5 truisms of public health, racism, COVID-19.
1. Mass gatherings spread virus
2. Being outside helps – we don’t know how much.
3. Wearing mask helps – may be a lot.
4. Racism kills
5. A destroyed economy kills
Thread
1. Mass gatherings spread virus
2. Being outside helps – we don’t know how much.
3. Wearing mask helps – may be a lot.
4. Racism kills
5. A destroyed economy kills
Thread
My 4 key public health messages I've tried to adhere to:
1. Never downplay horrible costs of being shut down
2 Focus on what needs doing: an effective government response to the pandemic. We still lack adequate testing/tracing so we can suppress virus, get our lives back
2/N
1. Never downplay horrible costs of being shut down
2 Focus on what needs doing: an effective government response to the pandemic. We still lack adequate testing/tracing so we can suppress virus, get our lives back
2/N
key public health messages continued:
3. As we open up, we should avoid things that are truly discretionary (pool parties, large indoor gatherings)
4. We should never begrudge folks angry about lost livelihoods, businesses, being unable to grieve for lost loved ones.
3/n
3. As we open up, we should avoid things that are truly discretionary (pool parties, large indoor gatherings)
4. We should never begrudge folks angry about lost livelihoods, businesses, being unable to grieve for lost loved ones.
3/n
3 personal views that are my values (yours might differ):
1. I support the protesters
2. I am deeply worried protests will fuel outbreaks
3. I am angry we are in a position where there is tension between racial justice, fighting COVID because we didn't suppress the virus
4/7
1. I support the protesters
2. I am deeply worried protests will fuel outbreaks
3. I am angry we are in a position where there is tension between racial justice, fighting COVID because we didn't suppress the virus
4/7
2 takeaways:
1. If we had built up a strong testing/tracing infrastructure, we could have been in a very different position.
2. That would let us protest more safely. Go back to work more safely. Get kids back to school more safely.
5/7
1. If we had built up a strong testing/tracing infrastructure, we could have been in a very different position.
2. That would let us protest more safely. Go back to work more safely. Get kids back to school more safely.
5/7
Final point:
I don’t want to fight about which kind of death is worse:
death from a destroyed economy, death from racism, or death from COVID.
I really don't
6/7
I don’t want to fight about which kind of death is worse:
death from a destroyed economy, death from racism, or death from COVID.
I really don't
6/7
We can make a different choice.
It requires pushing our government to deal with pandemic by making testing widely available.
Yes, tracing harder with protests but still absolutely essential
And yes, we need to address issues of racism, policing and do so now.
Fin
It requires pushing our government to deal with pandemic by making testing widely available.
Yes, tracing harder with protests but still absolutely essential
And yes, we need to address issues of racism, policing and do so now.
Fin
