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COVID19 continued to spread as the country was distracted with the ongoing election coverage.
Record case counts, hospitalizations soaring & deaths increasing.
With a new administration in place, we have the opportunity for a COVID19 reset. So what do we need to do?
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Record case counts, hospitalizations soaring & deaths increasing.
With a new administration in place, we have the opportunity for a COVID19 reset. So what do we need to do?
PPE:
We STILL don& #39;t have enough. In March, I wrote we needed to use the Defense Production Act to acquire the PPE we& #39;d need to get through this pandemic.
We are on the verge of a tough winter. We need to prioritize getting more of it, especially N95s. https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/489976-utilizing-the-defense-production-act-will-save-health-care-workers-lives">https://thehill.com/opinion/h...
We STILL don& #39;t have enough. In March, I wrote we needed to use the Defense Production Act to acquire the PPE we& #39;d need to get through this pandemic.
We are on the verge of a tough winter. We need to prioritize getting more of it, especially N95s. https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/489976-utilizing-the-defense-production-act-will-save-health-care-workers-lives">https://thehill.com/opinion/h...
TESTING:
Our testing missteps at the outset really hurt us. Thankfully we& #39;ve dramatically expanded testing since then.
But we need way more. We must increase testing capacity, including rapid tests in addition to & #39;traditional& #39; PCR tests. We will need millions of tests a day.
Our testing missteps at the outset really hurt us. Thankfully we& #39;ve dramatically expanded testing since then.
But we need way more. We must increase testing capacity, including rapid tests in addition to & #39;traditional& #39; PCR tests. We will need millions of tests a day.
VACCINES:
Operation Warp Speed has been a remarkable push, but the next steps will be just as hard.
First, we must be reassured that a vaccine is approved based on science alone.
Next, ensuring adequate manufacturing and equitable distribution are paramount!
Operation Warp Speed has been a remarkable push, but the next steps will be just as hard.
First, we must be reassured that a vaccine is approved based on science alone.
Next, ensuring adequate manufacturing and equitable distribution are paramount!
LONG-COVID:
As we learn more about COVID19 #longhaulers, its clear many will continue to suffer long-term consequences of their infection long after the pandemic has ended.
We need to invest in more research and clinical care for this community. https://wapo.st/3p12bnT ">https://wapo.st/3p12bnT&q...
As we learn more about COVID19 #longhaulers, its clear many will continue to suffer long-term consequences of their infection long after the pandemic has ended.
We need to invest in more research and clinical care for this community. https://wapo.st/3p12bnT ">https://wapo.st/3p12bnT&q...
NURSING HOMES/LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES:
We must continue to do everything imaginable to protect nursing homes and longs-term care residents. Theyâve made up ~40% of deaths to date.
Expand testing, PPE and training. And paid sick leave for providers. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-nursing-homes.html">https://www.nytimes.com/interacti...
We must continue to do everything imaginable to protect nursing homes and longs-term care residents. Theyâve made up ~40% of deaths to date.
Expand testing, PPE and training. And paid sick leave for providers. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-nursing-homes.html">https://www.nytimes.com/interacti...
SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES:
We need to do everything possible to keep schools open & safe.
That means more research - led by the CDC with the Dept of Education - and all the resources necessary to keep everyone safe while learning.
We can do this, safely, with the right tools.
We need to do everything possible to keep schools open & safe.
That means more research - led by the CDC with the Dept of Education - and all the resources necessary to keep everyone safe while learning.
We can do this, safely, with the right tools.
INVESTING IN PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE:
Weâve under-invested in public health for way too long. We must expand the resources to local and national public health agencies.
This will make us all much much safer in the long run and better prepared for future pandemics.
Weâve under-invested in public health for way too long. We must expand the resources to local and national public health agencies.
This will make us all much much safer in the long run and better prepared for future pandemics.
SUPPORT FOR ISOLATION/QUARANTINE:
In addition to expanding our contact tracing program (how bout a public health corps?!), we must provide resources to people who follow public health guidance & appropriately quarantine/isolate.
This is the how we reduce community transmission.
In addition to expanding our contact tracing program (how bout a public health corps?!), we must provide resources to people who follow public health guidance & appropriately quarantine/isolate.
This is the how we reduce community transmission.
GLOBAL COLLABORATION:
The Trump administration announced the US would withdraw from the World Health Organization, effective July 6, 2021.
That must immediately be rescinded. https://www.state.gov/update-on-u-s-withdrawal-from-the-world-health-organization/">https://www.state.gov/update-on...
The Trump administration announced the US would withdraw from the World Health Organization, effective July 6, 2021.
That must immediately be rescinded. https://www.state.gov/update-on-u-s-withdrawal-from-the-world-health-organization/">https://www.state.gov/update-on...
We will only conquer this virus as a global community. That means collaboration on vaccines and therapeutics.
The WHO does have many faults. But the US must help build it up, not tear it down. We can again be a respected global health leader. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/04/15/coronavirus-trump-halts-world-health-organization-money-column/5136914002/">https://www.usatoday.com/story/opi...
The WHO does have many faults. But the US must help build it up, not tear it down. We can again be a respected global health leader. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/04/15/coronavirus-trump-halts-world-health-organization-money-column/5136914002/">https://www.usatoday.com/story/opi...
I am very confident that this incoming administration will put in place a transition team focused on the science and public health.
We must get this virus under control, now. The winter is going to be tough regardless. But we can lessen the impact.
We must get this virus under control, now. The winter is going to be tough regardless. But we can lessen the impact.
Weâve lost a lot of time. And weâve lost a lot of friends, family and colleagues to this virus.
But if we act now - boldly and guided by science and public health- we will prevail.
We will end this pandemic.
And that is when we can truly celebrate.
Be safe. And be well.
But if we act now - boldly and guided by science and public health- we will prevail.
We will end this pandemic.
And that is when we can truly celebrate.
Be safe. And be well.
