The author’s point is that because of Trump and rubes like you, we squandered the opportunity.
Despite the expensive sacrifice the nation paid per the 3 month shutdown, Trump encouraged reckless behavior, and failed to provide a national coordinated plan to make sure our numbers stayed down ... like the rest of the world.
Our numbers remain horrible. Getting kids and teachers safely back in the classroom was never a priority. Everyone is expendable in a sociopath’s world.