Hours before he was released’ from hospital on Monday to be diagnosed with the coronavirus, President Trump tweeted his thoughts on the epidemic that has killed 210,000 Americans, saying don't panic.
On Twitter, supporters of the president
praised his power and praised his message, calling him "our beloved
president" and "the best president!"
But for many families who have lost loved
ones to the disease, as well as to first responders and other advocates, the
response has been very different. Many of them criticized the president's
equestrian sentiment and warned that it could worsen the situation.
Brian Walter, a transit worker who lost
his father to the virus in New York City, told ABC News in a statement that
Trump's advice to people not to be afraid of the coronavirus
"hurts."
"This worries me for all the families
who will still face the loss of a loved one because our president refuses to
take this epidemic seriously," he said.
Walter is a member of the Survivors
Network and advocacy group COVID Change for Survivors, which is putting
millions of Americans at risk of contracting an epidemic. On Sunday, the group
set up 20,000 empty chairs across the White House lawn to mark the nation's
COVID-19 deaths.
Chris Kutcher, executive director for the
COVID family, said in a statement that he was harassed’ by Trump's tweet
because he could get the best health care and treatment in the world.
Trump's doctors told the press that he had
been given’ a number of drugs, including an antibody coccyx, remedies and
steroids.
"The virus, which has been living
with the symptoms of COVID-19 for months, is terrible. Trump doesn't care, and
he's still not passing on his family," Kocher said in a statement.
Susan R. Bailey, president of the American
Medical Association, urged Americans to continue to warn doctors and health
professionals.
"We know that the best response to
the CoVID-19 epidemic is vigilance because the virus does not arise out of
fear, it nurtures autonomy," he said in a statement.
Lisa Billings, a New York City nurse who
infected her brother with the disease and is also a member of the converted
COVID family, criticized Trump's move on the virus.
"I have seen medical teams fight like
hell to save patients from Covid-19. And often, this deadly and powerful virus
wins," he told ABC News in a statement.
Billings called Trump's message of not
being afraid of the virus "a slap in the face to all those who lost their
loved ones in Code 19, as well as to all of us who lined up our lives to save
others." I stand. "
"This is a sad and dangerous comment
that will do nothing to stop this terrible epidemic, and could make it
worse," he said.
Kristin Urquiza, speaking in Arizona
Democratic Voice, blamed the Democratic National Convention and Trump's
rhetoric for her father's death from the coronavirus. "At the moment, we
should only be afraid of you," Urquiza tweeted, quoting the president's
message.
In a statement sent to ABC News late
Monday evening, Urquiza said Trump is looking strong instead of focusing on
helping the nation through the crisis.
"It's clearer than ever that Trump
doesn't care about anyone but himself," he said.
Without directly quoting the president's
tweet, former vice president Joe Biden told a crowd in Miami that the president
should talk to scientists and medical experts about the dangers of infectious
diseases.
He said more than 100,000 Americans have
contracted the virus since he was diagnosed with President David on Friday.
"I hope the president's recovery is
fast and successful," Biden said, "but our nation's code crisis is
far from over."
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