[cryptonector]

Given the difficulty we've had getting a testing program going, the only thing that could have been done here in the U.S. is to shut down international travel -- not just to affected areas, but ultimately, everywhere, for a while. We're generally very reluctant to do that sort of thing, and yet the government did shut down travel from China.

BTW, January 15 was around the time of impeachment, wasn't it. Ah yes, the articles were sent the day after. For many of the 53 days you mention, our collective attention was utterly consumed here by the trial. Everyone knew non-removal was a forgone conclusion, and that the trial was distracting. Now I wonder if it distracted from responding to covid-19.