POST 250. May 11, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. Herd Immunity Déjà vu. “Not so long ago, the world was clinging to the hope of herd immunity—to the notion that the population would eventually reach some communal level of protection sufficient to quash the outbreak for good. Maybe, experts posited many months back, once 60 to 90 percent of people had been infected or vaccinated or both, the virus would run out of viable hosts, and simply fizzle out. Now it’s clear that “that’s too simplistic…”

for links to POSTS 1-250 in chronological order highlight and click on

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/05/coronavirus-tracking-links-to-posts-1-250/

“The Biden administration is issuing a new warning that the US could potentially see 100 million Covid-19 infections this fall and winter, as officials publicly stress the need for more funding from Congress to prepare the nation.

The projection of 100 million potential infections is an estimate based on a range of outside models that are being closely tracked by the administration and would include both the fall and winter, a senior administration official told CNN. Officials say this estimate is based on an underlying assumption of no additional resources or extra mitigation measures being taken, including new Covid-19 funding from Congress, or dramatic new variants.

The White House is sharing these estimates as officials renew their push to get Congress to approve additional funding to combat the virus and as the nation approaches a coronavirus death toll of 1 million. Officials have said the White House will commemorate the moment when the US surpasses 1 million deaths from Covid-19.

The Biden administration has been sounding the alarm for weeks that additional funding is needed to continue the federal Covid-19 response, even as it seeks a return to “normal” with many pandemic-era restrictions lifting.

CNN has reported that the Biden administration requested $22.5 billion in supplemental Covid-19 relief funding in March in a massive government funding package but it was stripped from the bill. That request included funding for testing, treatments, therapeutics and preventing future outbreaks. Negotiators were able to reach an agreement on a scaled-back $10 billion package, but Congress left Washington in April without passing that bipartisan bill amid a disagreement over the Title 42 immigration policy — a pandemic-era rule that allowed migrants to be returned immediately to their home countries, citing a public health emergency.” (A)

“Last week, Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, told several news outlets that America had exited “the full-blown explosive pandemic phase,” and was transitioning toward a “more controlled” chapter of the crisis. But if that pivot sounds nice and neat and tidy, it shouldn’t. Cases are still rising, to levels likely undercounted, and are still meeting numbers that the nation hit during the early parts of last summer’s devastating Delta surge. Other countries are also battling gargantuan swells in cases, and new branches of Omicron’s lineage are circumventing the defenses left behind by the last. The pandemic is very much gunning.

Not so long ago, the world was clinging to the hope of herd immunity—to the notion that the population would eventually reach some communal level of protection sufficient to quash the outbreak for good. Maybe, experts posited many months back, once 60 to 90 percent of people had been infected or vaccinated or both, the virus would run out of viable hosts, and simply fizzle out. Now it’s clear that “that’s too simplistic,” says Sarah Cobey, an infectious-disease modeler at the University of Chicago. Immunity against the most serious forms of COVID has decent staying power, especially if laid down by vaccines. But our defensive shields aren’t strong or durable enough to block transmission long-term; the virus keeps finding the holes in our blockades.

That doesn’t make the protection we do have useless. The types of immunity more relevant to the current pandemic era blunt the frequency and severity of future waves, rather than obliterate them. If classic herd immunity was a silencer, then we’ve had to trade it in for herd immunity lite—a muffler, whose effects accumulate gradually, and can still strengthen with effort and time. There is no pandemic off switch. So we must instead work to maintain incremental gains: In this universe, 60 percent of people infected is mostly meaningful in that 60 is higher than 50, and 40, and anything below. It might translate into some level of heightened population resilience, but it is not a guarantee that the virus’s threat is gone…

Some people who have banked multiple and recent exposures—three shots and an Omicron infection, say—are quite far along the spectrum of immune protection. Others very much aren’t, because they still have no experience with the virus or vaccines at all, or have logged those encounters so far in their past that they’re likely quite easy to infect or reinfect. And for some people the safeguards of shots struggle to properly take, or fade faster because of age or underlying health conditions. To make matters more complex still, no one knows exactly where they fall along the spectrum of protection; many people can’t even say for sure whether they’ve had the virus or not, given how disastrous America’s testing infrastructure has been, and how tough it can be to detect virus-elicited antibodies in blood. “We’re in this position where we have a poor understanding of how different levels of immunity map to reductions in infectiousness,” Cobey told me.

All of this leaves the country in a troubling spot, a time when the coronavirus is still very much on the move. Cases are once again ticking upward nationwide, pulling the sick out of work and school, and straining a health-care system that’s been stretched past breaking for years.” (B)

“Covid cases surged during the last two winters and are likely to again this year — unless the country can prepare and act, White House Covid-19 response coordinator Ashish Jha said Sunday morning.

“If we don’t get ahead of this thing, we’ll have a lot of waning immunity, this virus continues to evolve and we may see a pretty sizable wave of infections, hospitalizations and deaths this fall and winter,” Jha said on ABC’s “This Week.”

Congress needs to provide resources, Jha said, specifically $22.5 billion, a number that will help with a vaccine supply that’s dwindling. In March, White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said: “If the science shows that fourth doses are needed for the general population later this year, we will not have the supply necessary to ensure shots are available.”

The money, once allocated, would go toward Covid vaccine supply and coronavirus testing.

“If Congress doesn’t step up and fund these, I think, urgent and emergent priorities … they can’t wait until the fall, it will be too late,” Jha said.

And the proof is in the jab. With cases increasing in the Northeast, deaths remain low because of high vaccination rates.

“That’s not true for the whole country,” Jha said.

With enough resources to get more people vaccinated and more therapeutics in place, he said, “I do think we can get through this winter without a lot of suffering and death.”” (C)

“After dropping substantially after the winter Omicron surge, new confirmed U.S. cases have been rising again. As of Friday, the average of new U.S. cases had reached about 70,200 a day, an increase of 52 percent over the past two weeks, according to a New York Times database, though infections are thought to be undercounted, especially with access to at-home testing. Hospitalizations are also climbing nationally, with an average of more than 18,400 people with the coronavirus in U.S. hospitals, an increase of 20 percent from two weeks ago. And deaths, a lagging indicator, ticked up for the first time in weeks, inching upward by 1 percent, to an average of 371 a day.” (D)

“A devastating virus was laying waste to nations that lacked medicines available to Americans. The pills were patented and pricey. Poor countries lacked refrigeration to store them, the thinking went, and patients would not be able to follow the complex dosing regimen.

The year was 2002, the virus was H.I.V., and the president, George W. Bush, secretly sent his top health advisers to Africa to investigate what activists were calling “medical apartheid.” In the 20 years since, the United States has led the way in building a global infrastructure for H.I.V. testing and treatment, saving an estimated 21 million lives.

Now, with that history in mind, global health agencies and the Biden administration are working to bring coronavirus tests and expensive antiviral pills to low- and middle-income nations. This week, President Biden will emphasize “global test to treat” at his second international Covid-19 summit, a virtual gathering of world leaders aimed at injecting new energy into the international pandemic response.

Until now, the response has been focused largely on vaccinations, which remain a high priority. But Mr. Biden will also use the summit to call on wealthy nations to donate $2 billion to purchase Covid treatments and $1 billion to purchase oxygen supplies for low- and middle-income countries, according to a senior administration official involved with the planning.

In the United States, where antiviral pills to combat Covid are widely available, Mr. Biden’s “test to treat” initiative lets many patients go to pharmacies, get tested for Covid and receive a free prescription on the spot if they test positive. In low- and middle-income nations, such efforts will most likely be much more limited until generic pills arrive, probably in 2023.

But the global effort faces some of the same obstacles and inequities that existed two decades ago.

Rich nations, including the United States, have gobbled up much of the supply. Global health agencies do not have the money to buy the antivirals or tests, which are crucial because the medication needs to be started early in the course of infection. Drug companies, trying to protect their patents, are limiting the supply of generic alternatives in many middle-income countries, including an entire swath of Latin America.

All of this is playing out against the infectious disease equivalent of a ticking time bomb.

“We all expect a major new surge from Omicron or a new variant in the global south from June to September, and if that happens, we are not going to be ready with test and treat,” said Dr. Bill Rodriguez, who runs the testing arm of the ACT Accelerator, the Geneva-based consortium coordinating the global response. “It feels extremely similar — painfully, ironically, tragically similar — to what happened with H.I.V.”..

One of the biggest hurdles is the rapid decline of Covid testing around the world. The W.H.O.-backed consortium recently reported that just 20 percent of the 5.7 billion tests conducted globally have been in low- and middle-income nations. Low-income countries accounted for less than 1 percent of the testing. The reasons are twofold: Countries lack money to buy the tests, and demand has dropped in regions where Covid rates are now low…

Paxlovid, the more powerful of the two Covid antiviral pills approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is so plentiful in the United States that pharmacies are struggling to use up their supplies. The Biden administration has committed to purchasing 20 million treatment courses for Americans.

The W.H.O. recently issued a “strong recommendation” that Paxlovid, which is made by Pfizer, be given to patients at high risk of hospitalization and called for its “wide geographic distribution.” The W.H.O. has given a far weaker “conditional recommendation” to the other drug, molnupiravir, which is made by Merck and is not nearly as in demand.” (E)

“For the first time in two years last Saturday and amid no shortage of hand-wringing, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner returned. Now, days later, perhaps most unsurprisingly, it appears a growing number of attendees, from journalists to members of President Joe Biden’s cabinet, are discovering they took home a sign-of-the-times souvenir from their weekend of schmoozing in Washington.

Those who went did so knowing they’d be at increased risk for contracting COVID-19, despite whatever precautions organizers said they were committed to taking (measures that, as the Washington Post reported prior to the event, some White House officials and health experts feared were insufficient). That 2,600 people nevertheless took that chance was fodder for Daily Show host Trevor Noah, this year’s comedic host, who coined the evening “the nation’s most distinguished super-spreader event.” After all, as Noah noted, this dinner came just weeks after the Gridiron dinner, another politerati-type gathering, at which a reported 72 people who attended tested positive for Covid-19. “What are you doing here?” Noah asked Saturday night. Some in the tightly-packed room, where few wore masks and ventilation was poor, were perhaps asking themselves the same—or, in Post reporter Jada Yuan’s case, asking too late:

Later in his remarks, Noah thanked White House press secretary Jen Psaki for being willing to “risk getting COVID for, like, what, the tenth time?” Psaki has yet to announce a positive test since attending, but Secretary of State Antony Blinken has, along with reporters and staffers from outlets that reportedly include CNN, ABC News, NBC News, CBS News, Politico, and others. Among them is ABC’s Jon Karl, who sat next to Kim Kardashian and shook hands with Biden, as Politico reported, and Voice of America chief national correspondent Steve Herman, who announced his diagnosis on Twitter Tuesday.

“We worked hard to publicize our protocols and encouraged those eligible to get booster shots in the weeks leading up to the dinner. Our event implemented protocols that went beyond any guidance or regulation issued by the CDC or the DC health department,” CBS News Radio’s Steven Portnoy, the president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, said in a statement. “We wish anyone who may not be feeling well a speedy recovery.”

The WHCD required proof of vaccination (as did the Gridiron) and a same-day negative test for entry (unlike the Gridiron). Protocol aside, CNN noted the nature of the two events is fundamentally different: the Gridiron is a singular dinner, whereas the WHCD is part of a weekend of events in Washington—receptions and parties where COVID precautions were varied and outside the purview of the WHCA, as Portnoy noted in an email Tuesday. “Nothing we implement to protect the ballroom can reach the many social events other organizers throw around our dinner,” he wrote, according to the New York Times. “Bear that in mind.”

Indeed, attendees could have contracted the virus at any point in the weekend (and some who have said they’d participated in other social gatherings). But it doesn’t help that party organizers were reportedly “hesitant to install devices that disinfect the air using ultraviolet light because of concerns the devices might interfere with the program,” according to the Post. Portnoy told the paper that the offer from Don Milton, a prominent coronavirus expert who has advised the White House, to install such technology—at no charge—came too late in their planning. “We just aren’t in a position, with less than a week to go, to more fully understand the benefits or potential risks of what appears to be an experimental technology,” Portnoy said. Milton noted there is “really good data going back many decades” and that the White House recently acknowledged its credibility.” (F)

“George Cheeks, the president and chief executive of CBS, tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, just days after sitting beside President Biden at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the network confirmed on Friday.

Mr. Cheeks is fully vaccinated and has received a booster shot, according to CBS, and tested negative before the dinner on Saturday, and on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

“He is feeling fine and working from home,” the company said in a statement.

Mr. Cheeks is one of several people who attended the White House Correspondents’ Dinner only to later test positive for coronavirus, including Antony J. Blinken, the secretary of state, and several journalists, such as Jonathan Karl, ABC News’s chief Washington correspondent, who shook hands with Mr. Biden during the dinner, and Steve Herman, the chief national correspondent at Voice of America.

As of Friday night, it was unclear how many cases had been confirmed among people who attended the dinner or related events. The dinner required proof of vaccination and a same-day negative test, and boosters were strongly encouraged; the associated events set their own policies.

At the dinner, Mr. Cheeks sat between President Biden and Jill Biden, the first lady, all three unmasked.”  (G)

CORONAVIRUS TRACKING Links to POSTS 1-250

CORONAVIRUS TRACKING Links to POSTS 1-250

Doctor, Did You Wash Your Hands?®

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/

Curated Contemporaneous Case Study Methodology

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2019/12/9897/

Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr.P.H.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/jonathan-m-metsch-dr-p-h-2/

PART 1. January 21, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed the first U.S. case of a deadly new coronavirus that has killed six people in China.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/01/the-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-on-tuesday-confirmed-the-first-u-s-case-of-a-deadly-new-coronavirus-that-has-killed-six-people-in-china/

PART 2. January 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “If it’s not contained shortly, I think we are looking at a pandemic..”….. “With isolated cases of the dangerous new coronavirus cropping up in a number of states, public health officials say it is only a matter of time before the virus appears in New York City.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/01/part-2-coronavirus-if-its-not-contained-shortly-i-think-we-are-looking-at-a-pandemic-with-isolated-cases-of-the-dangerous-new-coronavirus-cropping-u/

PART3. February 3, 2020. “The Wuhan coronavirus spreading from China is now likely to become a pandemic that circles the globe…”..Trump appeared to downplay concerns about the flu-like virus …We’re gonna see what happens, but we did shut it down..” (D)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part3-the-wuhan-coronavirus-spreading-from-china-is-now-likely-to-become-a-pandemic-that-circles-the-globe-trump-appeared-to-downplay-concerns-about-the-flu-like-virus/

PART 4. February 9, 2020. Coronavirus. “A study published Friday in JAMA found that 41% of the first 138 patients diagnosed at one hospital in Wuhan, China, were presumed to be infected in that hospital.….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-4-coronavirus-so-like-sars-and-mers-other-coronaviruses-before-it-the-wuhan-coronavirus-is-spreading-in-hospitals/

PART 5. February 12, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “In short, shoe-leather public health and basic medical care—not miracle drugs—are generally what stop outbreaks of emerging infections..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-5-coronavirus-in-short-shoe-leather-public-health-and-basic-medical-care-not-miracle-drugs-are-generally-what-stop-outbreaks-of-emerging-infections/

POST 6. February 18, 2020.  Coronovirus. “Amid assurances that the (ocean liner) Westerdam was disease free, hundreds of people disembarked in Cambodia…” “ One was later found to be infected”…. “Over 1,000… passengers were in…transit home”…. “This could be a turning point””

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/post-6-coronovirus-amid-assurances-that-the-ocean-liner-westerdam-was-disease-free-hundreds-of-people-disembarked-in-cambodia-one-was-later-found-to-be-infect/

PART 7. February 20, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. With SARS preparedness underway in NJ LibertyHealth/ Jersey City Medical Center, where I was President, proposed that our 100 bed community hospital with all single-bedded rooms, be immediately transformed into an EMERGENCY SARS ISOLATION Hospital.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-7-coronavirus-with-sars-preparedness-underway-in-nj-libertyhealth-jersey-city-medical-center-where-i-was-president-proposed-that-our-100-bed-community-hospital-with-all-single-bedded-rooms/

PART 8. February 24, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…every country’s top priority should be to protect its health care workers. This is partly to ensure that hospitals themselves do not become sites where the coronavirus is spread more than it is contained.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-8-coronavirus-every-countrys-top-priority-should-be-to-protect-its-health-care-workers-this-is-partly-to-ensure-that-hospitals-themselves-do-not-become-sites-where-t/

PART 9. February 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Responding to a question about the likelihood of a U.S. outbreak, President Trump said, “I don’t think it’s inevitable…”It probably will. It possibly will,” he continued. “It could be at a very small level, or it could be at a larger level.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-9-coronavirus-responding-to-a-question-about-the-likelihood-of-a-u-s-outbreak-president-trump-said-i-dont-think-its-inevitableit-probably-will-it-possibly-will-he-contin/

Part 10. March 1, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Stop Surprise Medical Bills for Coronavirus care. (&) Lessons Learned (or not) In California and Washington State from community acquired cases.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-10-coronavirus-stop-surprise-medical-bills-for-coronavirus-care-lessons-learned-or-not-in-california-and-washington-state-from-community-acquired-cases/

PART 11. March 5, 2020.  CORONAVIRUS. “Gov. Andrew Cuomo… would require employers to pay workers and protect their jobs if they are quarantined because of the coronavirus.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-11-coronavirus-gov-andrew-cuomo-would-require-employers-to-pay-workers-and-protect-their-jobs-if-they-are-quarantined-because-of-the-coronavirus/

Part 12. March 10, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Tom Bossert, Donald Trump’s former homeland security advisor…(said) that due to the coronavirus outbreak, “We are 10 days from the hospitals getting creamed.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-12-coronavirus-tom-bossert-donald-trumps-former-homeland-security-advisorsaid-that-due-to-the-coronavirus-outbreak-we-are-10-days-from-the-hospitals-gett/

Part 13.. March 14, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “If I’m buying real estate in New York, I’ll listen to the President….If I’m asking about infectious diseases, I’m going to listen to Tony Fauci,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-13-coronavirus-march-14-2020-if-im-buying-real-estate-in-new-york-ill-listen-to-the-president-if-im-asking-about-infectious-diseases-im-going-to-listen-to-tony-fauci

PART 14. March 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “ “Most physicians have never seen this level of angst and anxiety in their careers”…. One said “I am sort of a pariah in my family.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-14-coronavirus-march-17-2020-most-physicians-have-never-seen-this-level-of-angst-and-anxiety-in-their-careers-one-said-i-am-sort-of-a-pariah-in/

PART 15. March 22, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…Crimson Contagion” and imagining an influenza pandemic, was simulated by the Trump administration….in a series of exercises that ran from last January to August.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-15-coronavirus-march-22-2020-crimson-contagion-and-imagining-an-influenza-pandemic-was-simulated-by-the-trump-administration-in-a-series-of-exercises-that-2/

PART 16. March 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. I am not a clinician or a medical ethicist but articles on Coronavirus patient triage started me Googling………to learn about FUTILE TREATMENT

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-16-march-27-2020-coronavirus-i-am-not-a-clinician-or-a-medical-ethicist-but-articles-on-coronavirus-patient-triage-started-me-googlingto-learn-about-futile-treatme/

PART 17. April 2, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Florida allows churches to continue holding services. Gun stores deemed “essential.”  “New York’s private and public hospitals unite to manage patient load and share resources.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-17-april-2-2020-coronavirus-florida-allows-churches-to-continue-holding-services-gun-stores-deemed-essential-new-yorks-private-and-public-hospitals-unite-to-ma/

PART 18. April 9, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The federal government’s emergency stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) is depleted, and states will not be receiving any more shipments, administration staff told a House panel.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-18-april-9-2020-coronavirus-the-federal-governments-emergency-stockpile-of-personal-protective-equipment-ppe-is-depleted-and-states-will-not-be-receiving-any-more-shipments/

PART 19. April 13, 2020 CORONOAVIRUS. “…overlooked in the United States’ halting mobilization against the novel coronavirus: the personal aides, hospice attendants, nurses and occupational or physical therapists who deliver medical or support services to patients in their homes.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-19-april-14-2020-coronoavirus-overlooked-in-the-mobilization-against-coronavirus-the-personal-aides-hospice-attendants-nurses-and-occupational-or-physical-therapists-wh/

PART 20. April 20, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…nothing is mentioned in the “Opening Up America Again” plan about how states should handle a resurgence.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-20-april-20-2020-coronavirus-nothing-is-mentioned-in-the-opening-up-america-again-plan-about-how-states-should-handle-a-resurgence-2/

PART 21. April 23, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “We need to ask, are we using ventilators in a way that makes sense for other diseases but not this one?”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-21-april-23-2020-coronavirus-we-need-to-ask-are-we-using-ventilators-in-a-way-that-makes-sense-for-other-diseases-but-not-for-this-one-2/

POST 22. April 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. ..the “ACS released a list of 10 issues that should be addressed before a healthcare organization resumes elective surgeries[JM1] ….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/post-22-april-29-2020-coronavirus-the-acs-released-a-list-of-10-issues-that-should-be-addressed-before-a-healthcare-organization-resumes-elective-surgeries/

POST 23. May 3, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. … what Dr. Fauci really wants,…”is just to go to a baseball game. That will have to wait. The level of testing for the virus is not adequate enough to allow for such mass gatherings.’ (K)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-23-may-3-2020-coronavirus-what-dr-fauci-really-wantsis-just-to-go-to-a-baseball-game-that-will-have-to-wait-the-level-of-testing-for-the-virus-is-not-adequate/

POST 24. May 7, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie said: “there are going to be deaths no matter what”… but that people needed to get back to work.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-24-may-7-2020-coronavirus-former-new-jersey-governor-chris-christie-said-there-are-going-to-be-deaths-no-matter-what-but-that-people-needed-to-get-back-to-work/

POST 25. May 10, 2020, CORONAVIRUS. “It is scary to go to work,” said Kevin Hassett, a top economic adviser to the president. “I think that I’d be a lot safer if I was sitting at home than I would be going to the West Wing.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-25-may-10-2020-coronavirus-it-is-scary-to-go-to-work-said-kevin-hassett-a-top-economic-adviser-to-the-president-i-think-that-id-be-a-lot-safer-if-i-was/

POST 26. May 14, 2020. CORONAVIRUS, “Deep cleaning is not a scientific concept”….”there is no universal protocol for a “deep clean” to eradicate the coronavirus”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-26-may-14-2020-coronavirus-deep-cleaning-is-not-a-scientific-concept-there-is-no-universal-protocol-for-a-deep-clean-to-eradicate-the-cor-2/

POST 27. May 19, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Hospital…executives…are taking pay cuts…to help offset the financial fallout from COVID-19.” As “front line” layoffs and furloughs accelerate…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-27-may-19-2020-coronavirus-hospitalexecutivesare-taking-pay-cutsto-help-offset-the-financial-fallout-from-covid-19-as-front-line/

POST 28. May 23, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. ““You’ve got to be kidding me,”..”How could the CDC make that mistake? This is a mess.” CDC conflates viral and antibody tests numbers.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-28-may-23-2020-coronavirus-youve-got-to-be-kidding-me-how-could-the-cdc-make-that-mistake-this-is-a-mess-cdc-conflates-viral-and-anti/

PART 29. May 22, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The economy did not close down. It closed down for people who, frankly, had the luxury of staying home,” (Governor Cuomo). But not so for frontline workers!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/part-29-may-22-2020-coronavirus-the-economy-did-not-close-down-it-closed-down-for-people-who-frankly-had-the-luxury-of-staying-home-but-not-so-for-frontline-workers/

POST 30. June 3,202. CORONAVIRUS. “The wave of mass protests across the United States will almost certainly set off new chains of infection for the novel coronavirus, experts say….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-30-june-3202-coronavirus-the-wave-of-mass-protests-across-the-united-states-will-almost-certainly-set-off-new-chains-of-infection-for-the-novel-coronavirus-experts-say/

POST 31. June 9, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “I think we had an unintended consequence: I think we made people afraid to come back to the hospital,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-31-june-9-2020-coronavirus-i-think-we-had-an-unintended-consequence-i-think-we-made-people-afraid-to-come-back-to-the-hospital/

Post 32. June 16, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Could the Trump administration be pursuing herd immunity by “inaction”?  “ If Fauci didn’t exist, we’d have to invent him.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-32-june-16-2020-coronavirus-could-the-trump-administration-be-pursuing-herd-immunity-by-inaction-if-fauci-didnt-exist-wed-have-to-invent-him/

POST 33. June 21, 2002. CORONAVIRUS….. Smashing (lowering the daily number of cases) v. flattening the curve (maintaining a plateau)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-33-june-23-2002-coronavirus-smashing-lowering-the-daily-number-of-cases-v-flattening-the-curve-maintaining-a-plateau/

POST 34. June 26, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. CDC Director Redfield… “the number of coronavirus infections…could be 10 times higher than the confirmed case count — a total of more than 20 million.” As Florida, Texas and Arizona become eipicenters!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-34-june-26-2020-coronavirus-cdc-director-redfield-the-number-of-coronavirus-infectionscould-be-10-times-higher-than-the-confirmed-case-count-a-total-of-mo/

POST 35. June 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Pence: “We slowed the spread. We flattened the curve. We saved lives..”  While Dr. Fauci “warned that outbreaks in the South and West could engulf the country…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-35-june-29-2020-coronavirus-pence-we-slowed-the-spread-we-flattened-the-curve-we-saved-lives-while-dr-fauci-warned-that-outbreaks-in-the-south-and-west-could-engulf-the-co/

POST 36. July 2, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “There’s just a handful of interventions proven to curb the spread of the coronavirus. One of them is contact tracing, and “it’s not going well,” (Dr. Anthony Fauci)..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-36-july-2-2020-coronavirus-theres-just-a-handful-of-interventions-proven-to-curb-the-spread-of-the-coronavirus-one-of-them-is-contact-tracing-and-its-not/

POST 37. June 8, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. When “crews arrive at a hospital with a patient suspected of having COVID-19, the hospital may have a physical bed open for them, but not enough nurses or doctors to staff it.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-37-june-8-2020-coronavirus-when-crews-arrive-at-a-hospital-with-a-patient-suspected-of-having-covid-19-the-hospital-may-have-a-physical-bed-open-for-them-but-not-enough-nurses-or-d/

POST 38. July 15, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Some Lessons Learned, or not. AdventHealth CEO Terry Shaw: I wouldn’t hesitate to go to Disney as a healthcare CEO — based on the fact that they’re working extremely hard to keep people safe,” (M)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-38-july-15-2020-coronavirus-some-lessons-learned-or-not-adventhealth-ceo-terry-shaw-i-wouldnt-hesitate-to-go-to-disney-as-a-healthcare-ceo-based-on-the-fact-that-theyre-worki/

POST 39. July, 23,2020. CORONAVIRUS. A Tale of Two Cities. Seattle becomes New York (rolls back reopening) while New York becomes Seattle (moves to partial phase 4 reopening)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-39-july-232020-coronavirus-a-tale-of-two-cities-seattle-becomes-new-york-rolls-back-reopening-while-new-york-becomes-seattle-moves-to-partial-phase-4-reopening/

POST 40. July 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.” One canon of medical practice is that you order a test only if you can act on the result. And with a turnaround time of a week or two, you cannot. What we have now is often not testing — it’s testing theater.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-40-july-27-2020-coronavirus-one-canon-of-medical-practice-is-that-you-order-a-test-only-if-you-can-act-on-the-result-and-with-a-turnaround-time-of-a-week-or-two-you-cannot-what-we/

POST 41. August 2, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Whenever a vaccine for the coronavirus becomes available, one thing is virtually certain: There won’t be enough to go around. That means there will be rationing.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/08/post-41-august-2-2020-coronavirus-whenever-a-vaccine-for-the-coronavirus-becomes-available-one-thing-is-virtually-certain-there-wont-be-enough-to-go-around-that-means-there-wi-2/

POST 42. August 11, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “I think that if future historians look back on this period, what they will see is a tragedy of denial….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/08/post-42-coronavirus-august-11-2020-i-think-that-if-future-historians-look-back-on-this-period-what-they-will-see-is-a-tragedy-of-denial/

POST 43. August 22, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.”  “we’ve achieved something great as a nation. We’ve created an unyielding market for FAUCI BOBBLEHEADS”!! (W)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/08/post-43-august-22-2020-coronavirus-weve-achieved-something-great-as-a-nation-weve-created-an-unyielding-market-for-fauci-bobbleheads-w/

POST 44.  September 1, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The CDC…modified its coronavirus testing guidelines…to exclude people who do not have symptoms of Covid-19.” (While Dr. Fauci was undergoing surgery.) A White House official said: “Everybody is going to catch this thing eventually..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/08/post-44-september-1-2020-coronavirus-the-cdcmodified-its-coronavirus-testing-guidelinesto-exclude-people-who-do-not-have-symptoms-of-covid-19-while-dr-fauci-2/

POST 45. September 9, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.  Trump on Fauci. ‘You inherit a lot of people, and you have some you love, some you don’t. I like him. I don’t agree with him that often but I like him.’

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/09/post-45-september-9-2020-coronavirus-trump-on-fauci-you-inherit-a-lot-of-people-and-you-have-some-you-love-some-you-dont-i-like-him-i-dont-agree-with-him-that-often-but-i-like-him-2/

POST 46.  September 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Bill Gates used to think of the US Food and Drug Administration as the world’s premier public-health authority. Not anymore. And he doesn’t trust the Centers for Disease Control and Protection either….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/09/post-46-september-17-2020-coronavirus-bill-gates-used-to-think-of-the-us-food-and-drug-administration-as-the-worlds-premier-public-health-authority-not-anymore-and-he-doesn-2/

POST 47. September 24, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the School of Public Health at Rutgers University…called New York City’s 35 percent rate for eliciting contacts “very bad.” “For each person, you should be in touch with 75 percent of their contacts within a day,” he said”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/09/post-47-september-24-2020-coronavirus-perry-n-halkitis-dean-of-the-school-of-public-health-at-rutgers-universitycalled-new-york-citys-35-percent-rate-for-eliciting-con/

POST 48. October 1, 2020.   “…you can actually control the outbreak if you do the nonpharmaceutical interventions (social distancing and masks). In the United States we haven’t done them. We haven’t adhered to them; we’ve played with them.” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/09/post-48-october-1-2020-you-can-actually-control-the-outbreak-if-you-do-the-nonpharmaceutical-interventions-social-distancing-and-masks-in-the-united-states-we-havent-done-t-2/

POST 49. October 4, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. RAPID RESPONSE. “The possibility that the president and his White House entourage were traveling superspreaders is a nightmare scenario for officials in Minnesota, Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-49-october-4-2020-coronavirus-rapid-response-the-possibility-that-the-president-and-his-white-house-entourage-were-traveling-superspreaders-is-a-nightmare-scenario-for-officials-in/

POST 50. October 6, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Monday October 5th will go down as one of the most fraught chapters in the history of American public Health (and national security).

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-50-october-6-2020-coronavirus-monday-october-5th-will-go-down-as-one-of-the-most-fraught-chapters-in-the-history-of-american-public-health-and-national-security/

POST 51. October 12, 2020. Rather than a hodge-podge of Emergency Use Authorizations, off-label “experimentation”, right-to-try arguments, and “politicized” compassionate use approvals maybe we need to designate REGIONAL EMERGING VIRUSES REFERRAL CENTERS (REVRCs).

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-51-october-14-2020-rather-than-a-hodge-podge-of-emergency-use-authorizations-off-label-experimentation-right-to-try-arguments-and-politicized-compassiona/

POST 52. October 18, 2020.  ZIKA/ EBOLA/ CANDIDA AURIS/ SEVERE FLU/ Tracking. “… if there was a severe flu pandemic, more than 33 million people could be killed across the world in 250 days… Boy, do we not have our act together.” —”- Bill Gates. July 1, 2018

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-52-october-18-2020-zika-ebola-candida-auris-severe-flu-tracking-if-there-was-a-severe-flu-pandemic-more-than-33-million-people-could-be-killed-across-the-world-in-250/

POST 53. October 20, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “a…“herd-immunity strategy” is a contradiction in terms, in that herd immunity is the absence of a strategy.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-53-october-20-2020-coronavirus-aherd-immunity-strategy-is-a-contradiction-in-terms-in-that-herd-immunity-is-the-absence-of-a-strategy/

POST 54. October 22, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. POST 54A. New Jersey’s Coronavirus response, led by Governor Murphy and Commissioner of Health Persichilli started with accelerated A+ traditional, evidence-based Public Health practices, developed over years of experience with seasonal flu, swine flu, Zika, and Ebola.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-54a-october-23-2020-coronavirus-new-jerseys-coronavirus-response-led-by-governor-murphy-and-commissioner-of-health-persichilli-started-with-accelerated-a-traditional-evidence-base/

POST 55. October 26, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. The Testing Conundrum: “ It’s thus very possible to be antigen negative but P.C.R. positive, while still harboring the virus in the body..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-55-october-26-2020-coronavirus-the-testing-conundrum-its-thus-very-possible-to-be-antigen-negative-but-p-c-r-positive-while-still-harboring-the-virus-in-the-body/

Post 56. October 30, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Trump’s now back in charge. It’s not the doctors.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-56-october-30-2020-coronavirus-trumps-now-back-in-charge-its-not-the-doctors/

POST 57. November 3, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Deborah Birx: the US is entering its “most deadly phase” yet, one that requires “much more aggressive action,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-57-november-3-2020-coronavirus-dr-deborah-birx-the-us-is-entering-its-most-deadly-phase-yet-one-that-requires-much-more-aggressive-action/

POST 58. November 4, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…the president has largely shuttered the White House Coronavirus Task Force and doubled down on anti-science language…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-58-november-4-2020-coronavirus-the-president-has-largely-shuttered-the-white-house-coronavirus-task-force-and-doubled-down-on-anti-science-language/

POST 59. November 5, 2020. Coronavirus. “The United States on Wednesday recorded over 100,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time since the pandemic began..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-59-november-5-2020-coronavirus-the-united-states-on-wednesday-recorded-over-100000-new-coronavirus-cases-in-a-single-day-for-the-first-time-since-the-pandemic-began/

POST 60. November 7, 2020. “White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has tested positive for the coronavirus….” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-60-november-7-2020-white-house-chief-of-staff-mark-meadows-has-tested-positive-for-the-coronavirus-a/

POST 61. November 7, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Joe Biden’s top priority entering the White House is fighting both the immediate coronavirus crisis and its complex long-term aftermath…” “Here are the key ways he plans to get US coronavirus cases under control.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-61-november-7-2020-coronavirus-joe-bidens-top-priority-entering-the-white-house-is-fighting-both-the-immediate-coronavirus-crisis-and-its-complex-long-term-aftermath/

POST 62. November 8, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The United States reported its 10 millionth coronavirus case on Sunday, with the latest million added in just 10 days,…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-62-november-8-2020-coronavirus-the-united-states-reported-its-10-millionth-coronavirus-case-on-sunday-with-the-latest-million-added-in-just-10-days/

POST 63. November 9, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System has opened a center to help patients recovering from COVID-19 and to study the long-term impact of the disease….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-63-november-9-2020-coronavirus-new-york-city-based-mount-sinai-health-system-has-opened-a-center-to-help-patients-recovering-from-covid-19-and-to-study-the-long-term-impact-of-the-di/

POST 64. November 10, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “It works! Scientists have greeted with cautious optimism a press release declaring positive interim results from a coronavirus vaccine phase III trial — the first to report on the final round of human testing.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-64-november-10-2020-coronavirus-it-works-scientists-have-greeted-with-cautious-optimism-a-press-release-declaring-positive-interim-results-from-a-coronavirus-vaccine-phase-iii-trial/

POST 65. November 11, 2020. CORONAVIRUS, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took a stronger stance in favor of masks on Tuesday, emphasizing that they protect the people wearing them, rather than just those around them…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-65-november-11-2020-coronavirus-the-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-took-a-stronger-stance-in-favor-of-masks-on-tuesday-emphasizing-that-they-protect-the-people-wearing-t/

POST 66. November.12, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.”… as the country enters what may be the most intense stage of the pandemic yet, the Trump administration remains largely disengaged.”… “President-elect Biden has formed a special transition team dedicated to coordinating the coronavirus response across the government…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-66-novembetr12-2020-coronavirus-as-the-country-enters-what-may-be-the-most-intense-stage-of-the-pandemic-yet-the-trump-administration-remains-largely-disengaged/

POST 67. November 13, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “When all other options are exhausted, the CDC website says, workers who are suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 (and “who are well enough to work”) can care for patients who are not severely immunocompromised — first for those who are also confirmed to have COVID-19, then those with suspected cases.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-67-november-13-2020-coronavirus-when-all-other-options-are-exhausted-the-cdc-website-says-workers-who-are-suspected-or-confirmed-to-have-covid-19-and-who-are-well-enough/

POST 68. November 14, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. The CDC “now is hewing more closely to scientific evidence, often contradicting the positions of the Trump administration.”..” “A passenger aboard the first cruise ship to set sail in the Caribbean since the start of the pandemic has tested positive for coronavirus..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-68-november-14-2020-coronavirus-the-cdc-now-is-hewing-more-closely-to-scientific-evidence-often-contradicting-the-positions-of-the-trump-administration/

POST 69. November 15, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Colorado Gov. Jared Polis will issue a new executive order outlining steps hospitals will need to take to ready themselves for a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations and directing the hospitals to finalize plans for converting beds into ICU beds, adding staffing and scaling back on or eliminating elective procedures….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-69-november-15-2020-coronavirus-colorado-gov-jared-polis-will-issue-a-new-executive-order-outlining-steps-hospitals-will-need-to-take-to-ready-themselves-for-a-surge-in-covid-19-hos/

POST 70. November 16, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “White House coronavirus task force member Dr. Atlas criticized Michigan’s new Covid-19 restrictions..urging people to “rise up” against the new public health measures.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-70-november-16-2020-coronavirus-white-house-coronavirus-task-force-member-dr-atlas-criticized-michigans-new-covid-19-restrictions-urging-people-to-rise-up-against-the-new-pub/

POST 71. November 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. ”Hospitals overrun as U.S. reports 1 million new coronavirus cases in a week.” “But in Florida, where the number of coronavirus infections remains the third-highest in the nation, bars and schools remain open and restaurants continue to operate at full capacity.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-71-november-17-2020-coronavirus-hospitals-overrun-as-u-s-reports-1-million-new-coronavirus-cases-in-a-week-but-in-florida-where-the-number-of-coronavirus-infecti/

POST 72. November 18, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The Health and Human Services Department will not work with President-elect Joe Biden’s (PANDEMIC) team until the General Services Administration makes a determination that he won the election,….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-72-november-18-2020-coronavirus-the-health-and-human-services-department-will-not-work-with-president-elect-joe-bidens-pandemic-team-until-the-general-services-administration-mak/

POST 73. November 19, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…officials at the CDC…urged Americans to avoid travel for Thanksgiving and to celebrate only with members of their immediate households…” When will I trust a vaccine? to the last question I always answer: When I see Tony Fauci take one….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-73-november-19-2020-coronavirus-officials-at-the-cdcurged-americans-to-avoid-travel-for-thanksgiving-and-to-celebrate-only-with-members-of-their-immediate-household-2/

POST 74. November 20, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Pfizer…submitted to the FDA for emergency use authorization for their coronavirus vaccine candidate. —FDA issued an EUA for the drug baricitinib, in combination with remdesivir, as WHO says remdesivir doesn’t do much of anything.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-74-november-20-2020-coronavirus-pfizersubmitted-to-the-fda-for-emergency-use-authorization-for-their-coronavirus-vaccine-candidate-fda-issued-an-eua-for-the-drug-baricitinib-in/

POST 75. November 21, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The president and CEO of one of the nation’s largest non-profit health systems says he won’t be wearing a mask at work because he’s recovered from COVID-19, and doing so would only be a “symbolic gesture” because he considers himself immune from the virus….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-75-november-21-2020-coronavirus-the-president-and-ceo-of-one-of-the-nations-largest-non-profit-health-systems-says-he-wont-be-wearing-a-mask-at-work-because-hes-recovered-from-2/

POST 76. November 23, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.” Ventilators..”just keep people alive while the people caring for them can figure out what’s wrong and fix the problem. And at the moment, we just don’t have enough of those people.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-76-november-23-2020-coronavirus-no-battle-plan-survives-contact-with-the-enemy-ventilators-just-keep-people-alive-while-the-people-caring-for-them-can-figure-out/

POST 77. November 26, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Pope Francis: “When I got really sick at the age of 21, I had my first experience of limit, of pain and loneliness.”.. “….Aug. 13, 1957. I got taken to a hospital…”….” I remember especially two nurses from this time.”…” They fought for me to the end, until my eventual recovery.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-77-november-26-2020-coronavirus-pope-francis-when-i-got-really-sick-at-the-age-of-21-i-had-my-first-experience-of-limit-of-pain-and-loneliness-aug/

