As reported in the New York Times on April 9, “new research shows the virus began to circulate in the New York area by mid-February, weeks before the first confirmed case, brought mainly by travelers from Europe, not Asia.” It continues, “Both teams analyzed genomes from coronaviruses taken from New Yorkers starting in mid-March. The research revealed a previously hidden spread of the virus that might have been detected if aggressive testing programs had been put in place. It was several weeks later on March 11 when Mr. Trump said he would block travelers from most European countries. But New Yorkers had already been traveling home with the virus.”

Obviously the pandemic is not the president’s fault. But in the weeks Trump focused on the “Chinese Virus” and finding fault with “previous administrations,” much could have been done to mitigate the spread.

During this period, Trump continued to call it the “Chinese Virus”.

On March 21, Trump announced he would no longer use that phrase.

On March 23, he tweeted, “It is very important that we totally protect our Asian-American community in the United States, and all around the world. They are amazing people, and the spreading of the virus … is NOT their fault in any way, shape or form. They are working closely with us to get rid of it. WE WILL PREVAIL TOGETHER!”

Unfortunately, there had been reports of attacks within our Asian-American community. Were they the impetus behind his change of heart? Is it more accurate to rename this the European Virus or, indeed, the Trump Virus?