This afternoon Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders held a press conference to lay out what he believes is the best course of action for the country in the face of the coronavirus epidemic. His address comes hours after fellow candidate and prohibitive frontrunner Joe Biden laid out his own plan.

“The crisis we face from the coronavirus is on the scale of a major war, and we must act accordingly,” insisted the Vermont senator. “Unfortunately, in this time of international crisis, it is clear to me at least, that we have an administration that is largely incompetent, and whose incompetence and recklessness have threatened the lives of many, many people in our country.”

Sanders implored Americans to act in the greater good, and not define their actions by selfishness, even if it felt like they weren’t part of a larger picture. “As people stay or work from home and are directed to quarantine, it will be easy for us to feel like we are all alone…or that we must only worry about ourselves and think that everybody else should fend for themselves. But in my view that would be a tragic and dangerous mistake.”

“If there ever was a time in the modern history of our country when we are all in this together, this is that moment. Now is the time for solidarity,” Sanders said.

The senator put equal weight on those who are most likely to suffer “health and economic pain” in the near future. That includes the elderly and people with respiratory problems, whose health is the most precarious because of the virus, and people whose job security is threatened by social disruption.

In Sanders’ view, President Trump must declare a national emergency and treat the coronavirus as a serious threat. Following the declaration, Sanders believes, congress must empower a bipartisan panel of medical and disease experts to make recommendations for public policy.

The senator did not miss an opportunity to pitch his plan for Medicare for All, which has been the crown jewel in his policy prescription for years. “As I think the American people increasingly understand, our country is at a severe disadvantage compared to every other major country on Earth. Because we do not guarantee healthcare to all people as a right,” opined Sanders.

Sanders warned against any pharmaceutical company selling coronavirus-related cures or vaccines against selling it for anything above cost or for a profit. “This is not the time for price gouging or profiteering,” he said.

The presidential candidate called for a moratorium on evictions for as long as the crisis lasted, emergency unemployment assistance who lose their job due to the virus, along with increased funding for Meals on Wheels and SNAP.

Bernie Sanders also said that paid family leave should be enacted to assist those who will be unable to go to work because they’ll be at home caring for their children. Paid family leave is included in the Nancy Pelosi-negotiated bill going through the House of Representatives today, but Sanders did not reference it.

Hunter DeRensis is the senior reporter for the National Interest. Follow him on Twitter @HunterDeRensis.

Image: Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks about coronavirus in Burlington, Vermont, U.S. March 12, 2020. REUTERS/Caleb Kenna