By skyforbes 
A daily Covid-19 update from Andy Slavitt, former head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Pulled from my daily COVID-19 updates on Twitter.
Every day represents a day like we’ve never had before. I talked to two hot spot hospitals, a Congressional briefing, White House calls, three states, two Congressional committees, and more to come. Here’s my update to follow if interested.
First I’m going to announce that the entire
organization which I chair and founded is going to devote 100% of its resources to helping people, states and the federal government for the foreseeable future.
Next, what I’m hearing from hot spot hospitals:
- Average admission is 3 weeks
- CCU nurses are limiting factor
- Receiving N95 masks because a hot spot but know others aren’t
- Shortages of infrared thermometers & paper shields
The outcry from nurses and doctors over having enough protective gear will be the major story over the next week. Italy lost 10% of its doctors (I have heard in some places). We can’t afford that. Every day I wake up and thank the health care workers in this country. And every night before I go to bed. But thoughts and prayers aren’t enough.
Here’s what I think we need: $5000/month to every health care worker who is out there every day.
I made that recommendation to bipartisan leaders in Congress today. A Republican who was kind enough to co-host with me agreed. Part of the reason why, my wife drove by 3 parks today and dozens of kids were playing together in close proximity. With all those kids together, some of them are the kids of health care workers. And so that has to stop. Paying extra for childcare is important.
In this marathon, we will need to build capacity to manufacture masks, tests, and all those things including starting new factories.
I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking: “But the President said this will be over by August.” I think you can safely ignore that.
You’re thinking: “But this is America. We don’t make things. We buy things.”
Well guess what — every country is going to want the same pandemic fighting items.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is now talking about a 20% unemployment rate for a period of time. Lots of people to rev up a new public health sector in a stimulus bill. And actually bring in new immigrants.
And then when we produce enough, start building a strategic reserve — like we do with oil for when we have COVID-20, COVID-21, etc. (Yes, climate change indicates there will be more.)
Today I and ran into the world’s leading pandemic expert, the guy who predicted this in 2005, Michael Osterholm. He’s the brain and I’m the mouth.
Mike said to prepare for an 18 month war. He makes the point that we can’t change our social lives and economies for 18 months. So as this rolls through cities, we will need to pick our economy up while we create a vaccine.
Mike (“the brains”) believes that the conversation we will have as a society is what is the “middle ground.” What part of the economy opens, what part needs to stay close. One thing I think is sadly clear: We will need a prolonged isolation of seniors and people with medical conditions.
I think about this as one of the most significant consequences of where we are. We will adjust. We will #StayHome. (I’m watching Mike Bloomberg talk about how it’s unrealistic for people to stay home. He really needs to stay home & off TV. )
As we cross the 100 death mark today, we will cross the mark where hundreds, then thousands will join this list. Health care workers stopped showing up in Italy. Death rates jumped. Keep the people you love at home. Please.
If it’s your thing, throw back a cold one while you are practicing #StayHome for St. Patrick’s Day. Laugh. I promise you we will get through this.