Americans should begin social distancing (no handshaking, eliminate non-essential travel and meetings). The reason is not so much to get practice or to reduce personal risk, as to reduce the intensity of the COVID-19 epidemic and spare health care system. 1/
If we reduce the spread, even if we ultimately have the same total number of cases, we 'flatten the curve,' which means that, at any given time, our health care system can cope with the COVID-19 cases, hopefully. 2/ 
USA has lower hospital capacity (2.9 beds/1,000 people) than China (4.2), Australia (3.8), Italy (3.4), Japan (13.4), & Korea (11.5). Reports indicate COVID-19 epidemic filled the hospitals in Wuhan and Milan regions. I suspect WA state will be taxed. data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.M… 3/
Another advantage of 'flattening the curve' of the COVID-19 epidemic by implementing social distancing now is that more of the cases that ultimately occur will occur at a (later) time point when (perhaps!) a vaccine or better treatment is available. 4/
This report, by our amazing @CDCgov, aptly entitled "Community Mitigation Guidelines to Prevent Pandemic Influenza -- United States, 2017," published three years ago, gives much good advice. Pandemics recur. We should prepare and remain calm. cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/6… 5/
Issue of school closures is complex. They have been shown to be very effective at curtailing flu epidemics, but must be implemented early, before first case is detected in a school. So it's tough call! I think it likely we will see school closures in the USA before long. 6/
Just look at this concerning report out of Italy. apnews.com/837274f1bab9af… Doctors are being called out of retirement. Some 9% of patients w COVID-19 need ICU (was 5% in China nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…). We must work together to keep health care system ready. h/t @marcelsalathe 7/
