President Barack Obama decided to stay in Washington, D.C., after a last minute choice, to discuss a national response to the growing Ebola epidemic in the United States rather than continuing his campaign (Link to article). He stated that there must be a faster and more efficient monitoring of the infected patients, something that must be attacked aggressively. Obama stated the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would "deploy SWAT teams within 24 hours to any hospital with an infected patient". He calmed nervous tensions, stating that the lethal disease is not airborne.
This article really made me glad that the President is actually taking some steps toward the protection of the nation from this new deadly epidemic. I do think it was good on his part to put his campaigning aside to deal with this issue, but I don't really agree with the SWAT teams being assigned to the hospitals with infected patients. I don't see why we should be doing that because it will only most likely add to the high tensions in those areas. For the good of the people, I personally feel SWAT teams should stay out of this completely, but I'm not in the position to make that decision. I do think that we should close our borders to those who have symptoms of Ebola, for the sake of the nation.
I have not read this article yet, did it say what his reasoning was for deploying SWAT teams to the hospitals? I too cannot see the possible benefit to this type of action.
ReplyDeleteThere was no reasoning to back up his actions, at least none that I saw.
DeleteI continue to be baffled by the government's decision to get military personnel involved in the Ebola outbreak. Soldiers and officers are not trained to deal with disease and biological hazards at the level that doctors and health care workers are. Putting the military and SWAT personnel in areas where there is Ebola, as Giles said, will only increase tensions. It may even spread the disease and expose more Americans to Ebola if proper protocols are not followed. I don't see the benefit of getting the military involved in a clearly health related issue. After all, bullets and bombs won't kill a microbe or save the people who are infected.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that the president is doing a good job handleing the situation. SWAT teams? Really? What can they do? I too cannot see his reasoning. Also, while I was reading the article, I got an alert on my phone saying that Obama just issued an executive order calling up reserve troops to send to Africa.
ReplyDelete