Read on Twitter
We've got #Covid19 policies backward in a lot of places:
Those least likely to get sick and die from the virus are most likely to be able to social distance & isolate.
Vermont is a place that did things differently. Check their daily case rate relative to other states. 1/
Those least likely to get sick and die from the virus are most likely to be able to social distance & isolate.
Vermont is a place that did things differently. Check their daily case rate relative to other states. 1/
So what's the key to their success? From the start of the pandemic, they prioritized their most vulnerable populations. 2/ https://www.vox.com/2020/11/19/21541810/vermont-covid-19-coronavirus-social-distancing
What's that mean?
They reflected in their policies what we've known from the start of the pandemic: some Americans are at a much higher risk of the virus -- people who work essential service jobs, live in old-age homes, shelters, prisons other congregate housing etc. 3/
They reflected in their policies what we've known from the start of the pandemic: some Americans are at a much higher risk of the virus -- people who work essential service jobs, live in old-age homes, shelters, prisons other congregate housing etc. 3/
(Some links about that: People in groups tend to live in higher density places and work outside the home -- ideal for viral contagion and not ideal for social distancing.) 4/
https://nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2923-3
https://nature.com/articles/s41562-020-00998-2?sid=5aba9b18cac67b1ed44ece4b https://medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.09.20223792v1
https://nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2923-3
https://nature.com/articles/s41562-020-00998-2?sid=5aba9b18cac67b1ed44ece4b https://medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.11.09.20223792v1
Back to Vermont: Their package of #covid19 measures includes:
- state-supported housing for the homeless
- hazard pay, meal deliveries
- pop-up testing in at-risk communities
- they're also considering $1,000 stipends for people who’ve been asked to self-isolate
- state-supported housing for the homeless
- hazard pay, meal deliveries
- pop-up testing in at-risk communities
- they're also considering $1,000 stipends for people who’ve been asked to self-isolate
Vermont has done many other things right -- more details in the story and podcast 
-- but these effort to support the highest-risk people to get tested, social distance and isolate certainly set them apart.
https://www.vox.com/2020/11/19/21541810/vermont-covid-19-coronavirus-social-distancing https://open.spotify.com/episode/3TDISfX5cgiFaFXXNQuCm2
-- but these effort to support the highest-risk people to get tested, social distance and isolate certainly set them apart. https://www.vox.com/2020/11/19/21541810/vermont-covid-19-coronavirus-social-distancing https://open.spotify.com/episode/3TDISfX5cgiFaFXXNQuCm2
The approach, though, isn't just about helping people in vulnerable communities, as @asosin says. It's also smart policy: it's about stopping transmission of the virus and saving lives.
I'm going to be thinking for a long time about something @sdbaral said.
"Never do a test without offering something in exchange." It's basic public health.
In #covid19, we haven't been doing that. We test, but we don't trace contacts, don't help people isolate.
"Never do a test without offering something in exchange." It's basic public health.
In #covid19, we haven't been doing that. We test, but we don't trace contacts, don't help people isolate.
He @sdbaral wrote a smart and forward-looking op-ed with @gregggonsalves on how the new administration can do more of what Vermont is doing. You can read that here: https://sports.yahoo.com/commentary-bidens-covid-challenge-defeat-020000632.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALzGW3b_KPj_5qbQsYvWmI3F6v0do8_GF9hg_cqXotTSdbCErabo45cjDTOpHI4XbDNBXL9sTdZZx6sWAeka6xJ1H9X8NwBMYhiv9Pqgo3qmmrVAT9M_8a0dAQ3opcQw3BVOcmKe2GxIvneY_6fWF-BeIJBknyB1XggRhXc6wqHi