POST 78. November 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Kelby Krabbenhoft is no longer president and CEO of Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health.” “…for not wearing a face covering… “ because “He considered himself immune from the virus.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-78-november-27-2020-coronavirus-kelby-krabbenhoft-is-no-longer-president-and-ceo-of-sioux-falls-s-d-based-sanford-health-for-not-wearing-a-face-covering/

POST 79. November 28, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Mayo Clinic. “”Our surge plan expands into the garage…”..””Not where I’d want to put my grandfather or my grandmother,” … though it “may have to happen.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-79-november-28-2020-coronavirus-mayo-clinic-our-surge-plan-expands-into-the-garage-not-where-id-want-to-put-my-grandfather-or-my-grandmother/

POST 80. November 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Op-Ed in the Jersey Journal. Do you know which hospital is right for you if you have coronavirus? | Opinion

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-80-november-29-2020-coronavirus-oped-in-the-jersey-journal-do-you-know-which-hospital-is-right-for-you-if-you-have-coronavirus-opinion/

POST 81. December 1, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Dr. Atlas, … who espoused controversial theories and rankled government scientists while advising President Trump on the coronavirus pandemic, resigned…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-81-december-1-2020-coronavirus-dr-atllas-who-espoused-controversial-theories-and-rankled-government-scientists-while-advising-president-trump-on-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

POST 82. December 3, 2020. CORONAVIRIUS. The NBA jumped to the front of the line for Coronavirus testing….while front line nurses often are still waiting. Who will similarly “hijack” the vaccine?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-82-december-3-2020-coronavirius-the-nba-jumped-to-the-front-of-the-line-for-coronavirus-testing-while-front-line-nurses-often-are-still-waiting-who-will-similarly-hijack-2/

POST 83. December 4, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he will impose a new, regional stay-at-home order for areas where capacity at intensive care units falls below 15%.”… East Tennessee –“This is the first time the health care capability benchmark has been in the red..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-83-december-4-2020-coronavirus-california-gov-gavin-newsom-says-he-will-impose-a-new-regional-stay-at-home-order-for-areas-where-capacity-at-intensive-care-units-falls-below-15/

POST 84. December 6, 2020. CPRONAVIRUS. “ More than 100,000 Americans are in the hospital with COVID-19…” “We’re seeing C.D.C. …awaken from (its) politics-induced coma…”…Dr. Fauci “to be a chief medical adviser in Biden’s incoming administration..”.. “Trump administration leaves states to grapple with how to distribute scarce vaccines..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-84-december-6-2020-cpronavirus-more-than-100000-americans-are-in-the-hospital-with-covid-19-were-seeing-c-d-c-awaken-from-its-politi/

POST 85. December 7, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…Florida, Gov. DeSantis’ administration engaged in a pattern of spin and concealment that misled the public on the gravest health threat the state has ever faced..”.. “NY Gov. Cuomo said…the state will implement a barrage of new emergency actions..”… Rhode Island and Massachusetts open field hospitals… “Biden Names Health Team to Fight Pandemic”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-85-december-7-2020-coronavirus-florida-gov-desantis-administration-engaged-in-a-pattern-of-spin-and-concealment-that-misled-the-public-on-the-gravest-health-threat-the-s/

POST 86. December 9, 2020. If this analysis seems a bit incomprehensible it is because “free Coronavirus test” is often an oxymoron! with charges ranging from as little as $23 to as much as $2,315… Laws (like for free Coronavirus tests) are Like Sausages. Better Not to See Them Being Made. (Please allow about 20 seconds for the text to download. Thanx!)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-86-december-9-2020-if-this-analysis-seems-a-bit-incomprehensible-it-is-because-free-coronavirus-test-is-often-an-oxymoron-with-charges-ranging-from-as-little-as-23-to-as-mu/

POST 87. December 10, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…Rudolph W. Giuliani, the latest member of President Trump’s inner circle to contract Covid-19, has acknowledged that he received at least two of the same drugs the president received. He even conceded that his “celebrity” status had given him access to care that others did not have.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-87-december-12-2020-coronavirus-rudolph-w-giuliani-the-latest-member-of-president-trumps-inner-circle-to-contract-covid-19-has-acknowledged-that-he-received-at-l/

POST 88. December 11, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “As COVID-19 cases surge, the federal government is releasing data about hospital capacity at facilities around the country….”The new data paints the picture of how a specific hospital is experiencing the pandemic,”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-88-december-11-2020-coronavirus-as-covid-19-cases-surge-the-federal-government-is-releasing-data-about-hospital-capacity-at-facilities-around-the-country-the-new-data-pai/

PART 89. December 12, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. THE VACCINE!!! “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” Winston Churchill

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/part-89-december-12-2020-coronavirus-the-vaccine-now-this-is-not-the-end-it-is-not-even-the-beginning-of-the-end-but-it-is-perhaps-the-end-of-the-beginning-winston-church/

POST 90. December 14, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…the first doses of a Covid-19 vaccine have been given to the American public..”…” Each person who receives a vaccine needs two doses, and it’s up to states to allocate their share of vaccines.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-90-december-14-2020-coronavirus-the-first-doses-of-a-covid-19-vaccine-have-been-given-to-the-american-public-each-person-who-receives-a-vaccine/

POST 91. December 15, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “UPMC will first give (vaccination) priority to those in critical jobs. That includes a range of people working in critical units, from workers cleaning the emergency room and registering patients to doctors and nurses.. “Finally, if needed, UPMC will use a lottery to select who will be scheduled first.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-91-december-15-2020-coronavirus-upmc-will-first-give-vaccination-priority-to-those-in-critical-jobs-that-includes-a-range-of-people-working-in-critical-units-from-workers-cleanin/

POST 92. December 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “..each state — and each hospital system — has come up with its own (vaccination) plan and priorities. The result has been a sometimes confusing constellation of rules and groupings that has left health care workers wondering where they stand.” (Trump appointee July 4th email “…we need to establish herd, and it only comes about allowing the non-high risk groups expose themselves to the virus. PERIOD,”)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-92-december-17-2020-coronavirus-each-state-and-each-hospital-system-has-come-up-with-its-own-vaccination-plan-and-priorities-the-result-has-been-a-sometimes/

POST 93. December 19, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.  On NPR Congresswoman Shalala (D-Florida) said she wouldn’t jump the vaccination line in Miami; then added she would get vaccinated in Washington this week. This, even though Congress has failed to pass “essential” Coronavirus legislation. So who are our “essential” workers?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-93-december-19-2020-coronavirus-on-npr-congresswoman-shalala-d-florida-said-she-wouldnt-jump-the-vaccination-line-in-miami-then-added-she-would-get-vaccinated-in-washington-this/

POST 94. December 21, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “A doctor at an L.A. County public hospital said the number of COVID-19 patients is “increasing exponentially, without an end in sight.”.. “I haven’t done ICU medicine since I was a resident — you don’t want me adjusting your ventilator,” he said. “That’s the challenge, actually — it isn’t so much space, it’s staff…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-94-december-21-2020-coronavirus-a-doctor-at-an-l-a-county-public-hospital-said-the-number-of-covid-19-patients-is-increasing-exponentially-without-an-end-in-sight/

POST 95. December 23, 2020. “The Murphy administration may step in to force (New Jersey) hospitals to report COVID-19 outbreaks among staff.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-95-december-23-2020-the-murphy-administration-may-step-in-to-force-new-jersey-hospitals-to-report-covid-19-outbreaks-among-staff/

POST 96. December 26, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Achieving herd immunity against the coronavirus could require as much as 90 percent of the population to be vaccinated, Anthony Fauci…”…”..he hesitated to state a number as high as 90% weeks ago because many Americans still seemed skeptical about vaccine….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-96-december-26-2020-coronavirus-achieving-herd-immunity-against-the-coronavirus-could-require-as-much-as-90-percent-of-the-population-to-be-vaccinated-anthony-fauci/

POST 97. December 27, 2020. “A new variant of the coronavirus that has been spreading through the UK and other countries has not yet been detected in the United States..”.. . But if new-wave medicines like antivirals and antibody therapy contributed to the development of viral variants, it will be “a reminder for all the medical community that we need to use these treatment options carefully.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-97-december-27-2020-a-new-variant-of-the-coronavirus-that-has-been-spreading-through-the-uk-and-other-countries-has-not-yet-been-detected-in-the-united-states-but-if-ne/

POST 98. December 28, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Governor Andrew Cuomo announced new penalties in order to rein in possible vaccination fraud…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-98-december-28-2020-coronavirus-governor-andrew-cuomo-announced-new-penalties-in-order-to-rein-in-possible-vaccination-fraud/

POST 99. December 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “ICUs are being overwhelmed across many parts of California. Statewide aggregate ICU availability has been at 0% since Christmas Eve…. a surge on top of a surge on top of a surge.”… “hospitals are getting close to the point where they would begin putting COVID-positive patients under the care of COVID-positive staff who are asymptomatic.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-99-december-29-2020-coronavirus-icus-are-being-overwhelmed-across-many-parts-of-california-statewide-aggregate-icu-availability-has-been-at-0-since-christmas-eve-a-surge-o/

POST 100. December 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Front line hospital workers – in the ER, ICUs, EMS, acute medical care, behavioral health – are amongst the most courageous, heroic and dedicated colleagues you will ever meet.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-100-december-29-2020-coronavirus-front-line-hospital-workers-in-the-er-icus-ems-acute-medical-care-behavioral-health-are-amongst-the-most-courageous-heroic-and-dedica/

POST 101. December 30, 2020.CORONAVIRUS. Is there a point where the increasing Coronavirus trajectory so far exceeds the slow growth of the vaccination rate that reaching herd immunity through vaccinations becomes less likely?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-101-december-30-2020-coronavirus-is-there-a-point-where-the-increasing-coronavirus-trajectory-so-far-exceeds-the-slow-growth-of-the-vaccination-rate-that-reaching-herd-immunity-through-vaccin/

POST 102. January 2, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “We’ve taken the people with the least amount of resources and capacity and asked them to do the hardest part of the vaccination — which is actually getting the vaccines administered into people’s arms,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health. “Ultimately, the buck seems to stop with no one,”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-102-january-2-2020-coronavirus-weve-taken-the-people-with-the-least-amount-of-resources-and-capacity-and-asked-them-to-do-the-hardest-part-of-the-vaccination-which/

POST 103. January 4, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Fauci said “that the United States would not follow Britain’s lead in front-loading first vaccine injections, potentially delaying the administration of second doses…Dr. Moore – ”British officials “seem to have abandoned science completely now and are just trying to guess their way out of a mess.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-103-january-4-2021-coronavirus-dr-fauci-said-that-the-united-states-would-not-follow-britains-lead-in-front-loading-first-vaccine-injections-potentially-delaying-the-admin/

POST 104. January 6, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Paramedics in Southern California are being told to conserve oxygen and not to bring patients to the hospital who have little chance of survival…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-104-january-6-2021-coronavirus-paramedics-in-southern-california-are-being-told-to-conserve-oxygen-and-not-to-bring-patients-to-the-hospital-who-have-little-chance-of-survival/

POST 105. January 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. POST 105. January 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Facing a shortage of vaccinators, the Association of Immunization Managers… recommends relaxing regulation or adjusting licensing requirements. At least two states, Massachusetts and New York, have changed their laws in recent weeks to expand those who are eligible to give shots.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-105-january-8-2021-coronavirus-being-able-to-staff-vaccination-clinics-with-volunteers-from-our-reserve-workforce-means-that-staff-at-the-vaccination-sites-can-continue-to-perform-th/

POST 106. January 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. The riots at the Capitol could have been a superspreader event. “From what I saw… you had a large congregation of individuals who were in close contact for an extended period of time and almost universally unmasked…. many coming and going on buses as well, also unmasked, and hanging out in hotel lobbies.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-106-january-9-2021-coronavirus-the-riots-at-the-capitol-could-have-been-a-superspreader-event-from-what-i-saw-you-had-a-large-congregation-of-individuals-who-were-in-close/

POST 107. January 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Our job is to make sure the vaccine isn’t politicized the way masks were politicized,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said after getting her vaccine.   South Carolina Rep.-elect Nancy Mace, a Republican, wrote that “Congress shouldn’t be putting themselves first in line for the COVID-19 vaccination when the average American can’t get it.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-107-january-8-2021-coronavirus-our-job-is-to-make-sure-the-vaccine-isnt-politicized-the-way-masks-were-politicized-rep-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-d-n-y-said-after-getting-her-vaccine/

POST 108. January 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. (vaccination)”Line-cutters will be named and shamed. It’s inevitable, as will be the congressional hearings and front-page investigative stories ferreting out who saved their own skin at the expense of others.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-108-january-9-2021-coronavirus-vaccinationline-cutters-will-be-named-and-shamed-its-inevitable-as-will-be-the-congressional-hearings-and-front-page-investigative-stories/

POST 109.January 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “President-elect Joe Biden will aim to release nearly every available dose of the coronavirus vaccine when he takes office, a break with the Trump administration’s strategy of holding back half of US vaccine production to ensure second doses are available.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-109-january-9-2021-coronavirus-president-elect-joe-biden-will-aim-to-release-nearly-every-available-dose-of-the-coronavirus-vaccine-when-he-takes-office-a-break-with-the-trump-admini/

POST 110. January 13, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. ““The (federal) government is changing the way it allocates Covid vaccine doses, now basing it on how quickly states can administer shots and the size of their elderly population.”… “New York State sent a letter to hospitals saying if they don’t use their vaccine allocations by the end of this week, they won’t receive any further allocations.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-110-january-13-2021-coronavirus-the-federal-government-is-changing-the-way-it-allocates-covid-vaccine-doses-now-basing-it-on-how-quickly-states-can-administer-shots-and-t/

POST 111. January 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Visitors from Toronto to New York to Buenos Aires have long flocked to Florida for sun, surf and shopping. Now they are coming for the Covid-19 vaccine….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-111-january-14-2021-coronavirus-visitors-from-toronto-to-new-york-to-buenos-aires-have-long-flocked-to-florida-for-sun-surf-and-shopping-now-they-are-coming-for-the-covid-19-vaccin/

POST 112. January 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. CHINA – “Eleven million people are under lockdown in Hebei province after a new cluster of coronavirus infections.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-112-january-14-2021-coronavirus-china-eleven-million-people-are-under-lockdown-in-hebei-province-after-a-new-cluster-of-coronavirus-infections/

PART 113. January 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. The Next President Actually Has a Covid Plan… New York City and other places in the state expect to exhaust their supply of doses as early as next week… Charles Barkley said during the “NBA on TNT” broadcast that pro athletes should get the first round of the vaccine…..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/part-113-january-17-2021-coronavirus-the-next-president-actually-has-a-covid-plan-new-york-city-and-other-places-in-the-state-expect-to-exhaust-their-supply-of-doses-as-early-as-next-week/

POST 114. January 18, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “When government programs that have been unattended, underfunded and bogged down by red tape suddenly have to meet a huge demand in a crisis, they can’t cope and people suffer….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-114-january-18-2021-coronavirus-when-government-programs-that-have-been-unattended-underfunded-and-bogged-down-by-red-tape-suddenly-have-to-meet-a-huge-demand-in-a-crisis-they-can/

POST 115. January 21, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. A year ago today an unnumbered POST was headlined “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed the first U.S. case of a deadly new coronavirus that has killed six people in China.” The CORONAVIRUS CONTENT TRACKING PROJECT started with HISTORIOGRAPHY and over time moved to LESSONS LEARNED, RAPID RESPONSE, and THE VACCINATION PROGRAM. Now 115 POSTS later – the BIDEN CORONAVIRUS PLAN.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-115-january-21-2020-coronavirus-a-year-ago-today-an-unnumbered-post-was-headlined-the-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-on-tuesday-confirmed-the-first-u-s-case-of-a-deadly/

POST 116. January 22, 2021. President Biden – “We’re entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus. We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-116-january-22-2021-president-biden-were-entering-what-may-be-the-toughest-and-deadliest-period-of-the-virus-we-must-set-aside-politics-and-finally-face-this-pandemic-as-one-nation/

POST 117. January 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. 1.Dr. Fauci:“The idea that you can get up here….”and.. let the science speak”… “It is somewhat of a liberating feeling.” 2.updated CDC guidance:”.. providers could give the second dose up to six weeks after the first dose..” 3.Dr. Fauci: people would be “taking a chance” if they follow the CDC’s updated guidance.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-117-january-23-2021-coronavirus-1-dr-faucithe-idea-that-you-can-get-up-here-and-let-the-science-speak-it-is-somewhat-of-a-liberating/

POST 118. January 24, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Unfortunately, we’ve let this virus spread extensively and are launching the vaccination campaign at the height of the threat,” Dr. Meyers said. “The more the virus spreads before the vaccine reaches people, the fewer deaths we can prevent with the vaccine.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-118-january-24-2021-coronavirus-unfortunately-weve-let-this-virus-spread-extensively-and-are-launching-the-vaccination-campaign-at-the-height-of-the-threat-dr-meyers-sa/

POST 119. January 27, 2010. CORONAVIRUS. Amazon is offering its help to President Joe Biden with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. Washington’s governor, Jay Inslee, included the help of companies like Starbucks, Costco and Microsoft in a plan to vaccinate 45,000 residents a day.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/to-get-each-new-post-free-and-automatically-by-email-please-use-the-subscription-portal-in-the-right-column-of-the-home-page-at-http-doctordidyouwashyourhands-com-then-you-will-get-an-email/

POST 120. January 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The fact that four vaccines backed by the federal government seem to be less effective against the (South African) B.1.351 variant has unsettled federal officials and vaccine experts alike. Facing this uncertainty, many researchers said it was imperative to get as many people vaccinated as possible — quickly. Lowering the rate of infection could thwart the contagious variants while they are still rare, and prevent other viruses from gaining new mutations that could cause more trouble.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-120-january-28-2021-coronavirus-the-fact-that-four-vaccines-backed-by-the-federal-government-seem-to-be-less-effective-against-the-south-african-b-1-351-variant-has-unsettled-feder/

POST 121. January 30, 2021. CORONVIRUS. Will our communities become stratified by which vaccine is distributed? 95%ters v. 72%ters? Will the easier distribution of the J&J vaccine drive its inequitable distribution to” hard-hit, marginalized, and medically underserved communities.” (thanx! to XJ/LA)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-121-january-30-2021-coronvirus-will-our-communities-become-stratified-by-which-vaccine-is-distributed-95ters-v-72ters-will-the-easier-distribution-of-the-jj-vaccine-drive-its-inequitable/

POST 122. February 1, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr.Fauci endorses double-masking. Dr.Osterholm disagrees!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-122-february-1-2021-coronavirus-dr-fauci-endorses-double-masking-dr-osterholm-disagrees/

POST 123. February 4, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Nursing homes across the country are facing the same struggle, as workers have been more reluctant than residents to be vaccinated…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-123-february-4-2021-coronavirus-nursing-homes-across-the-country-are-facing-the-same-struggle-as-workers-have-been-more-reluctant-than-residents-to-be-vaccinated/

POST 124. February 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Osterholm ” …it may be time to..go with a ‘first-dose only’ approach, so more people over the age of 65 can have at least some protection right away. He said that would require delaying second doses until this summer.” Dr.Fauci “warned against this practice, and cautioned people about “the danger” that could come with focusing only on the first dose.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-124-february-5-2021-coronavirus-dr-osterholm-it-may-be-time-to-go-with-a-first-dose-only-approach-so-more-people-over-the-age-of-65-can-have-at-least-some-protection/

POST 125. June 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “States are rolling back Covid-19 restrictions as new cases trend down from record highs across the country. But experts warn it might be too much too soon as variants pose an increased risk and the pandemic… is far from over.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-125-june-9-2021-coronavirus-states-are-rolling-back-covid-19-restrictions-as-new-cases-trend-down-from-record-highs-across-the-country-but-experts-warn-it-might-be-too-much-too-soon/

POST 126. February 11, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “There will be more coronavirus outbreaks in the future. Bats and other mammals are rife with strains and species of this abundant family of viruses. Some of these pathogens will inevitably spill over the species barrier and cause new pandemics. It’s only a matter of time.” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-126-february-11-2021-coronavirus-there-will-be-more-coronavirus-outbreaks-in-the-future-bats-and-other-mammals-are-rife-with-strains-and-species-of-this-abundant-family-of-viruses-2/

POST 127. February 12, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “… Trump only agreed to be hospitalized when aides told him that he could walk to Marine One or he could wait until his case progressed and he would be carried out.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-127-february-12-2021-coronavirus-trump-only-agreed-to-be-hospitalized-when-aides-told-him-that-he-could-walk-to-marine-one-or-he-could-wait-until-his-case-progressed-and-he/

POST 128. February 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new research on Wednesday that found wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask offers more protection against the coronavirus, as does tying knots on the ear loops of surgical masks…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-127-february-13-2021-coronavirus-the-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-released-new-research-on-wednesday-that-found-wearing-a-cloth-mask-over-a-surgical-mask-offers-more-pr/

POST 129. February 15, 2021, CORONAVIRUS. “ “The CDC released its much-anticipated, updated guidance to help school leaders decide how to safely bring students back into classrooms, or keep them there.”…” For politicians, parents and school leaders looking for a clear green light to reopen schools, this is not it.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-129-february-15-2021-coronavirus-the-cdc-released-its-much-anticipated-updated-guidance-to-help-school-leaders-decide-how-to-safely-bring-students-back-into-classrooms-or/

POST 130. February 16, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “A second person who had contracted the Ebola virus died this week in the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking another outbreak just three months after the nation outlasted the virus’s second-worst outbreak in history…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-130-february-16-2021-coronavirus-a-second-person-who-had-contracted-the-ebola-virus-died-this-week-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-marking-another-outbreak-just-three-months-aft/

POST 131. February 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “It really is right now – a race between how quickly new variants, particularly the U.K. variant, can spread in the United States and how quickly we can get people vaccinated”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-131-february-17-2021-coronavirus-it-really-is-right-now-a-race-between-how-quickly-new-variants-particularly-the-u-k-variant-can-spread-in-the-united-states-and-how-quickly-we/

POST 132. February 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “In Texas, where over 2.5 million people are still without power, the state health department said this week’s vaccine shipments wouldn’t arrive until Wednesday at the earliest.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-132-february-20-2021-coronavirus-in-texas-where-over-2-5-million-people-are-still-without-power-the-state-health-department-said-this-weeks-vaccine-shipments-wouldnt-arrive-unt/

POST 133. February 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Going off your meds is a surefire way to aggravate your doctor. What if a whole country did it?” The United Kingdom has veered into uncharted territory by changing tack and introducing a revised COVID-19 vaccination protocol, one that involves distributing the second dose at 12 weeks, rather than the prescribed 21 days.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-133-february-23-2021-coronavirus-going-off-your-meds-is-a-surefire-way-to-aggravate-your-doctor-what-if-a-whole-country-did-it-the-united-kingdom-has-veered-into-uncharted/

POST 134. February 24, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. The first tranche of the J&J (single dose) vaccine must go to K-12 teachers, so schools can open safely in the first 100 days of the Biden Administration. The federal government…”can set up its own vaccination centers in regions with eligible populations it’s trying to target.” We owe our front-line teachers nothing less!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-134-february-24-2021-coronavirus-the-first-tranche-of-the-jj-vaccine-must-go-to-k-12-teachers-the-federal-governmentcan-set-up-its-own-vaccination-centers-in-regions-with/

POST 135. February 27, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “As Chief Executive Officers of New York’s major health care systems, we would like to provide facts to clear up confusion in the public and the media regarding decisions to discharge patients to nursing homes during New York’s spring coronavirus surge.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-135-february-27-2021-coronavirus-as-chief-executive-officers-of-new-yorks-major-health-care-systems-we-would-like-to-provide-facts-to-clear-up-confusion-in-the-public-and-the-medi/

POST 136. March 2, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. ““The governors of Texas and Mississippi both announced on Tuesday they would be lifting their states’ mask mandates and rolling back many of their Covid-19 health mandates..”…while “The US could experience a “fourth surge” of coronavirus before the majority of the country is vaccinated.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-136-march-2-2021-coronavirus-the-governors-of-texas-and-mississippi-both-announced-on-tuesday-they-would-be-lifting-their-states-mask-mandates-and-rolling-back-many-of-the/

POST 137. March 4, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The clamor for hard-to-get Covid-19 vaccines has created armies of anxious Americans who have resorted to hunting for leftovers on the fringes of the country’s patchwork vaccination system. They haunt pharmacies at the end of the day in search of an extra, expiring dose. They drive from clinic to clinic hoping that someone was a no-show to their appointment. They cold-call pharmacies like eager telemarketers: Any extras today? Maybe tomorrow? Some pharmacists have even given them a nickname: vaccine lurkers.” (H)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-137-march-4-2021-coronavirus-the-clamor-for-hard-to-get-covid-19-vaccines-has-created-armies-of-anxious-americans-who-have-resorted-to-hunting-for-leftovers-on-the-fringes-of-the-cou/

POST 138. March 6, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “New cases are decreasing in the third wave because we are past the holidays, not because of vaccinations. It is a common misconception that the decrease we are seeing in new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the U.S. is due to vaccinations. The two aren’t related; at least yet.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-138-march-6-2021-coronavirus-new-cases-are-decreasing-in-the-third-wave-because-we-are-past-the-holidays-not-because-of-vaccinations-it-is-a-common-misconception-that-the-decrease/

POST 139. March 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. CDC Issues First Set of Guidelines on How Fully Vaccinated People Can Visit Safely with Others…” In practice, that means fully vaccinated grandparents may visit unvaccinated healthy adult children and healthy grandchildren of the same household without masks or physical distancing.” (C)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-139-march-8-2021-coronavirus-cdc-issues-first-set-of-guidelines-on-how-fully-vaccinated-people-can-visit-safely-with-others-in-practice-that-means-fully-vaccinated-grandpar/

POST 140. March 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “In West Virginia, they are bracing for the second wave….. Not coronavirus but opioid overdoses, with one scourge driving a resurgence of the other.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-140-march-9-2021-coronavirus-in-west-virginia-they-are-bracing-for-the-second-wave-not-coronavirus-but-opioid-overdoses-with-one-scourge-driving-a-resurgence-of-the-othe/

POST 141. March 11, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Today is the first anniversary of the WHO declaration that the novel coronavirus was a Public Health Emergency of International Concern… “To truly prepare itself against the next pandemic, the U.S. has to reimagine what preparedness looks like.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-141-march-11-2021-coronavirus-today-is-the-first-anniversary-of-the-who-declaration-that-the-novel-coronavirus-was-a-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern-to-trul/

POST 142. March 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Candida auris is a superbug, a pathogen that can evade drugs made to kill it—and early signs suggest the COVID-19 pandemic may be propelling infections of the highly dangerous yeast. That’s because C. auris is particularly prominent in hospital settings, which have been flooded with people this year due to the coronavirus.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-142-march-15-2021-coronavirus-candida-auris-is-a-superbug-a-pathogen-that-can-evade-drugs-made-to-kill-it-and-early-signs-suggest-the-covid-19-pandemic-may-be-propelling-inf-2/

POST 143. March 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The Trump administration sought to suppress Covid-19 testing in the United States last year by softening guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on who needed to be tested, a House panel said Monday.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-143-march-17-2021-coronavirus-the-trump-administration-sought-to-suppress-covid-19-testing-in-the-united-states-last-year-by-softening-guidance-from-the-centers-for-disease-control-a/

POST 144. March 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. ““The vaccine hesitancy we are seeing isn’t just about Covid vaccines,”… “It is a general reflection of Americans’ lack of trust in science, the pharmaceutical industry, and large health care institutions. We need a full court press on science and vaccine education right now to prevent more aggressive Covid-19 variants from developing and taking hold.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-144-march-20-2021-coronavirus-the-vaccine-hesitancy-we-are-seeing-isnt-just-about-covid-vaccines-it-is-a-general-reflection-of-americans/

POST 145. March 25, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Efforts to disseminate Covid-19 vaccines as widely as possible are hitting an unexpected obstacle: health-care workers who decline the shots.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-145-march-25-2021-coronavirus-efforts-to-disseminate-covid-19-vaccines-as-widely-as-possible-are-hitting-an-unexpected-obstacle-health-care-workers-who-decline-the-shots/

POST 146. March 30, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Osterholm told Becker’s: “This is the perfect storm,”…”Here is Europe locking down and having problems containing B.1.1.7, even with vaccinations and previous infection histories. Here we are opening up as wide as we can. We are literally just walking into the mouth of the virus saying, ‘Don’t worry.’” (M)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-146-march-30-2021-coronavirus-dr-osterholm-told-beckers-this-is-the-perfect-stormhere-is-europe-locking-down-and-having-problems-containing-b-1-1-7-even-with-vaccinations/

POST 147. April 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The pandemic helped cement the shift to “a philosophy of really focusing on the role of the physician in reasoning through ambiguous and unknown problems as the focus of education, rather than teaching students that the role of physician was to memorize a body of knowledge that was already in existence and good enough for what usually happens.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-147-april-5-2021-coronavirus-the-pandemic-helped-cement-the-shift-to-a-philosophy-of-really-focusing-on-the-role-of-the-physician-in-reasoning-through-ambiguous-and-unknown/

POST 148. April 7, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. While the Biden administration accelerates vaccinations to ward off numerous variants and as more young people are being hospitalized, states, even with increasing case rates are on paths to fully reopen. Politics v. public health!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-148-april-7-2021-coronavirus-while-the-biden-administration-accelerates-vaccinations-to-ward-off-numerous-variants-and-as-more-young-people-are-being-hospitalized-states-even-with-increasin/

POST 149. April 10, 2021. CORONAVIRIUS. “From Michigan to Massachusetts, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise again. Deaths will soon follow. “ ”.. the Biden administration is facing renewed calls to delay second vaccine doses and blanket more of the U.S. population with an initial shot.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-149-april-10-2021-coronavirius-from-michigan-to-massachusetts-covid-19-cases-and-hospitalizations-are-on-the-rise-again-deaths-will-soon-follow-the-biden-adm/

POST 150. April 10, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The use of so-called COVID-19 “vaccine passports” is quickly becoming a divisive issue across the US – with several states, including New York, embracing the idea, while others have already moved to ban them.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-150-april-10-2021-coronavirus-the-use-of-so-called-covid-19-vaccine-passports-is-quickly-becoming-a-divisive-issue-across-the-us-with-several-states-incl/

POST 151. April 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS.   the J&J vaccination pause. “ Federal officials are concerned that doctors may not be trained to spot or treat the rare disorder if recipients of the vaccine develop symptoms of it…”  “…a standard treatment for blood clots — use of an anticoagulant drug — could be dangerous or even fatal in such cases…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-151-april-14-2021-coronavirus-the-jj-vaccination-pause-federal-officials-are-concerned-that-doctors-may-not-be-trained-to-spot-or-treat-the-rare-disorder-if-recipients-of-the-va/

POST 152. April 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s director said Saturday authorities are considering mixing COVID-19 vaccines because the country’s domestically made doses “don’t have very high protection rates,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-152-april-15-2021-coronavirus-the-chinese-center-for-disease-control-and-preventions-director-said-saturday-authorities-are-considering-mixing-covid-19-vaccines-because-the-country/

POST 153. April 18, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “At least 35 hospitals across Michigan were listed Thursday as nearing capacity and three were at full capacity for COVID-19 patients..”.. We can manufacture beds. We can open up beds. We can create entire wings of the hospital if we have to, but if we don’t have staff for those beds, we’ve got nothing.”..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-153-april-18-2021-coronavirus-at-least-35-hospitals-across-michigan-were-listed-thursday-as-nearing-capacity-and-three-were-at-full-capacity-for-covid-19-patients-we-can/

POST 154. April 19, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Breakthrough infections, which occur when fully vaccinated people are infected by the pathogen that their shots were designed to protect against, are an entirely expected part of any vaccination process.”   “Pfizer’s chief executive said that a third dose of the company’s Covid-19 vaccine was “likely” to be needed within a year of the initial two-dose inoculation — followed by annual vaccinations.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-154-april-19-2021-coronavirus-breakthrough-infections-which-occur-when-fully-vaccinated-people-are-infected-by-the-pathogen-that-their-shots-were-designed-to-protect-against-are-an/

POST 155. April 24, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. As the J&J vaccine pause is ended Senator Johnson said “The science tells us that vaccines are 95% effective. So if you have a vaccine, quite honestly, what do you care if your neighbor has one or not? I mean, what is it to you?”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-155-april-24-2021-coronavirus-as-the-jj-vaccine-pause-is-ended-senator-johnson-said-the-science-tells-us-that-vaccines-are-95-effective-so-if-you-have-a-vaccine-quite-honestly-what-do-y/

POST 156. April 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. As CDC revises guidance on outdoor masking, Texas Governor Abbott says “the state is “very close” to herd immunity… despite acknowledging that he does not know what the herd immunity threshold is for the virus, an uncertainty echoed by the public health community.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-156-april-28-2021-coronavirus-as-cdc-revises-guidance-on-outdoor-masking-texas-governor-abbott-says-the-state-is-very-close-to-herd-immunity-despite-ackno/

POST 157. April 25, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Ohio hospitals; “We agreed in multiple conversations, there’s nothing in fighting a pandemic that creates a competitive advantage.”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-157-april-25-2021-coronavirus-ohio-hospitals-we-agreed-in-multiple-conversations-theres-nothing-in-fighting-a-pandemic-that-creates-a-competitive-advantage/

POST 158. May 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. . As populations get closer to herd immunity “ it may be helpful to introduce some nuance to what we mean by the term. Nationwide herd immunity. Regional herd immunity. Temporary herd immunity. Endemicity.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-158-may-5-2021-coronavirus-as-populations-get-closer-to-herd-immunity-it-may-be-helpful-to-introduce-some-nuance-to-what-we-mean-by-the-term-nationwide-herd-immunity-regional-he/

POST 159. May 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Without deeper sharing of expertise in how to make vaccines…waiving patent obligations is unlikely to be a game-changer… Having access to the “recipe” certainly helps, but understanding how to put it together and produce it at scale is something else.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-159-may-9-2021-coronavirus-without-deeper-sharing-of-expertise-in-how-to-make-vaccineswaiving-patent-obligations-is-unlikely-to-be-a-game-changer-having-access-to-t/

POST 160. May 13, 2021.CORONAVIRUS. “The CDC acknowledged Friday that airborne spread of COVID-19 among people more than 6 feet apart “has been repeatedly documented.”” Meanwhile states relax or eliminate indoor dining restrictions. HUH?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-160-may-13-2021-coronavirus-the-cdc-acknowledged-friday-that-airborne-spread-of-covid-19-among-people-more-than-6-feet-apart-has-been-repeatedly-documented-meanwhile-sta/

POST 161. May 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Even if the spread of Covid-19 decreases enough to allow a return of most activities, there are some aspects of pandemic life that epidemiologists say will persist much longer. In particular, they say that masks are a norm that should continue, even if that view puts them at odds with the new C.D.C. guidance. More than 80 percent of them say people should continue to wear masks when indoors with strangers for at least another year, and outdoors in crowds.” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-161-may-15-2021-coronavirus-even-if-the-spread-of-covid-19-decreases-enough-to-allow-a-return-of-most-activities-there-are-some-aspects-of-pandemic-life-that-epidemiologists-say-wil/

POST 162. May 21, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is refusing to lift his indoor mask mandate for vaccinated residents…” “…fully vaccinated residents in New York and Connecticut are no longer required to wear masks..”..” “California says it isn’t ready to follow the federal lead and unmask, at least for another month..”.. “..Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Tuesday prohibiting state governmental entities such as counties, public school districts, public health authorities and government officials from requiring mask wearing.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-162-may-21-2021-coronavirus-new-jersey-gov-phil-murphy-is-refusing-to-lift-his-indoor-mask-mandate-for-vaccinated-residents-fully-vaccinated-resi/

POST 163. May 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey announced a mandate…saying supervisors and those of higher rank must get the vaccine by June 30. They will eventually require the system’s 35,000 employees to do the same.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-163-may-23-2021-coronavirus-rwjbarnabas-health-in-new-jersey-announced-a-mandatesaying-supervisors-and-those-of-higher-rank-must-get-the-vaccine-by-june-30-they-will-eventually-requ/

POST 164. May 26, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. On Wednesday, health minister Norihisa Tamura warned Olympic organizers they would have to “secure their own” hospital beds for anyone falling ill at the Games, explaining the government would not release beds set aside for Japanese covid-19 patients.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-164-may-26-2021-coronavirus-on-wednesday-health-minister-norihisa-tamura-warned-olympic-organizers-they-would-have-to-secure-their-own-hospital-beds-for-anyone-falling-ill/

POST 165. May 31,2001. CORONAVIRUS. “Like all pandemics, this one will end either with millions — maybe billions — being infected or being vaccinated. This time, world leaders have a choice, but little time to make that choice before it is made for them.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-165-may-312001-coronavirus-like-all-pandemics-this-one-will-end-either-with-millions-maybe-billions-being-infected-or-being-vaccinated-this-time-world-leaders/

POST 166. June 3, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “President Biden said Wednesday that he has asked intelligence agencies to double down on their efforts to investigate whether the coronavirus originated from human contact with an animal or in an laboratory in China, saying there is not “sufficient information” to assess whether one is more likely than the other.” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-166-june-3-2020-coronavirus-president-biden-said-wednesday-that-he-has-asked-intelligence-agencies-to-double-down-on-their-efforts-to-investigate-whether-the-coronavirus-originated-f/

POST 167. June 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Hospitals prevaricate on mandatory staff vaccinations.  Florida’s Governor forbids cruise ship vaccine mandates. Pfizer and Moderna apply for FDA full approval.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-167-june-9-2021-coronavirus-hospitals-prevaricate-on-mandatory-staff-vaccinations-floridas-governor-forbids-cruise-ship-vaccine-mandates-pfizer-and-moderna-apply-for-fda-full-appr/

POST 168. June 10, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Our species has a tendency to get distracted. We have a very strong appetite for distraction, and when something is not in the spotlight, when it’s not a crisis anymore, we tend to forget and move on to something else. So the biggest challenge is going to be maintaining focus on this next step of developing vaccines that anticipate pandemics.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-168-june-10-2021-coronavirus-our-species-has-a-tendency-to-get-distracted-we-have-a-very-strong-appetite-for-distraction-and-when-something-is-not-in-the-spotlight-when-it/

POST 169. June 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Hospitals in Washington, D.C…announced a consensus agreement to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for more than 30,000 workers, 70% of which are already vaccinated. Each of 14 hospitals will set their own deadline…” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-169-june-14-2021-coronavirus-hospitals-in-washington-d-cannounced-a-consensus-agreement-to-mandate-covid-19-vaccinations-for-more-than-30000-workers-70-of-which-are-alrea/

POST 170. June 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Dr. Ashish Jha…is worried about the potential impact  the delta variant could have in the United States… “I’m concerned about the Delta variant,”… “Why? Most contagious variant yet. Wreaked havoc in India. Spiking cases in UK. Growing rapidly in the US.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-170-june-17-2021-coronavirus-dr-ashish-jhais-worried-about-the-potential-impact-the-delta-variant-could-have-in-the-united-states-im-concerned-a/

POST 171. June 19, 2021. “A 34-year-old man (a Covid-19 survivor) has been diagnosed with India’s first known case of “green fungus” infection.”… “Green fungus is the new infection to join the earlier known cases of black, white and yellow fungus.”…”green fungus was earlier seen only as a “junior partner” in other infections… In the current patient, this fungus is acting as the aggressor.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-171-june-19-2021-coronavirus-a-34-year-old-man-a-covid-19-survivor-has-been-diagnosed-with-indias-first-known-case-of-green-fungus-infection/

POST 172. June 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Morgan Stanley chief executive James Gorman said: “If you can go into a restaurant in New York City, you can come into the office.”…”remote work can “dramatically undermine” the character and culture a company is attempting to build; and “virtually eliminates spontaneous learning and creativity.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-172-june-23-2021-coronavirus-morgan-stanley-chief-executive-james-gorman-said-if-you-can-go-into-a-restaurant-in-new-york-city-you-can-come-into-the-office-remote-work/

POST 173. June 26, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The daily toll of COVID-19, as measured by new cases and the growing number of deaths, overlooks a shadowy set of casualties: the rising risk of mental health problems among health care professionals working on the frontlines of the pandemic.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-173-june-26-2021-coronavirus-the-daily-toll-of-covid-19-as-measured-by-new-cases-and-the-growing-number-of-deaths-overlooks-a-shadowy-set-of-casualties-the-rising-risk-of-mental-h/

