Thread by @ASlavitt

COVID Update: Biden just released his National COVID Preparedness Plan.

Even if you haven’t been paying much attention to COVID with Omicron fading, this is worth paying attention to. A lot of news in here. 1/

This plan really is about what is next & has 3 major elements:
-Protect against COVID-19
-Prepare for new variants
-Prevent schools & businesses from needing to close 2/

Protecting against COVID revolves around maximizing the tools we have particularly for the most at risk populations.

Tests, vaccines & therapies are critical to what we must do here & there are important initiatives in each category in the plan. 3/

The ongoing availability of tests is one key. 70 million free tests have been delivered. And starting next week free tests will be available at covidtests.gov.

Ubiquity of tests means increased freedom. 4/

Tests help when they help assure us we are negative. But when they’re positive, what then?

Therapeutics. This is where Biden’s next announcement comes in. They are launching the new “test to treat” program. It will allow anti-virals to be given right at the test side. 5/

Vaccines are the 3rd, & obviously the most critical element of COVID prevention. The plan focuses on finishing the vaccination effort with kids under 5 & boosting more & more Americans. 6/

Preparing for new variants is a critical & interesting part of the plan.

Thankfully the Administration is adopting the mindset of planning for variants not wishing them away.

This means: early warnings of a new variant, faster approvals & building stockpiles. 7/

Data collection, sequencing & wastewater are key focuses of early detection. The plan is then to approve & deliver new vaccines within 100 days.

It calls on Congress to step up & fund PPE, vaccines, therapeutics & other things to make sure we’re never caught off guard again. 8/

The plan calls for a COVID Variant Playbook to assess the impact of any new variant on contagiousness & severity & adjustments needed to shore up tests, treatments & vaccines. 9/

Preventing disruptions to schools & businesses is a third element of the plan.

It was a welcome site to see a commitment to new ventilation and a Clean Air in Buildings Checklist & new OSHA guidance as part of the plan. 10/

Fundamental to keeping schools & businesses open is paid sick leave. We are so very foolish if we don’t allow people to stay home with pay when they’re not well. This foolishness must change.

C’mon Congress. 11/

Besides those 3 elements there a number of things worth calling out in the plan.

Global vaccinations. The US has sent 475 million doses for free to 112 countries. This is what wealthy nations do. Before we’re done, that will more than double. Logistical support from AID too. 12/

Protecting the most vulnerable through prioritized access to boosters & treatments for immunocompromised, through nursing home improvements, through masking recommendations, through investments in long-COVID research. 13/

Increasing manufacturing capacity to 1 billion vaccines/year & focus on a single COVID vaccine for all variants. 14/

Launching a one stop shop website for Americans to easily assess local public health guidance & COVID activity in your area. 15/

Downturns in cases is not when we expect our leaders to rest. It’s when we expect them to plan.

I talked about needing a “reset” in February. That’s what this is. (And if it wasn’t for Russia we probably would have seen it in February). 16/

It is obvious this plan relied a lot on listening to outside experts. Kudos to everyone for pitching in & giving the team your ideas. 17/

No one can predict what happens next with any accuracy. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be prepared. That’s what leaders do. /end