THREAD: The @WhiteHouse National Strategy for COVID-19 Response & Pandemic Preparedness was just released. And there's a LOT to unpack.

For starters, the comprehensive plan spans 7 goals & 12 Executive Actions.

Science and trust take center-stage.

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https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/National-Strategy-for-the-COVID-19-Response-and-Pandemic-Preparedness.pdf

Immediately striking is the tone.

Not only does it begin with a letter from @POTUS speaking directly to the public, but the language repeatedly stresses trust, transparency, solidarity.

The letter is a smart move by admin, signaling willingness to engage in discourse.

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It also paints an incredibly grim picture of the current crisis--24 million cases, 400K deaths, staggering rate of transmission.

Not surprising considering this has dual purpose of clarifying the context inherited from Trump admin, but still noteworthy for a federal doc.

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The actual strategy is organized around seven cross-cutting goals.

It establishes a White House COVID-19 Response Office that will coordinate all federal agencies + creates publicly accessible performance dashboards for public accountability (big step!)

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Also notable is the call for complementary efforts from diverse groups: healthcare providers, supply chain partners, unions, businesses, etc.

Glad to see explicit mention of "Tribal governments" and "communities of color."

All Americans will need to play their part.

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Goal 1: Restore Trust

- Science & equity-based decisions
- Regular expert-led briefings
- Real-time data on response & performance (county level)
- Regular engagement w/ local leaders, vulnerable groups, students
-Campaigns in many languages (masking, testing, vaccines)

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Goal 2: Vaccination Campaign

- Ensure availability
- Focus on equity: high-risk (frontline essential workers + people >65) & hard-to-reach
- Diverse vaccination venues (stadiums, retail stores, urgent care)
- Compensate providers (CMS review)
-Monitor safety & efficacy

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Goal 3: Mitigate Spread

- Masking mandate (for now only required in federal spaces + public transport)
- Expand testing (COVID-19 Testing Board)
- Distribute tests (CDC Testing Support Team, at-home testing, free for ppl w/o insurance)
- Rapid therapeutics development

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Goal 4: Expand Emergency Relief & Defense Production Act

- Bolster FEMA response (+ reimburse PPE for schools and childcare providers!)
- Accelerate manufacturing & delivery (12 categories of critical supplies)
- Strengthen US supply chain (testing, PPE, vaccines, drugs)

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Goal 5: Safely Reopen

- Schools ($130B for supplies, $350B flexible state funds, on-site testing)
- Child care and at-home providers ($25B fot rent, PPE, etc) & $15B for families who can't afford child care
- Higher education ($35B)
- Worker safety guidance (OSHA, SBA)

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Goal 6: Advance Equity

- COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force
- Data collection for high-risk groups
- Equitable access to PPE, tests, therapies, vaccines (diverse clinical research)
- Expand quality care (community centers, mental health)
- Safety nets (sick leave, rent)

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Goal 7: Restore US Leadership

- Rejoin, strengthen, reform @WHO
- Surge global humanitarian response (ACT, COVAX)
- GHS diplomacy (elevate GHSA, pandemic supply chains, UNSC)
- Biopreparedness (NSC seat + new National Center for Epidemic Forecasting & Outbreak Analytics)

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The 12 accompanying executive orders provide federal action across all seven goals, establishing admin plans for everything from creating new COVID-19 coordination entities to expanding a sustainable public health workforce to supporting schools and rapid manufacturing.

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I'm encouraged by the repeated, thorough references to health equity.

I've never seen a US federal strategy speak so candidly about socioeconomic determinants of health. Strong support for safety nets, vulnerable groups, tailored strategies, community participation.

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Kudos to the COVID-19 Task Force members, @WhiteHouse and @POTUS staff, and all the colleagues who fed into this thoughtful, nuanced strategy.

@globalgamechngr @RebeccaKatz5 @BethCameron_DC @JeremyKonyndyk @celinegounder @DrNunezSmith @vivek_murthy @DavidAKesslerMD @Atul_Gawande

There's a LOT more I haven't had a chance to dive into yet on the equity and global health aspects of this national strategy.

Stay tuned for the rest -- I'll also keep adding to this thread as others weigh in.