POST 174. July 1, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “..while the WHO is encouraging people to keep wearing masks even if they’re vaccinated, Dr. Anthony Fauci says it doesn’t look like the CDC currently plans to change its guidelines.” … health officials in Los Angeles recommended that “everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors in public places as a precautionary measure.”..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-174-july-1-2021-coronavirus-while-the-who-is-encouraging-people-to-keep-wearing-masks-even-if-theyre-vaccinated-dr-anthony-fauci-says-it-doesnt-look-like-the-cdc-currently-pl/

POST 175. July 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Can a health care worker who is not against vaccines in general still harbor sincere concerns that scientists don’t yet know about all the side effects of these vaccines? Yes, says Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD — but those people should not work in health care.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-175-july-5-2021-coronavirus-can-a-health-care-worker-who-is-not-against-vaccines-in-general-still-harbor-sincere-concerns-that-scientists-dont-yet-know-about-all-the-side-ef/

POST 176. July 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Mercy Springfield ( Missouri) hospital…” ran out of ventilators for its patients over the Fourth of July weekend…”…“Mercy will require all current and future employees to be fully vaccinated.”…“The US government is deploying a Covid-19 surge team to provide public health support in southwest Missouri

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-176-july-9-2021-coronavirus-mercy-springfield-missouri-hospital-ran-out-of-ventilators-for-its-patients-over-the-fourth-of-july-weekend/

POST 177. July 12, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. the Delta variant is “the 2020 version of Covid-19 on steroids,”… “It is the most hypertransmissible, contagious version of the virus we’ve seen to date…it’s a superspreader strain if there ever was one .” but… now, there’s a Delta Plus variant…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-177-july-12-2021-coronavirus-the-delta-variant-is-the-2020-version-of-covid-19-on-steroids-it-is-the-most-hypertransmissible-contagious-version-of-the-vi/

POST 178. July 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Tennessee’s top vaccine official says she has been fired as punishment for doing her job in the face of political pushback.”..” More than 180 state and local public health leaders…have resigned, retired or been fired since April 1…”“Former President Trump and his GOP allies have stepped up attacks on Anthony Fauci…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-178-july-15-2021-coronavirus-tennessees-top-vaccine-official-says-she-has-been-fired-as-punishment-for-doing-her-job-in-the-face-of-political-pushback-more-tha/

POST 179. July 16, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “It, therefore, follows that the “harm principle” (“first, do no harm.”) can be used to justify compulsory vaccination programs in specific instances where the community interests or benefits are deemed to be significant.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-179-july-16-2021-coronavirus-it-therefore-follows-that-the-harm-principle-first-do-no-harm-can-be-used-to-justify-compulsory-vaccination-pro/

POST 180, July 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Most people will either get vaccinated, or have been previously infected, or they will get this Delta variant,”.. “And for most people who get this Delta variant, it’s going to be the most serious virus that they get in their lifetime in terms of the risk of putting them in the hospital,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-180-july-20-2021-coronavirus-most-people-will-either-get-vaccinated-or-have-been-previously-infected-or-they-will-get-this-delta-variant-and-for-most-people-who-get-this-delta-vari/

POST 181. July 22, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Health experts fear the Tokyo Olympics could become a COVID-19 superspreader event.” “Whatever happens in Japan isn’t likely going to stay in Japan since all of the athletes and accompanying coaches and staff will be returning to their home countries.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-181-july-22-2021-coronavirus-health-experts-fear-the-tokyo-olympics-could-become-a-covid-19-superspreader-event-whatever-happens-in-japan-isnt-likely-goin/

POST 182. July 26, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R): “Folks supposed to have common sense.”…“But it’s time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks, not the regular folks. It’s the unvaccinated folks that are letting us down.” ““Beginning in mid-September, New York City will require all of its 340,000 municipal workers, including police, firefighters and teachers, to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or tested weekly.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-182-july-26-2021-coronavirus-alabama-gov-kay-ivey-r-folks-supposed-to-have-common-sense-but-its-time-to-start-blaming-the-unvaccinated-folks-not-the/

POST 183. July 29, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. When I was appointed President and CEO of Jersey City Medical Center in1989 in the peak of the HIV/ AIDS crisis, we had a dedicated, and always full, dedicated 60 bed AIDS unit, staffed by one full time nurse and numerous part-time and per diem nurses. Today, right now, hospitals caught in the Covid-19 surge, are forced to redeploy nursing staff, respiratory therapists and other clinicians, most without prior infectious diseases experience. Why are we tolerating the unvaccinated putting our hospital staffs at risk?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-183-july-29-2021-coronavirus-when-i-was-appointed-president-and-ceo-of-jersey-city-medical-center-in1989-in-the-peak-of-the-hiv-aids-crisis-we-had-a-dedicated-and-always-full-dedicated-60/

POST 184. August 1, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The coronavirus could be “just a few mutations potentially away” from evolving into a variant that can evade existing COVID-19 vaccines, CDC director Rochelle Walensky said..” (A) “The Delta variant is more transmissible than the viruses that cause MERS, SARS, Ebola, the common cold, the seasonal flu and smallpox, and it is as contagious as chickenpox..” (I)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-184-august-1-2021-coronavirus-the-coronavirus-could-be-just-a-few-mutations-potentially-away-from-evolving-into-a-variant-that-can-evade-existing-covid-19-vaccines-cdc-director/

POST 185. August 6, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. ‘If you aren’t going to help, please get out of the way’: Biden turns up the pressure on GOP governors as Delta spreads”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-185-august-6-2021-coronavirus-if-you-arent-going-to-help-please-get-out-of-the-way-biden-turns-up-the-pressure-on-gop-governors-as-delta-spreads/

POST 186. August 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “One of the last things they do before they’re intubated is beg me for the vaccine. I hold their hand and tell them that I’m sorry, but it’s too late,” she added, referring to patients who have to be put on a ventilator.” (A) “There is no one definition of what the end of a pandemic means.”.. “The question of when the crisis will be over is a layered one — with different answers from local, national and global perspectives.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-186-august-8-2021-coronavirus-one-of-the-last-things-they-do-before-theyre-intubated-is-beg-me-for-the-vaccine-i-hold-their-hand-and-tell-them-that-im-sorry-but-i/

POST 187. August 11, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “As a result of the increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the state of Florida requested 300 ventilators from the federal government.”… “An 11-month-old girl with Covid-19 is stable and no longer intubated one day after she was airlifted to a Texas hospital 150 miles away because of a shortage of pediatric beds in the Houston area.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-187-august-11-2021-coronavirus-as-a-result-of-the-increase-in-covid-19-cases-and-hospitalizations-the-state-of-florida-requested-300-ventilators-from-the-federal-government/

POST 188. August 15, 20201. CORONAVIRUS. “According to an internal CDC briefing….an estimated 1.1 million people have already gotten unauthorized booster shots…”….”If it is left up to the honor system, I think many Americans will suddenly wake up and find themselves immunocompromised enough to get a 3rd dose,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-188-august-15-20201-coronavirus-according-to-an-internal-cdc-briefing-an-estimated-1-1-million-people-have-already-gotten-unauthorized-booster-shots/

POST 189. August 19,2021. CORONAVIRUS. “There wasn’t a single I.C.U. bed available in Alabama on Wednesday…”…”A triage plan on the Alabama health department’s website suggests that “persons with severe mental retardation” are among those who “may be poor candidates for ventilator support.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-189-august-192021-coronavirus-there-wasnt-a-single-i-c-u-bed-available-in-alabama-on-wednesdaya-triage-plan-on-the-alabama-health-depart/

POST 190, August 21, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “We’re looking, in essence, at running two systems — a COVID system and a non-COVID system of care,”..“Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and certified paramedics can now care for patients in Mississippi hospitals and emergency rooms under a new health office order issued by the Mississippi State Department of Health on Wednesday.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-190-august-21-2021-coronavirus-were-looking-in-essence-at-running-two-systems-a-covid-system-and-a-non-covid-system-of-care-emergency-medical/

POST 191. August 27, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Anthony Fauci, MD, chief medical advisor to the president and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, explained that late September gives the United States time to set up the logistics.” This is not medical science, but perhaps Political Science?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-191-august-27-2021-coronavirus-anthony-fauci-md-chief-medical-advisor-to-the-president-and-director-of-the-national-institute-of-allergy-and-infectious-diseases-explained-that-lat/

POST 192. August 30, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Gov. John Bel Edwards on Hurricane Ida – “I hate to say it this way, but we have a lot of people on ventilators today and they don’t work without electricity,” he said.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-192-august-30-2021-coronavirus-gov-john-bel-edwards-on-hurricane-ida-i-hate-to-say-it-this-way-but-we-have-a-lot-of-people-on-ventilators-today-and-they-dont-work-withou/

POST 193. September 3, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Nurses are leaving their hospitals and becoming travel nurses at hospitals across town “because they can make $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, $7,000 a week while not having to relocate anywhere..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-193-september-3-2021-coronavirus-nurses-are-leaving-their-hospitals-and-becoming-travel-nurses-at-hospitals-across-town-because-they-can-make-4000-5000-6000-7000-a-week-wh/

POST 194. August 2, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Recently-released data is painting a grim picture of the opioid epidemic that has gripped the United States — as the country is still grappling with the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than half a million Americans. Some people are calling them twin pandemics that have collided”…“Faced with a novel health crisis, researchers are collecting data on the long-term impact of using opioids to treat COVID-19 pain…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-194-august-2-2021-coronavirus-recently-released-data-is-painting-a-grim-picture-of-the-opioid-epidemic-that-has-gripped-the-united-states-as-the-country-is-still-grappling/

POST 195. September 6, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “…there are “zero ICU beds left for children in Dallas County, Texas,”.,..”That means if your child’s in a car wreck, if your child has a congenital heart defect or something and needs an ICU bed, or more likely if they have Covid and need an ICU bed, we don’t have one. Your child will wait for another child to die… (county judge Clay Jenkins)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-195-september-6-2021-coronavirus-there-are-zero-icu-beds-left-for-children-in-dallas-county-texas-that-means-if-your-childs-in-a-car-wreck-if-your-child/

POST 196. SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. PART 1. Military helicopters and jets were overhead, as President Bush was getting ready to leave NYC. PART 2. LESSONS LEARNED memorandum by hospital CEO Jonathan Metsch goes “viral”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-196-september-11-2021-september-11-2001-part-1-military-helicopters-and-jets-were-overhead-as-president-bush-was-getting-ready-to-leave-nyc-part-2-lessons-learned-memorandum-by-hospital/

POST 197. September 12, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Idaho officials have instituted “crisis standards of care” to help 10 hospitals and health care systems decide how to allocate personnel and resources to deal with a crush of COVID-19 patients.”… “The Washington Medical Coordination Center oversees facilitating transfers in the state, and it’s warning we could be nearing the point of “Crisis Standards of Care,” just like Idaho.” .. “These crisis models don’t actually save more lives, they just save different lives..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-197-september-12-2021-coronavirus-idaho-officials-have-instituted-crisis-standards-of-care-to-help-10-hospitals-and-health-care-systems-decide-how-to-allocate-personnel-and/

POST 198. September 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. A pundit said “The most elegant policy riposte to the anti-vaxxers… is to refuse to allow Medicare or Medicaid to pay their medical bills in the event they become seriously ill. Private health insurers might also follow suit.” (but is making our hospitals become the bill collectors right?)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-198-september-15-2021-coronavirus-a-pundit-said-the-most-elegant-policy-riposte-to-the-anti-vaxxers-is-to-refuse-to-allow-medicare-or-medicaid-to-pay-their-medical-bills-in/

POST 199. September 19, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Crisis Standards of Care. “… to his knowledge, no patient in Idaho has been taken off life-support therapy in order to provide that therapy to another patient who has a better prognosis.” “While that has yet to occur, if we continue on this path, it will,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-199-september-19-2021-coronavirus-crisis-standards-of-care-to-his-knowledge-no-patient-in-idaho-has-been-taken-off-life-support-therapy-in-order-to-provide-that-therapy-t/

POST 200. September 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. CDC Director overrides a recommendation of its scientific advisors saying “that people can get a booster if they are ages 18 to 64 years and are health-care workers or have another job that puts them at increased risk of being exposed to the virus.”…“In a pandemic, even with uncertainty, we must take actions that we anticipate will do the greatest good.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-200-september-23-2021-coronavirus-cdc-director-overrides-a-recommendation-of-its-scientific-advisors-saying-that-people-can-get-a-booster-if-they-are-ages-18-to-64-years-and-are-heal/

POST 201. September 27, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “A multibillion-dollar institution in the Seattle area is sitting on nearly $12 billion in cash… received at least $509 million in government funds (from) a federal program that is supposed to prevent health care providers from capsizing during the coronavirus pandemic.”

“Based on our estimates…we find preventable COVID-19 hospitalizations cost $5.7 billion from June to August in 2021.”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-201-september-27-2021-coronavirus-a-multibillion-dollar-institution-in-the-seattle-area-is-sitting-on-nearly-12-billion-in-cash-received-at-least-509-million-in-government/

POST 202. September 30, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “..NY Governor Hochul signed an executive order expanding healthcare worker eligibility requirements…to head off potential staffing shortages fueled by the state’s new COVID-19 vaccination requirements.” “The.. order allows out-of-state/ out-of-country healthcare workers to practice in New York…”..”It allows EMTs graduates to temporarily pitch in at additional healthcare settings; allows various types of healthcare workers to more easily administer and order COVID-19 vaccinations; enables telemedicine physician visits in nursing homes; permits facilities to more quickly discharge, transfer or receive patients…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-202-september-30-2021-coronavirus-ny-governor-hochul-signed-an-executive-order-expanding-healthcare-worker-eligibility-requirementsto-head-off-potential-staffing-shortages/

POST 203. October 3, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “.. more than 125,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in pregnant people, including more than 22,000 hospitalized cases and 161 deaths”…The risk is not just to the mother. Covid-19 in pregnancy can cause preterm birth or babies born so sick they have to go straight to the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU.” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-203-october-3-2021-coronavirus-more-than-125000-laboratory-confirmed-covid-19-cases-have-been-reported-in-pregnant-people-including-more-than-22000-hospitalized-cases-and-161-deaths/

POST 204. October 5, 2021.CORONAVIRUS. “News that an experimental antiviral drug from Merck appears to halve the risk of hospitalization or death from Covid-19 has bolstered hopes of finding a simple at-home treatment for the virus.”..” A more blunt assessment came from vaccine scientist Dr. Peter Hotez of Baylor College of Medicine’s National School of Tropical Medicine. “It’s not a miracle cure but a companion tool, So get vaccinated.””

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-204-october-5-2021-coronavirus-news-that-an-experimental-antiviral-drug-from-merck-appears-to-halve-the-risk-of-hospitalization-or-death-from-covid-19-has-bolstered-hopes-of-finding-a/

POST 205. October 11, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. The AAP reported nearly 226,000 new child cases over the past week ending. “Hospital care for children does not occur in isolation from that of adults. Many of the resources we use are the same—a twenty-pound baby and a two-hundred-pound man might use the same kind of ventilator, for example. Dialysis machines, which could cleanse a seven-year-old’s blood as easily as his grandfather’s, are in high demand. Pediatric resident physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists get cross-deployed to care for adults during the surges.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-205-october-11-2021-coronavirus-the-aap-reported-nearly-226000-new-child-cases-over-the-past-week-ending-hospital-care-for-children-does-not-occur-in-isolation-from-that-of-adults/

POST 206. October 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. to borrow from Winston Churchill about where we are with the pandemic –  “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-206-october-15-2021-coronavirus-to-borrow-from-winston-churchill-about-where-we-are-with-the-pandemic-now-this-is-not-the-end-it-is-not-even-the-beginning-of-the-end-but-it-is/

POST 207. October 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “…if you choose your own unauthorized booster shot, what happens if later research proves a different combination is better? That’s why experts say it’s a bad idea to become your own vaccine advisory committee and get a shot out of turn.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-207-october-17-2021-coronavirus-if-you-choose-your-own-unauthorized-booster-shot-what-happens-if-later-research-proves-a-different-combination-is-better-thats-why/

POST 208. October 22, 2021, CORONAVIRUS. “What is the “delta plus” variant?” Scientists are monitoring the delta-related variant — known as AY.4.2. — to see if it might spread more easily or be more deadly than previous versions of the coronavirus.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-208-october-22-2021-coronavirus-what-is-the-delta-plus-variant-scientists-are-monitoring-the-delta-related-variant-known-as-ay-4-2-to/

POST 209. October 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The quest at Mount Sinai began with a mystery.”…”America was not simply struggling to contain a once-in-a-century pandemic, caused by a virus far more dangerous than seasonal influenza. Many patients were, for unknown reasons, not recovering.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-209-october-28-2021-coronavirus-the-quest-at-mount-sinai-began-with-a-mystery-america-was-not-simply-struggling-to-contain-a-once-in-a-century-pandemic-ca/

POST 210. October 31, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Some people want the FDA to speed up. Others want it to be more cautious…There’s a fundamental tension between the right to get access to a drug people are desperate for and the right to protection from dangerous failures of quality. The first demands speed; the second requires time…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-210-october-31-2021-coronavirus-some-people-want-the-fda-to-speed-up-others-want-it-to-be-more-cautioustheres-a-fundamental-tension-between-the-right-to-get-access/

POST 211. November 4, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Colorado – “…there are patients who really ought to be in an intensive care unit but instead they’re in an emergency room. Or they ought to be in a step-down unit but instead they’re on the floor. Or they ought to be getting one-to-one nursing, and instead they’re getting two-to-one, or three-to-one nursing….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-211-november-4-2021-coronavirus-colorado-there-are-patients-who-really-ought-to-be-in-an-intensive-care-unit-but-instead-theyre-in-an-emergency-room-or-they-ough/

POST 212. November 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “They went into hospitals with heart attacks, kidney failure or in a psychiatric crisis. They left with covid-19…” “A new report shows the coronavirus pandemic had a direct increase on the number of healthcare-acquired infections in hospitals nationwide.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-212-november-9-2021-coronavirus-they-went-into-hospitals-with-heart-attacks-kidney-failure-or-in-a-psychiatric-crisis-they-left-with-covid-19-a-new-repor/

POST 213. November 13, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Since the earliest days of the pandemic, there has been one collective goal for bringing it to an end: achieving herd immunity…Now the herd is restless. And experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have set aside herd immunity as a national goal.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-213-november-13-2021-coronavirus-since-the-earliest-days-of-the-pandemic-there-has-been-one-collective-goal-for-bringing-it-to-an-end-achieving-herd-immunity-now-the-herd-is-rest/

POST 214. November 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “This virus is doing what this virus does,” said Michael Osterholm… “We don’t understand why surges start, we don’t understand why they end.” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-214-november-20-2021-coronavirus-this-virus-is-doing-what-this-virus-does-said-michael-osterholm-we-dont-understand-why-surges-start-we-dont-understand-why-they-en/

POST 215. November 26, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Fauci on the new South African variant: “It’s not going to be possible to keep this infection out of the country. The question is: Can you slow it down?”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-215-november-26-2021-coronavirus-dr-fauci-on-the-new-south-african-variant-its-not-going-to-be-possible-to-keep-this-infection-out-of-the-country-the-question-is-can-you/

POST 216. December 1, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Covid cacophony: as states struggle to address health care staffing shortages, a federal court puts Biden administration health care worker vaccination mandate on hold. 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-216-december-1-2021-coronavirus-covid-cacophony-as-states-struggle-to-address-health-care-staffing-shortages-a-federal-court-puts-biden-administration-health-care-worker-vaccination-mandate/

POST 217. December 3, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. President Biden Announces New Actions to Protect Americans Against the Delta and Omicron Variants as We Battle COVID-⁠19 this Winter

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-217-december-3-2021-coronavirus-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-protect-americans-against-the-delta-and-omicron-variants-as-we-battle-covid-%e2%81%a019-this-winter/

POST 218. December 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “In some ways, Delta is the ideal variant: It’s transmissible enough to dominate more dangerous variants, and its virulence can be controlled through vaccination. In the next few weeks, we’ll find out whether Omicron will have its own silver lining—or whether it’ll be catastrophically worse.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-218-december-5-2021-coronavirus-in-some-ways-delta-is-the-ideal-variant-its-transmissible-enough-to-dominate-more-dangerous-variants-and-its-virulence-can-be-controlled-t/

POST 219. December 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Entering uncharted territory, the U.S. counts 500,000 Covid-related deaths.”… “So yes, I am furious at the unvaccinated, and I am not ashamed of disclosing that. I am no longer trying to understand them or educate them.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-219-december-9-2021-coronavirus-entering-uncharted-territory-the-u-s-counts-500000-covid-related-deaths-so-yes-i-am-furious-at-the-unvaccinated-and-i/

POST 220 December 13, 2021. CORONAVIRUS.  Dr. Osterholm. “You cannot outrun the game clock with this pandemic. This virus will find you… We’ve seen health care systems virtually broken by this pandemic. They just couldn’t provide critical care to non-Covid patients.” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-220-december-13-2021-coronavirus-dr-osterholm-you-cannot-outrun-the-game-clock-with-this-pandemic-this-virus-will-find-you-weve-seen-health-care-systems-virtually/

POST 221. December 18, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Johnson & Johnson’s Covid vaccine was going to be a shot for the world. Now, under the weight of a mountain of bad PR, one wonders if the world will want it.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-221-december-18-2021-coronavirus-johnson-johnsons-covid-vaccine-was-going-to-be-a-shot-for-the-world-now-under-the-weight-of-a-mountain-of-bad-pr-one-wonders-if-the-wor-2/

POST 222. December 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. So why my “inside baseball” focus on COVID-19 from the perspective of a retired hospital CEO?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-222-december-20-2021-coronavirus-so-why-my-inside-baseball-focus-on-covid-19-from-the-perspective-of-a-retired-hospital-ceo/

POST 223. December 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Links for a case study of Crisis Standards of Care.

POST 223. December 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Links for a case study of Crisis Standards of Care.

POST 224. December 29, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “crisis standards of care protocols in Maryland – “It also allows us to slim down documentation,… allows unconventional staffing models such as using nurses that have not been bedside. It also sets the expectations for the community that it’s not business as usual.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-224-december-29-2021-coronavirus-crisis-standards-of-care-protocols-in-maryland-it-also-allows-us-to-slim-down-documentation-allows-unconventional-staffing-models-such/

POST 225. January 3, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Be first, be right, be credible,” are among the most important principles for health authorities to follow in a crisis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared in a pamphlet on crisis communication in 2018….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-225-january-3-2021-coronavirus-be-first-be-right-be-credible-are-among-the-most-important-principles-for-health-authorities-to-follow-in-a-crisis-the-centers-for-disease/

Post 226. January 5, 2022. CORONAVIRUS.  New York City – “The city’s ambulance corps are so understaffed because of the COVID-19 surge, they’re now under new orders to try to convince stable patients with flu-like symptoms not to go to the hospital.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-226-january-5-2022-coronavirus-new-york-city-the-citys-ambulance-corps-are-so-understaffed-because-of-the-covid-19-surge-theyre-now-under-new-orders-to-try-to-c/

POST 227. January 10, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.  “Stay indoors. But also return in person. Wear a mask. Not that one. The expensive one, that you can’t find. Take rapid tests. Which you also can’t find. But if you find them, don’t buy them. Rapid tests don’t work. You need PCR. There are zero appointments in your area.” (F)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-227-january-10-2020-coronavirus-stay-indoors-but-also-return-in-person-wear-a-mask-not-that-one-the-expensive-one-that-you-cant-find-take-rapid-tests-which-you-also/

POST 228. January 13, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “State officials are attempting to address California’s staffing shortage through a sweeping policy change that allows asymptomatic healthcare workers who have tested positive for the coronavirus to return to work immediately.” “Asymptomatic health professionals who had tested positive for COVID-19 should “preferably be assigned to work with COVID positive patients.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-228-january-13-2022-coronavirus-state-officials-are-attempting-to-address-californias-staffing-shortage-through-a-sweeping-policy-change-that-allows-asymptomatic-healthcare/

POST 229. January 16, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “It is now highly unlikely that the U.S. will hit the ~85-90% of Americans vaccinated to get to the other side of the pandemic…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-229-january-16-2020-coronavirus-it-is-now-highly-unlikely-that-the-u-s-will-hit-the-85-90-of-americans-vaccinated-to-get-to-the-other-side-of-the-pandemic/

POST 230. January 20, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “Dr. Fauci also said that the world is still in the first of what he considered to be the five phases of the pandemic. The first is the “truly pandemic” phase, “where the whole world is really very negatively impacted,” followed by deceleration, control, elimination and eradication.”…to paraphrase Churchill – “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-230-january-20-2022-coronavirus-dr-fauci-also-said-that-the-world-is-still-in-the-first-of-what-he-considered-to-be-the-five-phases-of-the-pandemic-the-first-is-the-truly/

POST 231. January 24, 202. CORONAVIRUS. “Florida’s top public health official in Orlando has been placed on administrative leave after sending an email to his employees noting their lackluster coronavirus vaccination rates and urging them to get the shots.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-231-january-24-202-coronavirus-floridas-top-public-health-official-in-orlando-has-been-placed-on-administrative-leave-after-sending-an-email-to-his-employees-noting-their-la/

POST 232. January 28, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “A Boston hospital’s denial of a heart transplant to a man who is unvaccinated for Covid-19 has generated national attention, but experts say mandating vaccines is in keeping with other long-standing requirements that patients have to meet to receive an organ — including getting other shots…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-232-january-28-2022-coronavirus-a-boston-hospitals-denial-of-a-heart-transplant-to-a-man-who-is-unvaccinated-for-covid-19-has-generated-national-attention-but-experts-say-m/

POST 233. February 2, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “The same virus can cause endemic, epidemic or pandemic infections: it depends on the interplay of a population’s behaviour, demographic structure, susceptibility and immunity, plus whether viral variants emerge.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-233-february-2-2022-coronavirus-the-same-virus-can-cause-endemic-epidemic-or-pandemic-infections-it-depends-on-the-interplay-of-a-populations-behaviour-demographic-struct/

POST 234. February 2, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell demanded an end to the COVID-19 state of emergency on Wednesday , saying it was time for Americans to get on with their lives after two years on a ‘hellish highway.’”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-234-february-2-2022-coronavirus-senate-republican-leader-mitch-mcconnell-demanded-an-end-to-the-covid-19-state-of-emergency-on-wednesday-saying-it-was-time-for-americans-to-get-on/

POST 235. February 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Over time, the U.S. health care sector has implemented various pieces of the  (pandemic) safety-assessment-and-improvement puzzle, but it has not instituted a thorough system of safety that reaches from the boardroom to the front lines and that can be maintained during times of crisis.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-235-february-17-2020-coronavirus-over-time-the-u-s-health-care-sector-has-implemented-various-pieces-of-the-pandemic-safety-assessment-and-improvement-puzzle-but-it-has-no/

POST 236. February 22, 2021. CORONAVIRUS.  MOUNT SINAI AT HOME – “We began thinking about how we could use hospital-at-home to meet the needs of our hospital system in our community, in terms of responding to the crisis of COVID-19…” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-236-february-23-2021-mount-sinai-at-home-we-began-thinking-about-how-we-could-use-hospital-at-home-to-meet-the-needs-of-our-hospital-system-in-our-community-in-terms-of-responding/

POST 237. February 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Decision-makers are increasingly embracing the reality that we will have to “learn to live with” the coronavirus. But how will they know when to impose or lift restrictions?”  “Now, the CDC’s “Covid-19 community level” metrics are based on three pieces of data in a community: new Covid-19 hospitalizations, hospital capacity and new Covid-19 cases.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-237-february-27-2020-coronavirus-decision-makers-are-increasingly-embracing-the-reality-that-we-will-have-to-learn-to-live-with-the-coronavirus-but-how-will-they-k/

POST 238. March 5, 2022, CORONAVIRUS. “Two different scientists can look at the same set of data and come up with different conclusions. That’s not to say that one person is being unscientific or ignoring the scientific process,” said Leana Wen, an emergency physician and a professor at George Washington University. “Public health policy is also a measure of values.””

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-238-march-5-2022-coronavirus-two-different-scientists-can-look-at-the-same-set-of-data-and-come-up-with-different-conclusions-thats-not-to-say-that-one-person-is-being-unscientific-or-ig/

POST 239. March 9, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “War is an infectious disease’s best friend,” says Michael Osterholm, “It challenges every public health program you can possibly have. It limits the medical care available for those who might be seriously ill, and often fosters transmission when so many people are crowded into bomb shelter locations and on trains. This is going to be the perfect storm of one serious challenge after another.” (E)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-239-march-9-2022-coronavirus-war-is-an-infectious-diseases-best-friend-says-michael-osterholm-it-challenges-every-public-health-program-you-can-possibly/

POST 240. March 15, 2022. ““China is modifying its Covid-19 playbook amid a surge in cases as it seeks to avoid strains on its healthcare system.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-240-march-15-2022-china-is-modifying-its-covid-19-playbook-amid-a-surge-in-cases-as-it-seeks-to-avoid-strains-on-its-healthcare-system/

POST 241. March 20, 2022, CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Ashish Jha will serve as the new White House COVID-19 response coordinator.” He is not, for the record, a virologist, immunologist, or vaccinologist…But he is a public health expert and a practicing internist, which means he has years of experience explaining complicated and often incomplete information to people who neither know nor care about the correct pronunciation of “adenovirus.” That’s who he imagines on the other end of his webcam.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-241-march-20-2022-coronavirus-dr-ashish-jha-will-serve-as-the-new-white-house-covid-19-response-coordinator-he-is-not-for-the-record-a-virologist-immunologist-or-vaccinologist/

POST 242. March 24, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “How worried should people be about the BA.2 variant? Will vaccines protect against it? What if someone contracted a previous variant — could they become reinfected? Is BA.2 milder than previous versions, and if so, should people try to get it? Could BA.2 cause another surge in the US, and is it time for restrictions to be put back into place?”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-242-march-24-2022-coronavirus-how-worried-should-people-be-about-the-ba-2-variant-will-vaccines-protect-against-it-what-if-someone-contracted-a-previous-variant-could-they-becom/

POST 243. March 28, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “…the US Food and Drug Administration is planning authorize a fourth dose of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines for adults over age 50 next week.”…”The decision to make fourth doses available now will bypass independent groups of scientific advisers for both the FDA and CDC, which would normally meet and publicly review the available science and then make recommendations to the agencies.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-243-march-28-2022-coronavirus-the-us-food-and-drug-administration-is-planning-authorize-a-fourth-dose-of-the-pfizer-and-moderna-mrna-vaccines-for-adults-over-age-50-next-wee/

POST 244. April 4, 2022.CORONAVIRUS. “Here’s a scary thought: America’s ability to face the pandemic’s next phase may depend on a handful of senators.”…. “When the end of the COVID-19 pandemic comes, it could create major disruptions for a cumbersome U.S. health care system made more generous, flexible and up-to-date technologically through a raft of temporary emergency measures.”
https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-244-april-4-2022-coronavirus-heres-a-scary-thought-americas-ability-to-face-the-pandemics-next-phase-may-depend-on-a-handful-of-senators/

POST 245. April 10, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. We can’t react to a wave we don’t see coming. “I keep thinking back to this idea of If we don’t measure it, it won’t happen,”…(As President Donald Trump once put it, “If we stop testing, we’d have fewer cases.”) In reality, “it’s very well happening, and we just don’t see it yet.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-245-april-10-2022-coronavirus-we-cant-react-to-a-wave-we-dont-see-coming-i-keep-thinking-back-to-this-idea-of-if-we-dont-measure-it-it-wont-happ/

POST 246. April 15, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “State authorities and health care organizations could pay a high price for reinstating SCOPE OF PRACTICE (SOP) restrictions when the pandemic ends.” (e.g. NPs, PAs, Pharmacists +++)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-246-april-15-2022-coronavirus-state-authorities-and-health-care-organizations-could-pay-a-high-price-for-reinstating-scope-of-practice-sop-restrictions-when-the-pandemic-ends/

POST 247. April 23, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The DOJ lawyers tasked with defending the CDC’s mask mandate authority have warned Biden administration officials that continuing to push the legal fight over the mask mandate could backfire, if the conservative-leaning appeals court upholds the order.”….”A Supreme Court ruling upholding the decision to strike down the mask mandate would make the Florida judge’s conclusions about CDC authority binding nationwide.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-247-april-23-2020-coronavirus-the-doj-lawyers-tasked-with-defending-the-cdcs-mask-mandate-authority-have-warned-biden-administration-officials-that-continuing-to-push-the-legal-fig/

POST 248. April 27, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “For at-risk Americans without access to a “test-to-treat” drugstore that has a qualifying provider available, this means some will have to make multiple trips to get the pills. You have to develop COVID symptoms, you have to subsequently get a test for COVID-19, get the result of that test, find and go to see a provider, get a prescription, and then fill that prescription. That’s six steps in five days,”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-248-april-27-2022-coronavirus-for-at-risk-americans-without-access-to-a-test-to-treat-drugstore-that-has-a-qualifying-provider-available-this-means-some-will-have-to-make-multip/

POST 249. May 6, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “The United States is “certainly, right now, in this country, out of the pandemic phase..” (Dr. Anthony Fauci). “The US should prepare for a possible summer surge of Covid-19 cases across Southern states..” (Dr. Deborah Birx)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/05/post-249-may-6-2022-coronavirus-the-united-states-is-certainly-right-now-in-this-country-out-of-the-pandemic-phase-dr-anthony-fauci-the-us-should-prepare-for-a-possi/

POST 250. May 11, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. Herd Immunity Deja vu. “Not so long ago, the world was clinging to the hope of herd immunity—to the notion that the population would eventually reach some communal level of protection sufficient to quash the outbreak for good. Maybe, experts posited many months back, once 60 to 90 percent of people had been infected or vaccinated or both, the virus would run out of viable hosts, and simply fizzle out. Now it’s clear that “that’s too simplistic…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/05/post-250-super-spreader-event-may-10-2018-not-so-long-ago-the-world-was-clinging-to-the-hope-of-herd-immunity-to-the-notion-that-the-population-would-eventually-reach-some-commun/

May 11, 2022

POST 249. May 6, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “The United States is “certainly, right now, in this country, out of the pandemic phase..” (Dr. Anthony Fauci). “The US should prepare for a possible summer surge of Covid-19 cases across Southern states..” (Dr. Deborah Birx)

for links to POSTS 1-249 in chronological order highlight and click on

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/05/coronavirus-tracking-links-to-posts-1-249/

“The United States is “certainly, right now, in this country, out of the pandemic phase,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on PBS’s “NewsHour” on Tuesday.

“Namely, we don’t have 900,000 new infections a day and tens and tens and tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths. We are at a low level right now. So if you’re saying, are we out of the pandemic phase in this country? We are,” he said.

On Wednesday, Fauci told CNN that his comments had been mischaracterized by some to mean that the pandemic is over, “which is not what I said.”

“We’re not over the pandemic. Don’t let anybody get the misinterpretation that the pandemic is over, but what we are in is a different phase of the pandemic,” he said. “A phase that’s a transition phase, hopefully headed toward more of a control where you can actually get back to some form of normality without total disruption of society, economically, socially, school-wise, etc.”

Fauci noted that, in fact, Covid-19 cases are trending up again, though it’s not anywhere near the rise we saw over the winter with the Omicron wave.

“So what we need to do is continue to be vigilant, to follow the CDC guidelines, to do the kinds of things that protect you: Get vaccinated, if you’re not vaccinated; get boosted if you’re eligible for a boost. If you do get infected, be aware that there is availability of antivirals.”

Fauci’s comments on PBS drew attention on the same day the Biden administration announced that he would not be attending the annual White House Correspondents Dinner after considering his individual risk.” (A)

“Though it would be next to impossible to eradicate SARS-CoV-2, it is fully feasible to control it, said Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), during a virtual event held Friday morning by the National Press Club.

A variety of factors make COVID-19 different from polio and measles, viruses that were previously eliminated in the U.S., including the number of genotypically and phenotypically diverse variants of SARS-CoV-2, and that SARS-CoV-2 has animal reservoirs for the virus, Fauci noted.

There has also been a lack of widespread acceptance when it comes to COVID vaccines, and immunity through vaccination or infection wanes over several months.

“We’re hoping for control,” Fauci said, which would involve a combination of common-sense hygiene and mitigation measures, intermittent vaccination, and treatment with effective antivirals and monoclonal antibodies.

As for the next generation of COVID shots, and how regularly they would be needed, Fauci was both optimistic and realistic.

“I would hope that we get to the point where immunity lasts long enough where we only intermittently need to be boosted,” he said, adding that he doesn’t think a schedule of receiving shots as often as once every 4 months is feasible.

However, waning immunity is not surprising, he noted.

“The protection that follows infection is not particularly durable, and you would expect, that being the case, that the protection following [vaccination is] not going to be durable,” Fauci said. “We are trying very hard to develop vaccines that give a greater degree of durability of immunity.”..

Fauci stressed that it will be essential to continue to monitor for variants. There are currently subvariants of Omicron that are 25% to 30% more transmissible, though they are not necessarily more severe…

Ultimately, to attain control, case counts need to be low enough that they are not disrupting society, overwhelming hospitals, or creating fear, Fauci said, putting SARS-CoV-2 in a similar place as other respiratory viruses like RSV and influenza.” (B)

“They were the words everyone has been waiting to hear—that the COVID-19 pandemic is dialing down from the five-alarm fire that flared up in 2020 to a somewhat lesser conflagration. On April 27, the U.S.’s chief medical advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, described the country as in a “transitional phase, from a deceleration of the numbers into hopefully a more controlled phase and endemicity” in an interview with the Washington Post…

Although we may be out of the urgent pandemic phase, we’re not quite ready to call COVID-19 endemic, which would mean the virus is still among us but relatively under control, similar to influenza.

And it’s not clear when that will happen. Even if it does, health experts may not all agree about the transition. There are no hard and fast definitions for “pandemic” and “endemic,” and no thresholds for case numbers or deaths that mark a shift from one to the other. The World Health Organization considers a pandemic to be an “epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people.” Experts have noted that these parameters say nothing about how quickly the outbreak is spreading, how much disease it’s causing, or what role immunity in the population plays.

But those are the factors that are critical for public health experts and political leaders as they manage a pandemic. There are no metrics for determining when to dial down an initial urgent response, or to pull back on drastic measures such as lockdowns and mask mandates.

That’s what the world is grappling with now—figuring out whether the risk of SARS-CoV-2 is now at a point where we can treat it more like influenza, by protecting ourselves as much as we can with immunization and basic hygiene such as washing our hands and covering our coughs, or whether we still need to manage SARS-CoV-2 as a serious enough threat for most people that we should maintain public health measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing…

Those trends suggest that it may be too early to relax our vigilance over COVID-19, which remains a potent threat for a number of reasons. First, no vaccine is 100% effective in protecting against infection or disease, and the COVID-19 shots are no exception. While highly effective in warding off the worst COVID-19 symptoms from the original virus strain emerging from China, the shots are less effective in protecting against newer variants of SARS-CoV-2. And the virus continues to mutate, with each version appearing to improve on the last strain’s ability to infect quickly and efficiently. Fortunately these changes haven’t led to a more virulent strain so far, but they could veer in that direction, and cause more serious disease on top of being more transmissible. If that happens, the vaccines and drug treatments currently available might provide little, if any, protection at all.

That leads to the second reason that COVID-19 isn’t fading into the background any time soon. Despite the effectiveness of the vaccines, scientists still don’t know exactly what it takes to fully protect someone from COVID-19. That question actually breaks down into two related queries: What does it take to prevent infection in the first place, and what level of immunity is needed to protect against serious illness? Even into the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists still don’t have solid answers for either.” (C)

“The US should prepare for a possible summer surge of Covid-19 cases across Southern states, former White House Coronavirus Response Task Force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx told CBS on Sunday morning.

It’s now predictable that the South will see surges in the summer and Northern states will see surges in the winter — especially around the holidays, Birx said.

Birx said she closely follows data out of South Africa, which has recently seen a rise in new Covid-19 cases.

“Each of these surges are about four to six months apart. That tells me that natural immunity wanes enough in the general population after four to six months — that a significant surge is going to occur again,” Birx told “Face the Nation.”

“This is what we have to be prepared for in this country. We should be preparing right now for a potential surge in the summer across the Southern United States because we saw it in 2020 and we saw it in 2021.”..

Birx’s warning comes as US cases are again rising with the spread of another Omicron strain, the BA.2 subvariant. The seven-day average of US cases was almost 54,000 Saturday, up from about 49,000 a week earlier and almost 31,000 a month ago.

