To the Editor:

Re “Trump Declares National Emergency” (nytimes.com, March 13):

The Chinese government detected Covid-19 in December 2019. On the afternoon of March 13, 2020, President Trump announced a state of emergency. After months of near complete inaction, finger pointing and lies, testing is just starting to ramp up. The states have taken more action than the federal government. Whose job is it to identify threats to the American people? Whose job is it to take action in the face of those threats?

If anyone thinks it’s partisan to denounce the government for its disgraceful handling of this crisis, I would beg to differ. It’s partisan not to. It has failed us.

John Fletcher

Ringwood, N.J.

To the Editor:

As a big-time sports fan, I am saddened that many major sporting events and seasons have been canceled or put on hold because of the coronavirus. But there is one sport that I would actually like to see suspended for the duration of this crisis — the sport of American politics.

I am sick and tired of our leaders treating the people of this country as an audience for their own political battles. One side says it’s doing a wonderful job and looks to score points on its decisions. The other side calls its opponents incompetent and says they have no idea what they are doing. To quote the famous line from “Gone With the Wind,” “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” Leave the politics at the doorstep.