Read on Twitter
1/ There's no shortage of discouraging news out there right now. So I wanted to share a different angle. I am really proud to be part of an amazing community of scientists and clinicians.
A short thread on a few of my favorite things, in case you missed them.
A short thread on a few of my favorite things, in case you missed them.
2/ My home state of Massachusetts is teaming up with experts at @PIH (like the talented @kj_seung) to dramatically scale up contact tracing. Let this be a lesson to other states who seem to have decided that this is too difficult to do! https://twitter.com/PIH/status/1246138471279931393
3/ In Florida, where I live now, teams from @UF and @EPI_UF have scaled up testing and surveillance in the Villages, one of the largest retirement communities in the country. This has largely been achieved with the help of many volunteers. https://ufhealth.org/news/2020/early-findings-covid-19-testing-villages-encouraging-experts-urge-vigilance
4/ Several groups are pursuing digital contact tracing strategies, such as apps. These can hopefully make the tracing process faster, easier, and thus more effective. Keep an eye on @nexttrace from the wonderful folks at @nextstrain. https://www.statnews.com/2020/04/02/coronavirus-spreads-too-fast-for-contact-tracing-digital-tools-could-help/
5/ Universities are increasingly volunteering empty dormitories for use by health-care workers and first responders who don't want to expose their families to infection. I'd love to see more of this across the country. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/coronavirus-rutgers-dorms-eyed-for-covid-19-patients-health-care-workers-if-needed/ar-BB128MVm
6/ Serosurveys are starting to roll out. Studies to measure population antibody levels will provide vital info on disease severity and future spread. CDC has announced several planned surveys. And here is another one ongoing in Telluride, CO. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-tests-everyone-tiny-colorado-county/608590/
7/ What is our exit strategy for social distancing policies? I really like the Roadmap laid out by @ScottGottliebMD, @cmyeaton, and colleagues. It specifies clear benchmarks for what we would need to achieve before moving to the next phase. https://twitter.com/nataliexdean/status/1244349135681130497
8/ We are finally starting to see more pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis trials. Healthcare workers and contacts of confirmed cases are randomized to receive a low dose of drug that could help prevent infection. In this study, participation is by mail. https://twitter.com/boulware_dr/status/1246997634813956096
9/ I am excited about the @WHO's multi-country SOLIDARITY trial of COVID-19 therapeutics. Several countries have already signed on, and many more have expressed interest in working together to rapidly identify safe and effective treatments. http://who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/global-research-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/solidarity-clinical-trial-for-covid-19-treatments
10/ (Can I be excited about my own work?) The SOLIDARITY trial was inspired by our group's recent @NEJM paper on the efficient design of clinical trials during outbreaks. A paper that had been in the works for a while, so I am thrilled to see it in print! https://twitter.com/NEJM/status/1247316910913486850
11/11 Finally, I am fortunate to work with a fantastic WHO @rd_blueprint team strategizing best ways to design fast & rigorous vaccine efficacy trials. Check out this recent paper from @CEPIvaccines on how we can develop vaccines at pandemic speed.
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