3 ms·

Trump closed the borders at the end of January when we first got word of the virus. That's a pretty strong action imo

• ygjb 7y ago
  China, Iran, and South Korea don't stamp passports. If a traveler from one of those countries wants to bypass a "closed border" they can simply connect through an unblocked country. An interview might reveal that the traveler came from an affected region, but someone working to bypass border restrictions is probably less inclined to answer those questions honestly. Couple that with the fact that traveling to a country with far fewer cases and is not under quarantine related lock-downs, and being sick in another country but getting treatment, even if it's expensive, might be a compelling option when people in your home country are dying because there aren't enough facilities to care for them. It's a pretty shitty moral perspective, but it is a perfectly valid individual perspective. This is one of the reasons why the WHO pointed out early on that increased screening at borders was more effective, and why closing borders may actually accelerate the spread of the disease. Closing the borders wasn't a strong action, it was a misguided action intended to look strong and play well with the Republican base, and was the first in a string of shitty mistakes that the US Government, and other organizations within the US have made in handling this crisis.
  • derision 7y ago
    There's no interview necessary. If the plane comes from an country of interest it doesn't matter if it's connecting or not. I disagree that it's not a strong action