THREAD
1/ We are 1 of the only wealthy places in the world that actually tried, failed, & gave up
We tried to mitigate, this epidemic ran away, we tried to lockdown, only did it 1/2 way, reopened early, acted surprised, tried to rationalize new cases as “not so bad”- here we are
1/ We are 1 of the only wealthy places in the world that actually tried, failed, & gave up
We tried to mitigate, this epidemic ran away, we tried to lockdown, only did it 1/2 way, reopened early, acted surprised, tried to rationalize new cases as “not so bad”- here we are
1.5/ Some may argue we didn’t fail or didn’t give up. But what we did was allow the epidemic to wipe through states— Northeast first, Texas/CA/Florida/Arizona next, & now a whole new set of states on the way to taking their places (see later tweets ⬇️). This virus outpaced us.
2/ We need to start changing our entire mentality
Every new case should illicit outrage— yesterday, that was 58,194 cases
Every attempt by the government to convince us otherwise should be seen as a threat to our lives and a testament to their incompetence, because it is both.
Every new case should illicit outrage— yesterday, that was 58,194 cases
Every attempt by the government to convince us otherwise should be seen as a threat to our lives and a testament to their incompetence, because it is both.
3/ Every attempt to *distract* us from drastically stopping #covid19 spread should be identified as such.
Pushing for schools. Pushing for sports.
Pushing for anything that makes it seem like we are even close to returning to “normal” should be seen as nihilism to the response.
Pushing for schools. Pushing for sports.
Pushing for anything that makes it seem like we are even close to returning to “normal” should be seen as nihilism to the response.
4/ We need *targeted lockdowns* in areas w/ the highest spread— counties are not created equal, the response in each county should not be either.
Hit the areas w/ highest transmission w/ our most intense interventions.
Resources need to be used in proportion to need
Hit the areas w/ highest transmission w/ our most intense interventions.
Resources need to be used in proportion to need
5/ People need pragmatic guidance on their individual behaviors.
Saying “wear a mask” and “6 feet” for months on end is literally inadequate.
People need videos/demonstrations on real life scenarios to help them understand when/why masking is most important, when it is less so
Saying “wear a mask” and “6 feet” for months on end is literally inadequate.
People need videos/demonstrations on real life scenarios to help them understand when/why masking is most important, when it is less so
6/ We need *better masks* for those frontline workers who are at highest risk, spending their days in closed indoors places w/ poor ventilation.
Surprised we are seeing clusters in food processing plants (as one example)?
There is *literally nothing surprising about that*
Surprised we are seeing clusters in food processing plants (as one example)?
There is *literally nothing surprising about that*
7/ We are now seeing declines in new cases in Arizona, Florida, Texas, which seemed to have hit some sort of peak.
But those places are seeing rises in *deaths* now.
And the next wave of states is taking their spots— Tennessee, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri.
But those places are seeing rises in *deaths* now.
And the next wave of states is taking their spots— Tennessee, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri.
8/ Are we literally letting this happen *again*? A 3rd time? At what point is it clear that we need to be locking down those counties; sending help in from other states where health systems are overwhelmed etc
Why are we so disjointed? And how can we let history repeat, again?
Why are we so disjointed? And how can we let history repeat, again?
8.5/ Even states that made it through their first wave in May— MA (my own), New Jersey, Rhode Island, Maryland— are starting to see upticks again.
This is expected— reopening means the virus spreads. The key here is *safe reopening* w/ strong public health.
This is expected— reopening means the virus spreads. The key here is *safe reopening* w/ strong public health.
9/ This literally means test/trace/isolate *quickly* — and when you start noticing trends (like the private house parties in Massachusetts), you need to stop them. Target resources and efforts there (we are here)
Every county and state will have different versions of the same.
Every county and state will have different versions of the same.
10/ I want to reiterate that very little of this is rocket science. Epidemics have been stopped for centuries.
Everything you are seeing is a failure not of knowledge or expertise so much as it is a failure of individualism, capitalism, and poor leadership during crisis.
Everything you are seeing is a failure not of knowledge or expertise so much as it is a failure of individualism, capitalism, and poor leadership during crisis.
11/ Crisis demands that you put others before yourself. It demands unity across states and counties. I can’t forget this— when Wuhan was hit, the whole country mobilized to help. Thousands of workers were sent in from all over China to stop the spread and save lives.
12/ The USA can do this but we cannot do it with the current mentality that we have.
“Learning to live with the virus” is absolutely essential **once you have stopped exponential catastrophic spread**, not before.
So much more to be said. Keep an 👁 out for a piece soon.
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“Learning to live with the virus” is absolutely essential **once you have stopped exponential catastrophic spread**, not before.
So much more to be said. Keep an 👁 out for a piece soon.
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13/ Sharing additional threads here— corporate greed coupled w/ capitalism have made it seem “normal” that the @NBA just created a damn bubble to safely float along in while we are in crisis in so many parts of this country.
Any cartoonists out there working on this?
Any cartoonists out there working on this?
14/ Additional thread here on how I personally think about daily risk in my usual routine. Wearing a mask is a part of it— but people need more than that. If you are jumping off of sidewalks to avoid getting near people, but aren’t masking inside, you’re doing this wrong.
