Is US able to protect the lives of its people as COVID-19 spreads? By Xian Jiangnan ( People's Daily Online ) 11:16, March 03, 2020 As the US braces for the novel coronavirus to widen its spread, the battle has begun to contain the disease and at the same time ease public concerns. But questions remain over how prepared the nation to ensure the safety and health of the American people. On Feb. 29, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams urged Americans to stop buying masks on Twitter. In response to a surge in mask purchases, on Feb. 29, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams posted a tweet urging Americans to stop buying masks, leaving the public confused over how they should protect themselves against the virus. “They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!” he said.The best protective measures, he continued, are staying home when sick, washing hands and other everyday preventive actions. ( Screenshot from Twitter) But his remarks immediately drew a skeptical response. Many argued that he had just contradicted himself and made the general populace seem “expendable” while putting people’s lives at risk. “If they aren’t effective at preventing transmission then why do healthcare workers need them?” a netizen with the screen name MongoFarm asked. The US government and CDC echoed Adams’ advice, recommending that people who become ill stay at home. However, staying home when sick may not be a luxury all Americans can afford. Source from http://en.people.cn/n3/2020/0303/c90000-9664189.html