GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Dealing with saving lives amid a global pandemic tends not to be a heavily partisan topic for most people. And healthcare officials are simply asking for it to stay that way.
“We really don’t care what party you’re from, we just want to take care of the community. That’s what we took an oath to do,” says Prevea Health CEO Dr. Ashok Rai, “We just need people to listen to healthcare. We need local politicians, state politicians, and federal politicians to take the lead of healthcare in their communications and make sure that what we’re seeing in healthcare is what they’re backing us up on.”
It seems that everyone is itching for life to return to normal – and for state and country to reopen. And while fingers are being pointed in every direction, Rai says patience is key.
“It needs to be in a phase-coordinated manner. That’s what the president’s plan talks about, that’s what the governor’s plan talks about. They’re both essentially the same plan, it’s not a political statement – these are plans coming from scientists,” Rai tells the WTAQ Morning News with Matt and Earl, “The president’s plan was based on science. His own scientists got on stage and said that. President Trump stood behind it. Governor Evers modeled his plan after President Trump’s plan. So it’s not really a Republican or a Democrat thing since both parties seem to agree with it.”
Rai believes the state plan may even put businesses on a faster track to reopen, but he also hopes it’s a safer plan to return to our normal status. He also warns businesses to only return once the state is truly prepared.
“When you’re ready, then you can start to do business like that. But if you do it before you’re ready – all you do is rewind the clock,” Rai says, “If you look at the governor’s plan, it’s actually based on President Trump’s plan – but it’s actually easier to open up the state and get back to doing more things that even the federal government recommended.”
As for those suggesting a piecemeal return, Rai disagrees. Rai says we can’t limit reopening to non-high risk individuals – because young, healthy people have also been known to have complications from the virus.
