Dan Diamond

By DAN DIAMOND and SARAH WHEATON 06/22/2020 04:30 AM EDT Three months ago, public health officials feared that America would be swamped by Covid-19 like Italy.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

In private meetings, White House officials worried that Italy was a preview of the storm about to hit the U.S. health system.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

The decisions of some states to end their lockdowns as early as possible -- at levels of infection considerably higher than those that triggered reopening in Western Europe -- appear to have consigned the United States to a far longer battle with the virus.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

President Donald Trump and some Republican governors have bristled at public health experts' advice, questioning predictions on viral spread and pushing back on recommended lockdowns.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

Meanwhile, Trump's allies and pundits on Fox News pushed malaria drugs as possible Covid-19 cures, despite scant evidence, leading to largely fruitless efforts that consumed the time of senior federal officials -- including scientists whose time would have been better spent pursuing other therapies. last 7.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

Instead, governors like New Jersey's Phil Murphy and Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer broke the lockdown orders that they had extended just days before to join the protests themselves -- moves that confused many Americans about the need for social distancing and fueled charges of hypocrisy from conservatives.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

So I said to my people, slow the testing down please." White House officials claimed Trump was joking.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

But in Italy, there's been much less disagreement over scientists' recommendations -- including lockdowns that were more restrictive than those applied in the United States -- particularly after the virus swiftly tore through the nation in early March, peaking at 6,557 new cases announced on March 21.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

"It is a national human, health, and economic tragedy." ke But the devastation hit home in a way that prompted broad acceptance of lockdown measures.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

"One issue that was amazing about all this: Italians took the quarantine seriously, they collaborated with the central orders and were able to follow the guidelines" despite widespread economic suffering, said Raffaella Sadun, a Harvard Business School professor who advised Italy's prime minister on the crisis.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

"But leaders across American society imagined that somehow the United States would be spared the ravages of the disease." A push to reopen If the United States had waited just a few more weeks to lift lockdowns -- or more rigorously imposed them in the first place -- that could've driven cases down much further, experts agree.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

"We know that a one-week delay in imposing lockdowns, given the exponential nature of transmission, could have reduced cases by 50 percent," said ire Georgetown's Phelan, who acknowledges the downsides of social distancing for economies.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

European countries' "initial reopening phase was more or less comparable to our full lockdown phase.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

While no one knows exactly which types of social distancing measures are best, or just how intense they need to be, the ECDC said, "such measures appear to have been associated, at least temporarily, with decreases in the number of newly reported cases." "The lesson for the United States, in my opinion, is ... the only strategy, in the absence of the vaccine and specific therapy, during the Covid-19 pandemic is social isolation and the use of masks," said Indolfi, the Italian cardiologist.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

The fact that we couldn't do it in this case -- it is depressing, as a global health person." Harvard's Jha, who said he's long championed some flexibilities in the U.S. health system compared to nations with socialized health care, said he's come to his own grim conclusion about America's often scattershot response to coronavirus.

Tony's Diary Package, p.214 · original PDF · in context

Biden officials push to offer second booster shots to all adults Plan would make coronavirus shots available to millions more amid rising cases, hospitalizations.

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Sun While the booster plan still needs formal sign-off from regulators and public health officials, it has the backing of White House coronavirus coordinator Ashish Jha and Anthony S.

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Fauci, the government's top infectious-disease expert, according to five officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the plan.

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In an interview, Fauci said that he's "leaning" toward allowing second booster shots for younger adults, pending authorization from the Food and Drug Administration and agreement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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While persuading those who haven't gotten vaccinated or fully vaccinated to get the full regimen and their first booster shot is critical, Fauci said, "we also need to allow people who are under 50 to get their second booster shot, since it may have been months since many of them got their first booster." "If I got my third shot [in 2021], it is very likely the immunity is waning," Fauci added.

Tony's Diary Package, p.971 · original PDF · in context