IMPORTANT: In coming weeks, as #COVID19 numbers stay high (or rise) in many states, @realdonaldtrump may try to blame it on #BlackLivesMatter protests. As an ER doc, I can tell you it’s a stunt designed to evade accountability & should be refuted ASAP. Here are the facts: 1/8
We’re seeing a spike in cases of #COVID19 in AR, AZ, CA, MA, NC, NH, NV, OK, SC, TN, UT, and WA.And FL saw the most cases in 1 day this week. The cause? The rushed & reckless #reopeningofAmerica pushed by @realDonaldTrump while failing to implement a national testing program. 2/8
Reopening may help the president’s jobs numbers, and it’s certainly understandable Americans are growing impatient. But we need to do it responsibly, or cases will rise. And we must have a #TraceandTest program in place. Many docs & public health experts warned about this. 3/8
The president has a transparent motive to link a rise in #COVID19 to #peacefulprotests against police brutality. However, reopening entire states nationwide is far more risky than targeted protests in select cities. We wouldn’t see an impact of protests for another few wks. 4/8
Further, while there may be risk of getting #COVID19 from gathering close to others, the risk of an African American man dying at the hands of the police in their lifetime is 1/1000. Which means the current state of policing in America is a public health crisis. 5/8
The difference between these protests & anti-lockdown protests of weeks past? Previous protests opposed the very measures that were clearly flattening the curve of #COVID19. This week’s protests oppose measures that are killing Americans. They’re opposites. 6/8
The vast majority of protesters against police brutality this week have been shown wearing masks. By contrast, the folks screaming at police in the Michigan state Capitol -- and the partiers at the pool party in Lake of the Ozarks -- went out of their way not to wear them. 7/8
Bottom line: If we see a big spike in #COVID19 cases, it's due to lack of testing & contact tracing, & a weak president rushing to reopen society prematurely for political reasons. Don’t let @realdonaldtrump use politics to rewrite history or shift blame. #BlackLivesMatter 8/8
CORRECTION: In MA, the total numbers aren’t going up, but the test positive rate is. Also, a cause for concern as we enter a re-opening phase. Thanks Becky Smith for bringing this to my attention.
Some of these states may not have seen a rise in cases, but a rise in test positive rates-also very concerning. Today it’s reported that 22 states are seeing a rise in cases, most of which are in various states of re-opening.
It begins.
