Go to restaurants during coronavirus outbreak? Ignore Devin Nunes’ dangerous advice

Devin Nunes might want to think twice before he tries to be a doctor.

Nunes, the Tulare congressman who is one of the top Republicans in Congress, jumped into the coronavirus debate Sunday on a Fox News show. He encouraged healthy families to patronize local restaurants and pubs so small businesses can make money at a time when the economy is being buffeted by fears over the virus.

“If you’re healthy, you and your family, it’s a great time to go out and go to a local restaurant, likely you can get in easily. Let’s not hurt the working people in this country that are relying on wages and tips to keep their small business going,” Nunes said during an appearance on Maria Bartiromo’s Fox News show.

Nunes’ advice ran afoul of a top federal health official who spoke on a different Sunday morning news show. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, urged people to think twice before going to a restaurant.

Nunes doubled down Sunday afternoon in a call to Fresno radio station KMJ. Instead of panic-buying toilet paper at Costco, Nunes told listeners to “go to McDonald’s, go to Taco Bell, go to Denny’s.”

Wanting to help small businesses is a worthy goal. The problem is that anyone — even those who are healthy — can pick up the virus from an infected person and potentially transmit it to someone who might be more vulnerable, including seniors. That is why health officials at federal, state and local levels say being in crowded situations is to be avoided.

Harvard Medical School posted this advice about social distancing: “It is critical that everyone begin intensive social distancing immediately. As much as possible, limit contact with people outside your family.”

Ultimately, Nunes’ ill-considered guidance was rendered mostly void hours later when Gov. Gavin Newsom directed the closure of bars, wine bars, breweries and pubs, and called for restaurants to reduce their occupancy by half. Newsom stopped short of closing restaurants. Instead, the governor said they can also operate with curbside food service and at-home food deliveries.

Fresno County declared a state of emergency Sunday after health officials confirmed a second case of coronavirus and the county awaits results from dozens of tests. The interim county health director expects the number of cases to rise, possibly dramatically, as more tests are given.

Farther south, a second case of coronavirus popped up in Tulare County. The Tulare County Public Heath confirmed Friday night that another patient has tested positive for COVID-19.

And the central San Joaquin Valley’s first coronavirus case came in Madera County more than a week ago.

In his comment to Bartiromo, Nunes showed he is more concerned with the economy than keeping people healthy. That seems an awful a lot like his political north star, President Trump, who gushed over the interest rate cut by the Fed during a Sunday press conference that was supposed to be focused on coronavirus issues.

The economy is important, no question. But right now, schools across the San Joaquin Valley are shut down for the next few weeks because of the virus. In Fresno, children won’t return to classes for nearly a month.

Local businesses are telling employees to work remotely from home to avoid exposure.

That’s not a panic, but prudent.

It is way past time for Republican leaders such as Trump and Nunes to figure this out. They can start by deferring to science and medical professionals. Until they do, residents would be wise to ignore them and trust their local health officials instead.

This story was originally published March 15, 2020 at 5:23 PM.