I am not blaming Trump for not having stocked up on equipment and supplies for the past 3 years. I am blaming him for ignoring the problem and saying it would miraculously disappear for 6 critical weeks that would have made a significant difference in the final outcome of this crisis (and for continuing to not take a leadership role in the crisis as we speak).

He didn't need to order 5 billion N95 masks on January 1st. But by early February there were enough signs that there should have been major planning for *at least* potentially mobilizing procurement of equipment like that, so that as things worsened around the world by the 3rd week in February, orders were ready to be placed with contingencies already planned in case of global supply chain disruption, etc. Not just ignoring the problem and waiting until mid-March to place the first national bulk order.

Similar steps and planning should have been taken for procuring ventilators and other equipment, planning for national guidelines around types of localized lockdowns that would be needed and what events would trigger putting them in place, etc.

The screaming for testing from experts was very loud throughout February, so much so that by March 2nd the administration announced we would have capacity for 1 million tests by the end of that week because of the pressure they felt on that front. Yet we only got to 1 million tests total completed on March 30 -- 4 weeks later. There were numerous failures along the testing path, but a leader who was paying attention instead of dismissing the virus would have understood that need and insisted as a top priority that the government get that figured out ASAP (like other countries found a way to do but we somehow didn't).

The argument is not that he/the administration should have been perfectly prepared and stocked and have the country locked down by Jan 31 as the only way to avoid where we are now. That would be a stupid argument. The problem is completely dismissing and ignoring the virus for 6 critical weeks (Feb + early Mar) when planning and different stages of implementation should have been taking place before we got to where we are now. For a virus that spreads exponentially, every single day of delay makes a difference. 6 weeks makes an exponential difference. That is the point.