Colleagues and Friends: We all are looking at the same #COVID19 data from @JohnsHopkins. The message is loud and clear: This is a deadly virus taking a heavy toll on nations and their economies all over the world. 1/9 https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html 

There are several projections of cases and deaths with different approaches and different emphases. @IHME_UW numbers into fall and winter are higher than others because we see the strong effect of seasonality in our data. 2/9 https://covid19.healthdata.org/global?view=total-deaths&tab=trend

Let’s step back. The debates should not be about whose projections are correct. Every time, @IHME_UW release a forecast, I wish and pray that my colleague with the lowest projection is correct and I am wrong. Fewer cases and fewer deaths are, of course, better for humanity. 3/9

Rather, the focus should reinforce a message on which all of us agree: COVID-19 is dangerous, destructive and deadly. We need to do our part to save lives and livelihoods. Let us focus on this and let time and refined calculations teach us how to do better projections. 4/9

Now, more than ever, is the time for scientists to be united, not divided. 5/9

Many still call #covid19 a hoax because they have not seen friends and family affected – or infected. They are fortunate and I am glad for them. 6/9

We will defeat COVID-19. But it will take time, it will take a vaccine or an effective drug, and it will take all of us being vigilant to protect ourselves and each other. 7/9

Vaccines are one of the greatest public health achievements over the past 200 years. Once we have an effective and safe vaccine, we all need to take it. 8/9
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6019a5.htm

We also all need to take the flu vaccine this year – to protect ourselves and each other and to prevent our hospitals from overcrowding. 9/9