1/ So, what was going on at @CDCgov from Jan-March, against the mounting threat of coronavirus?
Based on hundreds of pages of emails we got our hands on: fumbling communications between federal and state agencies + general chaos. A few “jokes.”
Take a look for yourself:
Based on hundreds of pages of emails we got our hands on: fumbling communications between federal and state agencies + general chaos. A few “jokes.”
Take a look for yourself:
2/ On Jan. 28, the CDC was reporting 5 cases of COVID-19. The CDC’s director, Dr. Robert Redfield, assured employees “the virus is not spreading in the U.S. at this time.” 
3/ By Feb. 13, the agency was struggling with one of its most important duties: keeping track of Americans suspected of having COVID-19.
“Help needed urgently,” one email said.
“Help needed urgently,” one email said.
4/ The CDC had “an ongoing issue” with organizing — and sometimes flat-out losing — forms sent by local agencies about people thought to be infected. The email listed job postings for people who could track paperwork.
This was in FEBRUARY.
This was in FEBRUARY.
5/ That same week, the agency sent Nevada officials alerts about 80 potential coronavirus patients to monitor, documents show. Four were not Nevada residents.
6/ In March, a program manager in the Nevada Health Department asked the CDC about
congressional funding for COVID-19. “There seems to be a communications blackout on this end,” the program manager wrote.
congressional funding for COVID-19. “There seems to be a communications blackout on this end,” the program manager wrote.
7/ “Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to your questions,” a CDC staffer replied.
“It’s good to be confused together,” the Nevada employee responded.
“It’s good to be confused together,” the Nevada employee responded.
8/ On Feb. 19, the CDC described criteria to be tested: close contact with a confirmed case or travel to China + had respiratory symptoms + a fever.
But the CDC’s own guidance from Jan. 17 had a footnote that said “fever may not be present in some patients.”
What?
But the CDC’s own guidance from Jan. 17 had a footnote that said “fever may not be present in some patients.”
What?
9/ In a statement to @ProPublica, the CDC said clinicians could always use their judgment to decide who received a test:
“CDC never declined a request for testing that came from a state or local health department,” the agency said.
“CDC never declined a request for testing that came from a state or local health department,” the agency said.
10/ Here’s what’s going on: these emails provide a behind-the-scenes peek into the messy early stages of the U.S. response to the coronavirus, revealing an antiquated public health system trying to adapt on the fly.
11/ Full story from @ProPublica’s @CarolineYLChen, @marshall_allen and @LChurchill here: propub.li/2QPSCIZ
12/ We’ll be publishing many more coronavirus investigations.
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Some may think it’s “good to be confused together.” Not us. propub.li/2yeCTN1
Sign up to get the next one when it drops.
Some may think it’s “good to be confused together.” Not us. propub.li/2yeCTN1