Nearly 60% of adults and 75% of children have antibodies indicating that they’ve been infected with Covid-19, according to new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It is unclear what that means for protection against future infections, health experts say, and for that reason, the CDC says it is still important to stay up to date on Covid-19 vaccinations and boosters.”  (D)

“After more than two years of Covid-19, plenty of people are lowering their guards. But the pandemic isn’t over yet — and, Bill Gates warns, the worst might still be ahead.

“We’re still at risk of this pandemic generating a variant that would be even more transmissive and even more fatal,” the billionaire Microsoft co-founder and public health advocate told the Financial Times on Sunday. “It’s not likely, I don’t want to be a voice of doom and gloom, but it’s way above a 5% risk that this pandemic, we haven’t even seen the worst of it.”

New Covid cases, powered by the BA.2 subvariant of Covid’s omicron strain, are currently growing across the U.S.: The country’s seven-day average of daily new U.S. cases is up to 54,429 as of Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins University data. That’s a 9% increase over the week prior, with cases growing in 39 states over that time frame.

But Covid-related deaths are declining, leading White House Covid czar Dr. Ashish Jha to say last month that he’s “not overly concerned right now” about BA.2. Rather, its spread is more a reminder that Covid is still lurking — and as Gates notes, the virus could potentially mutate again, resulting in a strain of greater concern.

For Gates, one lesson from the Covid pandemic so far is that preemptive planning and protective measures could help the world better manage future pandemics. It’s the core concept of his upcoming book, “How to Prevent the Next Pandemic,” set to publish later this year.

One proposal, he says, is for the World Health Organization to launch a global surveillance team, consisting of experts who can quickly spot new health threats around the world and rapidly coordinate with global governments to prevent future illnesses from growing into pandemics.

Gates, who has labeled his proposed task force the “Global Epidemic Response and Mobilization” (GERM) initiative, told the Financial Times that the idea would require significant financial investment from WHO and its member countries in order to create a global team of experts, including epidemiologists and virologists, and give them the tools they need to proactively identify and contain future outbreaks…

And, while he cautions against becoming complacent against Covid’s ongoing risks, the billionaire has also expressed optimism that the coronavirus will be more manageable by this summer — saying in January that, ideally, most Americans will eventually be able to treat Covid like the “seasonal flu.”” (E)

“Countries are beginning to offer a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to vulnerable groups, but medical professionals are undecided on whether it would benefit the wider population.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has so far authorized a fourth shot only for those aged 50 and above, as well as those who are immunocompromised. And the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was skeptical of the need for a fourth dose for healthy adults in the absence of a clearer public health strategy.

Those decisions came as a study from Israel found that although a fourth dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine offers protection against serious illness for at least six weeks after the shot, it provides only short-lived protection against infection, which wanes after just four weeks.

The medical consensus so far is that there hasn’t been enough research on how much protection a fourth dose can offer.

The World Health Organization hasn’t given an official recommendation on a fourth dose, and “there isn’t any good evidence at this point of time” that it will be beneficial, said WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan.

“What we know from immunology is that if you give another booster, you will see a temporary increase in the neutralizing antibodies. But what we’ve also seen is that these neutralizing antibodies will wane quite rapidly,” Swaminathan told CNBC in an interview.

A fourth dose doesn’t really do much of anything … I’m not sure we need to get out and just jump up and down screaming that everybody needs to get aboard.

“This happened after the third dose. And it’s happened again after the fourth dose,” she added.

Paul Goepfert, professor of medicine at the University of Alabama, shared that view, saying that “a fourth dose doesn’t really do much of anything … I’m not sure we need to get out and just jump up and down screaming that everybody needs to get aboard.”

Since the study from Israel shows the fourth dose can provide protection against serious disease, countries such as Israel, Denmark and Singapore have made a second booster shot available to high-risk groups.

“Rather than saying that the protection wanes, I would say that this boost effect is strongest shortly after the vaccine was administered, but that it remains protective overall,” said Ashley St. John, an associate professor at Duke-NUS Medical School.

“Importantly there was no waning of protection against severe disease, which is the most key effect of vaccination we aim to achieve,” she added.” (F)

“Reports of new coronavirus cases have doubled in the past month as Omicron subvariants have spread across the country.

Cases are increasing in all but four states and territories, and in more than a dozen, the daily case average is twice as high today as it was two weeks ago. Despite this rapid growth, the virus’s true spread is believed to be even greater, since many infections go uncounted in official case reports.

Hospitalizations have also risen in recent weeks, though more modestly than cases. Just over 17,000 people are in American hospitals with the coronavirus each day, an increase of 16 percent since mid-April.

Still, the surge so far appears milder than the waves that preceded it. Cases remain well below the levels seen during the Delta and Omicron surges late last year, and fewer coronavirus patients are in intensive care today than at any point since the pandemic’s earliest days.

Coronavirus deaths in the United States are expected to reach 1 million in the coming weeks, but for now, daily death reports continue to decline. Fewer than 350 deaths are currently being announced each day, a decrease of more than 20 percent in the past two weeks.” (G)

CORONAVIRUS TRACKING Links to POSTS 1-249

CORONAVIRUS TRACKING Links to POSTS 1-249

Doctor, Did You Wash Your Hands?®

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/

Curated Contemporaneous Case Study Methodology

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2019/12/9897/

Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr.P.H.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/jonathan-m-metsch-dr-p-h-2/

PART 1. January 21, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed the first U.S. case of a deadly new coronavirus that has killed six people in China.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/01/the-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-on-tuesday-confirmed-the-first-u-s-case-of-a-deadly-new-coronavirus-that-has-killed-six-people-in-china/

PART 2. January 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “If it’s not contained shortly, I think we are looking at a pandemic..”….. “With isolated cases of the dangerous new coronavirus cropping up in a number of states, public health officials say it is only a matter of time before the virus appears in New York City.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/01/part-2-coronavirus-if-its-not-contained-shortly-i-think-we-are-looking-at-a-pandemic-with-isolated-cases-of-the-dangerous-new-coronavirus-cropping-u/

PART3. February 3, 2020. “The Wuhan coronavirus spreading from China is now likely to become a pandemic that circles the globe…”..Trump appeared to downplay concerns about the flu-like virus …We’re gonna see what happens, but we did shut it down..” (D)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part3-the-wuhan-coronavirus-spreading-from-china-is-now-likely-to-become-a-pandemic-that-circles-the-globe-trump-appeared-to-downplay-concerns-about-the-flu-like-virus/

PART 4. February 9, 2020. Coronavirus. “A study published Friday in JAMA found that 41% of the first 138 patients diagnosed at one hospital in Wuhan, China, were presumed to be infected in that hospital.….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-4-coronavirus-so-like-sars-and-mers-other-coronaviruses-before-it-the-wuhan-coronavirus-is-spreading-in-hospitals/

PART 5. February 12, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “In short, shoe-leather public health and basic medical care—not miracle drugs—are generally what stop outbreaks of emerging infections..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-5-coronavirus-in-short-shoe-leather-public-health-and-basic-medical-care-not-miracle-drugs-are-generally-what-stop-outbreaks-of-emerging-infections/

POST 6. February 18, 2020.  Coronovirus. “Amid assurances that the (ocean liner) Westerdam was disease free, hundreds of people disembarked in Cambodia…” “ One was later found to be infected”…. “Over 1,000… passengers were in…transit home”…. “This could be a turning point””

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/post-6-coronovirus-amid-assurances-that-the-ocean-liner-westerdam-was-disease-free-hundreds-of-people-disembarked-in-cambodia-one-was-later-found-to-be-infect/

PART 7. February 20, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. With SARS preparedness underway in NJ LibertyHealth/ Jersey City Medical Center, where I was President, proposed that our 100 bed community hospital with all single-bedded rooms, be immediately transformed into an EMERGENCY SARS ISOLATION Hospital.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-7-coronavirus-with-sars-preparedness-underway-in-nj-libertyhealth-jersey-city-medical-center-where-i-was-president-proposed-that-our-100-bed-community-hospital-with-all-single-bedded-rooms/

PART 8. February 24, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…every country’s top priority should be to protect its health care workers. This is partly to ensure that hospitals themselves do not become sites where the coronavirus is spread more than it is contained.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-8-coronavirus-every-countrys-top-priority-should-be-to-protect-its-health-care-workers-this-is-partly-to-ensure-that-hospitals-themselves-do-not-become-sites-where-t/

PART 9. February 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Responding to a question about the likelihood of a U.S. outbreak, President Trump said, “I don’t think it’s inevitable…”It probably will. It possibly will,” he continued. “It could be at a very small level, or it could be at a larger level.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-9-coronavirus-responding-to-a-question-about-the-likelihood-of-a-u-s-outbreak-president-trump-said-i-dont-think-its-inevitableit-probably-will-it-possibly-will-he-contin/

Part 10. March 1, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Stop Surprise Medical Bills for Coronavirus care. (&) Lessons Learned (or not) In California and Washington State from community acquired cases.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-10-coronavirus-stop-surprise-medical-bills-for-coronavirus-care-lessons-learned-or-not-in-california-and-washington-state-from-community-acquired-cases/

PART 11. March 5, 2020.  CORONAVIRUS. “Gov. Andrew Cuomo… would require employers to pay workers and protect their jobs if they are quarantined because of the coronavirus.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-11-coronavirus-gov-andrew-cuomo-would-require-employers-to-pay-workers-and-protect-their-jobs-if-they-are-quarantined-because-of-the-coronavirus/

Part 12. March 10, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Tom Bossert, Donald Trump’s former homeland security advisor…(said) that due to the coronavirus outbreak, “We are 10 days from the hospitals getting creamed.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-12-coronavirus-tom-bossert-donald-trumps-former-homeland-security-advisorsaid-that-due-to-the-coronavirus-outbreak-we-are-10-days-from-the-hospitals-gett/

Part 13.. March 14, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “If I’m buying real estate in New York, I’ll listen to the President….If I’m asking about infectious diseases, I’m going to listen to Tony Fauci,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-13-coronavirus-march-14-2020-if-im-buying-real-estate-in-new-york-ill-listen-to-the-president-if-im-asking-about-infectious-diseases-im-going-to-listen-to-tony-fauci

PART 14. March 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “ “Most physicians have never seen this level of angst and anxiety in their careers”…. One said “I am sort of a pariah in my family.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-14-coronavirus-march-17-2020-most-physicians-have-never-seen-this-level-of-angst-and-anxiety-in-their-careers-one-said-i-am-sort-of-a-pariah-in/

PART 15. March 22, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…Crimson Contagion” and imagining an influenza pandemic, was simulated by the Trump administration….in a series of exercises that ran from last January to August.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-15-coronavirus-march-22-2020-crimson-contagion-and-imagining-an-influenza-pandemic-was-simulated-by-the-trump-administration-in-a-series-of-exercises-that-2/

PART 16. March 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. I am not a clinician or a medical ethicist but articles on Coronavirus patient triage started me Googling………to learn about FUTILE TREATMENT

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-16-march-27-2020-coronavirus-i-am-not-a-clinician-or-a-medical-ethicist-but-articles-on-coronavirus-patient-triage-started-me-googlingto-learn-about-futile-treatme/

PART 17. April 2, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Florida allows churches to continue holding services. Gun stores deemed “essential.”  “New York’s private and public hospitals unite to manage patient load and share resources.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-17-april-2-2020-coronavirus-florida-allows-churches-to-continue-holding-services-gun-stores-deemed-essential-new-yorks-private-and-public-hospitals-unite-to-ma/

PART 18. April 9, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The federal government’s emergency stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) is depleted, and states will not be receiving any more shipments, administration staff told a House panel.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-18-april-9-2020-coronavirus-the-federal-governments-emergency-stockpile-of-personal-protective-equipment-ppe-is-depleted-and-states-will-not-be-receiving-any-more-shipments/

PART 19. April 13, 2020 CORONOAVIRUS. “…overlooked in the United States’ halting mobilization against the novel coronavirus: the personal aides, hospice attendants, nurses and occupational or physical therapists who deliver medical or support services to patients in their homes.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-19-april-14-2020-coronoavirus-overlooked-in-the-mobilization-against-coronavirus-the-personal-aides-hospice-attendants-nurses-and-occupational-or-physical-therapists-wh/

PART 20. April 20, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…nothing is mentioned in the “Opening Up America Again” plan about how states should handle a resurgence.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-20-april-20-2020-coronavirus-nothing-is-mentioned-in-the-opening-up-america-again-plan-about-how-states-should-handle-a-resurgence-2/

PART 21. April 23, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “We need to ask, are we using ventilators in a way that makes sense for other diseases but not this one?”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-21-april-23-2020-coronavirus-we-need-to-ask-are-we-using-ventilators-in-a-way-that-makes-sense-for-other-diseases-but-not-for-this-one-2/

POST 22. April 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. ..the “ACS released a list of 10 issues that should be addressed before a healthcare organization resumes elective surgeries[JM1] ….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/post-22-april-29-2020-coronavirus-the-acs-released-a-list-of-10-issues-that-should-be-addressed-before-a-healthcare-organization-resumes-elective-surgeries/

POST 23. May 3, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. … what Dr. Fauci really wants,…”is just to go to a baseball game. That will have to wait. The level of testing for the virus is not adequate enough to allow for such mass gatherings.’ (K)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-23-may-3-2020-coronavirus-what-dr-fauci-really-wantsis-just-to-go-to-a-baseball-game-that-will-have-to-wait-the-level-of-testing-for-the-virus-is-not-adequate/

POST 24. May 7, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie said: “there are going to be deaths no matter what”… but that people needed to get back to work.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-24-may-7-2020-coronavirus-former-new-jersey-governor-chris-christie-said-there-are-going-to-be-deaths-no-matter-what-but-that-people-needed-to-get-back-to-work/

POST 25. May 10, 2020, CORONAVIRUS. “It is scary to go to work,” said Kevin Hassett, a top economic adviser to the president. “I think that I’d be a lot safer if I was sitting at home than I would be going to the West Wing.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-25-may-10-2020-coronavirus-it-is-scary-to-go-to-work-said-kevin-hassett-a-top-economic-adviser-to-the-president-i-think-that-id-be-a-lot-safer-if-i-was/

POST 26. May 14, 2020. CORONAVIRUS, “Deep cleaning is not a scientific concept”….”there is no universal protocol for a “deep clean” to eradicate the coronavirus”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-26-may-14-2020-coronavirus-deep-cleaning-is-not-a-scientific-concept-there-is-no-universal-protocol-for-a-deep-clean-to-eradicate-the-cor-2/

POST 27. May 19, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Hospital…executives…are taking pay cuts…to help offset the financial fallout from COVID-19.” As “front line” layoffs and furloughs accelerate…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-27-may-19-2020-coronavirus-hospitalexecutivesare-taking-pay-cutsto-help-offset-the-financial-fallout-from-covid-19-as-front-line/

POST 28. May 23, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. ““You’ve got to be kidding me,”..”How could the CDC make that mistake? This is a mess.” CDC conflates viral and antibody tests numbers.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-28-may-23-2020-coronavirus-youve-got-to-be-kidding-me-how-could-the-cdc-make-that-mistake-this-is-a-mess-cdc-conflates-viral-and-anti/

PART 29. May 22, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The economy did not close down. It closed down for people who, frankly, had the luxury of staying home,” (Governor Cuomo). But not so for frontline workers!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/part-29-may-22-2020-coronavirus-the-economy-did-not-close-down-it-closed-down-for-people-who-frankly-had-the-luxury-of-staying-home-but-not-so-for-frontline-workers/

POST 30. June 3,202. CORONAVIRUS. “The wave of mass protests across the United States will almost certainly set off new chains of infection for the novel coronavirus, experts say….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-30-june-3202-coronavirus-the-wave-of-mass-protests-across-the-united-states-will-almost-certainly-set-off-new-chains-of-infection-for-the-novel-coronavirus-experts-say/

POST 31. June 9, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “I think we had an unintended consequence: I think we made people afraid to come back to the hospital,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-31-june-9-2020-coronavirus-i-think-we-had-an-unintended-consequence-i-think-we-made-people-afraid-to-come-back-to-the-hospital/

Post 32. June 16, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Could the Trump administration be pursuing herd immunity by “inaction”?  “ If Fauci didn’t exist, we’d have to invent him.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-32-june-16-2020-coronavirus-could-the-trump-administration-be-pursuing-herd-immunity-by-inaction-if-fauci-didnt-exist-wed-have-to-invent-him/

POST 33. June 21, 2002. CORONAVIRUS….. Smashing (lowering the daily number of cases) v. flattening the curve (maintaining a plateau)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-33-june-23-2002-coronavirus-smashing-lowering-the-daily-number-of-cases-v-flattening-the-curve-maintaining-a-plateau/

POST 34. June 26, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. CDC Director Redfield… “the number of coronavirus infections…could be 10 times higher than the confirmed case count — a total of more than 20 million.” As Florida, Texas and Arizona become eipicenters!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-34-june-26-2020-coronavirus-cdc-director-redfield-the-number-of-coronavirus-infectionscould-be-10-times-higher-than-the-confirmed-case-count-a-total-of-mo/

POST 35. June 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Pence: “We slowed the spread. We flattened the curve. We saved lives..”  While Dr. Fauci “warned that outbreaks in the South and West could engulf the country…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-35-june-29-2020-coronavirus-pence-we-slowed-the-spread-we-flattened-the-curve-we-saved-lives-while-dr-fauci-warned-that-outbreaks-in-the-south-and-west-could-engulf-the-co/

POST 36. July 2, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “There’s just a handful of interventions proven to curb the spread of the coronavirus. One of them is contact tracing, and “it’s not going well,” (Dr. Anthony Fauci)..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-36-july-2-2020-coronavirus-theres-just-a-handful-of-interventions-proven-to-curb-the-spread-of-the-coronavirus-one-of-them-is-contact-tracing-and-its-not/

POST 37. June 8, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. When “crews arrive at a hospital with a patient suspected of having COVID-19, the hospital may have a physical bed open for them, but not enough nurses or doctors to staff it.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-37-june-8-2020-coronavirus-when-crews-arrive-at-a-hospital-with-a-patient-suspected-of-having-covid-19-the-hospital-may-have-a-physical-bed-open-for-them-but-not-enough-nurses-or-d/

POST 38. July 15, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Some Lessons Learned, or not. AdventHealth CEO Terry Shaw: I wouldn’t hesitate to go to Disney as a healthcare CEO — based on the fact that they’re working extremely hard to keep people safe,” (M)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-38-july-15-2020-coronavirus-some-lessons-learned-or-not-adventhealth-ceo-terry-shaw-i-wouldnt-hesitate-to-go-to-disney-as-a-healthcare-ceo-based-on-the-fact-that-theyre-worki/

POST 39. July, 23,2020. CORONAVIRUS. A Tale of Two Cities. Seattle becomes New York (rolls back reopening) while New York becomes Seattle (moves to partial phase 4 reopening)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-39-july-232020-coronavirus-a-tale-of-two-cities-seattle-becomes-new-york-rolls-back-reopening-while-new-york-becomes-seattle-moves-to-partial-phase-4-reopening/

POST 40. July 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.” One canon of medical practice is that you order a test only if you can act on the result. And with a turnaround time of a week or two, you cannot. What we have now is often not testing — it’s testing theater.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-40-july-27-2020-coronavirus-one-canon-of-medical-practice-is-that-you-order-a-test-only-if-you-can-act-on-the-result-and-with-a-turnaround-time-of-a-week-or-two-you-cannot-what-we/

POST 41. August 2, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Whenever a vaccine for the coronavirus becomes available, one thing is virtually certain: There won’t be enough to go around. That means there will be rationing.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/08/post-41-august-2-2020-coronavirus-whenever-a-vaccine-for-the-coronavirus-becomes-available-one-thing-is-virtually-certain-there-wont-be-enough-to-go-around-that-means-there-wi-2/

POST 42. August 11, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “I think that if future historians look back on this period, what they will see is a tragedy of denial….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/08/post-42-coronavirus-august-11-2020-i-think-that-if-future-historians-look-back-on-this-period-what-they-will-see-is-a-tragedy-of-denial/

POST 43. August 22, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.”  “we’ve achieved something great as a nation. We’ve created an unyielding market for FAUCI BOBBLEHEADS”!! (W)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/08/post-43-august-22-2020-coronavirus-weve-achieved-something-great-as-a-nation-weve-created-an-unyielding-market-for-fauci-bobbleheads-w/

POST 44.  September 1, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The CDC…modified its coronavirus testing guidelines…to exclude people who do not have symptoms of Covid-19.” (While Dr. Fauci was undergoing surgery.) A White House official said: “Everybody is going to catch this thing eventually..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/08/post-44-september-1-2020-coronavirus-the-cdcmodified-its-coronavirus-testing-guidelinesto-exclude-people-who-do-not-have-symptoms-of-covid-19-while-dr-fauci-2/

POST 45. September 9, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.  Trump on Fauci. ‘You inherit a lot of people, and you have some you love, some you don’t. I like him. I don’t agree with him that often but I like him.’

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/09/post-45-september-9-2020-coronavirus-trump-on-fauci-you-inherit-a-lot-of-people-and-you-have-some-you-love-some-you-dont-i-like-him-i-dont-agree-with-him-that-often-but-i-like-him-2/

POST 46.  September 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Bill Gates used to think of the US Food and Drug Administration as the world’s premier public-health authority. Not anymore. And he doesn’t trust the Centers for Disease Control and Protection either….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/09/post-46-september-17-2020-coronavirus-bill-gates-used-to-think-of-the-us-food-and-drug-administration-as-the-worlds-premier-public-health-authority-not-anymore-and-he-doesn-2/

POST 47. September 24, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the School of Public Health at Rutgers University…called New York City’s 35 percent rate for eliciting contacts “very bad.” “For each person, you should be in touch with 75 percent of their contacts within a day,” he said”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/09/post-47-september-24-2020-coronavirus-perry-n-halkitis-dean-of-the-school-of-public-health-at-rutgers-universitycalled-new-york-citys-35-percent-rate-for-eliciting-con/

POST 48. October 1, 2020.   “…you can actually control the outbreak if you do the nonpharmaceutical interventions (social distancing and masks). In the United States we haven’t done them. We haven’t adhered to them; we’ve played with them.” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/09/post-48-october-1-2020-you-can-actually-control-the-outbreak-if-you-do-the-nonpharmaceutical-interventions-social-distancing-and-masks-in-the-united-states-we-havent-done-t-2/

POST 49. October 4, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. RAPID RESPONSE. “The possibility that the president and his White House entourage were traveling superspreaders is a nightmare scenario for officials in Minnesota, Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-49-october-4-2020-coronavirus-rapid-response-the-possibility-that-the-president-and-his-white-house-entourage-were-traveling-superspreaders-is-a-nightmare-scenario-for-officials-in/

POST 50. October 6, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Monday October 5th will go down as one of the most fraught chapters in the history of American public Health (and national security).

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-50-october-6-2020-coronavirus-monday-october-5th-will-go-down-as-one-of-the-most-fraught-chapters-in-the-history-of-american-public-health-and-national-security/

POST 51. October 12, 2020. Rather than a hodge-podge of Emergency Use Authorizations, off-label “experimentation”, right-to-try arguments, and “politicized” compassionate use approvals maybe we need to designate REGIONAL EMERGING VIRUSES REFERRAL CENTERS (REVRCs).

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-51-october-14-2020-rather-than-a-hodge-podge-of-emergency-use-authorizations-off-label-experimentation-right-to-try-arguments-and-politicized-compassiona/

POST 52. October 18, 2020.  ZIKA/ EBOLA/ CANDIDA AURIS/ SEVERE FLU/ Tracking. “… if there was a severe flu pandemic, more than 33 million people could be killed across the world in 250 days… Boy, do we not have our act together.” —”- Bill Gates. July 1, 2018

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-52-october-18-2020-zika-ebola-candida-auris-severe-flu-tracking-if-there-was-a-severe-flu-pandemic-more-than-33-million-people-could-be-killed-across-the-world-in-250/

POST 53. October 20, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “a…“herd-immunity strategy” is a contradiction in terms, in that herd immunity is the absence of a strategy.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-53-october-20-2020-coronavirus-aherd-immunity-strategy-is-a-contradiction-in-terms-in-that-herd-immunity-is-the-absence-of-a-strategy/

POST 54. October 22, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. POST 54A. New Jersey’s Coronavirus response, led by Governor Murphy and Commissioner of Health Persichilli started with accelerated A+ traditional, evidence-based Public Health practices, developed over years of experience with seasonal flu, swine flu, Zika, and Ebola.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-54a-october-23-2020-coronavirus-new-jerseys-coronavirus-response-led-by-governor-murphy-and-commissioner-of-health-persichilli-started-with-accelerated-a-traditional-evidence-base/

POST 55. October 26, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. The Testing Conundrum: “ It’s thus very possible to be antigen negative but P.C.R. positive, while still harboring the virus in the body..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-55-october-26-2020-coronavirus-the-testing-conundrum-its-thus-very-possible-to-be-antigen-negative-but-p-c-r-positive-while-still-harboring-the-virus-in-the-body/

Post 56. October 30, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Trump’s now back in charge. It’s not the doctors.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-56-october-30-2020-coronavirus-trumps-now-back-in-charge-its-not-the-doctors/

POST 57. November 3, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Deborah Birx: the US is entering its “most deadly phase” yet, one that requires “much more aggressive action,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-57-november-3-2020-coronavirus-dr-deborah-birx-the-us-is-entering-its-most-deadly-phase-yet-one-that-requires-much-more-aggressive-action/

POST 58. November 4, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…the president has largely shuttered the White House Coronavirus Task Force and doubled down on anti-science language…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-58-november-4-2020-coronavirus-the-president-has-largely-shuttered-the-white-house-coronavirus-task-force-and-doubled-down-on-anti-science-language/

POST 59. November 5, 2020. Coronavirus. “The United States on Wednesday recorded over 100,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time since the pandemic began..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-59-november-5-2020-coronavirus-the-united-states-on-wednesday-recorded-over-100000-new-coronavirus-cases-in-a-single-day-for-the-first-time-since-the-pandemic-began/

POST 60. November 7, 2020. “White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has tested positive for the coronavirus….” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-60-november-7-2020-white-house-chief-of-staff-mark-meadows-has-tested-positive-for-the-coronavirus-a/

POST 61. November 7, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Joe Biden’s top priority entering the White House is fighting both the immediate coronavirus crisis and its complex long-term aftermath…” “Here are the key ways he plans to get US coronavirus cases under control.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-61-november-7-2020-coronavirus-joe-bidens-top-priority-entering-the-white-house-is-fighting-both-the-immediate-coronavirus-crisis-and-its-complex-long-term-aftermath/

POST 62. November 8, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The United States reported its 10 millionth coronavirus case on Sunday, with the latest million added in just 10 days,…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-62-november-8-2020-coronavirus-the-united-states-reported-its-10-millionth-coronavirus-case-on-sunday-with-the-latest-million-added-in-just-10-days/

POST 63. November 9, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System has opened a center to help patients recovering from COVID-19 and to study the long-term impact of the disease….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-63-november-9-2020-coronavirus-new-york-city-based-mount-sinai-health-system-has-opened-a-center-to-help-patients-recovering-from-covid-19-and-to-study-the-long-term-impact-of-the-di/

POST 64. November 10, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “It works! Scientists have greeted with cautious optimism a press release declaring positive interim results from a coronavirus vaccine phase III trial — the first to report on the final round of human testing.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-64-november-10-2020-coronavirus-it-works-scientists-have-greeted-with-cautious-optimism-a-press-release-declaring-positive-interim-results-from-a-coronavirus-vaccine-phase-iii-trial/

POST 65. November 11, 2020. CORONAVIRUS, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took a stronger stance in favor of masks on Tuesday, emphasizing that they protect the people wearing them, rather than just those around them…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-65-november-11-2020-coronavirus-the-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-took-a-stronger-stance-in-favor-of-masks-on-tuesday-emphasizing-that-they-protect-the-people-wearing-t/

POST 66. November.12, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.”… as the country enters what may be the most intense stage of the pandemic yet, the Trump administration remains largely disengaged.”… “President-elect Biden has formed a special transition team dedicated to coordinating the coronavirus response across the government…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-66-novembetr12-2020-coronavirus-as-the-country-enters-what-may-be-the-most-intense-stage-of-the-pandemic-yet-the-trump-administration-remains-largely-disengaged/

POST 67. November 13, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “When all other options are exhausted, the CDC website says, workers who are suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 (and “who are well enough to work”) can care for patients who are not severely immunocompromised — first for those who are also confirmed to have COVID-19, then those with suspected cases.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-67-november-13-2020-coronavirus-when-all-other-options-are-exhausted-the-cdc-website-says-workers-who-are-suspected-or-confirmed-to-have-covid-19-and-who-are-well-enough/

POST 68. November 14, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. The CDC “now is hewing more closely to scientific evidence, often contradicting the positions of the Trump administration.”..” “A passenger aboard the first cruise ship to set sail in the Caribbean since the start of the pandemic has tested positive for coronavirus..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-68-november-14-2020-coronavirus-the-cdc-now-is-hewing-more-closely-to-scientific-evidence-often-contradicting-the-positions-of-the-trump-administration/

POST 69. November 15, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Colorado Gov. Jared Polis will issue a new executive order outlining steps hospitals will need to take to ready themselves for a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations and directing the hospitals to finalize plans for converting beds into ICU beds, adding staffing and scaling back on or eliminating elective procedures….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-69-november-15-2020-coronavirus-colorado-gov-jared-polis-will-issue-a-new-executive-order-outlining-steps-hospitals-will-need-to-take-to-ready-themselves-for-a-surge-in-covid-19-hos/

POST 70. November 16, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “White House coronavirus task force member Dr. Atlas criticized Michigan’s new Covid-19 restrictions..urging people to “rise up” against the new public health measures.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-70-november-16-2020-coronavirus-white-house-coronavirus-task-force-member-dr-atlas-criticized-michigans-new-covid-19-restrictions-urging-people-to-rise-up-against-the-new-pub/

POST 71. November 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. ”Hospitals overrun as U.S. reports 1 million new coronavirus cases in a week.” “But in Florida, where the number of coronavirus infections remains the third-highest in the nation, bars and schools remain open and restaurants continue to operate at full capacity.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-71-november-17-2020-coronavirus-hospitals-overrun-as-u-s-reports-1-million-new-coronavirus-cases-in-a-week-but-in-florida-where-the-number-of-coronavirus-infecti/

POST 72. November 18, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The Health and Human Services Department will not work with President-elect Joe Biden’s (PANDEMIC) team until the General Services Administration makes a determination that he won the election,….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-72-november-18-2020-coronavirus-the-health-and-human-services-department-will-not-work-with-president-elect-joe-bidens-pandemic-team-until-the-general-services-administration-mak/

POST 73. November 19, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…officials at the CDC…urged Americans to avoid travel for Thanksgiving and to celebrate only with members of their immediate households…” When will I trust a vaccine? to the last question I always answer: When I see Tony Fauci take one….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-73-november-19-2020-coronavirus-officials-at-the-cdcurged-americans-to-avoid-travel-for-thanksgiving-and-to-celebrate-only-with-members-of-their-immediate-household-2/

POST 74. November 20, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Pfizer…submitted to the FDA for emergency use authorization for their coronavirus vaccine candidate. —FDA issued an EUA for the drug baricitinib, in combination with remdesivir, as WHO says remdesivir doesn’t do much of anything.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-74-november-20-2020-coronavirus-pfizersubmitted-to-the-fda-for-emergency-use-authorization-for-their-coronavirus-vaccine-candidate-fda-issued-an-eua-for-the-drug-baricitinib-in/

POST 75. November 21, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The president and CEO of one of the nation’s largest non-profit health systems says he won’t be wearing a mask at work because he’s recovered from COVID-19, and doing so would only be a “symbolic gesture” because he considers himself immune from the virus….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-75-november-21-2020-coronavirus-the-president-and-ceo-of-one-of-the-nations-largest-non-profit-health-systems-says-he-wont-be-wearing-a-mask-at-work-because-hes-recovered-from-2/

POST 76. November 23, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.” Ventilators..”just keep people alive while the people caring for them can figure out what’s wrong and fix the problem. And at the moment, we just don’t have enough of those people.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-76-november-23-2020-coronavirus-no-battle-plan-survives-contact-with-the-enemy-ventilators-just-keep-people-alive-while-the-people-caring-for-them-can-figure-out/

POST 77. November 26, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Pope Francis: “When I got really sick at the age of 21, I had my first experience of limit, of pain and loneliness.”.. “….Aug. 13, 1957. I got taken to a hospital…”….” I remember especially two nurses from this time.”…” They fought for me to the end, until my eventual recovery.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-77-november-26-2020-coronavirus-pope-francis-when-i-got-really-sick-at-the-age-of-21-i-had-my-first-experience-of-limit-of-pain-and-loneliness-aug/

POST 78. November 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Kelby Krabbenhoft is no longer president and CEO of Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health.” “…for not wearing a face covering… “ because “He considered himself immune from the virus.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-78-november-27-2020-coronavirus-kelby-krabbenhoft-is-no-longer-president-and-ceo-of-sioux-falls-s-d-based-sanford-health-for-not-wearing-a-face-covering/

POST 79. November 28, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Mayo Clinic. “”Our surge plan expands into the garage…”..””Not where I’d want to put my grandfather or my grandmother,” … though it “may have to happen.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-79-november-28-2020-coronavirus-mayo-clinic-our-surge-plan-expands-into-the-garage-not-where-id-want-to-put-my-grandfather-or-my-grandmother/

POST 80. November 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Op-Ed in the Jersey Journal. Do you know which hospital is right for you if you have coronavirus? | Opinion

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-80-november-29-2020-coronavirus-oped-in-the-jersey-journal-do-you-know-which-hospital-is-right-for-you-if-you-have-coronavirus-opinion/

POST 81. December 1, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Dr. Atlas, … who espoused controversial theories and rankled government scientists while advising President Trump on the coronavirus pandemic, resigned…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-81-december-1-2020-coronavirus-dr-atllas-who-espoused-controversial-theories-and-rankled-government-scientists-while-advising-president-trump-on-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

POST 82. December 3, 2020. CORONAVIRIUS. The NBA jumped to the front of the line for Coronavirus testing….while front line nurses often are still waiting. Who will similarly “hijack” the vaccine?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-82-december-3-2020-coronavirius-the-nba-jumped-to-the-front-of-the-line-for-coronavirus-testing-while-front-line-nurses-often-are-still-waiting-who-will-similarly-hijack-2/

POST 83. December 4, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he will impose a new, regional stay-at-home order for areas where capacity at intensive care units falls below 15%.”… East Tennessee –“This is the first time the health care capability benchmark has been in the red..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-83-december-4-2020-coronavirus-california-gov-gavin-newsom-says-he-will-impose-a-new-regional-stay-at-home-order-for-areas-where-capacity-at-intensive-care-units-falls-below-15/

POST 84. December 6, 2020. CPRONAVIRUS. “ More than 100,000 Americans are in the hospital with COVID-19…” “We’re seeing C.D.C. …awaken from (its) politics-induced coma…”…Dr. Fauci “to be a chief medical adviser in Biden’s incoming administration..”.. “Trump administration leaves states to grapple with how to distribute scarce vaccines..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-84-december-6-2020-cpronavirus-more-than-100000-americans-are-in-the-hospital-with-covid-19-were-seeing-c-d-c-awaken-from-its-politi/

POST 85. December 7, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…Florida, Gov. DeSantis’ administration engaged in a pattern of spin and concealment that misled the public on the gravest health threat the state has ever faced..”.. “NY Gov. Cuomo said…the state will implement a barrage of new emergency actions..”… Rhode Island and Massachusetts open field hospitals… “Biden Names Health Team to Fight Pandemic”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-85-december-7-2020-coronavirus-florida-gov-desantis-administration-engaged-in-a-pattern-of-spin-and-concealment-that-misled-the-public-on-the-gravest-health-threat-the-s/

POST 86. December 9, 2020. If this analysis seems a bit incomprehensible it is because “free Coronavirus test” is often an oxymoron! with charges ranging from as little as $23 to as much as $2,315… Laws (like for free Coronavirus tests) are Like Sausages. Better Not to See Them Being Made. (Please allow about 20 seconds for the text to download. Thanx!)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-86-december-9-2020-if-this-analysis-seems-a-bit-incomprehensible-it-is-because-free-coronavirus-test-is-often-an-oxymoron-with-charges-ranging-from-as-little-as-23-to-as-mu/

POST 87. December 10, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…Rudolph W. Giuliani, the latest member of President Trump’s inner circle to contract Covid-19, has acknowledged that he received at least two of the same drugs the president received. He even conceded that his “celebrity” status had given him access to care that others did not have.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-87-december-12-2020-coronavirus-rudolph-w-giuliani-the-latest-member-of-president-trumps-inner-circle-to-contract-covid-19-has-acknowledged-that-he-received-at-l/

POST 88. December 11, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “As COVID-19 cases surge, the federal government is releasing data about hospital capacity at facilities around the country….”The new data paints the picture of how a specific hospital is experiencing the pandemic,”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-88-december-11-2020-coronavirus-as-covid-19-cases-surge-the-federal-government-is-releasing-data-about-hospital-capacity-at-facilities-around-the-country-the-new-data-pai/

PART 89. December 12, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. THE VACCINE!!! “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” Winston Churchill

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/part-89-december-12-2020-coronavirus-the-vaccine-now-this-is-not-the-end-it-is-not-even-the-beginning-of-the-end-but-it-is-perhaps-the-end-of-the-beginning-winston-church/

POST 90. December 14, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…the first doses of a Covid-19 vaccine have been given to the American public..”…” Each person who receives a vaccine needs two doses, and it’s up to states to allocate their share of vaccines.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-90-december-14-2020-coronavirus-the-first-doses-of-a-covid-19-vaccine-have-been-given-to-the-american-public-each-person-who-receives-a-vaccine/

POST 91. December 15, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “UPMC will first give (vaccination) priority to those in critical jobs. That includes a range of people working in critical units, from workers cleaning the emergency room and registering patients to doctors and nurses.. “Finally, if needed, UPMC will use a lottery to select who will be scheduled first.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-91-december-15-2020-coronavirus-upmc-will-first-give-vaccination-priority-to-those-in-critical-jobs-that-includes-a-range-of-people-working-in-critical-units-from-workers-cleanin/

POST 92. December 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “..each state — and each hospital system — has come up with its own (vaccination) plan and priorities. The result has been a sometimes confusing constellation of rules and groupings that has left health care workers wondering where they stand.” (Trump appointee July 4th email “…we need to establish herd, and it only comes about allowing the non-high risk groups expose themselves to the virus. PERIOD,”)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-92-december-17-2020-coronavirus-each-state-and-each-hospital-system-has-come-up-with-its-own-vaccination-plan-and-priorities-the-result-has-been-a-sometimes/

POST 93. December 19, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.  On NPR Congresswoman Shalala (D-Florida) said she wouldn’t jump the vaccination line in Miami; then added she would get vaccinated in Washington this week. This, even though Congress has failed to pass “essential” Coronavirus legislation. So who are our “essential” workers?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-93-december-19-2020-coronavirus-on-npr-congresswoman-shalala-d-florida-said-she-wouldnt-jump-the-vaccination-line-in-miami-then-added-she-would-get-vaccinated-in-washington-this/

POST 94. December 21, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “A doctor at an L.A. County public hospital said the number of COVID-19 patients is “increasing exponentially, without an end in sight.”.. “I haven’t done ICU medicine since I was a resident — you don’t want me adjusting your ventilator,” he said. “That’s the challenge, actually — it isn’t so much space, it’s staff…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-94-december-21-2020-coronavirus-a-doctor-at-an-l-a-county-public-hospital-said-the-number-of-covid-19-patients-is-increasing-exponentially-without-an-end-in-sight/

POST 95. December 23, 2020. “The Murphy administration may step in to force (New Jersey) hospitals to report COVID-19 outbreaks among staff.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-95-december-23-2020-the-murphy-administration-may-step-in-to-force-new-jersey-hospitals-to-report-covid-19-outbreaks-among-staff/

POST 96. December 26, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Achieving herd immunity against the coronavirus could require as much as 90 percent of the population to be vaccinated, Anthony Fauci…”…”..he hesitated to state a number as high as 90% weeks ago because many Americans still seemed skeptical about vaccine….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-96-december-26-2020-coronavirus-achieving-herd-immunity-against-the-coronavirus-could-require-as-much-as-90-percent-of-the-population-to-be-vaccinated-anthony-fauci/

POST 97. December 27, 2020. “A new variant of the coronavirus that has been spreading through the UK and other countries has not yet been detected in the United States..”.. . But if new-wave medicines like antivirals and antibody therapy contributed to the development of viral variants, it will be “a reminder for all the medical community that we need to use these treatment options carefully.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-97-december-27-2020-a-new-variant-of-the-coronavirus-that-has-been-spreading-through-the-uk-and-other-countries-has-not-yet-been-detected-in-the-united-states-but-if-ne/

