Thread by @JoiaMukherjee

1/@PIH
believes #mitigatingCOVID is NOT enough!! #flatteningthecurve is NOT enough. We cannot accept this idea that the ONLY way to stop the epidemic is through 60-80% of people getting infected so there is population-based immunity. We can STOP transmission

2/@PIH
we KNOW how to stop transmission of a severe viral illness--look at Ebola. How did the world bend the curve? We did not wait for everyone to get infected!!!!

3/ in the West African Ebola epi governments in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Senegal, Nigeria, Guinea w/ many civil society partners with partners around the world including
@PIH
@WHO
@MSF
@IMC_Worldwide
@SamaritansPurse
and fantastic partners worked to #stoptransmission

4/A comprehensive strategy is needed that hinges on #TestingTestingTesting and
@PIH
is working to massively expand testing This is key to STOPPING transmission in 4 critical ways

5/First: triaging patients based on status can avert transmission through recognizing immediately those who are infectious so they can be isolated. this is being done widely in Rwanda, Liberia, and Sierra Leone supported in local facilities by @PIH

6/Second: once a patient is identified if they are not sick, they must be safely and humanely isolated--@PIH this means the provision of social support #paidsickleave or cash transfer, #foodsecurity and ongoing communication.

7/ Third is the provision of HIGH QUALITY CARE @PIH
we say care requires #5s staff, stuff, space, systems and social support. We need to prepare our facilities with sufficient and well protected staff, supplies including oxygen, meds etc, data and lab systems, and social support

8/ Fourth is contact tracing-also hinges on testing.
@PIH
we are proud of our long history of strong #communityheatlhworkers-paid and trained to visit homes (with proper protection) and perform screening and monitoring-testing symptomatic people or referring them for testing

9/With these 4 basic principles that @PIH has learned from SOLIDARITY with communities and SUPPORT of governments from working in epidemics from AIDS to TB to cholera to Ebola. We know it is possible to #StopCoronaVirus

10/Four principles @PIH 1. #TestingTestingTesting with new tests, rapid tests, 2. #humaneisolation #PaidSickLeave ,cash, #foodsecurity 3. #HealthCareForAll high quality care for the sick 4.#contactracing by paid community health workers connected to a functioning system.

11/ Please watch 3/12 @maddow McNeil @nytimes re: the Chinese response, @CarolineYLChen and her outstanding reporting in Propublical and the GREAT @gregggonsalves a great teacher @PIH on lessons learned from the HIV movement and malevolent governments. msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-…

12/and support @PIH to #StopCoronaVirus pih.org