With Covid and Trump Both Raging, Governors Face Pandemic Alone

[left-of-center2012]

With a Covid vaccine months away and a distracted, lame-duck president, governors are stirring as America’s first line of defense against the pandemic’s winter onslaught.

The pending departure of President Donald Trump, who has scoffed at the disease’s potency, could provide cover for strict new measures. The Republican leaders of Nebraska, Maryland, Utah, Ohio and Iowa tightened virus restrictions for their states this week, and Democrats warned residents of difficult months ahead. Many have little choice but to act, as the virus sets daily records and reality sets in among constituents.

“We may see governors that haven’t been as aggressive forced to take actions they haven’t wanted to,” said Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. “The big thing that’s going to come up is when hospital systems begin to reach capacity. That’s a very dangerous situation that no one wants to find themselves in.”

Governors face wrenching choices in gathering and apportioning supplies and an eventual vaccine, keeping economies on life support and cajoling voters to wear masks and stay home -- again. Public-health experts and some state officials said President-elect Joe Biden could take some of the burden when he assumes office Jan. 20, having made a strong national response his main issue.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-12/with-covid-and-trump-both-raging-governors-face-pandemic-alone?srnd=politics-vp

[RainCaster]

1. Governors have never been able to rely on the Trump White House

This is nothing new, many governors have banded together in an informal manner to work for their citizenry. Quite often, hey have to keep the DFT administration unaware of what they are doing to avoid counteractions.