Updated about 6 hours ago 

A homeless man with a US flag attached to his backpack
 

 

Yesterday in America, 1,940 people died from coronavirus. In a single day, 31,935 new infections were recorded.

I personally know five people who have been told they have COVID-19.

Only one of them was able to get a test and it came back inconclusive.

The rest were told by their doctors "don't bother" because there weren't enough test kits to go around.

On the testing front, things have improved greatly in recent weeks, but not everywhere.

 

A New York ambulance paramedic told the ABC this week tests were still hard to come by, even for frontline health workers.

An empty street in New York

 

And yet, since the start of the crisis, the President has boasted about America's testing capacity.

"Anyone who needs a test gets a test … and they're beautiful," Donald Trump said during a tour of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

That was five weeks ago.

America is now the world's 'worst-case scenario'

In New York, things are looking so dire that prison inmates are being asked to don protective gear as they dig mass graves on Hart Island in the Bronx.

A drone shot of men in protective gear digging mass graves

 

The island has been used for decades to bury New Yorkers with no next of kin or no money to afford a proper funeral.

As COVID-19-related deaths surge, new trenches have been dug to cope with an expected influx of coffins.

Furthermore, the official death toll in New York hasn't been counting those who died outside of hospital.

On Monday, that was 280 people.

So, it's very likely the real number of infections and deaths is much higher than the already-staggering published numbers. 

 

The world is no longer measuring the "worst-case scenario" against Wuhan, Italy or Spain.

For now, America is the benchmark.

A nation accustomed to being a world-beater in business, innovation, sport and on the battlefield, has been reduced to its knees.

The US turns to China for help

American friends have told me they've been shocked by what's happening in their country.

For them, and millions more, it's been a grim awakening.

 

"It's embarrassing" said Michael Green, the senior vice-president for Asia at CSIS, a Washington-based think tank.

"The US was not prepared, particularly in terms of masks and basic equipment like ventilators."

America has even turned to its biggest strategic threat, China, for help.

In response, China is sending 1,000 ventilators to New York and regular planeloads of other critical protective gear.

Reassessing America's place in the world order

Robert Spalding, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, believes coronavirus has shattered the "myth" of American global supremacy.

As a former senior director of strategy at the National Security Council — the President's most important advisory body — he offers a sobering assessment of America's place in the world today.

"I think the myth was that the US was still the main power acting throughout the world," he told the ABC.

He describes the current crisis, and America's less-than-optimal response, as a "wow" moment for many in Washington.

"All our pharmaceuticals are manufactured in China. All of our masks are manufactured in China. Basically everything is manufactured in China," he told ABC.

"We have this incredible logistics capability for deploying [military] forces abroad but it's all dependent on the help of the Chinese Communist Party."

And he sees that as a clear and present threat to the United States.

"We don't have to have a conflict in the traditional sense of the word to actually be threatened by the fact our supply chains are over there [in China]."

China is stepping up to help globally

China has been extending a helping hand to other nations as well.

When Italy appealed for medical assistance, there was silence from the 26 other nations of the European Union.

China answered the call with medical specialists and equipment.

Chinese protective gear has also been sent to Ireland, and Serbia has welcomed Chinese ventilators.

Stepping up as a global citizen is a positive development for China.

Perhaps it feels a greater burden of responsibility because the coronavirus is thought to have originated there.

Michael Green, from CSIS, says China also sees the pandemic as an opportunity to project soft-power in the void created by a more isolationist America.

But he doesn't see a fundamental realignment of global power just yet.

"There may be small tactical gains [for China] here or there. There may be some losses. There's no fundamental shift," Mr Green said.

He believes the pandemic will result in an intensification of US-China rivalries in the months and years ahead, with America being forced to step up as a global leader once more.

Maintaining America's current course, he says, "will have a tectonic effect on global relations".

You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!

Join 1Eyed Eel

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • Time will tell; i have serious concerns over the legitimacy of any stats from China and the rest of the world should be noting this and more. NY for example when some of the stafs have been examined many people who passed away and continue to had some chronic illnesses.

