Masking! For months, those of us on outside -- scientists, MDs, response planners, health experts, etc -- knew that there would be no national policy. And so we worked, in our different ways, to push for a Covid strategy one (damn) state, city, institution, company at a time 1/
That includes a national masking policy, which we won't get, but which appears to be happening one (damn) state at a time (or jurisdiction), etc. Here was what I laid out mid-June that was looking to be such a July policy.
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Its all a mess and not ideal, but you kind of have to work with what you got. And as it became clear that we were heading towards wide swaths of the US being under masking orders -- one (damn) place at a time -- it wasn't nothing. 3/
I've been updating you all on what it looks like from the planning side: get big corporations to require masking, major urban areas (48 or 50 most populous cities now covered), governors ratcheting up lax masking rules. No one should wait for the WH. 4/
The good data people at @UW and www.covidstrategy (Covid Exit Strategy) and elsewhere have been providing us with pretty helpful data that tells us where to push, where to be nervous (FL, come on man), what are specifics of mandate, and where to find hope. 5/
Yes, hope. The overwhelming majority of the public not only want masks mandated but is living under masking orders. Americans get it. And they are living it.
Here is last week's data and explanation (and lots of shout outs to the good data people).
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Here is last week's data and explanation (and lots of shout outs to the good data people).
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And now here is this week's chart. Look at this. Many states got stronger this week (darker blue: Ohio, MN, IN). Some cities same (DC). Here are changes in level 2 mask policies (at least indoor public spaces). Now that's a growth chart I like. 7/ 
Level 3 this week (indoor and outdoor). Another good growth chart. All of this will be on github.com/COVID19StatePo… later tonight. 8/
This means that at least 70% (up from 60ish% last week) of US is now covered by a statewide mask mandate with the policy requiring masking in most, if not all, indoor settings. This does not show the companies this week -- Walmart, etc. -- that are mandatory as well. 9/
Everything is horrible and nothing is working and I can get in that head space. Too many are dead; too many will die; too many are sick; too little leadership; a President not worthy of this nation. I feel that everyday. 10/
But one (damn) state, city, institution, company at a time something did shift despite, not because of, the WH and the President. And that isn't nothing. 11/11
Link to the information, the good data people, and other helpful links and background actually laid out here:
NOW THE END.
NOW THE END.
