3/11 Covid-19 Update - WHO declares official pandemic
Morning everyone,
A few quick things:
ICYMI: The WHO just declared Covid-19 an official pandemic
If You Read Two Things Today:
"It’s Just Everywhere Already’: How Delays in Testing Set Back the U.S. Coronavirus Response" This exclusive reporting in the NYT is the best I've seen on what went wrong in Seattle (and its implications for other cities): https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/us/coronavirus-testing-delays.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage "For weeks, thousands of flu samples sat in Seattle as researchers sought to test and flag them for coronavirus. The CDC wouldn't allow it. when testing did happen, it was too late. the virus was upon us."
"COVID-19: No Good Options" -- An epidemiological, economic, and policy analysis of the novel coronavirus epidemic https://medium.com/@donnellymjd/no-good-options-dda04260b232 --- short, easy to understand bullet points with a very helpful, Tl;dr section at the top (thanks John for sending!)
Unsolicited Advice:
On 2/25, the CDC's head of immunization and respiratory disease said that families in the US should start preparing for "severe disruptions" to daily life. I think everyone has taken that advice to heart now, but I recommend thinking through specific scenarios if you haven't. "I understand this whole situation may seem overwhelming and that disruption to everyday life may be severe. But these are things that people need to start thinking about now. I had a conversation with my family over breakfast this morning and I told my children that while I didn’t think that they were at risk right now, we as a family need to be preparing for significant disruption of our lives."
Ways To Help
The Seattle Foundation is now accepting donations to direct toward its Covid-19 Response Fund, which will quickly deploy resources to local community-based organizations helping disadvantaged communities who are hardest hit and typically last in line for resources. "One-time operating grants will fund organizations that have deep roots in community and strong experience working with residents without health insurance and/or access to sick days, people with limited English language proficiency, healthcare and gig economy workers, and communities of color, among others."You can donate here: https://www.seattlefoundation.org/communityimpact/civic-leadership/covid-19-response-fund
There's also the potential for shortages at blood banks because if school is cancelled and people are WFH, a lot of planned blood drives are being cancelled. Here's more info on that (thanks, Krista for sending!) https://www.seattlefoundation.org/communityimpact/civic-leadership/covid-19-response-fund
Covid-19 Quote of the Day: “We need enormous pockets, pockets big enough for our families and our friends, and even the people who aren't on our lists, people we've never met but still want to protect. We need pockets for boroughs and for cities, a pocket that could hold the universe.” - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Putting you all in my imaginary pockets today!
AJ
PS - a few of you asked if people could be added to this list - if you have people to add, just send me their emails (again - please don't reply all. Just respond directly to me).