causing me to consider this potential play by Trump is the increasing number of folks who are saying things like this:
EDITOR’S NOTE: An expert in public health emergency preparedness who has advised the CDC, George Avery, submitted this essay to The College Fix. The former Purdue University professor of public health…
www.thecollegefix.com
And this:
The only crisis here is a the critical of leadership and nerves and the irresponsibility of the modelers
www.redstate.com
EDIT: Let me add this:
True numbers of Americans hospitalized with coronavirus appear to be tens of thousands lower than model's projections.
justthenews.com
In other words, Trump had to do something (especially IF the virus was as bad as initially reported). But he didn't have to go overboard. And that's what I keep seeing from his daily pressers: that he resists going fill-on dictator.
Regardless, Trump can claim "victory" against his political enemies either way. This is not to minimize the health aspect of COVID-19; simply to acknowledge and ponder the political aspect (important on any given day, more important in that this is a presidential election year). One reason why I thought this was worth posting:
forums.somd.com
Anyway, sorry for the rambling, random-ish thoughts. I give it one more week. If the numbers aren't as terrible as Trump "primed" us to believe they will be I'm betting restrictions start easing (in some form or fashion) by (initial) Tax Day. And if they are as bad, then Trump still has room to maneuver.
--- End of line (MCP)