The Dawn of Uncertainty: Coronavirus and the Shifting American Landscape in Early 2020
As the early months of 2020 unfolded, the specter of a novel coronavirus began to loom large over the United States, casting a shadow of uncertainty across the nation. While the virus rapidly spread, initial responses were marked by a blend of political maneuvering, scientific ambiguity, and a gradual awakening to the gravity of the situation. The nation, preoccupied with the upcoming presidential election, struggled to fully grasp the potential impact of this emerging health crisis.
President Donald Trump, addressing attendees at CPAC, downplayed the capabilities of his political rival, Joe Biden, asserting that Biden would be merely "sitting in a home someplace" while others ran the government. This statement underscored the prevailing political climate, where campaign rhetoric often overshadowed the burgeoning health crisis. However, Trump and the Democratic candidates found themselves tasked with balancing campaign priorities with the urgent need to develop a platform for containing the growing epidemic.
Joe Biden, who would later become the Democratic nominee, criticized Trump’s handling of the situation, stating on Fox News Sunday in March 2020 that Trump "doesn’t know what he’s doing" and is "making us more unsafe the way he’s responding to the coronavirus." This marked a sharp contrast in perspectives, highlighting the partisan divide that would become increasingly evident as the crisis unfolded.
Fox News played a significant role in shaping the narrative around the coronavirus, hosting town halls across the country where candidates discussed their platforms for addressing the outbreak. At a town hall in Manassas, Virginia, Democratic candidate Michael Bloomberg acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the virus, stating, "Nobody knows what this virus is going to do. It does seem to be spreading." He even speculated that the virus could "just all of a sudden die out," reflecting the limited understanding of its behavior at the time.
Despite the growing concerns, the virus initially seemed distant to many Americans. Virginia, for instance, had no confirmed cases at the time of Bloomberg’s town hall. However, with Asia and Europe reporting a surge in cases, it became increasingly clear that the virus was on a collision course with the United States.
New York City, a global hub, reported its first coronavirus case just before Fox News’ Super Tuesday coverage. Gov. Andrew Cuomo acknowledged the inevitability of the virus’s spread, stating, "This is New York. We’re a gateway to the world." This marked a turning point, as the focus shifted from preventing the virus from entering the country to managing its spread within American borders.
As more than a dozen states tallied votes on Super Tuesday, they also tallied new coronavirus cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed at least 60 cases across the United States, raising concerns that the U.S. could face a similar rapid spread as Italy and South Korea.
The effectiveness of masks became a subject of debate. Sen. Mitt Romney questioned Dr. Anthony Fauci about their utility in early March. Fauci explained that masks were most important for infected individuals to prevent transmission and for healthcare providers to protect themselves. He also suggested that masks could prevent "gross droplets" from spreading, but did not provide the kind of protection that people may expect.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, urged Americans to take basic precautions, such as washing their hands and avoiding touching their faces. She emphasized the importance of "common sense" measures in mitigating the spread of the virus.
President Trump, in a meeting with CEOs, expressed satisfaction with airlines’ enhanced cleaning procedures and claimed to be taking his own precautions, stating, "I haven’t touched my face in weeks and weeks. I miss it." However, the following day, at a Fox News town hall in Scranton, Pennsylvania, he joked about shaking hands, stating, "If there was ever a time that you could convince people not to shake hands, this could be it. The bottom line is, I shake everybody’s hand now. I’m proud of it." This seemingly contradictory behavior highlighted the mixed messages and lack of consistent guidance that characterized the early response to the pandemic.
As testing capacity increased, the number of confirmed cases surged. New York doubled its cases overnight, and Washington state reported 70 confirmed cases, prompting a visit from Vice President Mike Pence. Pence promised more resources for Washington, while other states called for more test kits.
During a visit to the CDC in Atlanta, President Trump and administration health officials warned the public that cases were likely to spike. CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield stated, "I think there’s no doubt we’re going to see more community cases. There’s no doubt that the public health system in the United States is enhancing surveillance in a variety of ways."
With the increasing likelihood of more confirmed cases, state and local leaders began canceling major events. South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, and the Ultra Music Festival in Miami were among the first large gatherings to be canceled or postponed. When asked about these cancellations, President Trump stated, "I think it’s fine if they want to do it. I don’t think it’s an overreaction, but I wouldn’t be generally inclined to do it."
Fox News held one of its last major events, a town hall with Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders, in Dearborn, Michigan. Sanders emphasized the importance of staying home when sick, stating, "What happens if you have that virus and you’re going to work? You’re spreading it to other people."
The Trump administration issued updated guidance for high-risk Americans, calling for increased use of protective equipment and distancing measures. Dr. Fauci urged vulnerable groups to avoid cruises, while suggesting that healthy young people could still take cruises if they desired. However, he personally stated, "I would never go on a cruise ship because I don’t like cruises."
Michigan reported its first coronavirus cases the day after the Fox News town hall. Across the country, more than 36 states and Washington, D.C., had reported 647 cases and 25 deaths.
The guidance to avoid highly populated places gradually extended to a wider group of Americans. The suspension of major sports leagues, such as the NHL and NBA, served as a stark reminder of the disruption the virus was causing.
New York banned gatherings of 500 or more people, and Americans began adopting new ways to greet one another, such as bowing, instead of shaking hands. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demonstrated this new practice, stating, "Forget any physical contact, greetings. Bow in an eastern style."
By the end of the week, the two remaining Democratic presidential candidates had moved their campaigns online. Bernie Sanders stated, "Under normal circumstances, I would not be in Burlington today. I would be probably in Ohio, Florida or another state where a primary is coming up."
Over the next week, the Trump administration’s recommendations became more urgent. President Trump urged Americans to "avoid gathering in groups of more than ten people, avoid discretionary travel, and avoid eating and drinking at bars, restaurants, and public food courts." He emphasized that these measures were intended for the next 15 days.
Early spring activities were significantly altered. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations were canceled in many cities, and fewer visitors flocked to Washington’s cherry blossoms. Spring breakers in Florida faced limited options as bars and beaches were closed.
Governors began issuing statewide shutdowns, including locations where Fox News town halls had been held just weeks before. Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania stated, "With the knowledge of how easily this disease spreads, I ask all Pennsylvanians to stay home."
With many locations closed to the public, crews began setting up extra hospital space. Washington state built a hospital in a soccer field, and the USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort deployed to Los Angeles and New York Harbor, respectively. States called for additional ventilators, masks, and other equipment to treat the increasing number of cases.
The economy began to show signs of weakening. President Trump warned of the potential consequences of the shutdowns, stating, "We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself. We’re not going to let the cure be worse than the problem."
The early days of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States were characterized by uncertainty, political division, and a gradual escalation of public health measures. As the virus spread, Americans grappled with a new reality, one that would profoundly impact their lives and reshape the nation’s landscape.
