Containment of COVID is a fool's errand. Why? In order for containment to work, it has to work everywhere. Not just in this or that neighborhood, but in all neighborhoods. Not just in this or that county, but in all counties. 1/x

Not just in this or that state, but in all states. Not just in this or that country, but in all countries. Given the logic of high-spread viral URIs in a hyper-connected world, containment has failed and will continue to fail. Proof: New Zealand. 2/x

That's right, New Zealand. A seemingly pure enclave surrounded by an ocean of replicating virus. It's everywhere. Uncontained. Ineradicable. New Zealand isn't proof of success. It's proof of futility in containing a high-spread virus that transmits through breathing. 3/x

Since global containment measures have been marshalled against #SARSCoV2, we have more, not less, replicating virus. More, not less. 4/x

Universal constant nanobot testing *might* be effective in a borderless world, if coupled to perfect behavioral responses, but neither exist. 5/x

Fortunately, our immune system is free, universal, nearly instantaneous, constantly available, vigilant, and doesn’t require massive behavior change. 6/x

We simply have to get out of the way of our immune system. We need to let our immune system work the way it has evolved to work over millions of years. 7/x

Pandemic flu is war, not a tidal wave. You don't win by running to higher ground. #SARSCoV2 virus has arrived. It's here to stay. And it's not going away, ever. You cannot outrun it or hide from it. It's always right outside your door. 8/x

In pandemic flu, we win the war by letting our immune system fight. This war cannot be won by incessant retreats. Wars are won by killing your enemy. Happily, our immune system does just that, and does it very well against SARSCoV2. 9/x

Wars also incur casualties, inevitably. So the only real questions is, How do we minimize casualties as we fight? We minimize casualties by letting the young and healthy among us beat the virus. 10/x

We minimize casualties by doing our best to protect the elderly, frail, and at risk. We minimize casualties by not causing additional harm and death by our policy reactions to SARSCoV2. 11/x

We minimize casualties by strategically retreating when hospital capacity requires it. But only briefly. Then it's time to get right back at it, because immunological combat and focused protection is the best path to minimizing all-cause harm and death. 12/x

Histrionic safetyism prolongs the window of exposure of the vulnerable to SARSCoV2 and undermines immune responses that are entirely capable of throttling this pandemic. 13/x

A real U.S. leader would say something like this, "COVID is a highly infectious disease. We can't hide from it, try as we might. Many people are going to get sick. Many of them won't know it. A few will die. Some are going to lose loved ones. 14/x

"But we're going to be OK in the end. Pandemic flu is nothing new. Nothing unusual. In our long history, we've always emerged as survivors, and we'll emerge as survivors here, too." 15/x

"Life must go on; society must go on; social interaction must go on; raising children must go on; school must go on; love and belonging must go on. Yes, we'll take some casualties, but we must go on. Because that's what we do." 16/x

"The only way out of this pandemic is through it."

That's what a real leader would say—or something like it.

17/end

CC in case of factual mistakes: @BallouxFrancois @ProfDFrancis @apsmunro @sdbaral @stevebrown2856 @DrTomFrieden @mlipsitch @VPrasadMDMPH @contrarian4data

CC honorable mention: @NahasNewman