Embarrassment for Trump after Mocking Opponent for Wearing Mask

President Donald Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis stunned the world.

Ever since March, when the novel coronavirus pandemic exploded in the U.S., Trump has consistently tried to play down its threat. Even after more than 200,000 people died, he maintained that the pandemic would get under control and the economy would restart.

In fact, not only was Trump ridiculously incorrect, but his impaired health has thrown the U.S., and the world, into crisis.

Trump is a 74-year-old male with a body mass index above 30, a level that extends into obesity. Of the three risk factors that can affect the severity of a coronavirus infection, his age and weight are the most worrying. He was screened for the virus because an aide recently tested positive. In Trump’s case, the virus is likely still in the incubation period, and symptoms may appear in a few days. After British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tested positive for COVID-19, he initially isolated at his residence but was hospitalized after three days.

Although the rate of severe coronavirus infections is 20%, that number increases to 40% among older people, and obesity increases that risk at least 1 1/2 times. Therefore, the risk of Trump experiencing a severe infection is as high as 60%. As soon as lung inflammation occurs, he will have to be hospitalized for treatment and will not be able to remain at the White House. Half of the coronavirus patients who are hospitalized with severe symptoms are admitted to intensive care because of near respiratory failure. Thus, the probability that Trump will be admitted to intensive care, and even intubated, is as high as 30%.*

What is most worrying is that the mortality rate of severely ill coronavirus patients in intensive care might be as high as 50%; the probability that Trump dies of the disease is therefore at least 15%. Although Trump looks healthy, he unexpectedly underwent a hospital examination last November; other chronic diseases would increase his risk of severe illness and death.

Even if Trump is not seriously affected by the disease, he will still at least need to quarantine for two weeks, a huge factor that will affect the presidential election, which is one month away. If he needs to be hospitalized, and even intubated, there will be a problem as to who assumes his responsibilities, throwing the already chaotic nation into further upheaval and making pandemic prevention even more difficult.

Trump’s diagnosis is a painful footnote to America’s failure in preventing the pandemic. Trump’s underestimation of the virus and scorn for science was central to that failure. East Asia’s experience has shown that by quarantining and wearing masks, the general population can effectively prevent a pandemic. Trump’s rejection of these preventive measures, and his mockery of election opponent Joe Biden for wearing a mask, caused people to shake their heads in dismay.

On the surface, Trump professes that he did not want people to panic with regard to the virus. However, he himself is terrified, as evidenced by the fact he has taken hydroxychloroquine and flown into a rage if people approach too closely. Yet to advance his campaign, he still traveled and held large campaign events. Many Americans have followed his lead by not taking the pandemic seriously, which has caused unnecessary casualties. Trump has only himself to blame for getting infected.

The fact that even the president is infected proves the U.S. must change its prevention strategy. Trump has been repeatedly tested for the virus, and there has been frequent discussion about the country’s testing capacity. However, if no one wears a mask after being tested and does not socially distance, thousands of tests are useless. The lesson for Americans from this pandemic is that no matter how rich and powerful your county is or how advanced your medicine, sacrificing individual freedoms for collective safety remains the key to preventing the virus.

America’s COVID-19 prevention measures and related political struggles are ridiculous and absurd. If the U.S. doesn’t use Trump’s illness as an opportunity to reflect on what is wrong with the country, making America “great again,” as Trump boasts, will be nearly impossible.

*Editor’s note: President Trump was transferred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Oct. 3.