Thread by @timcolbourn

Twitter is great for quick reactions, though 2 years into the pandemic it’s frustrating to see so many Covid takes still not considering wider context, trade-offs or where it all might be heading. 🧵 1/14

The situation in the UK has changed a lot since 2020, and with omicron even a lot in the last few weeks!

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[ For my thoughts please see thread, and listen to podcast here:

https://twitter.com/timcolbourn/status/1479411287545327621?s=21

]

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So many views seem un-updated though. A key issue is whether we can actually *stop* cases…

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I think we can’t *stop* cases (we can only delay), and also given we may be close to peak of omicron wave now in UK calls for restrictions seem poorly conceived and could do more harm than good. So what should we do?

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Here’s a list of 12 things, none of which involve mandatory restrictions on movement or behaviour (voluntary is fine of course & is curbing spread). Thoughts welcome!

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1.Create system (and get supplies) for quick prescription of Paxlovid and Satrovimab for unvaccinated & vulnerable to prevent many hospitalisations & safeguard NHS

2.Start huge indoor air quality investment programme: air filters & CO2 monitors for indoor public places

3.Continue successful vaccination programme, expand to making available for all 5-11 year olds (especially now safety data for 8.7m children in US shows strong net benefit)

4.Incentives for vaccination not passports or punishment. Free National helpline for vaccine hesitant

5. Support impacts of voluntary reduced mixing on Businesses(think this happening already to some extent?)

6. Invest in research on Long Covid, ME, CFS treatment
(and also research on how Long Covid incidence and burden might change with vaccination and for re-infections)

7.Invest in research on the burden of Long Covid and quantify Covid in relation to other health problems.

8.Invest in research on re-infection severity.

9.Communicate the importance of LFT testing *just* before you meet people indoors & continue making LFTs available

10.Communicate importance of FFP2 / N95 masks, fitting properly - maybe post out reusable pack to all households

11.NHS investment!! invest to increase hospital capacity so that it is comparable to the top OECD countries rather than near the bottom. Increase efficiency by stopping wasteful private contracts, PPP etc. Also clamp down on corruption and dodgy contracts.

12.Start a national discussion on where it's all going with Covid and what our goals should be!

To end on a positive note, I hope that by Feb even if cases remain high-ish and will continue due to waning immunity, there will be very few primary infections in unvaccinated people, so severity and hospitalisation burden should be low and stay low.

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