POST 98. December 28, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Governor Andrew Cuomo announced new penalties in order to rein in possible vaccination fraud…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-98-december-28-2020-coronavirus-governor-andrew-cuomo-announced-new-penalties-in-order-to-rein-in-possible-vaccination-fraud/

POST 99. December 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “ICUs are being overwhelmed across many parts of California. Statewide aggregate ICU availability has been at 0% since Christmas Eve…. a surge on top of a surge on top of a surge.”… “hospitals are getting close to the point where they would begin putting COVID-positive patients under the care of COVID-positive staff who are asymptomatic.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-99-december-29-2020-coronavirus-icus-are-being-overwhelmed-across-many-parts-of-california-statewide-aggregate-icu-availability-has-been-at-0-since-christmas-eve-a-surge-o/

POST 100. December 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Front line hospital workers – in the ER, ICUs, EMS, acute medical care, behavioral health – are amongst the most courageous, heroic and dedicated colleagues you will ever meet.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-100-december-29-2020-coronavirus-front-line-hospital-workers-in-the-er-icus-ems-acute-medical-care-behavioral-health-are-amongst-the-most-courageous-heroic-and-dedica/

POST 101. December 30, 2020.CORONAVIRUS. Is there a point where the increasing Coronavirus trajectory so far exceeds the slow growth of the vaccination rate that reaching herd immunity through vaccinations becomes less likely?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-101-december-30-2020-coronavirus-is-there-a-point-where-the-increasing-coronavirus-trajectory-so-far-exceeds-the-slow-growth-of-the-vaccination-rate-that-reaching-herd-immunity-through-vaccin/

POST 102. January 2, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “We’ve taken the people with the least amount of resources and capacity and asked them to do the hardest part of the vaccination — which is actually getting the vaccines administered into people’s arms,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health. “Ultimately, the buck seems to stop with no one,”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-102-january-2-2020-coronavirus-weve-taken-the-people-with-the-least-amount-of-resources-and-capacity-and-asked-them-to-do-the-hardest-part-of-the-vaccination-which/

POST 103. January 4, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Fauci said “that the United States would not follow Britain’s lead in front-loading first vaccine injections, potentially delaying the administration of second doses…Dr. Moore – ”British officials “seem to have abandoned science completely now and are just trying to guess their way out of a mess.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-103-january-4-2021-coronavirus-dr-fauci-said-that-the-united-states-would-not-follow-britains-lead-in-front-loading-first-vaccine-injections-potentially-delaying-the-admin/

POST 104. January 6, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Paramedics in Southern California are being told to conserve oxygen and not to bring patients to the hospital who have little chance of survival…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-104-january-6-2021-coronavirus-paramedics-in-southern-california-are-being-told-to-conserve-oxygen-and-not-to-bring-patients-to-the-hospital-who-have-little-chance-of-survival/

POST 105. January 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. POST 105. January 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Facing a shortage of vaccinators, the Association of Immunization Managers… recommends relaxing regulation or adjusting licensing requirements. At least two states, Massachusetts and New York, have changed their laws in recent weeks to expand those who are eligible to give shots.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-105-january-8-2021-coronavirus-being-able-to-staff-vaccination-clinics-with-volunteers-from-our-reserve-workforce-means-that-staff-at-the-vaccination-sites-can-continue-to-perform-th/

POST 106. January 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. The riots at the Capitol could have been a superspreader event. “From what I saw… you had a large congregation of individuals who were in close contact for an extended period of time and almost universally unmasked…. many coming and going on buses as well, also unmasked, and hanging out in hotel lobbies.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-106-january-9-2021-coronavirus-the-riots-at-the-capitol-could-have-been-a-superspreader-event-from-what-i-saw-you-had-a-large-congregation-of-individuals-who-were-in-close/

POST 107. January 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Our job is to make sure the vaccine isn’t politicized the way masks were politicized,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said after getting her vaccine.   South Carolina Rep.-elect Nancy Mace, a Republican, wrote that “Congress shouldn’t be putting themselves first in line for the COVID-19 vaccination when the average American can’t get it.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-107-january-8-2021-coronavirus-our-job-is-to-make-sure-the-vaccine-isnt-politicized-the-way-masks-were-politicized-rep-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-d-n-y-said-after-getting-her-vaccine/

POST 108. January 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. (vaccination)”Line-cutters will be named and shamed. It’s inevitable, as will be the congressional hearings and front-page investigative stories ferreting out who saved their own skin at the expense of others.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-108-january-9-2021-coronavirus-vaccinationline-cutters-will-be-named-and-shamed-its-inevitable-as-will-be-the-congressional-hearings-and-front-page-investigative-stories/

POST 109.January 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “President-elect Joe Biden will aim to release nearly every available dose of the coronavirus vaccine when he takes office, a break with the Trump administration’s strategy of holding back half of US vaccine production to ensure second doses are available.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-109-january-9-2021-coronavirus-president-elect-joe-biden-will-aim-to-release-nearly-every-available-dose-of-the-coronavirus-vaccine-when-he-takes-office-a-break-with-the-trump-admini/

POST 110. January 13, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. ““The (federal) government is changing the way it allocates Covid vaccine doses, now basing it on how quickly states can administer shots and the size of their elderly population.”… “New York State sent a letter to hospitals saying if they don’t use their vaccine allocations by the end of this week, they won’t receive any further allocations.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-110-january-13-2021-coronavirus-the-federal-government-is-changing-the-way-it-allocates-covid-vaccine-doses-now-basing-it-on-how-quickly-states-can-administer-shots-and-t/

POST 111. January 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Visitors from Toronto to New York to Buenos Aires have long flocked to Florida for sun, surf and shopping. Now they are coming for the Covid-19 vaccine….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-111-january-14-2021-coronavirus-visitors-from-toronto-to-new-york-to-buenos-aires-have-long-flocked-to-florida-for-sun-surf-and-shopping-now-they-are-coming-for-the-covid-19-vaccin/

POST 112. January 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. CHINA – “Eleven million people are under lockdown in Hebei province after a new cluster of coronavirus infections.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-112-january-14-2021-coronavirus-china-eleven-million-people-are-under-lockdown-in-hebei-province-after-a-new-cluster-of-coronavirus-infections/

PART 113. January 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. The Next President Actually Has a Covid Plan… New York City and other places in the state expect to exhaust their supply of doses as early as next week… Charles Barkley said during the “NBA on TNT” broadcast that pro athletes should get the first round of the vaccine…..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/part-113-january-17-2021-coronavirus-the-next-president-actually-has-a-covid-plan-new-york-city-and-other-places-in-the-state-expect-to-exhaust-their-supply-of-doses-as-early-as-next-week/

POST 114. January 18, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “When government programs that have been unattended, underfunded and bogged down by red tape suddenly have to meet a huge demand in a crisis, they can’t cope and people suffer….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-114-january-18-2021-coronavirus-when-government-programs-that-have-been-unattended-underfunded-and-bogged-down-by-red-tape-suddenly-have-to-meet-a-huge-demand-in-a-crisis-they-can/

POST 115. January 21, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. A year ago today an unnumbered POST was headlined “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed the first U.S. case of a deadly new coronavirus that has killed six people in China.” The CORONAVIRUS CONTENT TRACKING PROJECT started with HISTORIOGRAPHY and over time moved to LESSONS LEARNED, RAPID RESPONSE, and THE VACCINATION PROGRAM. Now 115 POSTS later – the BIDEN CORONAVIRUS PLAN.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-115-january-21-2020-coronavirus-a-year-ago-today-an-unnumbered-post-was-headlined-the-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-on-tuesday-confirmed-the-first-u-s-case-of-a-deadly/

POST 116. January 22, 2021. President Biden – “We’re entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus. We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-116-january-22-2021-president-biden-were-entering-what-may-be-the-toughest-and-deadliest-period-of-the-virus-we-must-set-aside-politics-and-finally-face-this-pandemic-as-one-nation/

POST 117. January 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. 1.Dr. Fauci:“The idea that you can get up here….”and.. let the science speak”… “It is somewhat of a liberating feeling.” 2.updated CDC guidance:”.. providers could give the second dose up to six weeks after the first dose..” 3.Dr. Fauci: people would be “taking a chance” if they follow the CDC’s updated guidance.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-117-january-23-2021-coronavirus-1-dr-faucithe-idea-that-you-can-get-up-here-and-let-the-science-speak-it-is-somewhat-of-a-liberating/

POST 118. January 24, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Unfortunately, we’ve let this virus spread extensively and are launching the vaccination campaign at the height of the threat,” Dr. Meyers said. “The more the virus spreads before the vaccine reaches people, the fewer deaths we can prevent with the vaccine.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-118-january-24-2021-coronavirus-unfortunately-weve-let-this-virus-spread-extensively-and-are-launching-the-vaccination-campaign-at-the-height-of-the-threat-dr-meyers-sa/

POST 119. January 27, 2010. CORONAVIRUS. Amazon is offering its help to President Joe Biden with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. Washington’s governor, Jay Inslee, included the help of companies like Starbucks, Costco and Microsoft in a plan to vaccinate 45,000 residents a day.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/to-get-each-new-post-free-and-automatically-by-email-please-use-the-subscription-portal-in-the-right-column-of-the-home-page-at-http-doctordidyouwashyourhands-com-then-you-will-get-an-email/

POST 120. January 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The fact that four vaccines backed by the federal government seem to be less effective against the (South African) B.1.351 variant has unsettled federal officials and vaccine experts alike. Facing this uncertainty, many researchers said it was imperative to get as many people vaccinated as possible — quickly. Lowering the rate of infection could thwart the contagious variants while they are still rare, and prevent other viruses from gaining new mutations that could cause more trouble.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-120-january-28-2021-coronavirus-the-fact-that-four-vaccines-backed-by-the-federal-government-seem-to-be-less-effective-against-the-south-african-b-1-351-variant-has-unsettled-feder/

POST 121. January 30, 2021. CORONVIRUS. Will our communities become stratified by which vaccine is distributed? 95%ters v. 72%ters? Will the easier distribution of the J&J vaccine drive its inequitable distribution to” hard-hit, marginalized, and medically underserved communities.” (thanx! to XJ/LA)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-121-january-30-2021-coronvirus-will-our-communities-become-stratified-by-which-vaccine-is-distributed-95ters-v-72ters-will-the-easier-distribution-of-the-jj-vaccine-drive-its-inequitable/

POST 122. February 1, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr.Fauci endorses double-masking. Dr.Osterholm disagrees!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-122-february-1-2021-coronavirus-dr-fauci-endorses-double-masking-dr-osterholm-disagrees/

POST 123. February 4, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Nursing homes across the country are facing the same struggle, as workers have been more reluctant than residents to be vaccinated…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-123-february-4-2021-coronavirus-nursing-homes-across-the-country-are-facing-the-same-struggle-as-workers-have-been-more-reluctant-than-residents-to-be-vaccinated/

POST 124. February 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Osterholm ” …it may be time to..go with a ‘first-dose only’ approach, so more people over the age of 65 can have at least some protection right away. He said that would require delaying second doses until this summer.” Dr.Fauci “warned against this practice, and cautioned people about “the danger” that could come with focusing only on the first dose.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-124-february-5-2021-coronavirus-dr-osterholm-it-may-be-time-to-go-with-a-first-dose-only-approach-so-more-people-over-the-age-of-65-can-have-at-least-some-protection/

POST 125. June 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “States are rolling back Covid-19 restrictions as new cases trend down from record highs across the country. But experts warn it might be too much too soon as variants pose an increased risk and the pandemic… is far from over.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-125-june-9-2021-coronavirus-states-are-rolling-back-covid-19-restrictions-as-new-cases-trend-down-from-record-highs-across-the-country-but-experts-warn-it-might-be-too-much-too-soon/

POST 126. February 11, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “There will be more coronavirus outbreaks in the future. Bats and other mammals are rife with strains and species of this abundant family of viruses. Some of these pathogens will inevitably spill over the species barrier and cause new pandemics. It’s only a matter of time.” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-126-february-11-2021-coronavirus-there-will-be-more-coronavirus-outbreaks-in-the-future-bats-and-other-mammals-are-rife-with-strains-and-species-of-this-abundant-family-of-viruses-2/

POST 127. February 12, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “… Trump only agreed to be hospitalized when aides told him that he could walk to Marine One or he could wait until his case progressed and he would be carried out.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-127-february-12-2021-coronavirus-trump-only-agreed-to-be-hospitalized-when-aides-told-him-that-he-could-walk-to-marine-one-or-he-could-wait-until-his-case-progressed-and-he/

POST 128. February 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new research on Wednesday that found wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask offers more protection against the coronavirus, as does tying knots on the ear loops of surgical masks…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-127-february-13-2021-coronavirus-the-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-released-new-research-on-wednesday-that-found-wearing-a-cloth-mask-over-a-surgical-mask-offers-more-pr/

POST 129. February 15, 2021, CORONAVIRUS. “ “The CDC released its much-anticipated, updated guidance to help school leaders decide how to safely bring students back into classrooms, or keep them there.”…” For politicians, parents and school leaders looking for a clear green light to reopen schools, this is not it.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-129-february-15-2021-coronavirus-the-cdc-released-its-much-anticipated-updated-guidance-to-help-school-leaders-decide-how-to-safely-bring-students-back-into-classrooms-or/

POST 130. February 16, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “A second person who had contracted the Ebola virus died this week in the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking another outbreak just three months after the nation outlasted the virus’s second-worst outbreak in history…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-130-february-16-2021-coronavirus-a-second-person-who-had-contracted-the-ebola-virus-died-this-week-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-marking-another-outbreak-just-three-months-aft/

POST 131. February 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “It really is right now – a race between how quickly new variants, particularly the U.K. variant, can spread in the United States and how quickly we can get people vaccinated”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-131-february-17-2021-coronavirus-it-really-is-right-now-a-race-between-how-quickly-new-variants-particularly-the-u-k-variant-can-spread-in-the-united-states-and-how-quickly-we/

POST 132. February 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “In Texas, where over 2.5 million people are still without power, the state health department said this week’s vaccine shipments wouldn’t arrive until Wednesday at the earliest.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-132-february-20-2021-coronavirus-in-texas-where-over-2-5-million-people-are-still-without-power-the-state-health-department-said-this-weeks-vaccine-shipments-wouldnt-arrive-unt/

POST 133. February 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Going off your meds is a surefire way to aggravate your doctor. What if a whole country did it?” The United Kingdom has veered into uncharted territory by changing tack and introducing a revised COVID-19 vaccination protocol, one that involves distributing the second dose at 12 weeks, rather than the prescribed 21 days.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-133-february-23-2021-coronavirus-going-off-your-meds-is-a-surefire-way-to-aggravate-your-doctor-what-if-a-whole-country-did-it-the-united-kingdom-has-veered-into-uncharted/

POST 134. February 24, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. The first tranche of the J&J (single dose) vaccine must go to K-12 teachers, so schools can open safely in the first 100 days of the Biden Administration. The federal government…”can set up its own vaccination centers in regions with eligible populations it’s trying to target.” We owe our front-line teachers nothing less!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-134-february-24-2021-coronavirus-the-first-tranche-of-the-jj-vaccine-must-go-to-k-12-teachers-the-federal-governmentcan-set-up-its-own-vaccination-centers-in-regions-with/

POST 135. February 27, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “As Chief Executive Officers of New York’s major health care systems, we would like to provide facts to clear up confusion in the public and the media regarding decisions to discharge patients to nursing homes during New York’s spring coronavirus surge.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-135-february-27-2021-coronavirus-as-chief-executive-officers-of-new-yorks-major-health-care-systems-we-would-like-to-provide-facts-to-clear-up-confusion-in-the-public-and-the-medi/

POST 136. March 2, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. ““The governors of Texas and Mississippi both announced on Tuesday they would be lifting their states’ mask mandates and rolling back many of their Covid-19 health mandates..”…while “The US could experience a “fourth surge” of coronavirus before the majority of the country is vaccinated.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-136-march-2-2021-coronavirus-the-governors-of-texas-and-mississippi-both-announced-on-tuesday-they-would-be-lifting-their-states-mask-mandates-and-rolling-back-many-of-the/

POST 137. March 4, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The clamor for hard-to-get Covid-19 vaccines has created armies of anxious Americans who have resorted to hunting for leftovers on the fringes of the country’s patchwork vaccination system. They haunt pharmacies at the end of the day in search of an extra, expiring dose. They drive from clinic to clinic hoping that someone was a no-show to their appointment. They cold-call pharmacies like eager telemarketers: Any extras today? Maybe tomorrow? Some pharmacists have even given them a nickname: vaccine lurkers.” (H)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-137-march-4-2021-coronavirus-the-clamor-for-hard-to-get-covid-19-vaccines-has-created-armies-of-anxious-americans-who-have-resorted-to-hunting-for-leftovers-on-the-fringes-of-the-cou/

POST 138. March 6, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “New cases are decreasing in the third wave because we are past the holidays, not because of vaccinations. It is a common misconception that the decrease we are seeing in new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the U.S. is due to vaccinations. The two aren’t related; at least yet.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-138-march-6-2021-coronavirus-new-cases-are-decreasing-in-the-third-wave-because-we-are-past-the-holidays-not-because-of-vaccinations-it-is-a-common-misconception-that-the-decrease/

POST 139. March 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. CDC Issues First Set of Guidelines on How Fully Vaccinated People Can Visit Safely with Others…” In practice, that means fully vaccinated grandparents may visit unvaccinated healthy adult children and healthy grandchildren of the same household without masks or physical distancing.” (C)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-139-march-8-2021-coronavirus-cdc-issues-first-set-of-guidelines-on-how-fully-vaccinated-people-can-visit-safely-with-others-in-practice-that-means-fully-vaccinated-grandpar/

POST 140. March 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “In West Virginia, they are bracing for the second wave….. Not coronavirus but opioid overdoses, with one scourge driving a resurgence of the other.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-140-march-9-2021-coronavirus-in-west-virginia-they-are-bracing-for-the-second-wave-not-coronavirus-but-opioid-overdoses-with-one-scourge-driving-a-resurgence-of-the-othe/

POST 141. March 11, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Today is the first anniversary of the WHO declaration that the novel coronavirus was a Public Health Emergency of International Concern… “To truly prepare itself against the next pandemic, the U.S. has to reimagine what preparedness looks like.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-141-march-11-2021-coronavirus-today-is-the-first-anniversary-of-the-who-declaration-that-the-novel-coronavirus-was-a-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern-to-trul/

POST 142. March 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Candida auris is a superbug, a pathogen that can evade drugs made to kill it—and early signs suggest the COVID-19 pandemic may be propelling infections of the highly dangerous yeast. That’s because C. auris is particularly prominent in hospital settings, which have been flooded with people this year due to the coronavirus.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-142-march-15-2021-coronavirus-candida-auris-is-a-superbug-a-pathogen-that-can-evade-drugs-made-to-kill-it-and-early-signs-suggest-the-covid-19-pandemic-may-be-propelling-inf-2/

POST 143. March 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The Trump administration sought to suppress Covid-19 testing in the United States last year by softening guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on who needed to be tested, a House panel said Monday.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-143-march-17-2021-coronavirus-the-trump-administration-sought-to-suppress-covid-19-testing-in-the-united-states-last-year-by-softening-guidance-from-the-centers-for-disease-control-a/

POST 144. March 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. ““The vaccine hesitancy we are seeing isn’t just about Covid vaccines,”… “It is a general reflection of Americans’ lack of trust in science, the pharmaceutical industry, and large health care institutions. We need a full court press on science and vaccine education right now to prevent more aggressive Covid-19 variants from developing and taking hold.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-144-march-20-2021-coronavirus-the-vaccine-hesitancy-we-are-seeing-isnt-just-about-covid-vaccines-it-is-a-general-reflection-of-americans/

POST 145. March 25, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Efforts to disseminate Covid-19 vaccines as widely as possible are hitting an unexpected obstacle: health-care workers who decline the shots.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-145-march-25-2021-coronavirus-efforts-to-disseminate-covid-19-vaccines-as-widely-as-possible-are-hitting-an-unexpected-obstacle-health-care-workers-who-decline-the-shots/

POST 146. March 30, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Osterholm told Becker’s: “This is the perfect storm,”…”Here is Europe locking down and having problems containing B.1.1.7, even with vaccinations and previous infection histories. Here we are opening up as wide as we can. We are literally just walking into the mouth of the virus saying, ‘Don’t worry.’” (M)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-146-march-30-2021-coronavirus-dr-osterholm-told-beckers-this-is-the-perfect-stormhere-is-europe-locking-down-and-having-problems-containing-b-1-1-7-even-with-vaccinations/

POST 147. April 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The pandemic helped cement the shift to “a philosophy of really focusing on the role of the physician in reasoning through ambiguous and unknown problems as the focus of education, rather than teaching students that the role of physician was to memorize a body of knowledge that was already in existence and good enough for what usually happens.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-147-april-5-2021-coronavirus-the-pandemic-helped-cement-the-shift-to-a-philosophy-of-really-focusing-on-the-role-of-the-physician-in-reasoning-through-ambiguous-and-unknown/

POST 148. April 7, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. While the Biden administration accelerates vaccinations to ward off numerous variants and as more young people are being hospitalized, states, even with increasing case rates are on paths to fully reopen. Politics v. public health!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-148-april-7-2021-coronavirus-while-the-biden-administration-accelerates-vaccinations-to-ward-off-numerous-variants-and-as-more-young-people-are-being-hospitalized-states-even-with-increasin/

POST 149. April 10, 2021. CORONAVIRIUS. “From Michigan to Massachusetts, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise again. Deaths will soon follow. “ ”.. the Biden administration is facing renewed calls to delay second vaccine doses and blanket more of the U.S. population with an initial shot.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-149-april-10-2021-coronavirius-from-michigan-to-massachusetts-covid-19-cases-and-hospitalizations-are-on-the-rise-again-deaths-will-soon-follow-the-biden-adm/

POST 150. April 10, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The use of so-called COVID-19 “vaccine passports” is quickly becoming a divisive issue across the US – with several states, including New York, embracing the idea, while others have already moved to ban them.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-150-april-10-2021-coronavirus-the-use-of-so-called-covid-19-vaccine-passports-is-quickly-becoming-a-divisive-issue-across-the-us-with-several-states-incl/

POST 151. April 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS.   the J&J vaccination pause. “ Federal officials are concerned that doctors may not be trained to spot or treat the rare disorder if recipients of the vaccine develop symptoms of it…”  “…a standard treatment for blood clots — use of an anticoagulant drug — could be dangerous or even fatal in such cases…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-151-april-14-2021-coronavirus-the-jj-vaccination-pause-federal-officials-are-concerned-that-doctors-may-not-be-trained-to-spot-or-treat-the-rare-disorder-if-recipients-of-the-va/

POST 152. April 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s director said Saturday authorities are considering mixing COVID-19 vaccines because the country’s domestically made doses “don’t have very high protection rates,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-152-april-15-2021-coronavirus-the-chinese-center-for-disease-control-and-preventions-director-said-saturday-authorities-are-considering-mixing-covid-19-vaccines-because-the-country/

POST 153. April 18, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “At least 35 hospitals across Michigan were listed Thursday as nearing capacity and three were at full capacity for COVID-19 patients..”.. We can manufacture beds. We can open up beds. We can create entire wings of the hospital if we have to, but if we don’t have staff for those beds, we’ve got nothing.”..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-153-april-18-2021-coronavirus-at-least-35-hospitals-across-michigan-were-listed-thursday-as-nearing-capacity-and-three-were-at-full-capacity-for-covid-19-patients-we-can/

POST 154. April 19, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Breakthrough infections, which occur when fully vaccinated people are infected by the pathogen that their shots were designed to protect against, are an entirely expected part of any vaccination process.”   “Pfizer’s chief executive said that a third dose of the company’s Covid-19 vaccine was “likely” to be needed within a year of the initial two-dose inoculation — followed by annual vaccinations.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-154-april-19-2021-coronavirus-breakthrough-infections-which-occur-when-fully-vaccinated-people-are-infected-by-the-pathogen-that-their-shots-were-designed-to-protect-against-are-an/

POST 155. April 24, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. As the J&J vaccine pause is ended Senator Johnson said “The science tells us that vaccines are 95% effective. So if you have a vaccine, quite honestly, what do you care if your neighbor has one or not? I mean, what is it to you?”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-155-april-24-2021-coronavirus-as-the-jj-vaccine-pause-is-ended-senator-johnson-said-the-science-tells-us-that-vaccines-are-95-effective-so-if-you-have-a-vaccine-quite-honestly-what-do-y/

POST 156. April 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. As CDC revises guidance on outdoor masking, Texas Governor Abbott says “the state is “very close” to herd immunity… despite acknowledging that he does not know what the herd immunity threshold is for the virus, an uncertainty echoed by the public health community.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-156-april-28-2021-coronavirus-as-cdc-revises-guidance-on-outdoor-masking-texas-governor-abbott-says-the-state-is-very-close-to-herd-immunity-despite-ackno/

POST 157. April 25, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Ohio hospitals; “We agreed in multiple conversations, there’s nothing in fighting a pandemic that creates a competitive advantage.”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-157-april-25-2021-coronavirus-ohio-hospitals-we-agreed-in-multiple-conversations-theres-nothing-in-fighting-a-pandemic-that-creates-a-competitive-advantage/

POST 158. May 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. . As populations get closer to herd immunity “ it may be helpful to introduce some nuance to what we mean by the term. Nationwide herd immunity. Regional herd immunity. Temporary herd immunity. Endemicity.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-158-may-5-2021-coronavirus-as-populations-get-closer-to-herd-immunity-it-may-be-helpful-to-introduce-some-nuance-to-what-we-mean-by-the-term-nationwide-herd-immunity-regional-he/

POST 159. May 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Without deeper sharing of expertise in how to make vaccines…waiving patent obligations is unlikely to be a game-changer… Having access to the “recipe” certainly helps, but understanding how to put it together and produce it at scale is something else.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-159-may-9-2021-coronavirus-without-deeper-sharing-of-expertise-in-how-to-make-vaccineswaiving-patent-obligations-is-unlikely-to-be-a-game-changer-having-access-to-t/

POST 160. May 13, 2021.CORONAVIRUS. “The CDC acknowledged Friday that airborne spread of COVID-19 among people more than 6 feet apart “has been repeatedly documented.”” Meanwhile states relax or eliminate indoor dining restrictions. HUH?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-160-may-13-2021-coronavirus-the-cdc-acknowledged-friday-that-airborne-spread-of-covid-19-among-people-more-than-6-feet-apart-has-been-repeatedly-documented-meanwhile-sta/

POST 161. May 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Even if the spread of Covid-19 decreases enough to allow a return of most activities, there are some aspects of pandemic life that epidemiologists say will persist much longer. In particular, they say that masks are a norm that should continue, even if that view puts them at odds with the new C.D.C. guidance. More than 80 percent of them say people should continue to wear masks when indoors with strangers for at least another year, and outdoors in crowds.” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-161-may-15-2021-coronavirus-even-if-the-spread-of-covid-19-decreases-enough-to-allow-a-return-of-most-activities-there-are-some-aspects-of-pandemic-life-that-epidemiologists-say-wil/

POST 162. May 21, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is refusing to lift his indoor mask mandate for vaccinated residents…” “…fully vaccinated residents in New York and Connecticut are no longer required to wear masks..”..” “California says it isn’t ready to follow the federal lead and unmask, at least for another month..”.. “..Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Tuesday prohibiting state governmental entities such as counties, public school districts, public health authorities and government officials from requiring mask wearing.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-162-may-21-2021-coronavirus-new-jersey-gov-phil-murphy-is-refusing-to-lift-his-indoor-mask-mandate-for-vaccinated-residents-fully-vaccinated-resi/

POST 163. May 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey announced a mandate…saying supervisors and those of higher rank must get the vaccine by June 30. They will eventually require the system’s 35,000 employees to do the same.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-163-may-23-2021-coronavirus-rwjbarnabas-health-in-new-jersey-announced-a-mandatesaying-supervisors-and-those-of-higher-rank-must-get-the-vaccine-by-june-30-they-will-eventually-requ/

POST 164. May 26, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. On Wednesday, health minister Norihisa Tamura warned Olympic organizers they would have to “secure their own” hospital beds for anyone falling ill at the Games, explaining the government would not release beds set aside for Japanese covid-19 patients.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-164-may-26-2021-coronavirus-on-wednesday-health-minister-norihisa-tamura-warned-olympic-organizers-they-would-have-to-secure-their-own-hospital-beds-for-anyone-falling-ill/

POST 165. May 31,2001. CORONAVIRUS. “Like all pandemics, this one will end either with millions — maybe billions — being infected or being vaccinated. This time, world leaders have a choice, but little time to make that choice before it is made for them.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-165-may-312001-coronavirus-like-all-pandemics-this-one-will-end-either-with-millions-maybe-billions-being-infected-or-being-vaccinated-this-time-world-leaders/

POST 166. June 3, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “President Biden said Wednesday that he has asked intelligence agencies to double down on their efforts to investigate whether the coronavirus originated from human contact with an animal or in an laboratory in China, saying there is not “sufficient information” to assess whether one is more likely than the other.” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-166-june-3-2020-coronavirus-president-biden-said-wednesday-that-he-has-asked-intelligence-agencies-to-double-down-on-their-efforts-to-investigate-whether-the-coronavirus-originated-f/

POST 167. June 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Hospitals prevaricate on mandatory staff vaccinations.  Florida’s Governor forbids cruise ship vaccine mandates. Pfizer and Moderna apply for FDA full approval.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-167-june-9-2021-coronavirus-hospitals-prevaricate-on-mandatory-staff-vaccinations-floridas-governor-forbids-cruise-ship-vaccine-mandates-pfizer-and-moderna-apply-for-fda-full-appr/

POST 168. June 10, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Our species has a tendency to get distracted. We have a very strong appetite for distraction, and when something is not in the spotlight, when it’s not a crisis anymore, we tend to forget and move on to something else. So the biggest challenge is going to be maintaining focus on this next step of developing vaccines that anticipate pandemics.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-168-june-10-2021-coronavirus-our-species-has-a-tendency-to-get-distracted-we-have-a-very-strong-appetite-for-distraction-and-when-something-is-not-in-the-spotlight-when-it/

POST 169. June 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Hospitals in Washington, D.C…announced a consensus agreement to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for more than 30,000 workers, 70% of which are already vaccinated. Each of 14 hospitals will set their own deadline…” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-169-june-14-2021-coronavirus-hospitals-in-washington-d-cannounced-a-consensus-agreement-to-mandate-covid-19-vaccinations-for-more-than-30000-workers-70-of-which-are-alrea/

POST 170. June 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Dr. Ashish Jha…is worried about the potential impact  the delta variant could have in the United States… “I’m concerned about the Delta variant,”… “Why? Most contagious variant yet. Wreaked havoc in India. Spiking cases in UK. Growing rapidly in the US.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-170-june-17-2021-coronavirus-dr-ashish-jhais-worried-about-the-potential-impact-the-delta-variant-could-have-in-the-united-states-im-concerned-a/

POST 171. June 19, 2021. “A 34-year-old man (a Covid-19 survivor) has been diagnosed with India’s first known case of “green fungus” infection.”… “Green fungus is the new infection to join the earlier known cases of black, white and yellow fungus.”…”green fungus was earlier seen only as a “junior partner” in other infections… In the current patient, this fungus is acting as the aggressor.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-171-june-19-2021-coronavirus-a-34-year-old-man-a-covid-19-survivor-has-been-diagnosed-with-indias-first-known-case-of-green-fungus-infection/

POST 172. June 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Morgan Stanley chief executive James Gorman said: “If you can go into a restaurant in New York City, you can come into the office.”…”remote work can “dramatically undermine” the character and culture a company is attempting to build; and “virtually eliminates spontaneous learning and creativity.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-172-june-23-2021-coronavirus-morgan-stanley-chief-executive-james-gorman-said-if-you-can-go-into-a-restaurant-in-new-york-city-you-can-come-into-the-office-remote-work/

POST 173. June 26, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The daily toll of COVID-19, as measured by new cases and the growing number of deaths, overlooks a shadowy set of casualties: the rising risk of mental health problems among health care professionals working on the frontlines of the pandemic.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-173-june-26-2021-coronavirus-the-daily-toll-of-covid-19-as-measured-by-new-cases-and-the-growing-number-of-deaths-overlooks-a-shadowy-set-of-casualties-the-rising-risk-of-mental-h/

POST 174. July 1, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “..while the WHO is encouraging people to keep wearing masks even if they’re vaccinated, Dr. Anthony Fauci says it doesn’t look like the CDC currently plans to change its guidelines.” … health officials in Los Angeles recommended that “everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors in public places as a precautionary measure.”..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-174-july-1-2021-coronavirus-while-the-who-is-encouraging-people-to-keep-wearing-masks-even-if-theyre-vaccinated-dr-anthony-fauci-says-it-doesnt-look-like-the-cdc-currently-pl/

POST 175. July 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Can a health care worker who is not against vaccines in general still harbor sincere concerns that scientists don’t yet know about all the side effects of these vaccines? Yes, says Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD — but those people should not work in health care.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-175-july-5-2021-coronavirus-can-a-health-care-worker-who-is-not-against-vaccines-in-general-still-harbor-sincere-concerns-that-scientists-dont-yet-know-about-all-the-side-ef/

POST 176. July 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Mercy Springfield ( Missouri) hospital…” ran out of ventilators for its patients over the Fourth of July weekend…”…“Mercy will require all current and future employees to be fully vaccinated.”…“The US government is deploying a Covid-19 surge team to provide public health support in southwest Missouri

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-176-july-9-2021-coronavirus-mercy-springfield-missouri-hospital-ran-out-of-ventilators-for-its-patients-over-the-fourth-of-july-weekend/

POST 177. July 12, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. the Delta variant is “the 2020 version of Covid-19 on steroids,”… “It is the most hypertransmissible, contagious version of the virus we’ve seen to date…it’s a superspreader strain if there ever was one .” but… now, there’s a Delta Plus variant…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-177-july-12-2021-coronavirus-the-delta-variant-is-the-2020-version-of-covid-19-on-steroids-it-is-the-most-hypertransmissible-contagious-version-of-the-vi/

POST 178. July 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Tennessee’s top vaccine official says she has been fired as punishment for doing her job in the face of political pushback.”..” More than 180 state and local public health leaders…have resigned, retired or been fired since April 1…”“Former President Trump and his GOP allies have stepped up attacks on Anthony Fauci…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-178-july-15-2021-coronavirus-tennessees-top-vaccine-official-says-she-has-been-fired-as-punishment-for-doing-her-job-in-the-face-of-political-pushback-more-tha/

POST 179. July 16, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “It, therefore, follows that the “harm principle” (“first, do no harm.”) can be used to justify compulsory vaccination programs in specific instances where the community interests or benefits are deemed to be significant.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-179-july-16-2021-coronavirus-it-therefore-follows-that-the-harm-principle-first-do-no-harm-can-be-used-to-justify-compulsory-vaccination-pro/

POST 180, July 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Most people will either get vaccinated, or have been previously infected, or they will get this Delta variant,”.. “And for most people who get this Delta variant, it’s going to be the most serious virus that they get in their lifetime in terms of the risk of putting them in the hospital,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-180-july-20-2021-coronavirus-most-people-will-either-get-vaccinated-or-have-been-previously-infected-or-they-will-get-this-delta-variant-and-for-most-people-who-get-this-delta-vari/

POST 181. July 22, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Health experts fear the Tokyo Olympics could become a COVID-19 superspreader event.” “Whatever happens in Japan isn’t likely going to stay in Japan since all of the athletes and accompanying coaches and staff will be returning to their home countries.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-181-july-22-2021-coronavirus-health-experts-fear-the-tokyo-olympics-could-become-a-covid-19-superspreader-event-whatever-happens-in-japan-isnt-likely-goin/

POST 182. July 26, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R): “Folks supposed to have common sense.”…“But it’s time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks, not the regular folks. It’s the unvaccinated folks that are letting us down.” ““Beginning in mid-September, New York City will require all of its 340,000 municipal workers, including police, firefighters and teachers, to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or tested weekly.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-182-july-26-2021-coronavirus-alabama-gov-kay-ivey-r-folks-supposed-to-have-common-sense-but-its-time-to-start-blaming-the-unvaccinated-folks-not-the/

POST 183. July 29, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. When I was appointed President and CEO of Jersey City Medical Center in1989 in the peak of the HIV/ AIDS crisis, we had a dedicated, and always full, dedicated 60 bed AIDS unit, staffed by one full time nurse and numerous part-time and per diem nurses. Today, right now, hospitals caught in the Covid-19 surge, are forced to redeploy nursing staff, respiratory therapists and other clinicians, most without prior infectious diseases experience. Why are we tolerating the unvaccinated putting our hospital staffs at risk?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-183-july-29-2021-coronavirus-when-i-was-appointed-president-and-ceo-of-jersey-city-medical-center-in1989-in-the-peak-of-the-hiv-aids-crisis-we-had-a-dedicated-and-always-full-dedicated-60/

POST 184. August 1, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The coronavirus could be “just a few mutations potentially away” from evolving into a variant that can evade existing COVID-19 vaccines, CDC director Rochelle Walensky said..” (A) “The Delta variant is more transmissible than the viruses that cause MERS, SARS, Ebola, the common cold, the seasonal flu and smallpox, and it is as contagious as chickenpox..” (I)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-184-august-1-2021-coronavirus-the-coronavirus-could-be-just-a-few-mutations-potentially-away-from-evolving-into-a-variant-that-can-evade-existing-covid-19-vaccines-cdc-director/

POST 185. August 6, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. ‘If you aren’t going to help, please get out of the way’: Biden turns up the pressure on GOP governors as Delta spreads”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-185-august-6-2021-coronavirus-if-you-arent-going-to-help-please-get-out-of-the-way-biden-turns-up-the-pressure-on-gop-governors-as-delta-spreads/

POST 186. August 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “One of the last things they do before they’re intubated is beg me for the vaccine. I hold their hand and tell them that I’m sorry, but it’s too late,” she added, referring to patients who have to be put on a ventilator.” (A) “There is no one definition of what the end of a pandemic means.”.. “The question of when the crisis will be over is a layered one — with different answers from local, national and global perspectives.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-186-august-8-2021-coronavirus-one-of-the-last-things-they-do-before-theyre-intubated-is-beg-me-for-the-vaccine-i-hold-their-hand-and-tell-them-that-im-sorry-but-i/

POST 187. August 11, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “As a result of the increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the state of Florida requested 300 ventilators from the federal government.”… “An 11-month-old girl with Covid-19 is stable and no longer intubated one day after she was airlifted to a Texas hospital 150 miles away because of a shortage of pediatric beds in the Houston area.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-187-august-11-2021-coronavirus-as-a-result-of-the-increase-in-covid-19-cases-and-hospitalizations-the-state-of-florida-requested-300-ventilators-from-the-federal-government/

POST 188. August 15, 20201. CORONAVIRUS. “According to an internal CDC briefing….an estimated 1.1 million people have already gotten unauthorized booster shots…”….”If it is left up to the honor system, I think many Americans will suddenly wake up and find themselves immunocompromised enough to get a 3rd dose,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-188-august-15-20201-coronavirus-according-to-an-internal-cdc-briefing-an-estimated-1-1-million-people-have-already-gotten-unauthorized-booster-shots/

POST 189. August 19,2021. CORONAVIRUS. “There wasn’t a single I.C.U. bed available in Alabama on Wednesday…”…”A triage plan on the Alabama health department’s website suggests that “persons with severe mental retardation” are among those who “may be poor candidates for ventilator support.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-189-august-192021-coronavirus-there-wasnt-a-single-i-c-u-bed-available-in-alabama-on-wednesdaya-triage-plan-on-the-alabama-health-depart/

POST 190, August 21, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “We’re looking, in essence, at running two systems — a COVID system and a non-COVID system of care,”..“Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and certified paramedics can now care for patients in Mississippi hospitals and emergency rooms under a new health office order issued by the Mississippi State Department of Health on Wednesday.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-190-august-21-2021-coronavirus-were-looking-in-essence-at-running-two-systems-a-covid-system-and-a-non-covid-system-of-care-emergency-medical/

POST 191. August 27, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Anthony Fauci, MD, chief medical advisor to the president and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, explained that late September gives the United States time to set up the logistics.” This is not medical science, but perhaps Political Science?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-191-august-27-2021-coronavirus-anthony-fauci-md-chief-medical-advisor-to-the-president-and-director-of-the-national-institute-of-allergy-and-infectious-diseases-explained-that-lat/

POST 192. August 30, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Gov. John Bel Edwards on Hurricane Ida – “I hate to say it this way, but we have a lot of people on ventilators today and they don’t work without electricity,” he said.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-192-august-30-2021-coronavirus-gov-john-bel-edwards-on-hurricane-ida-i-hate-to-say-it-this-way-but-we-have-a-lot-of-people-on-ventilators-today-and-they-dont-work-withou/

POST 193. September 3, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Nurses are leaving their hospitals and becoming travel nurses at hospitals across town “because they can make $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, $7,000 a week while not having to relocate anywhere..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-193-september-3-2021-coronavirus-nurses-are-leaving-their-hospitals-and-becoming-travel-nurses-at-hospitals-across-town-because-they-can-make-4000-5000-6000-7000-a-week-wh/

POST 194. August 2, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Recently-released data is painting a grim picture of the opioid epidemic that has gripped the United States — as the country is still grappling with the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than half a million Americans. Some people are calling them twin pandemics that have collided”…“Faced with a novel health crisis, researchers are collecting data on the long-term impact of using opioids to treat COVID-19 pain…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-194-august-2-2021-coronavirus-recently-released-data-is-painting-a-grim-picture-of-the-opioid-epidemic-that-has-gripped-the-united-states-as-the-country-is-still-grappling/

POST 195. September 6, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “…there are “zero ICU beds left for children in Dallas County, Texas,”.,..”That means if your child’s in a car wreck, if your child has a congenital heart defect or something and needs an ICU bed, or more likely if they have Covid and need an ICU bed, we don’t have one. Your child will wait for another child to die… (county judge Clay Jenkins)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-195-september-6-2021-coronavirus-there-are-zero-icu-beds-left-for-children-in-dallas-county-texas-that-means-if-your-childs-in-a-car-wreck-if-your-child/

POST 196. SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. PART 1. Military helicopters and jets were overhead, as President Bush was getting ready to leave NYC. PART 2. LESSONS LEARNED memorandum by hospital CEO Jonathan Metsch goes “viral”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-196-september-11-2021-september-11-2001-part-1-military-helicopters-and-jets-were-overhead-as-president-bush-was-getting-ready-to-leave-nyc-part-2-lessons-learned-memorandum-by-hospital/

POST 197. September 12, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Idaho officials have instituted “crisis standards of care” to help 10 hospitals and health care systems decide how to allocate personnel and resources to deal with a crush of COVID-19 patients.”… “The Washington Medical Coordination Center oversees facilitating transfers in the state, and it’s warning we could be nearing the point of “Crisis Standards of Care,” just like Idaho.” .. “These crisis models don’t actually save more lives, they just save different lives..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-197-september-12-2021-coronavirus-idaho-officials-have-instituted-crisis-standards-of-care-to-help-10-hospitals-and-health-care-systems-decide-how-to-allocate-personnel-and/

POST 198. September 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. A pundit said “The most elegant policy riposte to the anti-vaxxers… is to refuse to allow Medicare or Medicaid to pay their medical bills in the event they become seriously ill. Private health insurers might also follow suit.” (but is making our hospitals become the bill collectors right?)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-198-september-15-2021-coronavirus-a-pundit-said-the-most-elegant-policy-riposte-to-the-anti-vaxxers-is-to-refuse-to-allow-medicare-or-medicaid-to-pay-their-medical-bills-in/

POST 199. September 19, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Crisis Standards of Care. “… to his knowledge, no patient in Idaho has been taken off life-support therapy in order to provide that therapy to another patient who has a better prognosis.” “While that has yet to occur, if we continue on this path, it will,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-199-september-19-2021-coronavirus-crisis-standards-of-care-to-his-knowledge-no-patient-in-idaho-has-been-taken-off-life-support-therapy-in-order-to-provide-that-therapy-t/

POST 200. September 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. CDC Director overrides a recommendation of its scientific advisors saying “that people can get a booster if they are ages 18 to 64 years and are health-care workers or have another job that puts them at increased risk of being exposed to the virus.”…“In a pandemic, even with uncertainty, we must take actions that we anticipate will do the greatest good.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-200-september-23-2021-coronavirus-cdc-director-overrides-a-recommendation-of-its-scientific-advisors-saying-that-people-can-get-a-booster-if-they-are-ages-18-to-64-years-and-are-heal/

POST 201. September 27, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “A multibillion-dollar institution in the Seattle area is sitting on nearly $12 billion in cash… received at least $509 million in government funds (from) a federal program that is supposed to prevent health care providers from capsizing during the coronavirus pandemic.”

