With hospitals overrun & new variants, we *need* to slow spread

We have 4 ways to do that – testing, masks, distancing & vaccines

All are being implemented short of their full potential but there are clear, untapped ways they can be enhanced to have a bigger impact

THREAD

1/ Widespread rapid testing

We should use the Defense Production Act to massively scale up production of home rapid tests & send them to all households for serial self-testing so infectious people can be identified & take measures to prevent spread https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/08/17/rapid-coronavirus-testing-pcr/

2/ Better masks

With virus spread by aerosols variably blocked by cloth & DIY masks, we need a National Mask Initiative to produce & send high-filtration masks to every home & made ubiquitously available

Several countries are already moving to do this https://www.statnews.com/2021/01/07/national-hi-fi-mask-initiative-needed-with-vaccine-rollouts/

3/ Smarter distancing

"Stay home" isn't working

We need financial relief so people don't have to choose btwn working at risk of infection or their kids not eating

We also need to create spaces with adequate ventilation for people to more safely gather & do normal activities

4/ Accelerate vaccination

We need to go all out to get more people vaccinated more quickly. Supply is an issue but we've been slow to roll out the supply that is available

There are lessons from past mass vaccinations that can guide on how to do this https://twitter.com/RanuDhillon/status/1350633619685994498?s=20

If all of these 4 strategies are ramped up together, none will need to be 100% & perfect but, in combination, they can bring & keep transmission down as we get vaccination coverage up to a level sufficient to snuff it out

Without this kind of an approach, we run the risk of many more deaths & the emergence of variants that are more transmissible & potentially less effectively countered by vaccines

The Biden strategy incorporates many of these elements. I'm looking forward to seeing more details, particularly how we're going to granularly operationalize at the ground level, but a clear national strategy & response is the right starting point https://twitter.com/RanuDhillon/status/1333121264270118915?s=20

What we need to do is clear & we are fully capable of doing it

I'm optimistic we now have the leadership & momentum necessary to make it happen

Let's get to work