Thread by @michaelmina_lab

We must figure out how to protect the most vulnerable from #COVID19. At Kirkland, of 120 total residents living there, 26 (20%) have died since Feb 19 and many more are sick.

Of 170 staff, 70 (40%) showing symptoms.

We must anticipate this elsewhere.

bellevuereporter.com/news/life-care…

The vulnerable here include not just the elderly, but of course the healthcare workers who are exposed potentially many times per day.

Protecting our front lines of defense against disease is crucially important in both biology and society.

Resources should focus there first

Those numbers written out in more detail for the press briefing.

https://twitter.com/dave_bomberg/status/1236521426259042310?s=21

https://twitter.com/dave_bomberg/status/1236521426259042310

In addition, This is a serious vulnerability for the Whole of the US healthcare system. Spread within a few retirement/nursing homes like this in a major city can alone overload our healthcare system and critical care / ICU beds....

If discussions are not already ongoing, we should be considering makeshift healthcare facilities for some cities. Perhaps unused apartment buildings or warehouses.

These discussions should be ongoing now, in event of need later. This is time to be precautionary vs reactionary.

Though watching & waiting before making high consequence decisions seems efficient, we can look to Seattle and elsewhere to see the future for cities not yet hit. Let’s be smart: Stop gatherings, scrutinize healthcare facility visitors, work from home policies.... These all help