“Based on our estimates…we find preventable COVID-19 hospitalizations cost $5.7 billion from June to August in 2021.”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-201-september-27-2021-coronavirus-a-multibillion-dollar-institution-in-the-seattle-area-is-sitting-on-nearly-12-billion-in-cash-received-at-least-509-million-in-government/

POST 202. September 30, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “..NY Governor Hochul signed an executive order expanding healthcare worker eligibility requirements…to head off potential staffing shortages fueled by the state’s new COVID-19 vaccination requirements.” “The.. order allows out-of-state/ out-of-country healthcare workers to practice in New York…”..”It allows EMTs graduates to temporarily pitch in at additional healthcare settings; allows various types of healthcare workers to more easily administer and order COVID-19 vaccinations; enables telemedicine physician visits in nursing homes; permits facilities to more quickly discharge, transfer or receive patients…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-202-september-30-2021-coronavirus-ny-governor-hochul-signed-an-executive-order-expanding-healthcare-worker-eligibility-requirementsto-head-off-potential-staffing-shortages/

POST 203. October 3, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “.. more than 125,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in pregnant people, including more than 22,000 hospitalized cases and 161 deaths”…The risk is not just to the mother. Covid-19 in pregnancy can cause preterm birth or babies born so sick they have to go straight to the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU.” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-203-october-3-2021-coronavirus-more-than-125000-laboratory-confirmed-covid-19-cases-have-been-reported-in-pregnant-people-including-more-than-22000-hospitalized-cases-and-161-deaths/

POST 204. October 5, 2021.CORONAVIRUS. “News that an experimental antiviral drug from Merck appears to halve the risk of hospitalization or death from Covid-19 has bolstered hopes of finding a simple at-home treatment for the virus.”..” A more blunt assessment came from vaccine scientist Dr. Peter Hotez of Baylor College of Medicine’s National School of Tropical Medicine. “It’s not a miracle cure but a companion tool, So get vaccinated.””

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-204-october-5-2021-coronavirus-news-that-an-experimental-antiviral-drug-from-merck-appears-to-halve-the-risk-of-hospitalization-or-death-from-covid-19-has-bolstered-hopes-of-finding-a/

POST 205. October 11, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. The AAP reported nearly 226,000 new child cases over the past week ending. “Hospital care for children does not occur in isolation from that of adults. Many of the resources we use are the same—a twenty-pound baby and a two-hundred-pound man might use the same kind of ventilator, for example. Dialysis machines, which could cleanse a seven-year-old’s blood as easily as his grandfather’s, are in high demand. Pediatric resident physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists get cross-deployed to care for adults during the surges.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-205-october-11-2021-coronavirus-the-aap-reported-nearly-226000-new-child-cases-over-the-past-week-ending-hospital-care-for-children-does-not-occur-in-isolation-from-that-of-adults/

POST 206. October 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. to borrow from Winston Churchill about where we are with the pandemic –  “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-206-october-15-2021-coronavirus-to-borrow-from-winston-churchill-about-where-we-are-with-the-pandemic-now-this-is-not-the-end-it-is-not-even-the-beginning-of-the-end-but-it-is/

POST 207. October 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “…if you choose your own unauthorized booster shot, what happens if later research proves a different combination is better? That’s why experts say it’s a bad idea to become your own vaccine advisory committee and get a shot out of turn.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-207-october-17-2021-coronavirus-if-you-choose-your-own-unauthorized-booster-shot-what-happens-if-later-research-proves-a-different-combination-is-better-thats-why/

POST 208. October 22, 2021, CORONAVIRUS. “What is the “delta plus” variant?” Scientists are monitoring the delta-related variant — known as AY.4.2. — to see if it might spread more easily or be more deadly than previous versions of the coronavirus.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-208-october-22-2021-coronavirus-what-is-the-delta-plus-variant-scientists-are-monitoring-the-delta-related-variant-known-as-ay-4-2-to/

POST 209. October 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The quest at Mount Sinai began with a mystery.”…”America was not simply struggling to contain a once-in-a-century pandemic, caused by a virus far more dangerous than seasonal influenza. Many patients were, for unknown reasons, not recovering.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-209-october-28-2021-coronavirus-the-quest-at-mount-sinai-began-with-a-mystery-america-was-not-simply-struggling-to-contain-a-once-in-a-century-pandemic-ca/

POST 210. October 31, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Some people want the FDA to speed up. Others want it to be more cautious…There’s a fundamental tension between the right to get access to a drug people are desperate for and the right to protection from dangerous failures of quality. The first demands speed; the second requires time…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-210-october-31-2021-coronavirus-some-people-want-the-fda-to-speed-up-others-want-it-to-be-more-cautioustheres-a-fundamental-tension-between-the-right-to-get-access/

POST 211. November 4, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Colorado – “…there are patients who really ought to be in an intensive care unit but instead they’re in an emergency room. Or they ought to be in a step-down unit but instead they’re on the floor. Or they ought to be getting one-to-one nursing, and instead they’re getting two-to-one, or three-to-one nursing….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-211-november-4-2021-coronavirus-colorado-there-are-patients-who-really-ought-to-be-in-an-intensive-care-unit-but-instead-theyre-in-an-emergency-room-or-they-ough/

POST 212. November 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “They went into hospitals with heart attacks, kidney failure or in a psychiatric crisis. They left with covid-19…” “A new report shows the coronavirus pandemic had a direct increase on the number of healthcare-acquired infections in hospitals nationwide.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-212-november-9-2021-coronavirus-they-went-into-hospitals-with-heart-attacks-kidney-failure-or-in-a-psychiatric-crisis-they-left-with-covid-19-a-new-repor/

POST 213. November 13, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Since the earliest days of the pandemic, there has been one collective goal for bringing it to an end: achieving herd immunity…Now the herd is restless. And experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have set aside herd immunity as a national goal.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-213-november-13-2021-coronavirus-since-the-earliest-days-of-the-pandemic-there-has-been-one-collective-goal-for-bringing-it-to-an-end-achieving-herd-immunity-now-the-herd-is-rest/

POST 214. November 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “This virus is doing what this virus does,” said Michael Osterholm… “We don’t understand why surges start, we don’t understand why they end.” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-214-november-20-2021-coronavirus-this-virus-is-doing-what-this-virus-does-said-michael-osterholm-we-dont-understand-why-surges-start-we-dont-understand-why-they-en/

POST 215. November 26, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Fauci on the new South African variant: “It’s not going to be possible to keep this infection out of the country. The question is: Can you slow it down?”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-215-november-26-2021-coronavirus-dr-fauci-on-the-new-south-african-variant-its-not-going-to-be-possible-to-keep-this-infection-out-of-the-country-the-question-is-can-you/

POST 216. December 1, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Covid cacophony: as states struggle to address health care staffing shortages, a federal court puts Biden administration health care worker vaccination mandate on hold. 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-216-december-1-2021-coronavirus-covid-cacophony-as-states-struggle-to-address-health-care-staffing-shortages-a-federal-court-puts-biden-administration-health-care-worker-vaccination-mandate/

POST 217. December 3, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. President Biden Announces New Actions to Protect Americans Against the Delta and Omicron Variants as We Battle COVID-⁠19 this Winter

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-217-december-3-2021-coronavirus-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-protect-americans-against-the-delta-and-omicron-variants-as-we-battle-covid-%e2%81%a019-this-winter/

POST 218. December 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “In some ways, Delta is the ideal variant: It’s transmissible enough to dominate more dangerous variants, and its virulence can be controlled through vaccination. In the next few weeks, we’ll find out whether Omicron will have its own silver lining—or whether it’ll be catastrophically worse.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-218-december-5-2021-coronavirus-in-some-ways-delta-is-the-ideal-variant-its-transmissible-enough-to-dominate-more-dangerous-variants-and-its-virulence-can-be-controlled-t/

POST 219. December 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Entering uncharted territory, the U.S. counts 500,000 Covid-related deaths.”… “So yes, I am furious at the unvaccinated, and I am not ashamed of disclosing that. I am no longer trying to understand them or educate them.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-219-december-9-2021-coronavirus-entering-uncharted-territory-the-u-s-counts-500000-covid-related-deaths-so-yes-i-am-furious-at-the-unvaccinated-and-i/

POST 220 December 13, 2021. CORONAVIRUS.  Dr. Osterholm. “You cannot outrun the game clock with this pandemic. This virus will find you… We’ve seen health care systems virtually broken by this pandemic. They just couldn’t provide critical care to non-Covid patients.” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-220-december-13-2021-coronavirus-dr-osterholm-you-cannot-outrun-the-game-clock-with-this-pandemic-this-virus-will-find-you-weve-seen-health-care-systems-virtually/

POST 221. December 18, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Johnson & Johnson’s Covid vaccine was going to be a shot for the world. Now, under the weight of a mountain of bad PR, one wonders if the world will want it.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-221-december-18-2021-coronavirus-johnson-johnsons-covid-vaccine-was-going-to-be-a-shot-for-the-world-now-under-the-weight-of-a-mountain-of-bad-pr-one-wonders-if-the-wor-2/

POST 222. December 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. So why my “inside baseball” focus on COVID-19 from the perspective of a retired hospital CEO?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-222-december-20-2021-coronavirus-so-why-my-inside-baseball-focus-on-covid-19-from-the-perspective-of-a-retired-hospital-ceo/

POST 223. December 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Links for a case study of Crisis Standards of Care.

POST 223. December 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Links for a case study of Crisis Standards of Care.

POST 224. December 29, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “crisis standards of care protocols in Maryland – “It also allows us to slim down documentation,… allows unconventional staffing models such as using nurses that have not been bedside. It also sets the expectations for the community that it’s not business as usual.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-224-december-29-2021-coronavirus-crisis-standards-of-care-protocols-in-maryland-it-also-allows-us-to-slim-down-documentation-allows-unconventional-staffing-models-such/

POST 225. January 3, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Be first, be right, be credible,” are among the most important principles for health authorities to follow in a crisis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared in a pamphlet on crisis communication in 2018….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-225-january-3-2021-coronavirus-be-first-be-right-be-credible-are-among-the-most-important-principles-for-health-authorities-to-follow-in-a-crisis-the-centers-for-disease/

Post 226. January 5, 2022. CORONAVIRUS.  New York City – “The city’s ambulance corps are so understaffed because of the COVID-19 surge, they’re now under new orders to try to convince stable patients with flu-like symptoms not to go to the hospital.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-226-january-5-2022-coronavirus-new-york-city-the-citys-ambulance-corps-are-so-understaffed-because-of-the-covid-19-surge-theyre-now-under-new-orders-to-try-to-c/

POST 227. January 10, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.  “Stay indoors. But also return in person. Wear a mask. Not that one. The expensive one, that you can’t find. Take rapid tests. Which you also can’t find. But if you find them, don’t buy them. Rapid tests don’t work. You need PCR. There are zero appointments in your area.” (F)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-227-january-10-2020-coronavirus-stay-indoors-but-also-return-in-person-wear-a-mask-not-that-one-the-expensive-one-that-you-cant-find-take-rapid-tests-which-you-also/

POST 228. January 13, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “State officials are attempting to address California’s staffing shortage through a sweeping policy change that allows asymptomatic healthcare workers who have tested positive for the coronavirus to return to work immediately.” “Asymptomatic health professionals who had tested positive for COVID-19 should “preferably be assigned to work with COVID positive patients.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-228-january-13-2022-coronavirus-state-officials-are-attempting-to-address-californias-staffing-shortage-through-a-sweeping-policy-change-that-allows-asymptomatic-healthcare/

POST 229. January 16, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “It is now highly unlikely that the U.S. will hit the ~85-90% of Americans vaccinated to get to the other side of the pandemic…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-229-january-16-2020-coronavirus-it-is-now-highly-unlikely-that-the-u-s-will-hit-the-85-90-of-americans-vaccinated-to-get-to-the-other-side-of-the-pandemic/

POST 230. January 20, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “Dr. Fauci also said that the world is still in the first of what he considered to be the five phases of the pandemic. The first is the “truly pandemic” phase, “where the whole world is really very negatively impacted,” followed by deceleration, control, elimination and eradication.”…to paraphrase Churchill – “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-230-january-20-2022-coronavirus-dr-fauci-also-said-that-the-world-is-still-in-the-first-of-what-he-considered-to-be-the-five-phases-of-the-pandemic-the-first-is-the-truly/

POST 231. January 24, 202. CORONAVIRUS. “Florida’s top public health official in Orlando has been placed on administrative leave after sending an email to his employees noting their lackluster coronavirus vaccination rates and urging them to get the shots.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-231-january-24-202-coronavirus-floridas-top-public-health-official-in-orlando-has-been-placed-on-administrative-leave-after-sending-an-email-to-his-employees-noting-their-la/

POST 232. January 28, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “A Boston hospital’s denial of a heart transplant to a man who is unvaccinated for Covid-19 has generated national attention, but experts say mandating vaccines is in keeping with other long-standing requirements that patients have to meet to receive an organ — including getting other shots…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-232-january-28-2022-coronavirus-a-boston-hospitals-denial-of-a-heart-transplant-to-a-man-who-is-unvaccinated-for-covid-19-has-generated-national-attention-but-experts-say-m/

POST 233. February 2, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “The same virus can cause endemic, epidemic or pandemic infections: it depends on the interplay of a population’s behaviour, demographic structure, susceptibility and immunity, plus whether viral variants emerge.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-233-february-2-2022-coronavirus-the-same-virus-can-cause-endemic-epidemic-or-pandemic-infections-it-depends-on-the-interplay-of-a-populations-behaviour-demographic-struct/

POST 234. February 2, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell demanded an end to the COVID-19 state of emergency on Wednesday , saying it was time for Americans to get on with their lives after two years on a ‘hellish highway.’”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-234-february-2-2022-coronavirus-senate-republican-leader-mitch-mcconnell-demanded-an-end-to-the-covid-19-state-of-emergency-on-wednesday-saying-it-was-time-for-americans-to-get-on/

POST 235. February 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Over time, the U.S. health care sector has implemented various pieces of the  (pandemic) safety-assessment-and-improvement puzzle, but it has not instituted a thorough system of safety that reaches from the boardroom to the front lines and that can be maintained during times of crisis.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-235-february-17-2020-coronavirus-over-time-the-u-s-health-care-sector-has-implemented-various-pieces-of-the-pandemic-safety-assessment-and-improvement-puzzle-but-it-has-no/

POST 236. February 22, 2021. CORONAVIRUS.  MOUNT SINAI AT HOME – “We began thinking about how we could use hospital-at-home to meet the needs of our hospital system in our community, in terms of responding to the crisis of COVID-19…” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-236-february-23-2021-mount-sinai-at-home-we-began-thinking-about-how-we-could-use-hospital-at-home-to-meet-the-needs-of-our-hospital-system-in-our-community-in-terms-of-responding/

POST 237. February 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Decision-makers are increasingly embracing the reality that we will have to “learn to live with” the coronavirus. But how will they know when to impose or lift restrictions?”  “Now, the CDC’s “Covid-19 community level” metrics are based on three pieces of data in a community: new Covid-19 hospitalizations, hospital capacity and new Covid-19 cases.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-237-february-27-2020-coronavirus-decision-makers-are-increasingly-embracing-the-reality-that-we-will-have-to-learn-to-live-with-the-coronavirus-but-how-will-they-k/

POST 238. March 5, 2022, CORONAVIRUS. “Two different scientists can look at the same set of data and come up with different conclusions. That’s not to say that one person is being unscientific or ignoring the scientific process,” said Leana Wen, an emergency physician and a professor at George Washington University. “Public health policy is also a measure of values.””

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-238-march-5-2022-coronavirus-two-different-scientists-can-look-at-the-same-set-of-data-and-come-up-with-different-conclusions-thats-not-to-say-that-one-person-is-being-unscientific-or-ig/

POST 239. March 9, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “War is an infectious disease’s best friend,” says Michael Osterholm, “It challenges every public health program you can possibly have. It limits the medical care available for those who might be seriously ill, and often fosters transmission when so many people are crowded into bomb shelter locations and on trains. This is going to be the perfect storm of one serious challenge after another.” (E)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-239-march-9-2022-coronavirus-war-is-an-infectious-diseases-best-friend-says-michael-osterholm-it-challenges-every-public-health-program-you-can-possibly/

POST 240. March 15, 2022. ““China is modifying its Covid-19 playbook amid a surge in cases as it seeks to avoid strains on its healthcare system.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-240-march-15-2022-china-is-modifying-its-covid-19-playbook-amid-a-surge-in-cases-as-it-seeks-to-avoid-strains-on-its-healthcare-system/

POST 241. March 20, 2022, CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Ashish Jha will serve as the new White House COVID-19 response coordinator.” He is not, for the record, a virologist, immunologist, or vaccinologist…But he is a public health expert and a practicing internist, which means he has years of experience explaining complicated and often incomplete information to people who neither know nor care about the correct pronunciation of “adenovirus.” That’s who he imagines on the other end of his webcam.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-241-march-20-2022-coronavirus-dr-ashish-jha-will-serve-as-the-new-white-house-covid-19-response-coordinator-he-is-not-for-the-record-a-virologist-immunologist-or-vaccinologist/

POST 242. March 24, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “How worried should people be about the BA.2 variant? Will vaccines protect against it? What if someone contracted a previous variant — could they become reinfected? Is BA.2 milder than previous versions, and if so, should people try to get it? Could BA.2 cause another surge in the US, and is it time for restrictions to be put back into place?”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-242-march-24-2022-coronavirus-how-worried-should-people-be-about-the-ba-2-variant-will-vaccines-protect-against-it-what-if-someone-contracted-a-previous-variant-could-they-becom/

POST 243. March 28, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “…the US Food and Drug Administration is planning authorize a fourth dose of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines for adults over age 50 next week.”…”The decision to make fourth doses available now will bypass independent groups of scientific advisers for both the FDA and CDC, which would normally meet and publicly review the available science and then make recommendations to the agencies.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-243-march-28-2022-coronavirus-the-us-food-and-drug-administration-is-planning-authorize-a-fourth-dose-of-the-pfizer-and-moderna-mrna-vaccines-for-adults-over-age-50-next-wee/

POST 244. April 4, 2022.CORONAVIRUS. “Here’s a scary thought: America’s ability to face the pandemic’s next phase may depend on a handful of senators.”…. “When the end of the COVID-19 pandemic comes, it could create major disruptions for a cumbersome U.S. health care system made more generous, flexible and up-to-date technologically through a raft of temporary emergency measures.”
https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-244-april-4-2022-coronavirus-heres-a-scary-thought-americas-ability-to-face-the-pandemics-next-phase-may-depend-on-a-handful-of-senators/

POST 245. April 10, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. We can’t react to a wave we don’t see coming. “I keep thinking back to this idea of If we don’t measure it, it won’t happen,”…(As President Donald Trump once put it, “If we stop testing, we’d have fewer cases.”) In reality, “it’s very well happening, and we just don’t see it yet.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-245-april-10-2022-coronavirus-we-cant-react-to-a-wave-we-dont-see-coming-i-keep-thinking-back-to-this-idea-of-if-we-dont-measure-it-it-wont-happ/

POST 246. April 15, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “State authorities and health care organizations could pay a high price for reinstating SCOPE OF PRACTICE (SOP) restrictions when the pandemic ends.” (e.g. NPs, PAs, Pharmacists +++)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-246-april-15-2022-coronavirus-state-authorities-and-health-care-organizations-could-pay-a-high-price-for-reinstating-scope-of-practice-sop-restrictions-when-the-pandemic-ends/

POST 247. April 23, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The DOJ lawyers tasked with defending the CDC’s mask mandate authority have warned Biden administration officials that continuing to push the legal fight over the mask mandate could backfire, if the conservative-leaning appeals court upholds the order.”….”A Supreme Court ruling upholding the decision to strike down the mask mandate would make the Florida judge’s conclusions about CDC authority binding nationwide.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-247-april-23-2020-coronavirus-the-doj-lawyers-tasked-with-defending-the-cdcs-mask-mandate-authority-have-warned-biden-administration-officials-that-continuing-to-push-the-legal-fig/

POST 248. April 27, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “For at-risk Americans without access to a “test-to-treat” drugstore that has a qualifying provider available, this means some will have to make multiple trips to get the pills. You have to develop COVID symptoms, you have to subsequently get a test for COVID-19, get the result of that test, find and go to see a provider, get a prescription, and then fill that prescription. That’s six steps in five days,”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-248-april-27-2022-coronavirus-for-at-risk-americans-without-access-to-a-test-to-treat-drugstore-that-has-a-qualifying-provider-available-this-means-some-will-have-to-make-multip/

POST 249. May 6, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “The United States is “certainly, right now, in this country, out of the pandemic phase..” (Dr. Anthony Fauci). “The US should prepare for a possible summer surge of Covid-19 cases across Southern states..” (Dr. Deborah Birx)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/05/post-249-may-6-2022-coronavirus-the-united-states-is-certainly-right-now-in-this-country-out-of-the-pandemic-phase-dr-anthony-fauci-the-us-should-prepare-for-a-possi/

May 4, 2022

POST 248. April 27, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “For at-risk Americans without access to a “test-to-treat” drugstore that has a qualifying provider available, this means some will have to make multiple trips to get the pills. You have to develop COVID symptoms, you have to subsequently get a test for COVID-19, get the result of that test, find and go to see a provider, get a prescription, and then fill that prescription. That’s six steps in five days,”…

“Although the cost of the pills is covered by the federal government, obtaining a prescription at the pharmacies that dominate the program can be expensive. Though CVS does not charge symptomatic uninsured people for on-site covid tests, MinuteClinics charge upwards of $100 for in-person or telehealth appointments to examine patients and prescribe an antiviral, if needed. People without insurance, whose health plans don’t cover visits to the clinics, or who have high-deductible plans must shoulder the full cost of the appointment…”

for links to POSTS 1-248 in chronological order highlight and click on

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/coronavirus-tracking-links-to-posts-1-248/

The federal “test-to-treat” program, announced in March, is meant to reduce covid hospitalizations and deaths by quickly getting antiviral pills to people who test positive. But even as cases rise again, many Americans don’t have access to the program.

Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Merck’s Lagevrio are both designed to be started within five days of someone’s first symptoms. They’re for people who are at high risk of developing severe illness but are not currently hospitalized because of covid-19. Millions of chronically ill, disabled, and older Americans are eligible for the treatments, and Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health said April 11 that more people may qualify soon.

The program allows people with covid symptoms to get tested, be prescribed antiviral pills, and fill the prescription all in one visit. The federal government and many state and local health departments direct residents to an online national map where people can find test-to-treat sites and other pharmacies where they can fill prescriptions.

But large swaths of the country had no test-to-treat pharmacies or health centers listed as of April 14. And the website of the largest participant, CVS, has significant technical issues that make booking an appointment difficult…

Ninety-one percent of the sites listed on the national map are federal partners: pharmacy chains like CVS, federally qualified health centers, and military and Indian Health Service clinics. HHS has asked state and local health departments to identify other potential participants, like San Francisco General Hospital, so they can be added. Most states have none of those partners listed yet.

Nationally, CVS MinuteClinics make up more than half of all test-to-treat locations, according to the federal data. The roughly 1,200 clinics, in 35 states and Washington, D.C., are housed under the same roof as CVS pharmacies, where patients can pick up prescriptions for covid antivirals. Walgreens drugstores and Kroger grocery store affiliates run about 400 more sites.

The federal government has set aside nearly 400,000 courses of the antivirals for its federal pharmacy partners — about a quarter of the total supply since the program began in March.

Although the cost of the pills is covered by the federal government, obtaining a prescription at the pharmacies that dominate the program can be expensive. Though CVS does not charge symptomatic uninsured people for on-site covid tests, MinuteClinics charge upwards of $100 for in-person or telehealth appointments to examine patients and prescribe an antiviral, if needed. People without insurance, whose health plans don’t cover visits to the clinics, or who have high-deductible plans must shoulder the full cost of the appointment…

Another complication: The FDA requires doctors, advanced practice registered nurses, or physician assistants to write the prescriptions. A pharmacist can’t do it. Many of the nation’s leading pharmacy organizations have asked the Biden administration to remove the restriction, which would expand the program to scores of rural and underserved communities.

Because of this rule, the program requires clinics and pharmacies to be under the same roof — a setup that doesn’t exist in many regions, particularly in rural areas…

“If you’re just an average person trying to navigate this,” she said, “it’s actually completely impossible.” (A)

“Almost two months after President Biden promised to make lifesaving drugs against Covid widely available to Americans, the medications remain hard to get for many, despite supplies, leaving large numbers of Americans to face increased risks of avoidable death and serious illness.

That’s largely because, once again, a dysfunctional health care system that costs more and often delivers less than that of any other developed country has hindered our pandemic response.

As was the case with vaccines, the United States quickly snapped up these therapeutics and accumulated vastly more supply than any other country. These drugs do not replace vaccines but provide crucial extra protections for vulnerable people who number in the millions and who face increased risks as the few remaining public health protections are rolled back.

Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment developed by Pfizer, an American pharmaceutical company, is highly effective for reducing hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients, as long as it is started early. This is especially important for elderly or immunocompromised people, since their immune systems are not as robust as others’ against viruses, even when vaccinated. In his State of the Union address, Biden announced a “test to treat” initiative to provide such pills on the spot in pharmacies when someone tests positive.

The national map of participating pharmacies in test to treat shows large parts of the country with none. Even in areas where treatment is supposed to be available, it can be hard to get. A Kaiser Health News reporter spent three hours driving around Washington, D.C., before finding a pharmacy where testing was available and the drug was in stock — something we should not expect sick people to do. When trying to book appointments online in several states, the reporter was sometimes denied an in-person appointment after listing upper-respiratory symptoms and a positive coronavirus test, even though the point of the program is to treat people with respiratory illness so they don’t get sicker. Many places did not have any same-day appointments, a big obstacle for a drug that should be given as quickly as possible.

The greater difficulty is that the drug can be prescribed only by a medical doctor, advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant, especially because it can interact harmfully with many other drugs. It cannot be prescribed by a pharmacist. Many pharmacies aren’t participating in the national program because they don’t have a clinic on site where a health practitioner can assess a person’s eligibility. Even if they have one, managing prescriptions for high-risk people is best done by a patient’s regular doctor, not in a one-off encounter at a pharmacy. Patients who successfully wangle an appointment are asked to bring a list of all their drugs and, I suppose, resolve all the complexities in one sitting.

As further congressional funding has not been approved, the funds used for reimbursement for coronavirus testing have begun to be depleted, so people without insurance or whose insurance doesn’t cover such clinics have to pay for the health appointment out of pocket.

So it’s not hard to predict that many people will be left behind…

Also, it’s not that easy to get a same-day appointment with one’s regular physician, even for those who have great insurance. This makes catching the early treatment window harder. In most places, emergency rooms are always open, but besides being overloaded and understaffed, they are the last places where infected people should congregate or where the elderly or those at high risk should spend hours merely to get access to a crucial drug…

Not having a regular relationship with a medical provider — too common in the United States — leaves these high-risk people open to confusion and misinformation, especially in the current political environment. People without insurance lagged in being vaccinated at all and will face more obstacles in getting antivirals.” (B)

“Last month, the owner of a small pharmacy here secured two dozen courses of Pfizer’s new medication for treating Covid-19, eager to quickly provide them to his high-risk customers who test positive for the virus.

More than a month later, the pharmacy, Demmy’s, has dispensed the antiviral pills to just seven people. The remaining stock is sitting in neatly packed rows on its shelves in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. And the owner, Adeolu Odewale, is scrambling to figure out how to get the medication, Paxlovid, to more people as cases have increased over 80 percent in Maryland in recent days.

“I didn’t expect that I was still going to be sitting on that many of them,” he said of the pills he still has on hand. “It’s just that people need to know how to get it.”…

State health officials say that many Americans who would be good candidates for Paxlovid do not seek it out because they are unaware they qualify for it, hesitant about taking a new medication, or confused by the fact that some providers interpret the eligibility guidelines more narrowly than others.

Since the medication has to be prescribed by a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, people have to navigate an often byzantine health care system in search of a prescription, then find a pharmacy that carries the treatment, all within five days of developing symptoms. The medication, prescribed as three pills taken twice a day for five days, is meant to be started early in the course of infection.

A new federal program that President Biden announced earlier this year, called “test to treat,” is supposed to let people visit hundreds of qualified pharmacy-based clinics, community health centers and long-term care facilities across the country to get tested for the coronavirus and, if positive, receive Paxlovid on the spot. But almost two months later, it is still limited in its reach and has not dramatically sped up access to the drug beyond what its sites were already equipped to do, experts said.

More than 630,000 courses of the drug — roughly a third of the supply distributed to date — are currently available, and the federal government has been sending 175,000 courses to states each week, according to federal data. Its use rapidly increased in recent weeks, federal officials said, but data on who has received the medication remains sparse.

The White House on Tuesday morning announced a series of new measures intended to shore up programs for getting the pill to eligible Americans, emphasizing the surplus and pushing doctors to stop thinking of the treatment as scarce. It said it would allow pharmacies to begin ordering the drug directly from the federal government, and that it would aim in coming weeks to double the number of pharmacies carrying Covid antiviral medication, to 40,000. The administration would also work with states to open new test-to-treat locations, the White House said.

Of the more than 2,000 test-to-treat sites, about half are CVS MinuteClinics with in-house nurse practitioners and physician assistants who can prescribe the drug. Many of the other sites are Walgreens, Kroger and other chain pharmacies, as well as federally funded health centers.

Public health experts and patients who have tried navigating the program say that appointments can still be difficult to find, and can require long drives. Much of rural America lacks easy access to the program.

“It’s a good idea, except for all of the barriers,” said Dr. Walid Gellad, a pharmaceutical and drug safety expert at the University of Pittsburgh.

One of those obstacles, he said, is differing interpretations of the eligibility guidelines. Some health departments and doctors might go by the C.D.C.’s definition of people at high risk for becoming severely ill or dying from Covid, which includes not only people 65 and older and those with chronic medical conditions but also people who are at increased risk based on “where they live or work, or because they can’t get health care.”..

Giving pharmacists prescribing power could dramatically expand the speed and ease with which people get the treatment, public health experts say. But regulators at the F.D.A. and other federal health officials believe there is reason to not allow pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid themselves, even though some Canadian pharmacists can do so. The treatment can interfere with certain medications and should be prescribed at a lower dose for people with kidney impairment, which is measured with a blood test.

Pharmacists say that they are highly trained and well equipped to conduct such screening themselves. Michael Ganio, senior director of pharmacy practice and quality at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, said pharmacists could get Paxlovid to patients faster if they could prescribe it, “without having to call a physician’s office and wait for a call back, and hope it happens within five-day period.”

Noting that MinuteClinics tend to be located in affluent areas, he said of the test-to-treat program: “In terms of expanding access, it hasn’t done what it could do, particularly in medically underserved areas.” (C)

“Now that most US cities and states have dropped masking requirements and other precautions against Covid-19, you may be wondering about your chances of getting infected or, worse, being hospitalized or dying if you happen to get sick.

Researchers have been digging into that question, and in general, what they’ve found is that for people who are considered up to date on their Covid-19 vaccines — that means getting a booster when it’s recommended — protection against illness drops off over three or four months after your last dose, but protection against hospitalization and death remains high…

Data presented this week to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices breaks this down.

Here’s how protection is holding up in real life against an infection by the Omicron coronavirus variant that causes symptoms. If you got:

Two doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, they’re are 30% effective between two and four months after your shots.

One dose of Johnson & Johnson and one dose of an mRNA shot from Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna, your vaccines are 55% effective between months 2 and 4.

Three doses of an mRNA shot, your vaccines are 63% effective between months 2 and 4.

After five months, boosters offer almost no protection against Omicron infection, according to data from the UK’s Health Security Agency.

Protection against hospitalization with low immune function

When it comes to emergency care or hospitalization, the protection you get from vaccines really depends on your immune function.

Sara Tartof, an epidemiologist for Kaiser Permanente in Southern California, has been studying how well a third dose of the Pfizer mRNA vaccine is doing at keeping adults in her health system out of the hospital.

Up to three months after a third dose, the vaccine’s effectiveness against hospitalization was 85%, but it fell to 55% after three months. After a closer look, though, she found that these results were largely driven by immune status.

“We saw no evidence of waning but in the immunocompromised,” Tartof said. “In the immunocompromised, vaccine effectiveness basically starts low and gets lower.”

But for people with regular immune function, vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization stayed high — about 86% — after three months.

Her initial study results are published in The Lancet Repiratory Medicine. Tartof says she plans to update them soon with results by immune status.

In general, researchers are finding that for adults 50 and older whose immune systems are working normally, protection starts high and remains high — about 84% — for up to six months after a booster dose, when it comes to the risk of being hospitalized with an infection caused by the Omicron variant.

For adults 50 and older who have reduced immune function, such as those who’ve had solid organ transplants or who are getting cancer treatment, protection from a booster is initially good but falls faster.

For example, up to two months after a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine, an immunocompromised adult can expect 81% protection from hospitalization if they get an infection caused by the Omicron variant, but that drops to about 49% after four months, according to new CDC data. This is one of the reasons this group has been prioritized for additional boosters.” (D)

“A fourth dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine offers a short-term boost of protection against infection that starts waning after just four weeks, according to new research out of Israel.

The study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Tuesday, found that effectiveness against infection in the fourth week after the second booster shot was lower than protection mounted after the third vaccine dose. The protection drastically falls after eight weeks.

Researchers concluded that “these findings suggest that protection against confirmed infection wanes quickly.”

Protection against severe illness, however, didn’t wane during the six weeks after the fourth shot, according to the study. But researchers reported that “more follow-up is needed in order to evaluate the protection of the fourth dose against severe illness over longer periods.”

The study focused on adults ages 60 and older and examined 1.25 million vaccinated people in Israel from Jan. 10 to March 2, when the omicron variant was the dominant strain.

The research comes just about a week after the Food and Drug Administration authorized an additional coronavirus booster shot for Americans ages 50 and older at least four months after their third dose, citing waning protection from previous shots.

The agency cited data out of Israel showing “increases in neutralizing antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 virus, including delta and omicron variants were reported two weeks after the second booster as compared to 5 months after the first booster dose” for its decision, which came without a meeting or endorsement from its vaccine advisory committee.

Leading infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said during a press briefing on Tuesday that “booster shots protect against serious illness, hospitalizations and even death” – notably not mentioning infection.” (E)

“The Director for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Michael Osterholm, said there are really two parts to the question of the mask mandate for transit being thrown out by the judge in Florida.

“I think the legal aspect of whether CDC has authority to make such recommendations is really critical,” Osterholm said. “Not in the entire history of health in this country have we had a ruling that could limit significantly what a public health agency can recommend or do in the time of a public health emergency or crisis. That would be a really shortsighted mistake to do that. So I hope that from that standpoint, this decision is overturned.”

However, from a pure health standpoint, Osterholm does not believe the mandate as it has existed is effective.

“In terms of the actual mask mandate is the fact that if you’re using an N95 respirator and you actually wear it over your nose and don’t take it off to eat or drink, then the impact of that, both in terms of you transmitting the virus to someone else, if you’re infected or of you becoming infected from someone else, is remarkable, that would be outstanding,” Osterholm said.

That is not how the mandate was being enforced.

“The bottom line is the mask mandate doesn’t require that,” Osterholm said. “What it says is you’ve got to put some kind (of mask) in front of your face. And oh, by the way, if it’s all underneath your nose, so what? Which a quarter of the people do. Oh, by the way, if you’re eating or drinking, you don’t have to wear it. Like somehow the virus is going to take a vacation while you’re eating or drinking. So, from that standpoint, the mask mandate has never made public health sense to me because it’s really extracting a lot of political capital from public health.” (F)

“In the middle of last year, the World Health Organization began promoting an ambitious goal, one it said was essential for ending the pandemic: fully vaccinate 70 percent of the population in every country against Covid-19 by June 2022.

Now, it is clear that the world will fall far short of that target by the deadline. And there is a growing sense of resignation among public health experts that high Covid vaccination coverage may never be achieved in most lower-income countries, as badly needed funding from the United States dries up and both governments and donors turn to other priorities.

“The reality is that there is a loss of momentum,” said Dr. Isaac Adewole, a former health minister of Nigeria who now serves as a consultant for the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Only a few of the world’s 82 poorest countries — including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia and Nepal — have reached the 70 percent vaccination threshold. Many are under 20 percent, according to data compiled from government sources by the Our World in Data project at the University of Oxford.

