Moment of truth?

A memorial service for people who lost lives to Covid-19 is held in New Orleans, Louisiana in January 2021.— Xinhua

BY saying “We must end the politics and misinformation that has divided families, communities and the country ” at a gathering outside the White House on Monday to mark the “truly grim, heartbreaking milestone” of more than 500,000 deaths in the country due to Covid-19, US President Joe Biden hit the nail on the head in explaining why it has been the country worst hit by the pandemic.

Although it has just 4% of the world’s population, the United States accounts for nearly 20% of the global Covid-19 death toll, thanks to the previous administration’s belated, flawed and ineffectual response to the public health emergency.