It's been one year since the World Health Organization officially declared #covid19 to be a #pandemic.
What have we learned? Where do we go from here?
A thread. /1
What have we learned? Where do we go from here?
A thread. /1
5 key lessons:
1) Importance of a national, coordinated response. Piecemeal approaches to PPE, testing & vaccination do not work.
2) Without data, we are flying blind. A year ago, every detected case was a canary in a coal mine. Same issue with lack of genomic surveillance. /2
1) Importance of a national, coordinated response. Piecemeal approaches to PPE, testing & vaccination do not work.
2) Without data, we are flying blind. A year ago, every detected case was a canary in a coal mine. Same issue with lack of genomic surveillance. /2
3) Hospitals are the last line of defense, not the first. The community, through preventive measures, are the frontlines.
4) Public health depends on public trust. Mixed messaging erodes trust & leads to politicizing of basic measures like masks./3
4) Public health depends on public trust. Mixed messaging erodes trust & leads to politicizing of basic measures like masks./3
5) The pandemic didn't create disparities but did unmask them. Those hurt the most are those who already bore the disproportionate burden of disease & lack of access.
Inequities won't correct themselves; it takes specific intention.
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/…
Inequities won't correct themselves; it takes specific intention.
washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/…
Under the Trump administration, the strategy was one of capitulation. It’s like knowing a foreign enemy was going to invade and kill hundreds of thousands of Americans, and our elected leaders know how to stop it — but simply decided not to.
/5 washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/…
/5 washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/…
The Biden administration has already done remarkable work, including establishing a clear national strategy, ensuring regular communication by scientists, rapidly ramping up of vaccination, and embedding equity in all its work. /6
Looking forward, 3 key areas:
1) Tie vaccination with reopening policies, recognizing hesitancy will be #1 barrier soon washingtonpost.com/opinions/cdc-r…
/7
1) Tie vaccination with reopening policies, recognizing hesitancy will be #1 barrier soon washingtonpost.com/opinions/cdc-r…
/7
2) Reopen schools for in-person instruction (with teacher vaccinations as a crucial path there) washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/…
/8
/8
3) Emphasize that masks + vaccines will be ticket out of this pandemic.
A year later, we have had unfathomable suffering. But the end is in sight. We are all in this together. Whether we end the pandemic, and how many more lives we will lose, is up to us.
/END
A year later, we have had unfathomable suffering. But the end is in sight. We are all in this together. Whether we end the pandemic, and how many more lives we will lose, is up to us.
/END
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