Opinion: How the Biden administration’s Covid preparedness policies could narrow America’s political divide
The White House’s Covid Winter Preparedness Plan is a missed opportunity to narrow the divide between Americans. The plan contains important elements to mitigate the anticipated seasonal surge of Covid-19. But it sidesteps the emerging evidence base and President Biden’s pledge to “follow the science.”
The current “later Omicron” endemic phase, which began with the rise of the more communicable and less virulent BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants in May 2022, strongly supports a new unifying reality that combines sound science and good politics. Instead of going to great lengths to avoid exposure, most Americans should adapt to inescapable exposure and infection as they learn to live with the virus. This paradigm shift confronts the central public health “avoid exposure” dogma of the pandemic, which was once necessary but has now served its purpose. A new “accept exposure, live with the virus” paradigm should form the foundation of the administration’s Covid strategy. This will also resonate with a majority of Americans of all political persuasions and bring us closer together — or at least not further widen the breach.
