Ricketts defends handling of pandemic by Trump after criticism from UNMC expert [View all]
Source: Omaha World Herald
By Paul Hammel
LINCOLN — Gov. Pete Ricketts on Friday defended the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic by former President Donald Trump amid criticism from a local health authority that thousands more people died because the former president downplayed the seriousness of the virus and didn't do enough to encourage precautions.
Dr. James Lawler of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Global Center for Health Security told The World-Herald that he particularly faulted Trump for politicizing the wearing of face masks, and for holding large political rallies that served the expose thousands to COVID-19.
But Ricketts, a Republican who has been a consistent supporter of Trump, said he "disagreed 100%" with the assessment by Lawler, who is regarded as a national expert on pandemics.
"I believe it was Dr. (Anthony) Fauci who originally said 'Don't wear masks,'" Ricketts said, referring to a chief medical advisor to Trump. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said originally that mask wearing wasn't recommended, the governor said, before changing their position.
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