Facts can't be ignored

I write in response to the March 27 column of Armstrong Williams, which, sadly, was entirely devoid of fact and, ironically, politically based in spite of his condemnation of that precise tactic.

The central facts are indisputable: The COVID-19 virus was identified more than three months ago; its highly infectious nature has been known for most of that time; isolation has worked; the Trump administration was warned of the danger by internal experts in January yet did nothing of consequence until mid-March.

During this critical time, rather than act based upon science and observable facts, the president called COVID-19 a hoax created by Democrats and the media. He denied that it is serious. He stated that it magically would disappear.

None of these statements are political. They are facts. Facts are apolitical. Misusing and distorting facts is political. Minimizing risk is political. No honest and dispassionate discussion would ignore these points.

Mark Hellner

Arlington Heights