Trump gets more votes in counties with high coronavirus death rates

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Despite high death rates from COVID-19, Trump was able to receive more votes in affected states.
• Since the pandemic started, Trump has consistently downplayed the health crisis, disregarding advice from experts.
• Research suggests that American voters were considering both pandemic and economic recovery factors in casting their votes.

A study from Reuters showed that President Donald Trump did well in this year’s election, even outperformed the 2016 races on counties with high coronavirus death rates.

The analysis gathered data from 139 counties in 19 states greatly affected by the coronavirus indicated that Trump had an increase of 4% in votes, from 50.1%, in 2016 to 54.1% in this year’s election.

In Texas and Florida, where the highest COVID-19 death rates were recorded, Trump also got the majority’s nod. 

Many voters still supported Trump even though the country’s COVID-19 death toll reached over 230,000.

A Florida resident whose husband died of coronavirus in July,  Andrea Mulcahy, said Trump undermining the crisis is a clear indication that the president’s strategy has worked to his advantage.

Mulcahy is a member of an independent countrywide community of people affected by the virus, COVID Survivors for Change.

“It’s also heartbreaking that more Americans don’t understand the horror that so many of their neighbors have lived and continue to live,” she said.

Trump has consistently underestimated the virus despite testing positive and hospitalized in October. The president also frequently disregarded advice on wearing a mask in public places. On several occasions, he even ridiculed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for using a face mask.

A study also suggests that Trump’s continued rallies amidst the pandemic, have led to at least 30,000 more coronavirus cases.

According to research published in May by Columbia University, more than 35,000 casualties may have been prevented if only restrictions, including social distancing, were implemented earlier this year.

In April, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, echoed the same observation,  saying that an early shut down would have yielded a different result.

Other than the health crisis, the pandemic has also greatly affected the economy. It resulted in unemployment statistics never been seen before in modern times. More than 57 million Americans signed for unemployment benefits since the second week of March. The Republican-dominated Senate has also rejected another coronavirus economic aid as more Americans waited for government assistance.

Both the economy and health were undoubtedly one of the voters’ considerations. Most Biden voters said the outbreak is the most crucial issue right now, as suggested by The Associated Press’ exit polls. On the other hand, Trump supporters were more concerned with the economy.

Source: AOL