See the original Medium post here.
Today, the New York Times reported that Covid-19 cases in the USA have exceeded the number reported in China, making the US the world leader for the country with the most cases.
As New York City struggles to contain almost half of the reported cases nationwide and the US Government finally passes legislation to deal with some of the economic fallout we’re experiencing, grim projections are still rolling in. Fivethirtyeight.com is estimating 246,000 American deaths on the basis of a poll issued to experts around the nation.
The peak of the epidemic is expected to occur in May in terms of hospitalizations, but Dr. Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has warned that we can expect another wave as we move into winter.
The good news, if there is any, is that Covid-19 now has the full attention of the powers that be. The US economy is taking a beating, thousands if not millions of people who are currently doing okay will likely die horrible, painful deaths in the coming weeks and New York doctors are taking to recording video to distribute online to get the word out about just how bad things actually are.
The silence and inaction of organizations such as the CDC and WHO have been called out by the media, and the mendacious tactic of recommending against PPE usage has been widely recognized for what it is: interpreting the effectiveness of protective gear on the basis of the availability of that gear.
The WHO’s website claims that “if you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection.” This claim is patently false, as demonstrated by widespread anecdotal evidence which calls everything from the “safe” distance of 6 feet to the duration the virus can survive intact into question.
Graphic originally appeared here.
The real issues we face are, somehow, still the lack of protective equipment and knowledge about the survivability and contagion potential of the virus. While it is important to make people feel safe by publishing information about how to combat the spread of the virus, it is also critical that the population be provided with real data because only true knowledge of the gravity of the situation will arrest the spread of the disease.
Take some time today to thank a doctor or nurse you know and ask if there is anything you can do for that person. Not only are the medical professionals of our nation facing perhaps the greatest risk of Covid-19 infection, they are also putting in long hours too often in substandard conditions. If you have PPE, donate it to a hospital near you.
And one last thing: I don’t care what the President or anyone else says — please stay home. This crisis threatens us all and our response will determine the ultimate severity of the pandemic. Your friends, family, and loved ones are counting on you to help make your community safer. Don’t let them down.
