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COVID19 disinformation is everywhere. And it's undermining our response in the US.

Below I tackle some of the most commonly mischaracterized things about #COVID19.

These are the facts. So get it on your aunt's Facebook wall or print it out and put it in the break-room!

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𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐏𝐄 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐒:

Months into the pandemic, providers are still reusing single-use items, including gowns & masks.

We need more PPE to keep us safe. Too many of our healthcare providers have been infected & died.

h/t @DrTomFrieden
𝐖𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡:

Our testing has ramped up from a dismal & delayed start.

Are we finally doing more testing than most other countries? Yes.

The problem is we have much wider community spread. Which means we need way more testing. Like, WAY more! https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-test
𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠:

Test results must be prompt (2-3 days max) to be useful.

But many labs are overwhelmed & people are reporting long wait times.

My (unofficial) survey showed 66% of tests taking >2 days.
𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐨:

As school season starts, data suggests that kids of all ages get infected & can infect others. Check out @meganranney's amazing thread 👇

Takeaway: Schools - and families - need safe contingency plans!

𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤:

At first we weren't sure (and frankly didn't communicate it well). But now we do know - masks ARE a critical part of stopping COVID.

Do they provide 100% protection at all times? Nope. That's why it's not just masks: its masks + distancing + hand hygiene.
𝐇𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐱𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤:

Millions of Facebook views doesn't alter the actual science. To date, there is no strong evidence hydroxychloroquine has any benefit in treating #COVID19.

Whether given early. Or late.
Or alone. Or in combination.
𝐖𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫:

When COVID hit NYC earlier this year, we had to learn how to best treat it. Since then, we've learned a lot.

When to use different types of oxygen & ventilators. Proning (turning patients over) helps. And steroids save lives.
𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃𝟏𝟗 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬:

At 155,000+, the US has more deaths than anywhere else in the world. By far.

You can make it sound less catastrophic by arguing others have more deaths per capita or whatever you want.

But its still over 155,000 deaths. So many of them preventable.
𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐚 '𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐞' 𝐃𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐲:

We're learning more about COVID #longhaulers - those who still suffer symptoms weeks/months after the initial illness.

Fatigue, ♥️ problems, foggy memory, breathing trouble, etc.

We need a plan to support them.
To combat #COVID19, we need clear guidance, based on science and public health, from trusted authorities.

And we must amplify the right voices. Because public health principles - not political bluster - will get us through this.

And we will get through this.

Be safe everyone.
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