    It also raises questions about the way China supposedly handled the pandemic and continue to.

  • Vince, you're a pest.

    • I will take that as a compliment.

This reply was deleted.

Latest comments

LB replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"He wont be it this year or next, more so 2027."
4 hours ago
Hell On Eels replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"X 3, BEM, Eli.
Really like Ryley's high-energy, while Iongi is pure class — a real footballer.
Both have the right attitude & commitment. They're exactly who we need."
4 hours ago
Hell On Eels replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Eels NSW cup team - Some big ins
"EA, Is RU recruit Lokeni ahead of Latu?
Like Lokeni, Moretti was also a centre in RU (dunno if it was inside or outside though).
We'll need these youngsters in the pack with grunt — like Tuivita, Lokeni, and Latu — to come good. 
 
PS: There was…"
4 hours ago
Mick aka Supreme Leader replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"That's inst breaking news."
5 hours ago
Mick aka Supreme Leader replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"In Jason we Trust. "
5 hours ago
Gaz Nelson replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"Maybe late in the halves when teams are tired. At 84kg he needs to hit the all you can buffet before he plays much lock or back row. "
5 hours ago
EA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Eels NSW cup team - Some big ins
"Still got work to do on his defence "
5 hours ago
Will 5150 replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"Awesome... love to see them operate like Drew and PJ used to. 20 min stints, always a fresh DH on the field and one can go longer if we get an injury in the forwards while the other covers the injury. A middle, an edge and ideally someone who can…"
5 hours ago
TolEllts replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"Good one Parra!"
6 hours ago
Darren Munro replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"Great reward for all the effort on and off the field. Congratulations young man! Love watching him play and is only going to get better "
6 hours ago
Speech replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Eels NSW cup team - Some big ins
"What is interesting is Matthew Hunter is picked again. He sealed the game last week with a try his second for the game. I hope we see highlights this week as his stats look great. Seems to know how to win but also when to be involved in the game."
6 hours ago
Muttman replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Ryley smith extends to 2027 😤
"It would seem so. 3rd and 4th string hooker isn't much of a job. "
6 hours ago
EA replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Eels NSW cup team - Some big ins
"dang it"
6 hours ago
KingGutho replied to Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin's discussion Eels NSW cup team - Some big ins
"He played one game lol and most likely got injured.
if you look at RM cup team, it says he's out, also Hayne played the last game and he's out too, so who knows "
7 hours ago
Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Knights sign prestigious young half
""
7 hours ago
CarloEEL2 replied to Eli Stephens's discussion Knights sign prestigious young half
"Stop it you two !!!!
no chance of that nonsense 
I'm still thinking Baldy is owed his " shit in a box" for fucking up the GF with giraffe on the bench . I could do a local delivery now 🤔😆"
7 hours ago
More…

NSW Origin Squad 2025

WESTPAC NSW BLUES SQUADAmpol State of Origin, Game OneSuncorp Stadium, Brisbane Wednesday 28 May1. Dylan Edwards (Penrith Panthers)2. Brian To’o (Penrith Panthers)3. Stephen Crichton (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)4. Latrell Mitchell (South Sydney…

Read more…
0 Replies
Views: 248

 

Forwards we should chase...

Following the signing of TDS, I believe the club’s next priority should be strengthening the forward pack by targeting 1–2 middles, along with a reliable, NRL-ready back-rower.While it's unlikely that one of the elite-tier forwards will become…

Read more…
7 Replies · Reply by EA 8 hours ago
Views: 850

Jason Ryles... Report so far

Before diving in, it's important to acknowledge where we currently sit on the ladder. We must acknowledge as fans that our position is far from ideal nor acceptable, however, we must also consider the challenges we've faced throughout the early part…

Read more…
5 Replies · Reply by Mitchy 8 hours ago
Views: 667

<script src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- Sidebar -->
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<script>// <![CDATA[
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
// ]]></script>