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1/ Germany has had quite a strong response to #covid19 and purportedly may never cross its threshold for healthcare capacity through social distancing alone.
Why is that?
This @nytimes piece (cc @kbennhold) is worth the read.
Some takeaways:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/world/europe/germany-coronavirus-death-rate.html
1/ Germany has had quite a strong response to #covid19 and purportedly may never cross its threshold for healthcare capacity through social distancing alone.
Why is that?
This @nytimes piece (cc @kbennhold) is worth the read.
Some takeaways:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/world/europe/germany-coronavirus-death-rate.html
2/ First, Germany had #covid19 tests ready to go from the very start.
1st case was in late February. It had tests confirmed since January.
"By the time Germany recorded its first case of Covid-19 in February, laboratories across the country had built up a stock of test kits."
1st case was in late February. It had tests confirmed since January.
"By the time Germany recorded its first case of Covid-19 in February, laboratories across the country had built up a stock of test kits."
3/ They test everyone there- symptoms or not.
They are running 350,000 tests per week. In part, this may be why their case fatality rate is so low (1.4)
They are also doing block testing (multiple samples at once- only follow up if there is a positive in that pool).
They are running 350,000 tests per week. In part, this may be why their case fatality rate is so low (1.4)
They are also doing block testing (multiple samples at once- only follow up if there is a positive in that pool).
4/ They have tried to learn from successful Asian countries, which is key.
The article discusses Germany wanting to adapt strategies from South Korea, particularly around contact tracing and isolation.
Early testing + tracing/isolation = flattening the curve early.
The article discusses Germany wanting to adapt strategies from South Korea, particularly around contact tracing and isolation.
Early testing + tracing/isolation = flattening the curve early.
5/ They also have robust ICU healthcare capacity.
So much so that they are now helping out neighboring countries
“We have so much capacity now we are accepting patients from Italy, Spain and France”
They expect that w/ #socialdistancing alone, they will have enough vents.
So much so that they are now helping out neighboring countries
“We have so much capacity now we are accepting patients from Italy, Spain and France”
They expect that w/ #socialdistancing alone, they will have enough vents.
6/ Lastly, there is trust in national leadership (Chancellor Merkel)
“Maybe our biggest strength in Germany,” said Professor Kräusslich, “is the rational decision-making at the highest level of government combined with the trust the government enjoys in the population.”
“Maybe our biggest strength in Germany,” said Professor Kräusslich, “is the rational decision-making at the highest level of government combined with the trust the government enjoys in the population.”
7/ A combination of
-early testing capacity
-contact tracing/isolation
-immense intensive care medical capacity
-strong national leadership
==>robust #covid19 response
Countries that have done well continue to have many of the same things in common.
-early testing capacity
-contact tracing/isolation
-immense intensive care medical capacity
-strong national leadership
==>robust #covid19 response
Countries that have done well continue to have many of the same things in common.
