Thread on the weeks ahead as we enter the activation stage of our homeland response.
The virus is new; pandemic planning is not. That should provide some solace, as should our constitutional structure, which places most decisions about response at the state and local level. 1/
The virus is new; pandemic planning is not. That should provide some solace, as should our constitutional structure, which places most decisions about response at the state and local level. 1/
I'm not saying the present situation is ideal -- the federal government is there to support, provide funds, reliable information, guidelines and resources -- but it won't change during this crisis. Trump will not change. But we will. 2/
The "activation" stage is obviously that moment when possibility of prevention (containment) bumps up against reality of community spread. Local jurisdictions and employers will now invoke whatever tools they have -- school closings, travel limitations, etc. -- for one goal: 3/
Success will still be measured in possibility of containing the virus, but it will also be necessary to slow the inevitable spread. This explains Italy. We do not want everyone getting this at same time. For planning purposes, delay (rather than eradication) becomes a goal. 5/
We are probably overthinking our own personal vulnerability and underthinking the social and economic disruptions that will mark the weeks ahead. And I don't know if its at all comforting, but all who have gone through a public health crisis knew this moment was coming. 6/
Lots of things can and will go wrong; they already have. Decisions will look haphazard and maybe even irrational. Second guessing will become a national past time as local, state and private actors make decisions to activate for a threat that has no clear start moment. 7/
But all will likely impact the American public in ways that no modern crisis has. There will be an end. And the measure of success is simply whether fewer will die because of the actions taken in the days and weeks ahead to #slowthespread. It's that simple. Do your part. 8/8
