Update: The number of #coronavirus cases in the United States just doubled in 2 days. Bigger spikes are coming. We went from 100 detected cases to 1000 in a little over a week. In another week, we'll be at 10,000. There could be 60,000 in Washington State by May.
I’m not panicking. Or stockpiling. But I do wash my hands constantly. And try to avoid touching my face. I've canceled all events in March & April. May isn't looking good either.
Testing has improved, but it’s nowhere close to what it needs to be. People from all over the country reach out because they’re terrified they could be spreading the virus. But they can’t know for sure because they can’t get tested.
So how bad will this get? If the response we’re seeing at the federal level continues, things will be worse than Wuhan. No one even debates that point anymore. We need more hospital beds. In briefings, there’s a consistent message: You can’t spin a pandemic.
If you’re looking for some inspiration, look up my mentor: Dr. Joan Steitz. She’s been teaching at Yale for FIFTY years & has done more to advance RNA science than anyone else in the world. Her work led to the testing we now rely upon. If anyone deserves a Nobel Prize, it’s Joan.
