Why am I for a national Grand Challenge Health Force? coloradosun.com/2020/04/26/col… A few reasons, 1/n
Unemployment is and will be through the roof across the nation. Everyone, but students in particular, want and need mission-driven employment opportunities immediately. Ponder this for my second home-state, Maine; pressherald.com/2020/04/26/mai… 2/n
Massachusetts and some other states (NY, w/ Bloomberg) are scaling contact tracing quickly -- 1,000 about to be trained in MA. Yea! But -- few states have expertise and $$ to do this. So a national program is vital. nytimes.com/2020/04/16/us/… 3/n
Much of the work to be done in scaled testing, tracing, and support for those who need to isolate/quarantine -- can be provided by folks with some training. We don't need -- and can't afford -- epidemiologists for all of this. 4/n
Timing matters -- which is another argument for scaling nationally quickly. We were behind the curve in moving to distancing and in PPE -- we can get ahead of this critical step to revitalizing America. cbsnews.com/news/the-coron… 5/n
Many sectors of the economy won't re-open unless we have scaled testing/tracing/isolation and support plans. Few states have accounted for this granularity of need in their plans nytimes.com/2020/04/26/opi… 6/n
Our college students need summer opportunities -- and more. And this generation is mission-driven. Now more than ever. They will flock to serve -- and we should make this service honorable, paid, and very very high profile. They will save lives. nae.edu/230195/Call-fo… 7/n
Of course, Health Force should employ more than just rising college Seniors and recent grads -- it's our nation's most vital service opportunity for all. All who proudly serve will remember, and be remembered. bennet.senate.gov/public/index.c… 8/n
While this should QUICKLY be launched nationally, the States can have flexibility with respect to how they implement. This will accelerate getting people paid to do vital work throughout the country at a time of great national need -- but each location needs to direct. 9/n
I *hope* this becomes a bi-partisan national movement fast. How inspiring for our next greatest generation to have the country rally around providing them an opportunity to immediately address society's greatest -- and grandest -- challenge, now! 10/fin
@threadreaderapp unroll please
