Thread by @ASlavitt

COVID Update: I’ve been calling around to get a sense of the extent of spread of Omicron in the US.

Will report what I’ve heard and some very strong steps from President Biden to minimize spread. 1/

Two labs, one in the East Coast and one in the West Coast are investigating what earlier in the week was only 6 reported cases.

But as someone says, the absence of proof isn’t the same as proof of absence. So… 2/

The most telling conversation I had was with a state which sequenced every positive case from the last 6 weeks. They found no Omicron cases. 3/

While not definitive this tells me that Omicron is not yet running wild in the US. It is not too late to take action.

Very pleased to see new steps in these key areas… 4/

1- Global vaccination. The US which has already delivered over 200 million vaccines around the globe (& over 90 million to Africa) will send another 200 million in the next hundred days. All free.

$250 million of aid to Africa to conduct vaccinations. 5/

2- More rapid at home testing available in the US. Now for free. 6/

This new testing allows several things:
-keep the country, the economy and people moving without putting them at risk
-reduce spread
-for people who test positive allow them to take therapies early 7/

There are now 8 rapid at home tests approved, up from zero. Thanks to $3 billion investment from Biden Admin and rapid FDA approvals.

There will soon be 4x the number of tests available compared to August. 8/

3- Smarter border and international travel policies.

All foreign nationals to the US must now show proof of vaccination & all travelers must show a negative test within 24 hours. Travel limited from hot spot countries. 9/

4- Emergency response teams

60 teams will be readied around the country to manage potential hot spots. 10/

5- Families and kids

Several hundred family vaccination clinics will open both mobile & in communities.

Relatedly they are looking at school resiliency processes so schools can stay open even when there are positive tests.

Medicaid will pay doctors for vaccine counseling.11/

6- Boosters & seniors

Best advice of scientists is that boosters are best prevention against Omicron.

Pharmacies are expanding hours & walk-ins.
Medicare will do direct outreach to seniors, so will AARP 12/

7- Building the arsenal

-Administration procuring 13 million doses of oral therapeutics
-Partnering on potential adjustments to vaccines if needed so they can be made and introduced in Q1 next year if needed 13/

My overall: they are moving fast.
They are building on prior action.
They are being comprehensive. They are focusing on science. They are preparing for all scenarios.
14/

Meanwhile sadly there are people trying to stand in the way.

Republican leaders have called Omicron a hoax & are prohibiting common sense masking policies while they have challenged the ability of Medicare and OSHA to even keep workplaces & hospitals safe in court.
15/

Republican politicians should support efforts to minimize the pandemic or at a minimum, stay the hell out of the way. /end