November 12, 2020 at 2:55 AM EST
Opinion: A fall coronavirus disaster is already here. We can’t wait until Inauguration Day to act.
By Richard Danzig, James Lawler and Thomas P. Bossert
Richard Danzig served as secretary of the Navy under President Bill Clinton. James Lawler is an infectious-disease physician and co-director of the Global Center for Health Security at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Thomas P. Bossert served as homeland security adviser under President Trump.
The last days have brought some good news in the United States’ fight against the coronavirus. President-elect Joe Biden is engaging experts likely to produce improved plans. Pfizer announced evidence that its vaccine is effective. The Trump administration may soon authorize emergency use of this vaccine.
These achievements will be too late.
Our brains are not wired to easily comprehend geometric growth. Epidemic waves grow slowly at first but progress to massive acceleration and momentum. On the present trajectory, before we inaugurate a new president and before we deploy vaccines, the United States will experience unprecedented trauma from the coronavirus.
