Thread by @carolinelsell

Wonderful new podcast by @CIDRAP, giving you an inside look at what my @PublicHealthUMN class w/Dr. Osterholm is like! Highly recommend the listen! Key points from ep 1 on #COVIDー19 #COVID19:
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https://twitter.com/CIDRAP/status/1242874245434298370

1: @mtosterholm debunks the seasonality premise. Typical in disease outbreaks to see peak infections after 6mo, this is time to understand transmission & take action. Nothing to do w/seasonality or temp, example of active MERS transmission in Arabian desert
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2: Must consider long-term plans. Something between full lockdown vs no action. Find middle ground, minimize exposure in most vulnerable pop, allow transmission in less vulnerable pop b/c less severe outcomes, they become immune & continue to work in society/care for others
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3: Honesty is vital for public trust. No more happy talk. When it's serious, say so. When it's better, say so. False hope, misunderstanding, or withholding info will lose the public's trust in #publichealth, and this is dangerous. Must speak truth
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4: Example of speaking truth: data on limiting # of people in groups isn't actually backed up by any reasoning on transmission of #COVID19 in crowds, but gov't put out arbitrary # of 500, 50, 25, 10 people in groups as guidance
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5: 2nd example of speaking truth, re: children in schools, b/c still hasn't been proven that kids transmit at any higher rates from school. See example of S.Korea vs Singapore, no real change. But, big consequences on healthcare/service workforce when kids are suddenly home
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6: On testing: early identification by testing will make biggest impact, but we aren't in a situation to do this right now. Infrastructure/capacity levels not in place to sufficiently ramp up testing, so can't actually stop transmission. ***Testing will run out, then what?
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7: On lockdowns: the draconian methods used by China (just one example) cannot/would not work in USA. Must think about what is feasible in specific country. Consider societal structure, gov't powers, way of life. (More on this in @mtosterholm's @washingtonpost op-ed)
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8: Thankful for #InfectiousDisease #epi experts like Dr. Osterholm for giving us straight-talk. Must be honest/truthful, or public will get more confused. We are in this together, aim to help each other, not harm. Tell truth, take action, involve communities in conversation
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9: Also got a great shoutout to @MNcovidsitters as an awesome example of how @umnmedschool students are helping during this crisis. Need more helping actions like this, instead of pretending it will all be over soon. We need each other & we will get through #COVID19
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