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BURLINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders called on the Trump administration Thursday to implement a number of emergency measures to address the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Democratic presidential candidate called the pandemic an emergency that is causing a “global economic meltdown” and said it could result in as many deaths as a war.
“Nobody knows what the number of fatalities may end up being, or the number of people who may get ill,” he said. “But we also have to face the truth, and that is that the number of casualties may actually be even higher than what the armed forces experienced during World War II.”
Sanders, who spoke with the press at Hotel Vermont but did not take questions, is scheduled to debate former Vice President Joe Biden Sunday night in Washington. Following the debate, the Vermont independent plans to remain in the nation’s capital to continue working on measures to address the worldwide outbreak, his wife Jane Sanders said after the press gathering broke up.
Sanders called on the government, the business community and individuals to come together to coordinate a response that includes protecting the most vulnerable members of society such as those in nursing homes, those in prisons, undocumented immigrants and people with disabilities and heath conditions.
“If there ever was a time in the modern history of our country when we are all in this together this is that moment. Now is the time for solidarity,” he said. “We must make sure that we care for the communities most vulnerable to the health and economic pain that is coming.”
Sanders called on President Donald Trump to declare a national emergency, and urged Congress to take leadership and convene an emergency bipartisan authority of experts to support and direct a response based on science.
He outlined a number of measures including instituting state and national hotlines staffed by experts and an expansion of community health centers. He said the government should ensure that people can receive medical care for this virus regardless of their ability to pay, including any future treatment or vaccines that are developed.
Given that there is an overall shortage of medical staff, especially in certain underserved areas, Sanders called for a coordinated effort to mobilize medical residents and retired medical professionals to respond to this crisis.
“The pharmaceutical companies must be told in no uncertain terms that medicines that they manufacture for this crisis will be sold at cost,” he said. “This is not the time for price gouging and profiteering.”
He also called for social policies that will allow people to respond more readily to the crisis, including an expansion of programs like nutrition assistance and Meals on Wheels, and giving loans to businesses to cover payroll.
“We need emergency funding right now for paid family and medical leave,” he said. “Anyone who is sick should be able to stay home during this emergency and receive their paycheck.”
He also gave a few details of his plan for emergency unemployment assistance, which would allow people who lose their job to continue collecting the amount of their salary up to $1,150 a week.
He called for a moratorium on evictions and the building of emergency homeless shelters.
“The bottom line is in the midst of this unprecedented moment, we need to listen to the scientists and researchers and medical folks, not the politicians. We need an emergency response for the current emergency and we need it immediately,” he said.