By comparison, about two-thirds of the world’s richest countries have reached 70 percent. (The United States is at 66 percent.)

The consequences of giving up on achieving high vaccination coverage worldwide could prove severe. Public health experts say that abandoning the global effort could lead to the emergence of dangerous new variants that would threaten the world’s precarious efforts to live with the virus….

Some global health experts say the world missed a prime opportunity last year to provide vaccines to lower-income countries, when the public was more fearful of Covid and motivated to get vaccinated.

“There was a time people were very desperate to get vaccinated, but the vaccines were not there. And then they realized that without the vaccination, they didn’t die,” said Dr. Adewole, who wants to see countries continue to pursue the 70 percent target.

What momentum remains in the global vaccination campaign has been hindered by a shortfall in funding for the equipment, transportation and personnel needed to get shots into arms.

In the United States, a key funder of the vaccination effort, lawmakers stripped $5 billion meant for global pandemic aid from the coronavirus response package that is expected to come up for a vote in the next few weeks. Biden administration officials have said that without the funds, they will be unable to provide support for vaccine delivery to more than 20 under-vaccinated countries.”  (G)

“The Biden administration will renew its push with lawmakers to secure Covid-19 funding next week when Congress returns from recess, a White House official told CNN, following inaction from the Senate on a $10 billion funding package before the two-week Easter break…

The Biden administration has been sounding the alarm for weeks that additional funding is needed to continue the federal Covid-19 response, even as it seeks a return to “normal” with many pandemic-era restrictions lifting.

Concerns raised by officials include:

A possible lack of adequate resources to purchase enough booster shots for all Americans if additional booster shots are authorized

The possibility that monoclonal antibody treatments run out as soon as next month

A scaled-back purchase of AstraZeneca’s preventative treatment

Insufficient testing capacity and supply going forward

Impacts to research and development

Impasse over Covid aid

The Biden administration requested $22.5 billion in supplemental Covid-19 relief funding last month in a massive government funding package, but it was stripped from the bill. It included funding for testing, treatments, therapeutics and preventing future outbreaks. Negotiators were able to reach an agreement on a scaled-back $10 billion package, but Congress left Washington earlier this month without passing that bipartisan bill amid a disagreement over the Title 42 immigration policy — a pandemic-era rule that allowed migrants to be returned immediately to their home countries citing a public health emergency.

The impasse before the Easter break came as Republicans demanded a vote on an immigration amendment to restore Title 42. Democrats objected, criticizing Republicans for what they called an eleventh-hour ask in a negotiation they had thought was final…

The inaction before the break marked the second time a tentative deal on a Covid relief package had been scuttled in just over a month. In March, a $15.6 billion package that had been negotiated by House and Senate leaders collapsed when a group of House Democrats revolted against it because of how it was paid for.” (H)

“As COVID-19 cases rise across the country, the leader of the White House’s coronavirus response said officials are paying close attention to new variants but stressed that the U.S. should “get through this without disruption.”

Virus cases have jumped more than 50% in the past two weeks as the omicron BA.2 variant becomes the dominant strain in the country.

Hospitalizations, meanwhile, have not surged so far during this wave.

“We’re going to watch this carefully,” Ashish Jha, the White House’s COVID-19 response coordinator, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “My expectation is that we’re going to see cases go up. We’re going to see cases go down. The key things: Make sure that hospitalizations and deaths are not rising in any substantial way, looking at variants, paying very close attention.

“Let’s see where the next few months go,” he added. “I’m concerned. I’m going to watch those numbers. But at this point, I remain confident that we’re going to get through this without disruption.”..

“Cases are still important. Infections are still important. We want to keep those infection numbers low. But, they mean something different now than they did a year ago,” Jha said. “They mean something different because people are vaccinated and boosted. They mean something different because we have a lot more therapeutics available.

“So we are going to have to change our behavior and respond in a different way as the pandemic evolves,” he added. “And I think, at this point, responding with care and caution, but not overreacting, is critical.”  (I)

“The White House is making a push Tuesday for more Covid patients to get treated with Pfizer’s Paxlovid as hundreds of people in the U.S. continue to die from the coronavirus every day.

Officials said that because the drug has been underused in the fight against the pandemic, the federal government will double the number of locations where Paxlovid is available. The locations will include 40,000 pharmacies, community health centers, hospitals, urgent care centers and Veterans Affairs clinics.

The White House said it expects that as many as 10,000 of the sites could start carrying the drug as soon as this week.

“It’s pretty clear from the uptake of Paxlovid and the rate of hospitalizations and deaths over the months Paxlovid has been available that there still are some folks who could have benefited from these medications,” a senior administration official told reporters. “We can save more lives by getting this medication to more people.”

Administration officials said the federal government will work with state and local governments to set up additional test-to-treat sites where patients can be seen by medical providers and get the drug in one location, rather than the two-step process of visiting their physicians and then picking up the prescriptions from pharmacies. There are currently 2,200 test-to-treat locations nationwide, the White House said.

Officials have been frustrated for weeks about the limited use of the drug, saying many doctors and patients probably don’t realize it is now widely available after months of being in scarce supply.” (J)

“Following concerns that the program was inaccessible to Americans living in many parts of the country, officials said the administration is planning to launch new “federally-supported Test-to-Treat sites” beyond the 2,200 locations currently in the program.

“I think we’re going to be working really closely with these new federally supported sites, work directly with state, territorial, and jurisdictional leadership to identify the places that need more support,” said an administration official.

Officials acknowledged that the new moves do not address some of the criticisms levied against the Biden administration’s treatment effort.

Despite objections from pharmacy trade groups, the FDA excludes most pharmacists from being able to prescribe Paxlovid or Lagevrio. For at-risk Americans without access to a “test-to-treat” drugstore that has a qualifying provider available, this means some will have to make multiple trips to get the pills.

“You have to develop COVID symptoms, you have to subsequently get a test for COVID-19, get the result of that test, find and go to see a provider, get a prescription, and then fill that prescription. That’s six steps in five days,” said an official.” (K)

“Florida’s respite from the pandemic may be ending. The state’s COVID-19 infection rate has doubled in the past two weeks and the positivity rates are up to 8 percent — the highest level seen since February. Even hospitalizations, which tend to lag behind infections, are ticking back up across the state.

A new strain of COVID-19 may be partially to blame. The variant, called BA.2.12.1 is part of the omicron family. It may be 23-to-27 percent more infectious than BA.2, according to the New York Department of Health, and is likely behind the recent spike in infections in that state. The Florida Department of Health would not comment on whether the new variant was a concern here…

20,860: Number of cases reported in Florida in the past week.

2,980: Average cases a day, a 34 percent increase compared to the previous week.

Positivity. 8 percent: Florida, compared to 6.2 percent the previous week.

Hospitalizations. 746: Florida hospitalizations, a 7 percent increase compared to the prior week.” (L)

“As SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread and mutate globally, facilitated by pandemic fatigue, recombinants of variants keep forming; the recently discovered XE subvariant is a hybrid of BA.1 and BA.2 that is starting to spread; XE cases are relatively rare but have grown high enough that the U.K. Health Security Agency estimates it’s about 10 percent more contagious than BA.2.

Meanwhile, a new BA.2 descendent called BA.2.12.1 is spreading even more rapidly, causing 20 percent of all cases in the U.S. within a month of its discovery in early March. Earlier estimates show that BA.2.12.1 spreads faster than earlier strains and could be better at dodging the immune system’s antibodies.

“There are actually many new versions of Omicron, not just two. And in some cases, they do appear to be outcompeting even BA.2,” says Harvard’s Barouch.

This all means the U.S. “needs to recharge its vaccination program” to avoid a likely surge in the fall and winter, says Saad Omer, an epidemiologist who directs the Yale Institute for Global Health in Connecticut.” (M)

“The Coronavirus Has Infected More Than Half of Americans, the C.D.C. Reports. But prior infection does not guarantee protection from the virus, officials said, and Americans should still get vaccinated and boosted.

Sixty percent of Americans, including 75 percent of children, had been infected with the coronavirus by February, federal health officials reported on Tuesday — another remarkable milestone in a pandemic that continues to confound expectations.

The highly contagious Omicron variant was responsible for much of the toll. In December 2021, as the variant began spreading, only half as many people had antibodies indicating prior infection, according to new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While the numbers came as a shock to many Americans, some scientists said they had expected the figures to be even higher, given the contagious variants that have marched through the nation over the past two years.

There may be good news in the data, some experts said. A gain in population-wide immunity may offer at least a partial bulwark against future waves. And the trend may explain why the surge that is now roaring through China and many countries in Europe has been muted in the United States.

A high percentage of previous infections may also mean that there are now fewer cases of life-threatening illness or death relative to infections. “We will see less and less severe disease, and more and more a shift toward clinically mild disease,” said Florian Krammer, an immunologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

“It will be more and more difficult for the virus to do serious damage,” he added.

Administration officials, too, believe that the data augur a new phase of the pandemic in which infections may be common at times but cause less harm.

At a news briefing on Tuesday, Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House’s new Covid coordinator, said that stopping infections was “not even a policy goal. The goal of our policy should be: obviously, minimize infections whenever possible, but to make sure people don’t get seriously ill.”

The average number of confirmed new cases a day in the United States — more than 49,000 as of Monday, according to a New York Times database — is comparable to levels last seen in late July, even as cases have risen by over 50 percent over the past two weeks, a trend infectious disease experts have attributed to new Omicron subvariants.

Dr. Jha and other officials warned against complacency, and urged Americans to continue receiving vaccinations and booster shots, saying that antibodies from prior infections did not guarantee protection from the virus.” (N)

(A) How the Test-to-Treat Pillar of the US Covid Strategy Is Failing Patients, By Hannah Recht, https://khn.org/news/article/test-to-treat-biden-covid-failing-patients-pharmacies-cvs/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=210127631&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–hQMTtFxQRMwsq0xvqfCL1PKWp2TBvdCis2WcNZfuSRIK1GYvD6FQCswpCBzajMH6Iyrg0nSaXMScdpiKNUKbRGkJPOIwBGyzE5tMMKsR43ddSE_U&utm_content=210127631&utm_source=hs_email

(B) Covid Drugs Save Lives, but Americans Can’t Get Them, by ZEYNEP TUFEKCI, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/22/opinion/covid-pandemic-drugs-treatment.html?referringSource=articleShare

(C) With Supply More Abundant, Pharmacies Struggle to Use Up Covid Pills, By Noah Weiland, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/26/us/politics/paxlovid-test-to-treat.html

(D) How well is our immunity holding up against Covid-19?, By Brenda Goodman, https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/22/health/immunity-against-covid-19/index.html

(E) Israeli Study Suggests Protection Against COVID-19 Infection from 4th Vaccine Dose Wanes Quickly, By Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder, https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-04-06/israeli-study-suggests-protection-against-covid-19-infection-from-2nd-booster-shot-wanes-quickly

(F) Osterholm says CDC needs to have the authority to decide mandates, by Ryan Janke, https://kfgo.com/2022/04/22/osterholm-says-cdc-needs-to-have-the-authority-to-decide-mandates/

(G) The Drive to Vaccinate the World Against Covid Is Losing Steam, By Rebecca Robbins and Stephanie Nolen, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/23/health/covid-vaccines-world-africa.html?referringSource=articleShare

(H) Biden administration to renew Covid-19 funding push when Congress returns next week, By Betsy Klein, https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/23/politics/biden-administration-covid-19-funding-push-congress/index.html

(I) Ashish Jha on the omicron BA.2 variant wave: ‘We’re going to get through this without disruption’, By RICK SOBEY, https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/04/24/ashish-jha-on-the-omicron-ba-2-variant-wave-were-going-to-get-through-this-without-disruption/

(J) White House pushes to increase use of Pfizer’s Covid treatment Paxlovid, By Shannon Pettypiece, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/white-house-pushes-increase-use-pfizers-covid-treatment-paxlovid-rcna25958

(K) White House aims to boost use of COVID drugs like Paxlovid, citing plentiful supply, BY ALEXANDER TIN, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-drugs-paxlovid-pills-supply-biden-administration/

(L) Florida adds 20,860 COVID cases in past week as infections climb, By Ian Hodgson, https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2022/04/23/florida-adds-20860-covid-cases-in-past-week-as-infections-climb/

(M) Here’s what we know about the BA.2 Omicron subvariant driving a new COVID-19 wave, BY SANJAY MISHRA, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/heres-what-we-know-about-the-ba2-omicron-subvariant-now-driving-a-new-wave

(N) The Coronavirus Has Infected More Than Half of Americans, the C.D.C. Reports, By Apoorva Mandavilli, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/26/health/coronavirus-antibodies-americans-cdc.html?referringSource=articleShare

CORONAVIRUS TRACKING Links to POSTS 1-248

CORONAVIRUS TRACKING Links to POSTS 1-248

Doctor, Did You Wash Your Hands?®

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/

Curated Contemporaneous Case Study Methodology

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2019/12/9897/

Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr.P.H.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/jonathan-m-metsch-dr-p-h-2/

PART 1. January 21, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed the first U.S. case of a deadly new coronavirus that has killed six people in China.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/01/the-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-on-tuesday-confirmed-the-first-u-s-case-of-a-deadly-new-coronavirus-that-has-killed-six-people-in-china/

PART 2. January 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “If it’s not contained shortly, I think we are looking at a pandemic..”….. “With isolated cases of the dangerous new coronavirus cropping up in a number of states, public health officials say it is only a matter of time before the virus appears in New York City.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/01/part-2-coronavirus-if-its-not-contained-shortly-i-think-we-are-looking-at-a-pandemic-with-isolated-cases-of-the-dangerous-new-coronavirus-cropping-u/

PART3. February 3, 2020. “The Wuhan coronavirus spreading from China is now likely to become a pandemic that circles the globe…”..Trump appeared to downplay concerns about the flu-like virus …We’re gonna see what happens, but we did shut it down..” (D)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part3-the-wuhan-coronavirus-spreading-from-china-is-now-likely-to-become-a-pandemic-that-circles-the-globe-trump-appeared-to-downplay-concerns-about-the-flu-like-virus/

PART 4. February 9, 2020. Coronavirus. “A study published Friday in JAMA found that 41% of the first 138 patients diagnosed at one hospital in Wuhan, China, were presumed to be infected in that hospital.….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-4-coronavirus-so-like-sars-and-mers-other-coronaviruses-before-it-the-wuhan-coronavirus-is-spreading-in-hospitals/

PART 5. February 12, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “In short, shoe-leather public health and basic medical care—not miracle drugs—are generally what stop outbreaks of emerging infections..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-5-coronavirus-in-short-shoe-leather-public-health-and-basic-medical-care-not-miracle-drugs-are-generally-what-stop-outbreaks-of-emerging-infections/

POST 6. February 18, 2020.  Coronovirus. “Amid assurances that the (ocean liner) Westerdam was disease free, hundreds of people disembarked in Cambodia…” “ One was later found to be infected”…. “Over 1,000… passengers were in…transit home”…. “This could be a turning point””

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/post-6-coronovirus-amid-assurances-that-the-ocean-liner-westerdam-was-disease-free-hundreds-of-people-disembarked-in-cambodia-one-was-later-found-to-be-infect/

PART 7. February 20, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. With SARS preparedness underway in NJ LibertyHealth/ Jersey City Medical Center, where I was President, proposed that our 100 bed community hospital with all single-bedded rooms, be immediately transformed into an EMERGENCY SARS ISOLATION Hospital.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-7-coronavirus-with-sars-preparedness-underway-in-nj-libertyhealth-jersey-city-medical-center-where-i-was-president-proposed-that-our-100-bed-community-hospital-with-all-single-bedded-rooms/

PART 8. February 24, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…every country’s top priority should be to protect its health care workers. This is partly to ensure that hospitals themselves do not become sites where the coronavirus is spread more than it is contained.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-8-coronavirus-every-countrys-top-priority-should-be-to-protect-its-health-care-workers-this-is-partly-to-ensure-that-hospitals-themselves-do-not-become-sites-where-t/

PART 9. February 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Responding to a question about the likelihood of a U.S. outbreak, President Trump said, “I don’t think it’s inevitable…”It probably will. It possibly will,” he continued. “It could be at a very small level, or it could be at a larger level.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/02/part-9-coronavirus-responding-to-a-question-about-the-likelihood-of-a-u-s-outbreak-president-trump-said-i-dont-think-its-inevitableit-probably-will-it-possibly-will-he-contin/

Part 10. March 1, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Stop Surprise Medical Bills for Coronavirus care. (&) Lessons Learned (or not) In California and Washington State from community acquired cases.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-10-coronavirus-stop-surprise-medical-bills-for-coronavirus-care-lessons-learned-or-not-in-california-and-washington-state-from-community-acquired-cases/

PART 11. March 5, 2020.  CORONAVIRUS. “Gov. Andrew Cuomo… would require employers to pay workers and protect their jobs if they are quarantined because of the coronavirus.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-11-coronavirus-gov-andrew-cuomo-would-require-employers-to-pay-workers-and-protect-their-jobs-if-they-are-quarantined-because-of-the-coronavirus/

Part 12. March 10, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Tom Bossert, Donald Trump’s former homeland security advisor…(said) that due to the coronavirus outbreak, “We are 10 days from the hospitals getting creamed.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-12-coronavirus-tom-bossert-donald-trumps-former-homeland-security-advisorsaid-that-due-to-the-coronavirus-outbreak-we-are-10-days-from-the-hospitals-gett/

Part 13.. March 14, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “If I’m buying real estate in New York, I’ll listen to the President….If I’m asking about infectious diseases, I’m going to listen to Tony Fauci,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-13-coronavirus-march-14-2020-if-im-buying-real-estate-in-new-york-ill-listen-to-the-president-if-im-asking-about-infectious-diseases-im-going-to-listen-to-tony-fauci

PART 14. March 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “ “Most physicians have never seen this level of angst and anxiety in their careers”…. One said “I am sort of a pariah in my family.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-14-coronavirus-march-17-2020-most-physicians-have-never-seen-this-level-of-angst-and-anxiety-in-their-careers-one-said-i-am-sort-of-a-pariah-in/

PART 15. March 22, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…Crimson Contagion” and imagining an influenza pandemic, was simulated by the Trump administration….in a series of exercises that ran from last January to August.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-15-coronavirus-march-22-2020-crimson-contagion-and-imagining-an-influenza-pandemic-was-simulated-by-the-trump-administration-in-a-series-of-exercises-that-2/

PART 16. March 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. I am not a clinician or a medical ethicist but articles on Coronavirus patient triage started me Googling………to learn about FUTILE TREATMENT

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/03/part-16-march-27-2020-coronavirus-i-am-not-a-clinician-or-a-medical-ethicist-but-articles-on-coronavirus-patient-triage-started-me-googlingto-learn-about-futile-treatme/

PART 17. April 2, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Florida allows churches to continue holding services. Gun stores deemed “essential.”  “New York’s private and public hospitals unite to manage patient load and share resources.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-17-april-2-2020-coronavirus-florida-allows-churches-to-continue-holding-services-gun-stores-deemed-essential-new-yorks-private-and-public-hospitals-unite-to-ma/

PART 18. April 9, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The federal government’s emergency stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) is depleted, and states will not be receiving any more shipments, administration staff told a House panel.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-18-april-9-2020-coronavirus-the-federal-governments-emergency-stockpile-of-personal-protective-equipment-ppe-is-depleted-and-states-will-not-be-receiving-any-more-shipments/

PART 19. April 13, 2020 CORONOAVIRUS. “…overlooked in the United States’ halting mobilization against the novel coronavirus: the personal aides, hospice attendants, nurses and occupational or physical therapists who deliver medical or support services to patients in their homes.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-19-april-14-2020-coronoavirus-overlooked-in-the-mobilization-against-coronavirus-the-personal-aides-hospice-attendants-nurses-and-occupational-or-physical-therapists-wh/

PART 20. April 20, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…nothing is mentioned in the “Opening Up America Again” plan about how states should handle a resurgence.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-20-april-20-2020-coronavirus-nothing-is-mentioned-in-the-opening-up-america-again-plan-about-how-states-should-handle-a-resurgence-2/

PART 21. April 23, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “We need to ask, are we using ventilators in a way that makes sense for other diseases but not this one?”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/part-21-april-23-2020-coronavirus-we-need-to-ask-are-we-using-ventilators-in-a-way-that-makes-sense-for-other-diseases-but-not-for-this-one-2/

POST 22. April 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. ..the “ACS released a list of 10 issues that should be addressed before a healthcare organization resumes elective surgeries[JM1] ….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/04/post-22-april-29-2020-coronavirus-the-acs-released-a-list-of-10-issues-that-should-be-addressed-before-a-healthcare-organization-resumes-elective-surgeries/

POST 23. May 3, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. … what Dr. Fauci really wants,…”is just to go to a baseball game. That will have to wait. The level of testing for the virus is not adequate enough to allow for such mass gatherings.’ (K)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-23-may-3-2020-coronavirus-what-dr-fauci-really-wantsis-just-to-go-to-a-baseball-game-that-will-have-to-wait-the-level-of-testing-for-the-virus-is-not-adequate/

POST 24. May 7, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie said: “there are going to be deaths no matter what”… but that people needed to get back to work.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-24-may-7-2020-coronavirus-former-new-jersey-governor-chris-christie-said-there-are-going-to-be-deaths-no-matter-what-but-that-people-needed-to-get-back-to-work/

POST 25. May 10, 2020, CORONAVIRUS. “It is scary to go to work,” said Kevin Hassett, a top economic adviser to the president. “I think that I’d be a lot safer if I was sitting at home than I would be going to the West Wing.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-25-may-10-2020-coronavirus-it-is-scary-to-go-to-work-said-kevin-hassett-a-top-economic-adviser-to-the-president-i-think-that-id-be-a-lot-safer-if-i-was/

POST 26. May 14, 2020. CORONAVIRUS, “Deep cleaning is not a scientific concept”….”there is no universal protocol for a “deep clean” to eradicate the coronavirus”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-26-may-14-2020-coronavirus-deep-cleaning-is-not-a-scientific-concept-there-is-no-universal-protocol-for-a-deep-clean-to-eradicate-the-cor-2/

POST 27. May 19, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Hospital…executives…are taking pay cuts…to help offset the financial fallout from COVID-19.” As “front line” layoffs and furloughs accelerate…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-27-may-19-2020-coronavirus-hospitalexecutivesare-taking-pay-cutsto-help-offset-the-financial-fallout-from-covid-19-as-front-line/

POST 28. May 23, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. ““You’ve got to be kidding me,”..”How could the CDC make that mistake? This is a mess.” CDC conflates viral and antibody tests numbers.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/post-28-may-23-2020-coronavirus-youve-got-to-be-kidding-me-how-could-the-cdc-make-that-mistake-this-is-a-mess-cdc-conflates-viral-and-anti/

PART 29. May 22, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The economy did not close down. It closed down for people who, frankly, had the luxury of staying home,” (Governor Cuomo). But not so for frontline workers!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/05/part-29-may-22-2020-coronavirus-the-economy-did-not-close-down-it-closed-down-for-people-who-frankly-had-the-luxury-of-staying-home-but-not-so-for-frontline-workers/

POST 30. June 3,202. CORONAVIRUS. “The wave of mass protests across the United States will almost certainly set off new chains of infection for the novel coronavirus, experts say….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-30-june-3202-coronavirus-the-wave-of-mass-protests-across-the-united-states-will-almost-certainly-set-off-new-chains-of-infection-for-the-novel-coronavirus-experts-say/

POST 31. June 9, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “I think we had an unintended consequence: I think we made people afraid to come back to the hospital,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-31-june-9-2020-coronavirus-i-think-we-had-an-unintended-consequence-i-think-we-made-people-afraid-to-come-back-to-the-hospital/

Post 32. June 16, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Could the Trump administration be pursuing herd immunity by “inaction”?  “ If Fauci didn’t exist, we’d have to invent him.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-32-june-16-2020-coronavirus-could-the-trump-administration-be-pursuing-herd-immunity-by-inaction-if-fauci-didnt-exist-wed-have-to-invent-him/

POST 33. June 21, 2002. CORONAVIRUS….. Smashing (lowering the daily number of cases) v. flattening the curve (maintaining a plateau)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-33-june-23-2002-coronavirus-smashing-lowering-the-daily-number-of-cases-v-flattening-the-curve-maintaining-a-plateau/

POST 34. June 26, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. CDC Director Redfield… “the number of coronavirus infections…could be 10 times higher than the confirmed case count — a total of more than 20 million.” As Florida, Texas and Arizona become eipicenters!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-34-june-26-2020-coronavirus-cdc-director-redfield-the-number-of-coronavirus-infectionscould-be-10-times-higher-than-the-confirmed-case-count-a-total-of-mo/

POST 35. June 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Pence: “We slowed the spread. We flattened the curve. We saved lives..”  While Dr. Fauci “warned that outbreaks in the South and West could engulf the country…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/06/post-35-june-29-2020-coronavirus-pence-we-slowed-the-spread-we-flattened-the-curve-we-saved-lives-while-dr-fauci-warned-that-outbreaks-in-the-south-and-west-could-engulf-the-co/

POST 36. July 2, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “There’s just a handful of interventions proven to curb the spread of the coronavirus. One of them is contact tracing, and “it’s not going well,” (Dr. Anthony Fauci)..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-36-july-2-2020-coronavirus-theres-just-a-handful-of-interventions-proven-to-curb-the-spread-of-the-coronavirus-one-of-them-is-contact-tracing-and-its-not/

POST 37. June 8, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. When “crews arrive at a hospital with a patient suspected of having COVID-19, the hospital may have a physical bed open for them, but not enough nurses or doctors to staff it.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-37-june-8-2020-coronavirus-when-crews-arrive-at-a-hospital-with-a-patient-suspected-of-having-covid-19-the-hospital-may-have-a-physical-bed-open-for-them-but-not-enough-nurses-or-d/

POST 38. July 15, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Some Lessons Learned, or not. AdventHealth CEO Terry Shaw: I wouldn’t hesitate to go to Disney as a healthcare CEO — based on the fact that they’re working extremely hard to keep people safe,” (M)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-38-july-15-2020-coronavirus-some-lessons-learned-or-not-adventhealth-ceo-terry-shaw-i-wouldnt-hesitate-to-go-to-disney-as-a-healthcare-ceo-based-on-the-fact-that-theyre-worki/

POST 39. July, 23,2020. CORONAVIRUS. A Tale of Two Cities. Seattle becomes New York (rolls back reopening) while New York becomes Seattle (moves to partial phase 4 reopening)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-39-july-232020-coronavirus-a-tale-of-two-cities-seattle-becomes-new-york-rolls-back-reopening-while-new-york-becomes-seattle-moves-to-partial-phase-4-reopening/

POST 40. July 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.” One canon of medical practice is that you order a test only if you can act on the result. And with a turnaround time of a week or two, you cannot. What we have now is often not testing — it’s testing theater.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/07/post-40-july-27-2020-coronavirus-one-canon-of-medical-practice-is-that-you-order-a-test-only-if-you-can-act-on-the-result-and-with-a-turnaround-time-of-a-week-or-two-you-cannot-what-we/

POST 41. August 2, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Whenever a vaccine for the coronavirus becomes available, one thing is virtually certain: There won’t be enough to go around. That means there will be rationing.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/08/post-41-august-2-2020-coronavirus-whenever-a-vaccine-for-the-coronavirus-becomes-available-one-thing-is-virtually-certain-there-wont-be-enough-to-go-around-that-means-there-wi-2/

POST 42. August 11, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “I think that if future historians look back on this period, what they will see is a tragedy of denial….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/08/post-42-coronavirus-august-11-2020-i-think-that-if-future-historians-look-back-on-this-period-what-they-will-see-is-a-tragedy-of-denial/

POST 43. August 22, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.”  “we’ve achieved something great as a nation. We’ve created an unyielding market for FAUCI BOBBLEHEADS”!! (W)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/08/post-43-august-22-2020-coronavirus-weve-achieved-something-great-as-a-nation-weve-created-an-unyielding-market-for-fauci-bobbleheads-w/

POST 44.  September 1, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The CDC…modified its coronavirus testing guidelines…to exclude people who do not have symptoms of Covid-19.” (While Dr. Fauci was undergoing surgery.) A White House official said: “Everybody is going to catch this thing eventually..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/08/post-44-september-1-2020-coronavirus-the-cdcmodified-its-coronavirus-testing-guidelinesto-exclude-people-who-do-not-have-symptoms-of-covid-19-while-dr-fauci-2/

POST 45. September 9, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.  Trump on Fauci. ‘You inherit a lot of people, and you have some you love, some you don’t. I like him. I don’t agree with him that often but I like him.’

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/09/post-45-september-9-2020-coronavirus-trump-on-fauci-you-inherit-a-lot-of-people-and-you-have-some-you-love-some-you-dont-i-like-him-i-dont-agree-with-him-that-often-but-i-like-him-2/

POST 46.  September 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Bill Gates used to think of the US Food and Drug Administration as the world’s premier public-health authority. Not anymore. And he doesn’t trust the Centers for Disease Control and Protection either….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/09/post-46-september-17-2020-coronavirus-bill-gates-used-to-think-of-the-us-food-and-drug-administration-as-the-worlds-premier-public-health-authority-not-anymore-and-he-doesn-2/

POST 47. September 24, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the School of Public Health at Rutgers University…called New York City’s 35 percent rate for eliciting contacts “very bad.” “For each person, you should be in touch with 75 percent of their contacts within a day,” he said”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/09/post-47-september-24-2020-coronavirus-perry-n-halkitis-dean-of-the-school-of-public-health-at-rutgers-universitycalled-new-york-citys-35-percent-rate-for-eliciting-con/

POST 48. October 1, 2020.   “…you can actually control the outbreak if you do the nonpharmaceutical interventions (social distancing and masks). In the United States we haven’t done them. We haven’t adhered to them; we’ve played with them.” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/09/post-48-october-1-2020-you-can-actually-control-the-outbreak-if-you-do-the-nonpharmaceutical-interventions-social-distancing-and-masks-in-the-united-states-we-havent-done-t-2/

POST 49. October 4, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. RAPID RESPONSE. “The possibility that the president and his White House entourage were traveling superspreaders is a nightmare scenario for officials in Minnesota, Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-49-october-4-2020-coronavirus-rapid-response-the-possibility-that-the-president-and-his-white-house-entourage-were-traveling-superspreaders-is-a-nightmare-scenario-for-officials-in/

POST 50. October 6, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Monday October 5th will go down as one of the most fraught chapters in the history of American public Health (and national security).

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-50-october-6-2020-coronavirus-monday-october-5th-will-go-down-as-one-of-the-most-fraught-chapters-in-the-history-of-american-public-health-and-national-security/

POST 51. October 12, 2020. Rather than a hodge-podge of Emergency Use Authorizations, off-label “experimentation”, right-to-try arguments, and “politicized” compassionate use approvals maybe we need to designate REGIONAL EMERGING VIRUSES REFERRAL CENTERS (REVRCs).

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-51-october-14-2020-rather-than-a-hodge-podge-of-emergency-use-authorizations-off-label-experimentation-right-to-try-arguments-and-politicized-compassiona/

POST 52. October 18, 2020.  ZIKA/ EBOLA/ CANDIDA AURIS/ SEVERE FLU/ Tracking. “… if there was a severe flu pandemic, more than 33 million people could be killed across the world in 250 days… Boy, do we not have our act together.” —”- Bill Gates. July 1, 2018

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-52-october-18-2020-zika-ebola-candida-auris-severe-flu-tracking-if-there-was-a-severe-flu-pandemic-more-than-33-million-people-could-be-killed-across-the-world-in-250/

POST 53. October 20, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “a…“herd-immunity strategy” is a contradiction in terms, in that herd immunity is the absence of a strategy.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-53-october-20-2020-coronavirus-aherd-immunity-strategy-is-a-contradiction-in-terms-in-that-herd-immunity-is-the-absence-of-a-strategy/

POST 54. October 22, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. POST 54A. New Jersey’s Coronavirus response, led by Governor Murphy and Commissioner of Health Persichilli started with accelerated A+ traditional, evidence-based Public Health practices, developed over years of experience with seasonal flu, swine flu, Zika, and Ebola.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-54a-october-23-2020-coronavirus-new-jerseys-coronavirus-response-led-by-governor-murphy-and-commissioner-of-health-persichilli-started-with-accelerated-a-traditional-evidence-base/

POST 55. October 26, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. The Testing Conundrum: “ It’s thus very possible to be antigen negative but P.C.R. positive, while still harboring the virus in the body..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-55-october-26-2020-coronavirus-the-testing-conundrum-its-thus-very-possible-to-be-antigen-negative-but-p-c-r-positive-while-still-harboring-the-virus-in-the-body/

Post 56. October 30, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Trump’s now back in charge. It’s not the doctors.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/10/post-56-october-30-2020-coronavirus-trumps-now-back-in-charge-its-not-the-doctors/

POST 57. November 3, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Deborah Birx: the US is entering its “most deadly phase” yet, one that requires “much more aggressive action,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-57-november-3-2020-coronavirus-dr-deborah-birx-the-us-is-entering-its-most-deadly-phase-yet-one-that-requires-much-more-aggressive-action/

POST 58. November 4, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…the president has largely shuttered the White House Coronavirus Task Force and doubled down on anti-science language…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-58-november-4-2020-coronavirus-the-president-has-largely-shuttered-the-white-house-coronavirus-task-force-and-doubled-down-on-anti-science-language/

POST 59. November 5, 2020. Coronavirus. “The United States on Wednesday recorded over 100,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time since the pandemic began..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-59-november-5-2020-coronavirus-the-united-states-on-wednesday-recorded-over-100000-new-coronavirus-cases-in-a-single-day-for-the-first-time-since-the-pandemic-began/

POST 60. November 7, 2020. “White House chief of staff Mark Meadows has tested positive for the coronavirus….” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-60-november-7-2020-white-house-chief-of-staff-mark-meadows-has-tested-positive-for-the-coronavirus-a/

POST 61. November 7, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Joe Biden’s top priority entering the White House is fighting both the immediate coronavirus crisis and its complex long-term aftermath…” “Here are the key ways he plans to get US coronavirus cases under control.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-61-november-7-2020-coronavirus-joe-bidens-top-priority-entering-the-white-house-is-fighting-both-the-immediate-coronavirus-crisis-and-its-complex-long-term-aftermath/

POST 62. November 8, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The United States reported its 10 millionth coronavirus case on Sunday, with the latest million added in just 10 days,…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-62-november-8-2020-coronavirus-the-united-states-reported-its-10-millionth-coronavirus-case-on-sunday-with-the-latest-million-added-in-just-10-days/

POST 63. November 9, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System has opened a center to help patients recovering from COVID-19 and to study the long-term impact of the disease….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-63-november-9-2020-coronavirus-new-york-city-based-mount-sinai-health-system-has-opened-a-center-to-help-patients-recovering-from-covid-19-and-to-study-the-long-term-impact-of-the-di/

POST 64. November 10, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “It works! Scientists have greeted with cautious optimism a press release declaring positive interim results from a coronavirus vaccine phase III trial — the first to report on the final round of human testing.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-64-november-10-2020-coronavirus-it-works-scientists-have-greeted-with-cautious-optimism-a-press-release-declaring-positive-interim-results-from-a-coronavirus-vaccine-phase-iii-trial/

POST 65. November 11, 2020. CORONAVIRUS, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took a stronger stance in favor of masks on Tuesday, emphasizing that they protect the people wearing them, rather than just those around them…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-65-november-11-2020-coronavirus-the-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-took-a-stronger-stance-in-favor-of-masks-on-tuesday-emphasizing-that-they-protect-the-people-wearing-t/

POST 66. November.12, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.”… as the country enters what may be the most intense stage of the pandemic yet, the Trump administration remains largely disengaged.”… “President-elect Biden has formed a special transition team dedicated to coordinating the coronavirus response across the government…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-66-novembetr12-2020-coronavirus-as-the-country-enters-what-may-be-the-most-intense-stage-of-the-pandemic-yet-the-trump-administration-remains-largely-disengaged/

POST 67. November 13, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “When all other options are exhausted, the CDC website says, workers who are suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 (and “who are well enough to work”) can care for patients who are not severely immunocompromised — first for those who are also confirmed to have COVID-19, then those with suspected cases.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-67-november-13-2020-coronavirus-when-all-other-options-are-exhausted-the-cdc-website-says-workers-who-are-suspected-or-confirmed-to-have-covid-19-and-who-are-well-enough/

POST 68. November 14, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. The CDC “now is hewing more closely to scientific evidence, often contradicting the positions of the Trump administration.”..” “A passenger aboard the first cruise ship to set sail in the Caribbean since the start of the pandemic has tested positive for coronavirus..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-68-november-14-2020-coronavirus-the-cdc-now-is-hewing-more-closely-to-scientific-evidence-often-contradicting-the-positions-of-the-trump-administration/

POST 69. November 15, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Colorado Gov. Jared Polis will issue a new executive order outlining steps hospitals will need to take to ready themselves for a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations and directing the hospitals to finalize plans for converting beds into ICU beds, adding staffing and scaling back on or eliminating elective procedures….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-69-november-15-2020-coronavirus-colorado-gov-jared-polis-will-issue-a-new-executive-order-outlining-steps-hospitals-will-need-to-take-to-ready-themselves-for-a-surge-in-covid-19-hos/

POST 70. November 16, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “White House coronavirus task force member Dr. Atlas criticized Michigan’s new Covid-19 restrictions..urging people to “rise up” against the new public health measures.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-70-november-16-2020-coronavirus-white-house-coronavirus-task-force-member-dr-atlas-criticized-michigans-new-covid-19-restrictions-urging-people-to-rise-up-against-the-new-pub/

POST 71. November 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. ”Hospitals overrun as U.S. reports 1 million new coronavirus cases in a week.” “But in Florida, where the number of coronavirus infections remains the third-highest in the nation, bars and schools remain open and restaurants continue to operate at full capacity.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-71-november-17-2020-coronavirus-hospitals-overrun-as-u-s-reports-1-million-new-coronavirus-cases-in-a-week-but-in-florida-where-the-number-of-coronavirus-infecti/

POST 72. November 18, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The Health and Human Services Department will not work with President-elect Joe Biden’s (PANDEMIC) team until the General Services Administration makes a determination that he won the election,….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-72-november-18-2020-coronavirus-the-health-and-human-services-department-will-not-work-with-president-elect-joe-bidens-pandemic-team-until-the-general-services-administration-mak/

POST 73. November 19, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…officials at the CDC…urged Americans to avoid travel for Thanksgiving and to celebrate only with members of their immediate households…” When will I trust a vaccine? to the last question I always answer: When I see Tony Fauci take one….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-73-november-19-2020-coronavirus-officials-at-the-cdcurged-americans-to-avoid-travel-for-thanksgiving-and-to-celebrate-only-with-members-of-their-immediate-household-2/

POST 74. November 20, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Pfizer…submitted to the FDA for emergency use authorization for their coronavirus vaccine candidate. —FDA issued an EUA for the drug baricitinib, in combination with remdesivir, as WHO says remdesivir doesn’t do much of anything.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-74-november-20-2020-coronavirus-pfizersubmitted-to-the-fda-for-emergency-use-authorization-for-their-coronavirus-vaccine-candidate-fda-issued-an-eua-for-the-drug-baricitinib-in/

POST 75. November 21, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The president and CEO of one of the nation’s largest non-profit health systems says he won’t be wearing a mask at work because he’s recovered from COVID-19, and doing so would only be a “symbolic gesture” because he considers himself immune from the virus….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-75-november-21-2020-coronavirus-the-president-and-ceo-of-one-of-the-nations-largest-non-profit-health-systems-says-he-wont-be-wearing-a-mask-at-work-because-hes-recovered-from-2/

POST 76. November 23, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “No battle plan survives contact with the enemy.” Ventilators..”just keep people alive while the people caring for them can figure out what’s wrong and fix the problem. And at the moment, we just don’t have enough of those people.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-76-november-23-2020-coronavirus-no-battle-plan-survives-contact-with-the-enemy-ventilators-just-keep-people-alive-while-the-people-caring-for-them-can-figure-out/

POST 77. November 26, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Pope Francis: “When I got really sick at the age of 21, I had my first experience of limit, of pain and loneliness.”.. “….Aug. 13, 1957. I got taken to a hospital…”….” I remember especially two nurses from this time.”…” They fought for me to the end, until my eventual recovery.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-77-november-26-2020-coronavirus-pope-francis-when-i-got-really-sick-at-the-age-of-21-i-had-my-first-experience-of-limit-of-pain-and-loneliness-aug/

