When it seems that reopening of economies has furthered the increase in active COVID-19 cases and deaths, can Trump be charged with public health crime?
Trump and Republican senators had pushed for the reopening of economies, and have encouraged some state governors and anti-lockdown protesters to defy safe-distancing orders, all against the advice of public health officials. Since such actions put public health at greater risks, there are now calls to hold Trump and all those government officials responsible and accountable, for continuously putting the health and safety of the American public in grave danger.
Trump’s Deliberate Failures in Handling the COVID-19 Crisis, Cases of Public Health Crimes?
Legal experts are now focusing on laws that mandate government officials to put public health ahead of all other agendas in their decision making.
Constitutionally, public officials are responsible for ensuring that there is adequate public health infrastructure in every locality. First and foremost, the aspect of preventing the spread of communicable disease has been their primary public health responsibility from the moment the COVID-19 became a global health crisis.
In addition, and while the threats of the novel coronavirus disease remain as public health concerns, government and other public officials are responsible for ensuring that communities are prepared in responding to emergencies, and at the same time, have assurance of adequate health services.
Those defying government orders to shelter-in-place, to wear masks and/or to practice safe-distancing measures during a pandemic, can be lawfully charged for committing a public health crime. That being the case, Trump, other government leaders, lawmakers and public officials who disregarded their public health responsibilities should also be charged for public health crimes.
After all, despite the science-based warnings and advice of the government health officials tasked to monitor and assess the prevailing conditions of the ongoing public health crisis, the actions taken by Trump and by many others, all clearly indicated that they put greater weight on economic health over public health.
The American Public Should Have Awareness of Their Right to Public Safety
Ironically, the threats posed by COVID-19 has reached the White House, which has put Trump in greater danger of contracting the disease. This clearly indicates that in allowing the transmission and spread of the novel coronavirus, it has come to a point that even the most heavily guarded location in the U.S. cannot provide assurances of safety.
In our opinion, American consumers and workers should be aware of their rights to public safety. More so now that even the country’s number one leader is facing greater risks of being counted as a potential new coronavirus case.
Rather than expose themselves to greater health risks, it would be best for consumers to just continue with the current norm of limiting outdoor activities. There is now a proliferation of e-commerce stores that can deliver both essential and nonessential products.
Besides, local retail outlets that have transitioned as e-commerce or web-based stores are able to stay focused in providing fast and safe methods of providing customers their needs. They have instituted public safety measures recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) and public health authorities.
Additionally, e-commerces entrepreneurs have also tapped the services of local call center outsourcing companies like 31West, (https://www.31west.net), as a means of ensuring that all customer concerns and issues can be properly and immediately addressed.