Trump’s Failure to Scale Testing is Prolonging This Health and Economic Crisis

While President Trump and Governor DeSantis consult with business executives, health experts are sounding the alarm that testing needs to be dramatically expanded before safely relaxing social distancing measures. According to Harvard researchers, testing nationally and in Florida needs to more than triple prior to effectively reopening the economy. Despite health experts’ concerns, Trump still does not have a plan to institute mass national testing.

Trump’s broken promises on testing by the numbers:

• 48 days since Trump falsely claimed that “anybody who wants a test can get a test.”
• 33 days since the Trump administration promised they would have 27 million tests by April 1st — as of yesterday, they have completed just 4.2 million tests.
• Testing in the U.S. has plateaued at around 145,000 tests a day, roughly one third of the tests health experts say is needed to reopen the economy

As DeSantis listens to big business executives, Florida Democrats highlight warnings from health experts to increase testing:

• WFSU: Doctor Warns To Not Open State As COVID-19 Peak Date Remains Uncertain
• Florida Politics: As Governor readies task force to reopen state, Florida Democrats say health experts should lead
• WMFE: Florida Democratic Leaders Call on More Testing Before States Reopens
• Sarasota Herald Tribune: Coronavirus Florida: Democrats want lockdown maintained until testing improves