January 20: Another date in infamy

Nicholas Johnson Apr. 26, 2020 7:59 pm Updated: Apr. 26, 2020 7:59 pm

Jan. 20 is 'a date which will live in infamy,” to borrow President Franklin Roosevelt's labeling of the Dec. 7, 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor. Jan. 20 was the day both South Korea and the U.S. had their first CORVID-19 cases.

Twenty days later South Korea had flattened the curve. Along the way it had the second highest number of cases globally, but by April 20 the threat was over - while keeping many businesses and factories open.

A Seoul official credits 'quick government intervention, tracking and isolating infected personnel, and a transparent information hub” - plus a dozen amazing apps. All things we could and should have done.

World War II cost $4 trillion (today's dollars) and 407,000 lives. Our unconscionable federal lack of prompt response to the virus will cost much more in unnecessary dollars and deaths. And that's why this year's Jan. 20 is another 'date in infamy.” For sources and more see, https://tinyurl.com/y7swfgqy

Nicholas Johnson

Iowa City