Coronavirus: Was California slow to respond? Here’s one lesson for future pandemics

When Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump start trading compliments instead of insults, you know the situation has become quite serious. The coronavirus pandemic, with its rising death toll, tumbling stock market and palpable public anxiety, has miraculously inspired the two leaders to cordiality.

“Thank you, Gavin. Team is doing a great job!” tweeted Trump after Newsom praised the White House for its support in evacuating coronavirus victims from a cruise ship in Oakland.

For now, at least, the governor and the president find themselves united by a crisis. And, with good reason, a worried American public is wondering why the coronavirus seemed to catch its government unprepared.

Blame game

Evidence suggests that the Trump administration undermined national preparedness by dismantling the White House’s pandemic response team in 2018. His subsequent steps, like calling the virus a “hoax” and delivering a disastrous Oval Office speech on the topic, failed to instill confidence.

Trump’s failures – such as the federal government’s scarcity of coronavirus test kits – become more obvious by the minute. But state and local officials have also drawn rebuke.

For example, the Elk Grove Unified School District received strong criticism for announcing a week-long school closure last Saturday. But the Sacramento City Unified School District was simultaneously criticized by some for keeping its schools open.

Newsom criticized

Gov. Newsom, who declared a state of emergency last week, also faces some coronavirus criticism.

“I don’t understand why the governor hasn’t jumped way ahead of the curve and taken advantage of California’s vast technological, medical and scientific resources,” said Phil Trounstine, who served as communications director to Gov. Gray Davis and is now publisher of Calbuzz. “We should be testing everywhere. As far as I can see, California is way behind the curve.”

In a press conference, Newsom used an analogy to explain the state’s inability to conduct more tests. He compared the kits provided by the federal government to “printers without ink,” casting them as defunct because they lack components necessary to work.

Some might ask why California failed to anticipate such problems. It’s easy to point a finger at Trump but, since California’s leaders naturally expect him to fail, should they share in the blame?

Newsom often refers to California as a “nation-state.” So why do smaller economic engines like Australia and South Korea have more robust coronavirus capabilities?

Hanks infected

In Australia, where married actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were recently diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus, “testing is free and widely available, thanks to early and coordinated planning for a pandemic,” according to The New York Times.

In South Korea, people can get tested for the virus at drive-through clinics. Testing is crucial to identifying infected people and halting the virus’ spread.

Of course, despite its size, California is not a nation. We rely on the federal government to lead on pandemic preparedness. Maybe that needs to change.

“California was caught asleep at the wheel when it should have been wide awake,” said Trounstine.

Rob Stutzman, former communications director for Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said Newsom had done all a governor can do.

“I don’t think anyone could have foreseen the failure of the federal government to appropriately facilitate testing,” said Stutzman. “The thing that needs to be done next from a state perspective is to make sure the resources are there to know how we’re going to triage this beyond hospital capacity. From what I hear the governor saying, they’re making those plans.”

Emergency powers

Newsom’s emergency declaration allows the state to release necessary funds and protects Californians from price gouging on things like gloves and masks. This week, Newsom urged the cancellation of large public gatherings and warned that some schools might close. Even Disneyland, site of a 2014 measles outbreak, will go dark. On Thursday, Newsom invoked his executive powers to allow the state to requisition hotels and medical facilities for use as quarantine sites.

In addition, five University of California medical centers have announced plans to create their own in-house coronavirus testing kits, “making the health system one of the first in the country to do so,” according to The Bee.

Time will tell whether Californians approve of Newsom’s coronavirus response. One thing, however, is certain: Infectious pandemics will become more common in the future, thanks in part to climate change. And in lieu of strong leadership from Washington, California must plan to lead the response with every bit of its scientific, technological and economic might.