Just when we thought conservatives’ response to the coronavirus pandemic couldn’t get any worse…
It did.
Right now, there are hundreds of Minnesota conservatives gathering to protest social distancing measures. They’re ignoring public health experts, most aren’t wearing masks, and they’re showing total disregard for social distancing guidelines.
The fact is, they’re endangering the health and safety of all Minnesotans.
What’s worse, Donald Trump sent this tweet supporting them:
LIBERATE MINNESOTA!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2020
And on top of that, conservative U.S. Senate candidate Jason Lewis is right there with them:
Minnesota is home to some of the greatest Patriots in America!
This pandemic has brought us into difficult times, but we won’t let it defeat us!
We can get through this, but we must #ReopenMN
I’ll fight for you & with you every day to make that happen! pic.twitter.com/Azq3uNcJxN
— Jason Lewis (@LewisForMN) April 17, 2020
Donald Trump and Jason Lewis’s irresponsible rhetoric and disregard for medical experts is dangerous.
Here’s what the experts have been saying:
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases and Dr. Nipunie Rajapaske, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases expert, continue to emphasize the need for social distancing and staying at home. Furthermore, Minnesota still does not have the public health infrastructure in place to both end social distancing and protect public health.
But that hasn’t stopped Minnesota conservatives like Rep. Kurt Daudt, Senator Paul Gazelka, and Jason Lewis from calling for an end to social distancing measures, with no plan to do so safely.
And they don’t seem to mind the fact that the majority of Americans agree with the experts when it comes to continuing to social distance.
The reality is:
We know that social distancing is working. It’s saving lives and helping to slow the spread of the virus. But if we relax social distancing measures too soon…things could turn ugly, fast.
And Minnesotans know that. We’re ranked highest in the nation for social distancing. And we’re ranked number one in the country for bending the curve, and have one of the lowest death rates.
Now is not the time to let up.
As we continue working together to get through this crisis, we need responsible leadership and to listen to the experts, not conservatives pushing fear, division, and irresponsible ideas that put our lives at risk.
