Read on Twitter
1/ It's gloomy news today. There are many plusses to our COVID response, and we must not lose sight of those. It's been a tough time on many - those involved in the response, and to the public. Testing numbers are really holding as back. Some thoughts: https://twitter.com/Minimalneg/status/1328189875187748864
2/ Great strengths with LKA's response, albeit with huge challenges and consequences:
ability to contact trace nearly all cases (this requires a good public health system),
tightening up boarders quite early, and
strict quarantine for cases,
which led to a smaller first wave.
ability to contact trace nearly all cases (this requires a good public health system),
tightening up boarders quite early, and
strict quarantine for cases,
which led to a smaller first wave.
3/ So our cases and deaths are far less than what we are seeing with horrific numbers coming out of the US/Europe. We are set up with the chance to really crush COVID and get back to some "normalcy", but to do this soon, we need to increase testing to detect new cases quickly.
4/ If we don't, in the best case scenario, this situation can drag on for months, with enormous social and economic impacts. In the worst case scenario, our outbreak becomes uncontrollable, though I'm hopeful that our health officials and responders won't let it come to that.
5/ People in the labs are working tirelessly with many challenges, along with people in the field working long hours and under difficult circumstances, and people in the hospital system dealing with new cases as they come in. Big appreciation to all of those involved.
6/ We must acknowledge the suffering of thousands as they face uncertain futures, lockdowns, quarantine / hospitalisation. The sooner we can overcome this, the better for all. We have most of the system set up to crush this - it's increasing testing that is now holding us back.
