We are now all Seattle and New Rochelle. Two years ago, the Trump administration shut down the two high-level offices in the White House that were responsible for dealing with a pandemic. No longer exist.

Because of Trump's incompetence and hubris, his administration was unwilling to make the World Health Organization test kit, which was available all over the world in January, available anywhere in the United States. Thus, large parts of the United States are probably in a situation similar to Seattle and New Rochelle, or will be soon, but we don't know the details because the test kits are not available and have not been for months.

We need a national mobilization right now to prepare our hospitals and doctors offices for what is coming. We need easy and accessible testing in every community in America today. And because the Trump administration is unwilling to make this happen and is giving us happy talk, we all need to carefully re-calibrate our lives and avoid unnecessary exposure to crowds and public events.

Finally, Mike Pence, if he is actually listening to the health professionals around him, should convene the Cabinet and begin the process of invoking the 25th Amendment to get Trump out of office and protect our nation.

-Thom