President Trump
Donald John TrumpCampaigns face attack ad dilemma amid coronavirus crisis Outgoing inspector general says Trump fired him for carrying out his ‘legal obligations’ Trump hits Illinois governor after criticism: ‘I hear him complaining all the time’ MORE has to balance the intensely-competing demands of public health and economic well-being while battling the coronavirus pandemic. Antibody tests could prove to be the secret weapon that lets us win the war against this invisible enemy.
The administration’s “response” to the coronavirus pandemic involves several interlocking responsibilities, and we’re still a ways away from putting this crisis behind us. But an effective antibody test could significantly accelerate the timetable for returning to normalcy.
The [resident’s first and most important job was to lead the nation’s efforts to slow the spread of this virus and save American lives — something he began doing immediately by imposing travel restrictions on coronavirus hotspots. Through daily briefings on public health guidelines from the White House Coronavirus Task Force, along with the historic mobilization of both public and private resources, we’re steadily bringing this deadly disease to heel.
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Second, the federal government had to formulate a drastic economic policy response to ensure that this public health crisis does not lead to a depression, which could ultimately have even more devastating consequences for the American people. The Cares Act — the biggest relief package in American history — is the largest, but by no means the only element of the Trump administration’s strategy for softening the blow of an economic disruption that has already left around 10 million Americans without a job.
The president’s third and final responsibility is to formulate and eventually execute a plan to get our economy and our society running again once the current restrictions on business and personal travel are no longer needed. This responsibility has never been far from President Trump’s mind, and while he’s been criticized by his political opponents for mentioning it, he knows that reminding people of the light at the end of the tunnel is crucial to maintaining public morale.
President Trump and his team have repeatedly highlighted one specific element of the restart plan: antibody testing — the ability to quickly and easily test who has had the virus and developed the antibody necessary to resist the deadly disease it causes. Once an antibody test is widely available, it could soon be possible to know who can safely return to their normal lives without risk of infecting themselves or others.
The Food and Drug Administration has, with historic rapidity, approved an antibody test for home use. It will, in very short order, be mass produced — giving medical professionals an entirely new set of data on the pandemic. Despite a perplexing degree of baseless pessimism in the media, antibody testing could ultimately provide the blueprint for getting America’s economy working again if we confirm that immunity to this virus works as expected.
Admiral Brett Giroir, the President’s point-man for coronavirus testing, said he is “very optimistic” that the simple blood test could be made available to millions of Americans as early as May. Those unlikely to spread the virus would no longer have to be confined to their homes. Companies could ascertain which employees can safely return to work and get operations back in order while those who lack antibodies — especially those from high-risk populations — remain in self-quarantine until the worst of the pandemic has passed.
As President Trump and his team continue to balance the twin priorities of public health and economic stability, widespread availability of an antibody test could well prove to be the decisive factor that enables us to defeat the coronavirus while minimizing the loss of both lives and livelihoods.
Madison Gesiotto is an attorney who serves with the advisory board of the Donald Trump campaign. You can follow her on Twitter @MadisonGesiotto.
