The word of the week is: reopen. The questions of the week are: When to reopen? Where to reopen? How to reopen safely?
A few resources to share:
This past week, we focused on states with our action-oriented State Legislative Recommendations to Address COVID-19: bit.ly/2Wdc6ds
States under both Republican and Democratic leadership are ramping up contact tracing because it is critical to beginning to reopen schools and businesses while limiting the spread of Coronavirus. Our comprehensive overview of contact tracing: bit.ly/2LnNAjz
States are approaching contact tracing in a variety of ways:
-Hiring or reassigning state/local government employees
-Contracting with outside vendors
-Deploying the National Guard
-Recruiting volunteers
-Utilizing technology
-Hiring or reassigning state/local government employees
-Contracting with outside vendors
-Deploying the National Guard
-Recruiting volunteers
-Utilizing technology
“Between one-third and one-half of the states are eyeing some kind of legislative session this summer. @USofCare is urging lawmakers — if they do meet — to take specific actions to swiftly lessen the impact of the coronavirus on people’s daily lives.” wapo.st/2LcJ0oc
Every State will continue to struggle, however, with scaling contact tracing programs for the duration of the COVID pandemic with their existing resources. We believe Congress will need to consider additional funding for states as they take on this effort.
Today we're holding a tele-briefing for Hill staffers on the critical link between opening up and contact tracing. Speakers include @USofCare's own @ebarson, @KFF's @Mollybrodie, @JohnsHopkinsSPH's @cmyeaton & @MyNETHealth/@NACCHOalerts's George Roberts.
We also collaborated with @ResolveTSL, @DukeMargolis, and @USDResponse to track how each state is doing towards the @WhiteHouse gating criteria. Check it out today bit.ly/3fHQEFd
Another great resource put out today from a large group of experts with @HarvardEthics provides detailed guidance on the levels of testing and tracing needed to reopen different communities across the US, based on disease levels in distinct locales. bit.ly/2WIwQbW
On Monday, Founders Council member @drJoshS with @JohnsHopkinsSPH unveiled an online course to teach Americans the fundamentals of contact tracing. If you take it, let us know what you learn! bit.ly/2Lpmmt4
And last, stay safe.
