I love the cartoons, the emails and
texts – people supporting each other. I am in awe of the medical professionals
putting themselves at risk to mount triage and treatment centers. For those
locked away in laboratories, computer sequencing COVID-19’s genetic code and
generating prospective treatments and vaccines, I am truly humbled. To the
Hollywood costume designers turning out in droves to make protective masks, I
say “thank you.” I offer every delivery person bringing a package to my door
the ability to get a squirt of hand sanitizer. I hear the sirens of first
responders doing their jobs. I know that there are farmers, warehouse workers,
truckers and grocery and pharmacy workers who understand how critical their
jobs really are. The anonymous government bureaucrats, head down and dedicated
to the task at hand – working past the chaos at the top – and our precious
military personnel taking risks but working hard for the rest of us, are
profoundly to be admired and respected. And so many others.
But then I see the crowds at the Los
Angeles beaches (just closed), those wandering in large groups along the banks
of the Potomac to admire the spring flush of cherry blossoms, the spring
breakers on the few remaining open beaches, hikers in large groups in available
parks (rapidly closing). Safe distancing? Hardly. Sheltering in place?
Obviously not. Perhaps if these individuals were just making decisions for
themselves, I just might understand. But they have become COVID-19’s cadre of
infection delivery men and women (and children), able to bring that virus to
those who did not vote to take that risk. Parents, people already in harm’s way
doing their jobs, children and grandparents. Germany decided that, outside of those
in a common household, two people were the biggest casual group allowed. For
those who ignore the risks: Arrogant. Ignorant. Selfish.
I watch on Amazon as my favorite
instant oatmeal doubles, then triples in price. Surgical masks that cost under
a dollar each now selling, even in bulk and even to needy government buyers, at
seven times that. Toilet paper and paper towels? Hand sanitizer? Televangelist
Jim Baker fraudulently selling a silver solution to kill the virus (pictured
above)? And those few doctors, living up to Donald Trump’s on camera admission
that those with connections would get the first and best treatments, ready to
make a buck from those who can afford to pay. It might not even be technically
price gouging, which is illegal in California. But…
“As people across the country were
unable to get tested for COVID-19, a Santa Monica pediatrician emailed the
parents of his patients with a pricey but tempting offer… For $250, they could
buy a cheek-swab test for the virus to be administered at home, Dr. Jay Gordon
wrote. The tests could be purchased by his patients’ parents even if they
showed no symptoms or had no other reason to fear they were infected. Insurance
most likely wouldn’t cover the cost, he wrote… Because he was getting only 100
kits, he asked that testing be limited to family members and ‘household staff.’…
Gordon said he sold out almost immediately and has ordered hundreds more…
“But some private physicians and ‘concierge’
doctors are offering tests to their patients at a price. It’s hard to know how
widespread the practice is, but it has sparked outrage as celebrities and
professional athletes without symptoms have gotten tested while others of
lesser means wait… Gordon said he is selling the tests to his clients because
he has a duty to give them the best medical care possible. ‘I think it’s in the
best interests of my patients,’ he said… Gordon — who has drawn criticism for
defending the rights of parents who want to delay or refuse vaccinations for
their children — said he believed the lack of testing was going to get ‘much,
much worse.’
“Some physicians are skeptical that
all the tests being offered are effective and criticize doctors who are
charging fees for clients who want to be tested and have the money to pay… The
Food and Drug Administration on Friday publicly warned that it has not
authorized any at-home tests for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel
coronavirus…
“In Beverly Hills, Dr. David
Nazarian, a primary care physician, said he’s been receiving an influx of calls
since the coronavirus outbreak hit the U.S. But because he has a concierge
medical practice — meaning he limits his clientele to “influential people,
A-list celebrities, and CEOs” in exchange for more personalized care — he has
been granting tests only to his existing clients… Nazarian’s yearly membership
fee starts at $5,500 and can go up to $10,000.
“About a month ago, when COVID-19
cases were still primarily occurring overseas, Nazarian began looking into
obtaining extra nasopharyngeal swabs and viral transport mediums — the
materials needed to test for the coronavirus. As a result, he had about 50
available for his patients, which were administered during house calls by
nurses wearing protective gear.
‘Because of a ‘massive shortage’ of testing
kits, however, Nazarian decided to place an order for the rapid-test kits he
said have been used in China and South Korea that produce results in a matter
of minutes, not days… Nazarian said he expected the rapid tests, which involve
taking blood samples, to arrive from China over the weekend, at which point he
hopes to open a drive-through testing option available to any person willing to
pay about $500 or $600.
“‘We have had a lot of new patients
contact us who money wasn’t a factor for; they were willing to pay whatever was
needed,’ he said. ‘But we’re not looking at this time in regards to ‘How can we
make more money doing testing?’ or ‘Who we can charge more to do a test.’ It’s
actually really trying to take care of the patients we already have and then
figuring out how we can increase testing and do things for the good of the
community.’” Los Angeles Times, March 23rd.
The President tells us that while he
invoked the wartime emergency manufacturing control Defense Production Act, while
he could force able companies to manufacture necessities, he would probably
rely on voluntary corporate action and allow the “free market” to set prices.
Prices for basics which taxpayers will have to accept.
“Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, who said he
was a voluntary clinical consultant with KorvaLabs… said that notions about
free testing being available are an ‘illusion’ and that Americans have been
unwilling to fund a healthcare system that might have been better prepared for
the crisis… ‘We need to rely on the free market for our health response,’
Klausner said. ‘That’s America.’” LA Times.
Republicans and Democrats on the Hill
battle for a much-needed stimulus package. Republicans emphasize bailing out
and supporting big institutions, with token payments to individuals, while
Democrats are drilling down on people first, institutions later. While all are
sure a bill would pass, it was equally clear that rich powerful interests would
ultimately be served first and most. “Asked if he would swear off receiving
assistance for his own businesses, Trump demurred, saying that ‘it cost me
billions and billions of dollars to be president’ and that he had gotten no
credit for declining his annual salary.
“[Senate Majority Leader Mitch] McConnell
[R-KY] was in a less conciliatory mood than Trump, blaming Schumer and House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) for derailing bipartisan negotiations… ‘We’re
fiddling here, fiddling with the emotions of the American people, fiddling with
the markets, fiddling with our healthcare.’” Makes you feel warm and fuzzy
inside, doesn’t it? Americans just might have to weather this crisis with each
other, looking for the good in most of us… but we need to start thinking like
Americans again. As for our “leadership,” you decide.
I’m
Peter Dekom, and you can expect swift Congressional action because they all
want to get out of Dodge, where some of their own members have tested positive
for CV-19.
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