I think maybe he's talking about what THEY would have done in schools and nursing homes and hospitals if he hadn't played along.
Because, by playing along, all the governors declared emergencies, giving him power to use the military. He sent medical troops into NYC hospitals to "relieve exhausted civilian staff". He took over Veterans Nursing Homes and figured out what was going on there, then sent inspectors to regular nursing homes to "ensure best practices."
He used the crisis in a way he never could have if he'd fought it the whole time against the media.