Trump calls Columbia University a “disgraceful institution” after data showed lockdown delays cost at least 36,000 lives

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• In his exclusive interview with Sharyl Attkisson’s Full Measure, President Donald Trump called Columbia University a “disgraceful institution” after it released a study last week showing thousands of American lives could have been saved if the shutdowns were exercised right away.
• Trump defended his mitigation efforts, citing he already implemented travel ban on foreign nationals from China since January.
• The study focused on virus transmission in metropolitan areas and found out that social distancing measures reduced the contraction rates of the disease.

During his exclusive interview with Sharyl Attkisson’s Full Measure released Sunday, President Donald Trump blasted Columbia University, calling it a “disgraceful institution” after it publicized a study last week showing that thousands of deaths could have been prevented in the country if shutdowns were not delayed. 

The research — which the president saw and called “a disgrace” to the university — determined that about 36,000 fatalities due to COVID-19 could have been stopped if pertinent measurements were implemented one week before the official announcement on March 15, and about 54,000 deaths if lockdown was made effective on March 1.

“Columbia is a liberal, disgraceful institution to write that because all the people that they cater to were months after me,” Trump said.

As a proof of his prompt response, Trump cited his January travel ban on foreign nationals from China, saying he took “tremendous heat” with the decision during that period.

The research tackled the virus transmission in metropolitan areas and found out that social distancing measures reduced that contraction rates of COVID-19. The study was done with counterfactual experiments based on hypothetical assumption according to the researchers.

Trump has continuously defended his administration’s handling of the pandemic and kept saying that he decided to restrict travel from China in late January. Nonetheless, critics claimed that the White House downplayed the outbreak and was delayed in its response.

Currently, Columbia University did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Source: The Hill