Biden to ABC's David Muir: 'I would shut country down' to prevent spread of COVID-19 if scientists

[TomCADem]

Source: ABC News

Former Vice President Joe Biden said in an exclusive interview with ABC "World News Tonight" Anchor David Muir on Friday that as president, he would shut the country down to stop the spread of COVID-19 if the move was recommended to him by scientists.

“I would shut it down; I would listen to the scientists,” Biden told Muir Friday, alongside his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., during their first joint interview since officially becoming the Democratic Party’s presidential and vice presidential nominees.

Biden also criticized what he argued is the “fundamental flaw” of the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, that the nation cannot begin to recover economically until the virus and public health emergency is under control.

“I will be prepared to do whatever it takes to save lives because we cannot get the country moving, until we control the virus,” Biden said. “That is the fundamental flaw of this administration's thinking to begin with. In order to keep the country running and moving and the economy growing, and people employed, you have to fix the virus, you have to deal with the virus.”

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-abcs-david-muir-shut-country-prevent-spread/story?id=72519690

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Biden is right. I have not eaten out at a restaurant since the March due to the pandemic. I have ordered takeout, but I do not want to catch or spread COVID. That is the thing. I actually do think that most people are being more careful then what prevailing law requires. Think of the Trump rally where very few people showed. Even many Trumpsters are going to think twice about going into a jam packed arena, which is why the RNC had to back out of its plans to hold an in-person convention in Jacksonville.

[rzemanfl]

1. I have not eaten in a restaurant since before March, nor had a haircut. I've been in a total of

four different stores for necessities since March. I used to swim or work out every day. Now I sometimes don't leave the yard for days. I cancelled dental cleanings and my regular visit to the doctor. Biden is absolutely right. People have to stay in place until the virus can be brought under control. Anything else is going to fail.

[onetexan]

14. Bingo

[ProfessorGAC]

18. Same Here

My pony tail is about 10 inches long now.
My wife & a friend went to an outdoor restaurant in June but that was it. Me, none.
When dental check & cleaning came up, they were closed, and I never rescheduled.
And, I've had no need for the doctor. My scrips don't need to be rewritten until January. I've felt just fine.
Stores & the golf course are about the only places is go, and I don't hang out in the clubhouse.
Walk in (masked) get key to cart, play, mask on, return key, go home.

[rzemanfl]

19. I hope you wipe stuff down. n/t

[IronLionZion]

2. If they had taken the actions that many Asian countries took,

our economy would have opened up completely by now and thousands more Americans would be alive, enjoying freedom and jobs and whatever again. Asian countries opened up months ago. They have big concerts and sports events again. Their schools and restaurants are open.

US got its first COVID case the same day as South Korea.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

3. Cart before the horse

They said, we have to get our economy back open.
They said people have to get back to work.
They said our kids have to get back to school.

As if we are in control.

Until we starve this virus, it is in control.
We don’t get to tell it how things are. It tells us how things are.

[IronLionZion]

4. They promised to make America great again

and Americans would get sick of winning.

[ancianita]

6. Good god. I'm sick of their winning.

[Lock him up.]

5. By late January early February 2021, there could be a vaccine available...

So if it is right on the timeclock, and it's widely distributed for FREE, there could be no need to shut down. The media are trying to scare people who don't want another shutdown because they want a hor$e race for more profit$.

https://news.yahoo.com/9-reasons-optimistic-vaccine-covid-121929172.html

RICO the tRump MOB

[Buckeye_Democrat]

7. There's a fundamental flaw with most Republicans too.

They're far more likely to start with what they WANT to be true, then collect information (true or not) to argue in support of it.

Democrats are more likely to first seek reality, then apply their wants and goals to that situation.

[BigmanPigman]

8. GOOD!

I'm sick of playing around with not taking this 100% seriously, nationwide. I have had a fever for a week and got a Covid test (I didn't think it was Covid since I rarely have gone out and wear a real N95 when I do). I shouldn't have to be fearful of visiting my 86 year old mom and I shouldn't have to search high and low for a damn test this far into the pandemic. This is total BS. All those anti-maskers' selfish attitude "I want my freedumb to make people sick and die" is keeping us from living our lives too. I am sick and tired of them! Go Joe!

[Warpy]

9. This will be blown out of proportion, dumbasses don't do subordinate clauses

and all Pox will tell them is that Biden says he'll shut the country down.

Oh, Joe, you need to start with the scientists, not the consequences.

[onetexan]

10. Regardless of what Biden says the Repugs will spin it negatively. What he says is correct.

Can't spin the fact the country needs to be shut down, given that is what the scientists have been telling us.

[Warpy]

12. Actually, following the protocols in San Francisco in the winter of 1918-1919

would probably be adequate: they shut down schools, theaters, saloons, churches, and every other place that would draw a crowd. Masks were mandated in public and scofflaws who got belligerent about it got shot.

I don't think we want anyone shot today, but throwing them in the clink until they changed their minds might work.

That was the worst winter for flu deaths and San Francisco escaped with only a few cases. That summer the laws were abandoned and the city was hit hard the following year, but the 1919-1920 strain wasn't quite as deadly.

Shutting everything down is just not an option. More people would die from lack of food, water, heat, health care and other services than would be killed by the virus.

[onetexan]

13. shutting everything down means nonessential services only

Medical personnel, firemen, groceries stores, etc.

[Warpy]

15. That covers one hell of a lot of people and the disease will still spread

Everything shut down here in March and the disease still spread. We got a mandatory mask law in June, with fines for scofflaws, and it spread more slowly. We had under 100 cases statewide two days last week, then the weekend exposure put it up to 150/day for a couple of days. To me, that says masking is working.

At this point, slowing it down is the best we can do until a vaccine comes out. Here, our schools are closed and most of the spread seems to be coming from scofflaw churches and house parties on the weekend.

Another heavy handed lockdown is going to be counterproductive. People are already on their last nerve. There is no way to stop this without a vaccine, and that has likely been true from the beginning, since cases here were found from December.

[onetexan]

16. You're entitled to your opinion. There's no vaccine yet the other countries have been able to do it.

Rings a bell?

[Warpy]

17. It's more than opinion.

Those other countries are seeing increased cases now. This thing is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.

Slowing it down is the best we can do. Lockdowns are not going to work because too many people will not be affected. Well, unless you want to do without water for a month or so. That'll work, dehydration kills in 4-5 days and if we're all dead, the virus won't spread any more.

[Yavin4]

11. NY provides the example that supports Biden's position on this.

Our governor followed what the scientists told him to do, and we went from the worst outbreak in the nation to now being the 5th in total cases. Our positive rate is under 1% and has been that way for a few weeks now.

The virus can be controlled if everyone adapts certain behaviors.