(FOX 9) - Gov. Tim Walz criticized the federal response to COVID-19 in a news conference Tuesday, saying the 50-state plan was insufficient and “ludicrous.”
The Governor spoke about the spread of COVID-19 in the states surrounding Minnesota as Minnesota’s positivity rates remained low weeks ago. He pointed to South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who criticized other states’ handling of the virus earlier this year.
This browser does not support the Video element.
Governor Walz criticizes national response to COVID-19
Gov. Tim Walz did not mince words when criticizing the national response to COVID-19 and said the state of South Dakota also made costly missteps.
Walz said South Dakota and other surrounding states have now “blown past us” in COVID-19 metrics. After, Walz called out the national response headed by the Trump White House.
“This nation had a very disconcerted and very disoriented national strategy - if you could even call it that,” he said, arguing that it led to more deaths and cases.
“We would not have fought World War II 50 states at a time,” he said of the state-level response tactic. “No other nation did it and, as a result, no other nation had the outcomes we’ve had."
Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said a national strategy is essential.
This browser does not support the Video element.
Commissioner Jan Malcolm uses wildfire metaphor to discuss national COVID-19 response
The national response to COVID-19 was under fire by Minnesota's Governor Tuesday and Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm used a fire metaphor to describe why it hasn't worked so far.
“Without a national strategy, the virus just keeps moving around the country,” she said. “You can have temporary improvements that don’t last.”
She used a wildfire analogy to describe the issue, saying, “Wildfire will find where the wood is.”