Thread by @ASlavitt

March 25 COVID Update: Today I spent the morning with the leading scientists, diagnostic experts, Homeland Security specialists & risk assessors.

This afternoon on the Senate bill. And just now with the Minnesota Timberwolves organization dealing with a scary situation. 1/

Bad news first. Half the world’s cases are now in the US, Spain & Italy. Soon half the cases will be in the US. And then more. Right now, our trajectory looks worse than other countries. And our survival rate projections are concerning. 2/

More could die from lack of access to a bed or a nurse or a ventilator than necessary. The shelter in place restrictions make absolute sense. They are working in NY. I know hey are hard. And feel hopeless. But they aren’t. 3/

Can I digress and talk about what it’s like dealing with scientists and Homeland Security people for a second?

Skip the next few tweets if you don’t find this interesting. 4/

The scientists are gloomy. They generally don’t like any solution or recommendation other than complete lock down, testing we don’t have, and strict controls. They are pessimists or realists or some kind of ists.

Almost every other suggestion is met with why it doesn’t work. 5/

DHS and risk and security people are all about probability, odds, actions, and nimble protocols. They know there’s no perfect answers. I relate more to this group, which is why I need the other group and their wisdom.

The combination was powerful together. 6/

What I’m trying to carve out is a path forward that’s better than the Easter Sunday Massacre. There are receptive audiences to this that are close to the President. So that’s one purpose. But my commitment is that I will publish it too. Likely in the @USATODAY.

One of the key ingedients to getting the country moving again is a test to see who has he antibodies to COVID-19. England announced millions of those would be available.

And I got encouraging news that they would soon be available in the US. It’s a blood test. And... 9/

I was expecting it would take months. Now I think weeks. Hallelujah.

Some experts think many more people have had mild versions of this than even knew. I hope so. Some governors are telling me they’re hearing that half the state may have been infected before they could act. 10/

Another ingredient is the ability to test more than our front line workforce. I wrote about testing last night. WE NEED A TESTING CZAR.

I know that sounds strange, but here’s why. Everyone is fighting over supplies. The Fed govt needs to decide which tests are best & get...11/

...supplies to them. THESE ARE NOT THE TIME TO HEW TO FREE-MARKET PRINCIPLES. Don’t give everyone scraps. 12/

And too many small companies with innovative tests are telling me they can’t produce without knowing someone can pay for it. The a federal government needs to backstop orders. 13/

America First is becoming America Last as other governments are centralizing decisions. Ordering tests. Centralizing supply orders. Distributing according to need.

One amazing scientist told me our curve will go “from vertical to erect” if we don’t change these simple things.14/

(Get your mind out of the gutter. I know there’s not much entertainment.)

Attach your favorite COVID meme to distract everyone if it’s funny. And let me know if I used meme incorrectly. 15/

I will be calling for a return to American leadership in 4 areas:

-first country to test our entire population
-first country to develop a vaccine
-create the most advsnced treatments
-set off a manufacturing boom in ventilators,masks, dig thermometers & PPE

And how and why.

I realize I botched this thread. This is the surgical repair. Sorry. Go to the embedded tweet and curse me.

https://twitter.com/aslavitt/status/1242990610073690112?s=21

The other thing we must do is develop a color coded system like we did after 9-11 to indicate safety levels and restrictions while we get to a vaccine.

New Zealand has. 16/

This was the toughest areas to get agreement on between the scientists (everything is red so why color code) & the homeland security people (do everything to minimize risk).

There is one person who was brilliant & I now worship (that’s a hint).17/

On to the Senate bill. Who would have thought a $2 trillion little bill would be minor news?

I’m going to put the Democratic summary of the bill below and In the next tweet, then a few comments.18/

Here’s the rest. If the Republicans want to send me their summary, I would gladly post it. 19/

I didn’t get everything I wanted. But got some.

(@USofCare is the policy team I founded working around the clock with states and fed government) 20/

https://twitter.com/usofcare/status/1242863899147481088?s=21

Most importantly we are pushing to recognize and care for front line health care workers. They are caring for our families. We need to care for them. 21/

https://twitter.com/usofcare/status/1242920739495383041?s=21

The bill is not done-done until the President signs it. But they are also talking about “COVID 4.” (Everything someone doesn’t get that they ask for, that’s the stock answer.) 22/

There’s good things you will see— unemployment insurance that gives even more of a boost to low wage workers (Rs are still fighting this), state payments, and it is indeed fast acting. 23/

But nothing to expand health care coverage and even a small increase in SNAP was blocked. And states need more money.

Now I will as it here I’m a Democrat. And others with different political views might see it differently. 24/

And as long as I’m being a little partisan, there’s a provision which even allows people to be kicked off of Medicaid even as states are given more Medicaid money.

I’m sure Republicans have their gripes too. In fact several were expressed loudly to me. 25/

Word is this will pass speedily in the House tomorrow but there are still a few moving pieces. And we have a mercurial President. 26/

There is more happening that I intended to include but I think it’s less important.

I want to close on a preparatory note. Some hospitals have run out of ventilators. Several that I know are discussing their ethical standards for what to do about patients they can’t vent. 27/

I never thought we would be here as a country. Gulp. 28/

Here in Minnesota, many of our favorite players is @KarlTowns. He’s 24. He’s an incredible young man. I had a chance to be on a call tonight with he and his dad and the @Timberwolves org. I will let you listen to Karl’s story since he shared it.29/

https://twitter.com/aslavitt/status/1242678242529677314?s=21

The leadership of that team @GerssonRosas and @robbysikka are providing incredible support and knowledge.

Karl is going to get his mom back and the message he sent out needs to be heard. #StayHome. And they’re going to win a championship. 30/

I’m thinking of everyone in any kind of pain. Let’s get through this. end/