Thread by @bopinion

In late June, @MaxNisen highlighted what he deemed a "horrifying" chart showing massive growth in new infections in the U.S. relative to the European Union.

Now, almost four months later, that chart remains terrifying, in a completely different way trib.al/hQxu8YS

For the first time since March, the EU is reporting more new Covid-19 cases on a per-capita basis than the U.S., reflecting a second wave of virus outbreaks.

That’s even as U.S. case rates climb from an alarmingly high post-summer plateau trib.al/hQxu8YS

Both regions are at a dangerous moment:

❄️The virus will be harder to control in winter as people congregate indoors
🙅🏻‍♀️Resistance to renewed restrictions may make them harder to impose and enforce trib.al/hQxu8YS

Yet Europe has advantages over the U.S. as winter approaches. It:

☑️Got infections under control last spring
☑️Kept deaths far lower
☑️Is taking more steps to control outbreaks

Meanwhile, America's lack of action means cases and deaths have stayed up trib.al/hQxu8YS

European countries are beginning to impose new restrictions such as:

🇮🇹Broader mask mandate in Italy
🇨🇿Two weeks of closed bars in the Czech Republic
🇪🇸Targeted lockdowns in Spain trib.al/hQxu8YS

The American response and outlook is potentially more troubling. Many states that are experiencing concerning outbreaks are among those with the fewest restrictions on gatherings and bars:

📈Alabama
📈Iowa
📈Indiana
📈Florida
📈North and South Dakota
trib.al/hQxu8YS

The consequences of failing to contain outbreaks on either side of the Atlantic are clear:

The U.S. has recorded more per-capita and total Covid deaths than any other developed country trib.al/hQxu8YS

Overall death rates have dropped, as a result of:

👵🏽Better protection of vulnerable people
🌡️Catching cases earlier
🚑Improved treatment

But mask-wearing and smart social-distancing measures could potentially drive death rates even lower trib.al/hQxu8YS

Every week brings the world closer to better drugs and a vaccine. They’re not here yet.

But there are things we can do in the meantime to slow the spread. Until the death rate drops to zero, it is essential to try trib.al/hQxu8YS