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.
TORONTO – Strength in the base metal and technology sectors helped Canada’s main stock index gain almost 100 points on Friday, while U.S. stock markets also climbed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 93.51 points at 23,568.65.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 297.01 points at 41,393.78. The S&P 500 index was up 30.26 points at 5,626.02, while the Nasdaq composite was up 114.30 points at 17,683.98.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.61 cents US compared with 73.58 cents US on Thursday.
The October crude oil contract was down 32 cents at US$68.65 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was down five cents at US$2.31 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$30.10 at US$2,610.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents US$4.24 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, rose 0.4 per cent to $82.7 billion in July.
The increase came as sales in the miscellaneous subsector gained three per cent to reach $10.5 billion in July, helped by strength in the agriculture supplies industry group, which rose 9.2 per cent.
The food, beverage and tobacco subsector added 1.7 per cent to total $15 billion in July.
The personal and household goods subsector fell 2.5 per cent to $12.1 billion.
In volume terms, overall wholesale sales rose 0.5 per cent in July.
Statistics Canada started including oilseed and grain as well as the petroleum and petroleum products subsector as part of wholesale trade last year, but is excluding the data from monthly analysis until there is enough historical data.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 150 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in the base metal and energy sectors, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 172.18 points at 23,383.35.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 34.99 points at 40,826.72. The S&P 500 index was up 10.56 points at 5,564.69, while the Nasdaq composite was up 74.84 points at 17,470.37.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.55 cents US compared with 73.59 cents US on Wednesday.
The October crude oil contract was up $2.00 at US$69.31 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up five cents at US$2.32 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$40.00 at US$2,582.40 an ounce and the December copper contract was up six cents at US$4.20 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
