Why the U.S. Wasn’t Ready for the Coronavirus

<p>Developing a strategy for testing was supposed to be a relatively simple part of preparing for the coronavirus in the United States. So what went wrong? Guests: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/sheri-fink" target="_blank">Sheri Fink</a>, a correspondent for The Times reporting on global public health, and Dr. Helen Y. Chu, an infectious disease expert in Seattle. Dr. Chu was part of a research project that tried to conduct early tests for the coronavirus but failed to obtain state and federal support.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>During the early days of the outbreak, when containment would have been easier, the<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/us/coronavirus-testing-delays.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> federal government missed a series of chances</a> to ensure more widespread testing.</li><li>After weeks of playing down the potential effects of the coronavirus, President Trump proposed an<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-relief-package.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> emergency relief package to bolster the economy</a> — one that has been met by bipartisan opposition.</li><li>The number of<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> known U.S. cases of coronavirus infection has passed 1,000</a>, with the virus found in every region of the country. Universities <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/06/us/coronavirus-college-campus-closings.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank">continue to close classrooms</a>. Here are<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/world/coronavirus-news.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> the latest updates</a> on the outbreak. </li></ul>