POST 78. November 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Kelby Krabbenhoft is no longer president and CEO of Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health.” “…for not wearing a face covering… “ because “He considered himself immune from the virus.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-78-november-27-2020-coronavirus-kelby-krabbenhoft-is-no-longer-president-and-ceo-of-sioux-falls-s-d-based-sanford-health-for-not-wearing-a-face-covering/

POST 79. November 28, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Mayo Clinic. “”Our surge plan expands into the garage…”..””Not where I’d want to put my grandfather or my grandmother,” … though it “may have to happen.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-79-november-28-2020-coronavirus-mayo-clinic-our-surge-plan-expands-into-the-garage-not-where-id-want-to-put-my-grandfather-or-my-grandmother/

POST 80. November 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Op-Ed in the Jersey Journal. Do you know which hospital is right for you if you have coronavirus? | Opinion

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/11/post-80-november-29-2020-coronavirus-oped-in-the-jersey-journal-do-you-know-which-hospital-is-right-for-you-if-you-have-coronavirus-opinion/

POST 81. December 1, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Dr. Atlas, … who espoused controversial theories and rankled government scientists while advising President Trump on the coronavirus pandemic, resigned…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-81-december-1-2020-coronavirus-dr-atllas-who-espoused-controversial-theories-and-rankled-government-scientists-while-advising-president-trump-on-the-coronavirus-pandemic/

POST 82. December 3, 2020. CORONAVIRIUS. The NBA jumped to the front of the line for Coronavirus testing….while front line nurses often are still waiting. Who will similarly “hijack” the vaccine?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-82-december-3-2020-coronavirius-the-nba-jumped-to-the-front-of-the-line-for-coronavirus-testing-while-front-line-nurses-often-are-still-waiting-who-will-similarly-hijack-2/

POST 83. December 4, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he will impose a new, regional stay-at-home order for areas where capacity at intensive care units falls below 15%.”… East Tennessee –“This is the first time the health care capability benchmark has been in the red..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-83-december-4-2020-coronavirus-california-gov-gavin-newsom-says-he-will-impose-a-new-regional-stay-at-home-order-for-areas-where-capacity-at-intensive-care-units-falls-below-15/

POST 84. December 6, 2020. CPRONAVIRUS. “ More than 100,000 Americans are in the hospital with COVID-19…” “We’re seeing C.D.C. …awaken from (its) politics-induced coma…”…Dr. Fauci “to be a chief medical adviser in Biden’s incoming administration..”.. “Trump administration leaves states to grapple with how to distribute scarce vaccines..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-84-december-6-2020-cpronavirus-more-than-100000-americans-are-in-the-hospital-with-covid-19-were-seeing-c-d-c-awaken-from-its-politi/

POST 85. December 7, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…Florida, Gov. DeSantis’ administration engaged in a pattern of spin and concealment that misled the public on the gravest health threat the state has ever faced..”.. “NY Gov. Cuomo said…the state will implement a barrage of new emergency actions..”… Rhode Island and Massachusetts open field hospitals… “Biden Names Health Team to Fight Pandemic”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-85-december-7-2020-coronavirus-florida-gov-desantis-administration-engaged-in-a-pattern-of-spin-and-concealment-that-misled-the-public-on-the-gravest-health-threat-the-s/

POST 86. December 9, 2020. If this analysis seems a bit incomprehensible it is because “free Coronavirus test” is often an oxymoron! with charges ranging from as little as $23 to as much as $2,315… Laws (like for free Coronavirus tests) are Like Sausages. Better Not to See Them Being Made. (Please allow about 20 seconds for the text to download. Thanx!)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-86-december-9-2020-if-this-analysis-seems-a-bit-incomprehensible-it-is-because-free-coronavirus-test-is-often-an-oxymoron-with-charges-ranging-from-as-little-as-23-to-as-mu/

POST 87. December 10, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…Rudolph W. Giuliani, the latest member of President Trump’s inner circle to contract Covid-19, has acknowledged that he received at least two of the same drugs the president received. He even conceded that his “celebrity” status had given him access to care that others did not have.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-87-december-12-2020-coronavirus-rudolph-w-giuliani-the-latest-member-of-president-trumps-inner-circle-to-contract-covid-19-has-acknowledged-that-he-received-at-l/

POST 88. December 11, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “As COVID-19 cases surge, the federal government is releasing data about hospital capacity at facilities around the country….”The new data paints the picture of how a specific hospital is experiencing the pandemic,”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-88-december-11-2020-coronavirus-as-covid-19-cases-surge-the-federal-government-is-releasing-data-about-hospital-capacity-at-facilities-around-the-country-the-new-data-pai/

PART 89. December 12, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. THE VACCINE!!! “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” Winston Churchill

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/part-89-december-12-2020-coronavirus-the-vaccine-now-this-is-not-the-end-it-is-not-even-the-beginning-of-the-end-but-it-is-perhaps-the-end-of-the-beginning-winston-church/

POST 90. December 14, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “…the first doses of a Covid-19 vaccine have been given to the American public..”…” Each person who receives a vaccine needs two doses, and it’s up to states to allocate their share of vaccines.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-90-december-14-2020-coronavirus-the-first-doses-of-a-covid-19-vaccine-have-been-given-to-the-american-public-each-person-who-receives-a-vaccine/

POST 91. December 15, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “UPMC will first give (vaccination) priority to those in critical jobs. That includes a range of people working in critical units, from workers cleaning the emergency room and registering patients to doctors and nurses.. “Finally, if needed, UPMC will use a lottery to select who will be scheduled first.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-91-december-15-2020-coronavirus-upmc-will-first-give-vaccination-priority-to-those-in-critical-jobs-that-includes-a-range-of-people-working-in-critical-units-from-workers-cleanin/

POST 92. December 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “..each state — and each hospital system — has come up with its own (vaccination) plan and priorities. The result has been a sometimes confusing constellation of rules and groupings that has left health care workers wondering where they stand.” (Trump appointee July 4th email “…we need to establish herd, and it only comes about allowing the non-high risk groups expose themselves to the virus. PERIOD,”)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-92-december-17-2020-coronavirus-each-state-and-each-hospital-system-has-come-up-with-its-own-vaccination-plan-and-priorities-the-result-has-been-a-sometimes/

POST 93. December 19, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.  On NPR Congresswoman Shalala (D-Florida) said she wouldn’t jump the vaccination line in Miami; then added she would get vaccinated in Washington this week. This, even though Congress has failed to pass “essential” Coronavirus legislation. So who are our “essential” workers?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-93-december-19-2020-coronavirus-on-npr-congresswoman-shalala-d-florida-said-she-wouldnt-jump-the-vaccination-line-in-miami-then-added-she-would-get-vaccinated-in-washington-this/

POST 94. December 21, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “A doctor at an L.A. County public hospital said the number of COVID-19 patients is “increasing exponentially, without an end in sight.”.. “I haven’t done ICU medicine since I was a resident — you don’t want me adjusting your ventilator,” he said. “That’s the challenge, actually — it isn’t so much space, it’s staff…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-94-december-21-2020-coronavirus-a-doctor-at-an-l-a-county-public-hospital-said-the-number-of-covid-19-patients-is-increasing-exponentially-without-an-end-in-sight/

POST 95. December 23, 2020. “The Murphy administration may step in to force (New Jersey) hospitals to report COVID-19 outbreaks among staff.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-95-december-23-2020-the-murphy-administration-may-step-in-to-force-new-jersey-hospitals-to-report-covid-19-outbreaks-among-staff/

POST 96. December 26, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Achieving herd immunity against the coronavirus could require as much as 90 percent of the population to be vaccinated, Anthony Fauci…”…”..he hesitated to state a number as high as 90% weeks ago because many Americans still seemed skeptical about vaccine….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-96-december-26-2020-coronavirus-achieving-herd-immunity-against-the-coronavirus-could-require-as-much-as-90-percent-of-the-population-to-be-vaccinated-anthony-fauci/

POST 97. December 27, 2020. “A new variant of the coronavirus that has been spreading through the UK and other countries has not yet been detected in the United States..”.. . But if new-wave medicines like antivirals and antibody therapy contributed to the development of viral variants, it will be “a reminder for all the medical community that we need to use these treatment options carefully.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-97-december-27-2020-a-new-variant-of-the-coronavirus-that-has-been-spreading-through-the-uk-and-other-countries-has-not-yet-been-detected-in-the-united-states-but-if-ne/

POST 98. December 28, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Governor Andrew Cuomo announced new penalties in order to rein in possible vaccination fraud…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-98-december-28-2020-coronavirus-governor-andrew-cuomo-announced-new-penalties-in-order-to-rein-in-possible-vaccination-fraud/

POST 99. December 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “ICUs are being overwhelmed across many parts of California. Statewide aggregate ICU availability has been at 0% since Christmas Eve…. a surge on top of a surge on top of a surge.”… “hospitals are getting close to the point where they would begin putting COVID-positive patients under the care of COVID-positive staff who are asymptomatic.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-99-december-29-2020-coronavirus-icus-are-being-overwhelmed-across-many-parts-of-california-statewide-aggregate-icu-availability-has-been-at-0-since-christmas-eve-a-surge-o/

POST 100. December 29, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. Front line hospital workers – in the ER, ICUs, EMS, acute medical care, behavioral health – are amongst the most courageous, heroic and dedicated colleagues you will ever meet.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-100-december-29-2020-coronavirus-front-line-hospital-workers-in-the-er-icus-ems-acute-medical-care-behavioral-health-are-amongst-the-most-courageous-heroic-and-dedica/

POST 101. December 30, 2020.CORONAVIRUS. Is there a point where the increasing Coronavirus trajectory so far exceeds the slow growth of the vaccination rate that reaching herd immunity through vaccinations becomes less likely?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2020/12/post-101-december-30-2020-coronavirus-is-there-a-point-where-the-increasing-coronavirus-trajectory-so-far-exceeds-the-slow-growth-of-the-vaccination-rate-that-reaching-herd-immunity-through-vaccin/

POST 102. January 2, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “We’ve taken the people with the least amount of resources and capacity and asked them to do the hardest part of the vaccination — which is actually getting the vaccines administered into people’s arms,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health. “Ultimately, the buck seems to stop with no one,”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-102-january-2-2020-coronavirus-weve-taken-the-people-with-the-least-amount-of-resources-and-capacity-and-asked-them-to-do-the-hardest-part-of-the-vaccination-which/

POST 103. January 4, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Fauci said “that the United States would not follow Britain’s lead in front-loading first vaccine injections, potentially delaying the administration of second doses…Dr. Moore – ”British officials “seem to have abandoned science completely now and are just trying to guess their way out of a mess.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-103-january-4-2021-coronavirus-dr-fauci-said-that-the-united-states-would-not-follow-britains-lead-in-front-loading-first-vaccine-injections-potentially-delaying-the-admin/

POST 104. January 6, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Paramedics in Southern California are being told to conserve oxygen and not to bring patients to the hospital who have little chance of survival…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-104-january-6-2021-coronavirus-paramedics-in-southern-california-are-being-told-to-conserve-oxygen-and-not-to-bring-patients-to-the-hospital-who-have-little-chance-of-survival/

POST 105. January 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. POST 105. January 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Facing a shortage of vaccinators, the Association of Immunization Managers… recommends relaxing regulation or adjusting licensing requirements. At least two states, Massachusetts and New York, have changed their laws in recent weeks to expand those who are eligible to give shots.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-105-january-8-2021-coronavirus-being-able-to-staff-vaccination-clinics-with-volunteers-from-our-reserve-workforce-means-that-staff-at-the-vaccination-sites-can-continue-to-perform-th/

POST 106. January 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. The riots at the Capitol could have been a superspreader event. “From what I saw… you had a large congregation of individuals who were in close contact for an extended period of time and almost universally unmasked…. many coming and going on buses as well, also unmasked, and hanging out in hotel lobbies.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-106-january-9-2021-coronavirus-the-riots-at-the-capitol-could-have-been-a-superspreader-event-from-what-i-saw-you-had-a-large-congregation-of-individuals-who-were-in-close/

POST 107. January 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Our job is to make sure the vaccine isn’t politicized the way masks were politicized,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said after getting her vaccine.   South Carolina Rep.-elect Nancy Mace, a Republican, wrote that “Congress shouldn’t be putting themselves first in line for the COVID-19 vaccination when the average American can’t get it.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-107-january-8-2021-coronavirus-our-job-is-to-make-sure-the-vaccine-isnt-politicized-the-way-masks-were-politicized-rep-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-d-n-y-said-after-getting-her-vaccine/

POST 108. January 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. (vaccination)”Line-cutters will be named and shamed. It’s inevitable, as will be the congressional hearings and front-page investigative stories ferreting out who saved their own skin at the expense of others.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-108-january-9-2021-coronavirus-vaccinationline-cutters-will-be-named-and-shamed-its-inevitable-as-will-be-the-congressional-hearings-and-front-page-investigative-stories/

POST 109.January 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “President-elect Joe Biden will aim to release nearly every available dose of the coronavirus vaccine when he takes office, a break with the Trump administration’s strategy of holding back half of US vaccine production to ensure second doses are available.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-109-january-9-2021-coronavirus-president-elect-joe-biden-will-aim-to-release-nearly-every-available-dose-of-the-coronavirus-vaccine-when-he-takes-office-a-break-with-the-trump-admini/

POST 110. January 13, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. ““The (federal) government is changing the way it allocates Covid vaccine doses, now basing it on how quickly states can administer shots and the size of their elderly population.”… “New York State sent a letter to hospitals saying if they don’t use their vaccine allocations by the end of this week, they won’t receive any further allocations.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-110-january-13-2021-coronavirus-the-federal-government-is-changing-the-way-it-allocates-covid-vaccine-doses-now-basing-it-on-how-quickly-states-can-administer-shots-and-t/

POST 111. January 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Visitors from Toronto to New York to Buenos Aires have long flocked to Florida for sun, surf and shopping. Now they are coming for the Covid-19 vaccine….

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-111-january-14-2021-coronavirus-visitors-from-toronto-to-new-york-to-buenos-aires-have-long-flocked-to-florida-for-sun-surf-and-shopping-now-they-are-coming-for-the-covid-19-vaccin/

POST 112. January 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. CHINA – “Eleven million people are under lockdown in Hebei province after a new cluster of coronavirus infections.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-112-january-14-2021-coronavirus-china-eleven-million-people-are-under-lockdown-in-hebei-province-after-a-new-cluster-of-coronavirus-infections/

PART 113. January 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. The Next President Actually Has a Covid Plan… New York City and other places in the state expect to exhaust their supply of doses as early as next week… Charles Barkley said during the “NBA on TNT” broadcast that pro athletes should get the first round of the vaccine…..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/part-113-january-17-2021-coronavirus-the-next-president-actually-has-a-covid-plan-new-york-city-and-other-places-in-the-state-expect-to-exhaust-their-supply-of-doses-as-early-as-next-week/

POST 114. January 18, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “When government programs that have been unattended, underfunded and bogged down by red tape suddenly have to meet a huge demand in a crisis, they can’t cope and people suffer….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-114-january-18-2021-coronavirus-when-government-programs-that-have-been-unattended-underfunded-and-bogged-down-by-red-tape-suddenly-have-to-meet-a-huge-demand-in-a-crisis-they-can/

POST 115. January 21, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. A year ago today an unnumbered POST was headlined “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday confirmed the first U.S. case of a deadly new coronavirus that has killed six people in China.” The CORONAVIRUS CONTENT TRACKING PROJECT started with HISTORIOGRAPHY and over time moved to LESSONS LEARNED, RAPID RESPONSE, and THE VACCINATION PROGRAM. Now 115 POSTS later – the BIDEN CORONAVIRUS PLAN.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-115-january-21-2020-coronavirus-a-year-ago-today-an-unnumbered-post-was-headlined-the-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-on-tuesday-confirmed-the-first-u-s-case-of-a-deadly/

POST 116. January 22, 2021. President Biden – “We’re entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus. We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-116-january-22-2021-president-biden-were-entering-what-may-be-the-toughest-and-deadliest-period-of-the-virus-we-must-set-aside-politics-and-finally-face-this-pandemic-as-one-nation/

POST 117. January 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. 1.Dr. Fauci:“The idea that you can get up here….”and.. let the science speak”… “It is somewhat of a liberating feeling.” 2.updated CDC guidance:”.. providers could give the second dose up to six weeks after the first dose..” 3.Dr. Fauci: people would be “taking a chance” if they follow the CDC’s updated guidance.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-117-january-23-2021-coronavirus-1-dr-faucithe-idea-that-you-can-get-up-here-and-let-the-science-speak-it-is-somewhat-of-a-liberating/

POST 118. January 24, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Unfortunately, we’ve let this virus spread extensively and are launching the vaccination campaign at the height of the threat,” Dr. Meyers said. “The more the virus spreads before the vaccine reaches people, the fewer deaths we can prevent with the vaccine.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-118-january-24-2021-coronavirus-unfortunately-weve-let-this-virus-spread-extensively-and-are-launching-the-vaccination-campaign-at-the-height-of-the-threat-dr-meyers-sa/

POST 119. January 27, 2010. CORONAVIRUS. Amazon is offering its help to President Joe Biden with the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. Washington’s governor, Jay Inslee, included the help of companies like Starbucks, Costco and Microsoft in a plan to vaccinate 45,000 residents a day.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/to-get-each-new-post-free-and-automatically-by-email-please-use-the-subscription-portal-in-the-right-column-of-the-home-page-at-http-doctordidyouwashyourhands-com-then-you-will-get-an-email/

POST 120. January 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The fact that four vaccines backed by the federal government seem to be less effective against the (South African) B.1.351 variant has unsettled federal officials and vaccine experts alike. Facing this uncertainty, many researchers said it was imperative to get as many people vaccinated as possible — quickly. Lowering the rate of infection could thwart the contagious variants while they are still rare, and prevent other viruses from gaining new mutations that could cause more trouble.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-120-january-28-2021-coronavirus-the-fact-that-four-vaccines-backed-by-the-federal-government-seem-to-be-less-effective-against-the-south-african-b-1-351-variant-has-unsettled-feder/

POST 121. January 30, 2021. CORONVIRUS. Will our communities become stratified by which vaccine is distributed? 95%ters v. 72%ters? Will the easier distribution of the J&J vaccine drive its inequitable distribution to” hard-hit, marginalized, and medically underserved communities.” (thanx! to XJ/LA)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/01/post-121-january-30-2021-coronvirus-will-our-communities-become-stratified-by-which-vaccine-is-distributed-95ters-v-72ters-will-the-easier-distribution-of-the-jj-vaccine-drive-its-inequitable/

POST 122. February 1, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr.Fauci endorses double-masking. Dr.Osterholm disagrees!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-122-february-1-2021-coronavirus-dr-fauci-endorses-double-masking-dr-osterholm-disagrees/

POST 123. February 4, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Nursing homes across the country are facing the same struggle, as workers have been more reluctant than residents to be vaccinated…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-123-february-4-2021-coronavirus-nursing-homes-across-the-country-are-facing-the-same-struggle-as-workers-have-been-more-reluctant-than-residents-to-be-vaccinated/

POST 124. February 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Osterholm ” …it may be time to..go with a ‘first-dose only’ approach, so more people over the age of 65 can have at least some protection right away. He said that would require delaying second doses until this summer.” Dr.Fauci “warned against this practice, and cautioned people about “the danger” that could come with focusing only on the first dose.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-124-february-5-2021-coronavirus-dr-osterholm-it-may-be-time-to-go-with-a-first-dose-only-approach-so-more-people-over-the-age-of-65-can-have-at-least-some-protection/

POST 125. June 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “States are rolling back Covid-19 restrictions as new cases trend down from record highs across the country. But experts warn it might be too much too soon as variants pose an increased risk and the pandemic… is far from over.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-125-june-9-2021-coronavirus-states-are-rolling-back-covid-19-restrictions-as-new-cases-trend-down-from-record-highs-across-the-country-but-experts-warn-it-might-be-too-much-too-soon/

POST 126. February 11, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “There will be more coronavirus outbreaks in the future. Bats and other mammals are rife with strains and species of this abundant family of viruses. Some of these pathogens will inevitably spill over the species barrier and cause new pandemics. It’s only a matter of time.” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-126-february-11-2021-coronavirus-there-will-be-more-coronavirus-outbreaks-in-the-future-bats-and-other-mammals-are-rife-with-strains-and-species-of-this-abundant-family-of-viruses-2/

POST 127. February 12, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “… Trump only agreed to be hospitalized when aides told him that he could walk to Marine One or he could wait until his case progressed and he would be carried out.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-127-february-12-2021-coronavirus-trump-only-agreed-to-be-hospitalized-when-aides-told-him-that-he-could-walk-to-marine-one-or-he-could-wait-until-his-case-progressed-and-he/

POST 128. February 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new research on Wednesday that found wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask offers more protection against the coronavirus, as does tying knots on the ear loops of surgical masks…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-127-february-13-2021-coronavirus-the-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-released-new-research-on-wednesday-that-found-wearing-a-cloth-mask-over-a-surgical-mask-offers-more-pr/

POST 129. February 15, 2021, CORONAVIRUS. “ “The CDC released its much-anticipated, updated guidance to help school leaders decide how to safely bring students back into classrooms, or keep them there.”…” For politicians, parents and school leaders looking for a clear green light to reopen schools, this is not it.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-129-february-15-2021-coronavirus-the-cdc-released-its-much-anticipated-updated-guidance-to-help-school-leaders-decide-how-to-safely-bring-students-back-into-classrooms-or/

POST 130. February 16, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “A second person who had contracted the Ebola virus died this week in the Democratic Republic of Congo, marking another outbreak just three months after the nation outlasted the virus’s second-worst outbreak in history…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-130-february-16-2021-coronavirus-a-second-person-who-had-contracted-the-ebola-virus-died-this-week-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-marking-another-outbreak-just-three-months-aft/

POST 131. February 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “It really is right now – a race between how quickly new variants, particularly the U.K. variant, can spread in the United States and how quickly we can get people vaccinated”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-131-february-17-2021-coronavirus-it-really-is-right-now-a-race-between-how-quickly-new-variants-particularly-the-u-k-variant-can-spread-in-the-united-states-and-how-quickly-we/

POST 132. February 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “In Texas, where over 2.5 million people are still without power, the state health department said this week’s vaccine shipments wouldn’t arrive until Wednesday at the earliest.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-132-february-20-2021-coronavirus-in-texas-where-over-2-5-million-people-are-still-without-power-the-state-health-department-said-this-weeks-vaccine-shipments-wouldnt-arrive-unt/

POST 133. February 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Going off your meds is a surefire way to aggravate your doctor. What if a whole country did it?” The United Kingdom has veered into uncharted territory by changing tack and introducing a revised COVID-19 vaccination protocol, one that involves distributing the second dose at 12 weeks, rather than the prescribed 21 days.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-133-february-23-2021-coronavirus-going-off-your-meds-is-a-surefire-way-to-aggravate-your-doctor-what-if-a-whole-country-did-it-the-united-kingdom-has-veered-into-uncharted/

POST 134. February 24, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. The first tranche of the J&J (single dose) vaccine must go to K-12 teachers, so schools can open safely in the first 100 days of the Biden Administration. The federal government…”can set up its own vaccination centers in regions with eligible populations it’s trying to target.” We owe our front-line teachers nothing less!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-134-february-24-2021-coronavirus-the-first-tranche-of-the-jj-vaccine-must-go-to-k-12-teachers-the-federal-governmentcan-set-up-its-own-vaccination-centers-in-regions-with/

POST 135. February 27, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “As Chief Executive Officers of New York’s major health care systems, we would like to provide facts to clear up confusion in the public and the media regarding decisions to discharge patients to nursing homes during New York’s spring coronavirus surge.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/02/post-135-february-27-2021-coronavirus-as-chief-executive-officers-of-new-yorks-major-health-care-systems-we-would-like-to-provide-facts-to-clear-up-confusion-in-the-public-and-the-medi/

POST 136. March 2, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. ““The governors of Texas and Mississippi both announced on Tuesday they would be lifting their states’ mask mandates and rolling back many of their Covid-19 health mandates..”…while “The US could experience a “fourth surge” of coronavirus before the majority of the country is vaccinated.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-136-march-2-2021-coronavirus-the-governors-of-texas-and-mississippi-both-announced-on-tuesday-they-would-be-lifting-their-states-mask-mandates-and-rolling-back-many-of-the/

POST 137. March 4, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The clamor for hard-to-get Covid-19 vaccines has created armies of anxious Americans who have resorted to hunting for leftovers on the fringes of the country’s patchwork vaccination system. They haunt pharmacies at the end of the day in search of an extra, expiring dose. They drive from clinic to clinic hoping that someone was a no-show to their appointment. They cold-call pharmacies like eager telemarketers: Any extras today? Maybe tomorrow? Some pharmacists have even given them a nickname: vaccine lurkers.” (H)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-137-march-4-2021-coronavirus-the-clamor-for-hard-to-get-covid-19-vaccines-has-created-armies-of-anxious-americans-who-have-resorted-to-hunting-for-leftovers-on-the-fringes-of-the-cou/

POST 138. March 6, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “New cases are decreasing in the third wave because we are past the holidays, not because of vaccinations. It is a common misconception that the decrease we are seeing in new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the U.S. is due to vaccinations. The two aren’t related; at least yet.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-138-march-6-2021-coronavirus-new-cases-are-decreasing-in-the-third-wave-because-we-are-past-the-holidays-not-because-of-vaccinations-it-is-a-common-misconception-that-the-decrease/

POST 139. March 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. CDC Issues First Set of Guidelines on How Fully Vaccinated People Can Visit Safely with Others…” In practice, that means fully vaccinated grandparents may visit unvaccinated healthy adult children and healthy grandchildren of the same household without masks or physical distancing.” (C)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-139-march-8-2021-coronavirus-cdc-issues-first-set-of-guidelines-on-how-fully-vaccinated-people-can-visit-safely-with-others-in-practice-that-means-fully-vaccinated-grandpar/

POST 140. March 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “In West Virginia, they are bracing for the second wave….. Not coronavirus but opioid overdoses, with one scourge driving a resurgence of the other.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-140-march-9-2021-coronavirus-in-west-virginia-they-are-bracing-for-the-second-wave-not-coronavirus-but-opioid-overdoses-with-one-scourge-driving-a-resurgence-of-the-othe/

POST 141. March 11, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Today is the first anniversary of the WHO declaration that the novel coronavirus was a Public Health Emergency of International Concern… “To truly prepare itself against the next pandemic, the U.S. has to reimagine what preparedness looks like.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-141-march-11-2021-coronavirus-today-is-the-first-anniversary-of-the-who-declaration-that-the-novel-coronavirus-was-a-public-health-emergency-of-international-concern-to-trul/

POST 142. March 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Candida auris is a superbug, a pathogen that can evade drugs made to kill it—and early signs suggest the COVID-19 pandemic may be propelling infections of the highly dangerous yeast. That’s because C. auris is particularly prominent in hospital settings, which have been flooded with people this year due to the coronavirus.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-142-march-15-2021-coronavirus-candida-auris-is-a-superbug-a-pathogen-that-can-evade-drugs-made-to-kill-it-and-early-signs-suggest-the-covid-19-pandemic-may-be-propelling-inf-2/

POST 143. March 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The Trump administration sought to suppress Covid-19 testing in the United States last year by softening guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on who needed to be tested, a House panel said Monday.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-143-march-17-2021-coronavirus-the-trump-administration-sought-to-suppress-covid-19-testing-in-the-united-states-last-year-by-softening-guidance-from-the-centers-for-disease-control-a/

POST 144. March 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. ““The vaccine hesitancy we are seeing isn’t just about Covid vaccines,”… “It is a general reflection of Americans’ lack of trust in science, the pharmaceutical industry, and large health care institutions. We need a full court press on science and vaccine education right now to prevent more aggressive Covid-19 variants from developing and taking hold.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-144-march-20-2021-coronavirus-the-vaccine-hesitancy-we-are-seeing-isnt-just-about-covid-vaccines-it-is-a-general-reflection-of-americans/

POST 145. March 25, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Efforts to disseminate Covid-19 vaccines as widely as possible are hitting an unexpected obstacle: health-care workers who decline the shots.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-145-march-25-2021-coronavirus-efforts-to-disseminate-covid-19-vaccines-as-widely-as-possible-are-hitting-an-unexpected-obstacle-health-care-workers-who-decline-the-shots/

POST 146. March 30, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Osterholm told Becker’s: “This is the perfect storm,”…”Here is Europe locking down and having problems containing B.1.1.7, even with vaccinations and previous infection histories. Here we are opening up as wide as we can. We are literally just walking into the mouth of the virus saying, ‘Don’t worry.’” (M)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/03/post-146-march-30-2021-coronavirus-dr-osterholm-told-beckers-this-is-the-perfect-stormhere-is-europe-locking-down-and-having-problems-containing-b-1-1-7-even-with-vaccinations/

POST 147. April 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The pandemic helped cement the shift to “a philosophy of really focusing on the role of the physician in reasoning through ambiguous and unknown problems as the focus of education, rather than teaching students that the role of physician was to memorize a body of knowledge that was already in existence and good enough for what usually happens.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-147-april-5-2021-coronavirus-the-pandemic-helped-cement-the-shift-to-a-philosophy-of-really-focusing-on-the-role-of-the-physician-in-reasoning-through-ambiguous-and-unknown/

POST 148. April 7, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. While the Biden administration accelerates vaccinations to ward off numerous variants and as more young people are being hospitalized, states, even with increasing case rates are on paths to fully reopen. Politics v. public health!

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-148-april-7-2021-coronavirus-while-the-biden-administration-accelerates-vaccinations-to-ward-off-numerous-variants-and-as-more-young-people-are-being-hospitalized-states-even-with-increasin/

POST 149. April 10, 2021. CORONAVIRIUS. “From Michigan to Massachusetts, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise again. Deaths will soon follow. “ ”.. the Biden administration is facing renewed calls to delay second vaccine doses and blanket more of the U.S. population with an initial shot.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-149-april-10-2021-coronavirius-from-michigan-to-massachusetts-covid-19-cases-and-hospitalizations-are-on-the-rise-again-deaths-will-soon-follow-the-biden-adm/

POST 150. April 10, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The use of so-called COVID-19 “vaccine passports” is quickly becoming a divisive issue across the US – with several states, including New York, embracing the idea, while others have already moved to ban them.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-150-april-10-2021-coronavirus-the-use-of-so-called-covid-19-vaccine-passports-is-quickly-becoming-a-divisive-issue-across-the-us-with-several-states-incl/

POST 151. April 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS.   the J&J vaccination pause. “ Federal officials are concerned that doctors may not be trained to spot or treat the rare disorder if recipients of the vaccine develop symptoms of it…”  “…a standard treatment for blood clots — use of an anticoagulant drug — could be dangerous or even fatal in such cases…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-151-april-14-2021-coronavirus-the-jj-vaccination-pause-federal-officials-are-concerned-that-doctors-may-not-be-trained-to-spot-or-treat-the-rare-disorder-if-recipients-of-the-va/

POST 152. April 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s director said Saturday authorities are considering mixing COVID-19 vaccines because the country’s domestically made doses “don’t have very high protection rates,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-152-april-15-2021-coronavirus-the-chinese-center-for-disease-control-and-preventions-director-said-saturday-authorities-are-considering-mixing-covid-19-vaccines-because-the-country/

POST 153. April 18, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “At least 35 hospitals across Michigan were listed Thursday as nearing capacity and three were at full capacity for COVID-19 patients..”.. We can manufacture beds. We can open up beds. We can create entire wings of the hospital if we have to, but if we don’t have staff for those beds, we’ve got nothing.”..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-153-april-18-2021-coronavirus-at-least-35-hospitals-across-michigan-were-listed-thursday-as-nearing-capacity-and-three-were-at-full-capacity-for-covid-19-patients-we-can/

POST 154. April 19, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Breakthrough infections, which occur when fully vaccinated people are infected by the pathogen that their shots were designed to protect against, are an entirely expected part of any vaccination process.”   “Pfizer’s chief executive said that a third dose of the company’s Covid-19 vaccine was “likely” to be needed within a year of the initial two-dose inoculation — followed by annual vaccinations.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-154-april-19-2021-coronavirus-breakthrough-infections-which-occur-when-fully-vaccinated-people-are-infected-by-the-pathogen-that-their-shots-were-designed-to-protect-against-are-an/

POST 155. April 24, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. As the J&J vaccine pause is ended Senator Johnson said “The science tells us that vaccines are 95% effective. So if you have a vaccine, quite honestly, what do you care if your neighbor has one or not? I mean, what is it to you?”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-155-april-24-2021-coronavirus-as-the-jj-vaccine-pause-is-ended-senator-johnson-said-the-science-tells-us-that-vaccines-are-95-effective-so-if-you-have-a-vaccine-quite-honestly-what-do-y/

POST 156. April 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. As CDC revises guidance on outdoor masking, Texas Governor Abbott says “the state is “very close” to herd immunity… despite acknowledging that he does not know what the herd immunity threshold is for the virus, an uncertainty echoed by the public health community.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/04/post-156-april-28-2021-coronavirus-as-cdc-revises-guidance-on-outdoor-masking-texas-governor-abbott-says-the-state-is-very-close-to-herd-immunity-despite-ackno/

POST 157. April 25, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Ohio hospitals; “We agreed in multiple conversations, there’s nothing in fighting a pandemic that creates a competitive advantage.”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-157-april-25-2021-coronavirus-ohio-hospitals-we-agreed-in-multiple-conversations-theres-nothing-in-fighting-a-pandemic-that-creates-a-competitive-advantage/

POST 158. May 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. . As populations get closer to herd immunity “ it may be helpful to introduce some nuance to what we mean by the term. Nationwide herd immunity. Regional herd immunity. Temporary herd immunity. Endemicity.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-158-may-5-2021-coronavirus-as-populations-get-closer-to-herd-immunity-it-may-be-helpful-to-introduce-some-nuance-to-what-we-mean-by-the-term-nationwide-herd-immunity-regional-he/

POST 159. May 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Without deeper sharing of expertise in how to make vaccines…waiving patent obligations is unlikely to be a game-changer… Having access to the “recipe” certainly helps, but understanding how to put it together and produce it at scale is something else.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-159-may-9-2021-coronavirus-without-deeper-sharing-of-expertise-in-how-to-make-vaccineswaiving-patent-obligations-is-unlikely-to-be-a-game-changer-having-access-to-t/

POST 160. May 13, 2021.CORONAVIRUS. “The CDC acknowledged Friday that airborne spread of COVID-19 among people more than 6 feet apart “has been repeatedly documented.”” Meanwhile states relax or eliminate indoor dining restrictions. HUH?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-160-may-13-2021-coronavirus-the-cdc-acknowledged-friday-that-airborne-spread-of-covid-19-among-people-more-than-6-feet-apart-has-been-repeatedly-documented-meanwhile-sta/

POST 161. May 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Even if the spread of Covid-19 decreases enough to allow a return of most activities, there are some aspects of pandemic life that epidemiologists say will persist much longer. In particular, they say that masks are a norm that should continue, even if that view puts them at odds with the new C.D.C. guidance. More than 80 percent of them say people should continue to wear masks when indoors with strangers for at least another year, and outdoors in crowds.” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-161-may-15-2021-coronavirus-even-if-the-spread-of-covid-19-decreases-enough-to-allow-a-return-of-most-activities-there-are-some-aspects-of-pandemic-life-that-epidemiologists-say-wil/

POST 162. May 21, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is refusing to lift his indoor mask mandate for vaccinated residents…” “…fully vaccinated residents in New York and Connecticut are no longer required to wear masks..”..” “California says it isn’t ready to follow the federal lead and unmask, at least for another month..”.. “..Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Tuesday prohibiting state governmental entities such as counties, public school districts, public health authorities and government officials from requiring mask wearing.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-162-may-21-2021-coronavirus-new-jersey-gov-phil-murphy-is-refusing-to-lift-his-indoor-mask-mandate-for-vaccinated-residents-fully-vaccinated-resi/

POST 163. May 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey announced a mandate…saying supervisors and those of higher rank must get the vaccine by June 30. They will eventually require the system’s 35,000 employees to do the same.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-163-may-23-2021-coronavirus-rwjbarnabas-health-in-new-jersey-announced-a-mandatesaying-supervisors-and-those-of-higher-rank-must-get-the-vaccine-by-june-30-they-will-eventually-requ/

POST 164. May 26, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. On Wednesday, health minister Norihisa Tamura warned Olympic organizers they would have to “secure their own” hospital beds for anyone falling ill at the Games, explaining the government would not release beds set aside for Japanese covid-19 patients.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-164-may-26-2021-coronavirus-on-wednesday-health-minister-norihisa-tamura-warned-olympic-organizers-they-would-have-to-secure-their-own-hospital-beds-for-anyone-falling-ill/

POST 165. May 31,2001. CORONAVIRUS. “Like all pandemics, this one will end either with millions — maybe billions — being infected or being vaccinated. This time, world leaders have a choice, but little time to make that choice before it is made for them.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/05/post-165-may-312001-coronavirus-like-all-pandemics-this-one-will-end-either-with-millions-maybe-billions-being-infected-or-being-vaccinated-this-time-world-leaders/

POST 166. June 3, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “President Biden said Wednesday that he has asked intelligence agencies to double down on their efforts to investigate whether the coronavirus originated from human contact with an animal or in an laboratory in China, saying there is not “sufficient information” to assess whether one is more likely than the other.” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-166-june-3-2020-coronavirus-president-biden-said-wednesday-that-he-has-asked-intelligence-agencies-to-double-down-on-their-efforts-to-investigate-whether-the-coronavirus-originated-f/

POST 167. June 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Hospitals prevaricate on mandatory staff vaccinations.  Florida’s Governor forbids cruise ship vaccine mandates. Pfizer and Moderna apply for FDA full approval.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-167-june-9-2021-coronavirus-hospitals-prevaricate-on-mandatory-staff-vaccinations-floridas-governor-forbids-cruise-ship-vaccine-mandates-pfizer-and-moderna-apply-for-fda-full-appr/

POST 168. June 10, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Our species has a tendency to get distracted. We have a very strong appetite for distraction, and when something is not in the spotlight, when it’s not a crisis anymore, we tend to forget and move on to something else. So the biggest challenge is going to be maintaining focus on this next step of developing vaccines that anticipate pandemics.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-168-june-10-2021-coronavirus-our-species-has-a-tendency-to-get-distracted-we-have-a-very-strong-appetite-for-distraction-and-when-something-is-not-in-the-spotlight-when-it/

POST 169. June 14, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Hospitals in Washington, D.C…announced a consensus agreement to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for more than 30,000 workers, 70% of which are already vaccinated. Each of 14 hospitals will set their own deadline…” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-169-june-14-2021-coronavirus-hospitals-in-washington-d-cannounced-a-consensus-agreement-to-mandate-covid-19-vaccinations-for-more-than-30000-workers-70-of-which-are-alrea/

POST 170. June 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Dr. Ashish Jha…is worried about the potential impact  the delta variant could have in the United States… “I’m concerned about the Delta variant,”… “Why? Most contagious variant yet. Wreaked havoc in India. Spiking cases in UK. Growing rapidly in the US.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-170-june-17-2021-coronavirus-dr-ashish-jhais-worried-about-the-potential-impact-the-delta-variant-could-have-in-the-united-states-im-concerned-a/

POST 171. June 19, 2021. “A 34-year-old man (a Covid-19 survivor) has been diagnosed with India’s first known case of “green fungus” infection.”… “Green fungus is the new infection to join the earlier known cases of black, white and yellow fungus.”…”green fungus was earlier seen only as a “junior partner” in other infections… In the current patient, this fungus is acting as the aggressor.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-171-june-19-2021-coronavirus-a-34-year-old-man-a-covid-19-survivor-has-been-diagnosed-with-indias-first-known-case-of-green-fungus-infection/

POST 172. June 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Morgan Stanley chief executive James Gorman said: “If you can go into a restaurant in New York City, you can come into the office.”…”remote work can “dramatically undermine” the character and culture a company is attempting to build; and “virtually eliminates spontaneous learning and creativity.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-172-june-23-2021-coronavirus-morgan-stanley-chief-executive-james-gorman-said-if-you-can-go-into-a-restaurant-in-new-york-city-you-can-come-into-the-office-remote-work/

POST 173. June 26, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The daily toll of COVID-19, as measured by new cases and the growing number of deaths, overlooks a shadowy set of casualties: the rising risk of mental health problems among health care professionals working on the frontlines of the pandemic.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/06/post-173-june-26-2021-coronavirus-the-daily-toll-of-covid-19-as-measured-by-new-cases-and-the-growing-number-of-deaths-overlooks-a-shadowy-set-of-casualties-the-rising-risk-of-mental-h/

POST 174. July 1, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “..while the WHO is encouraging people to keep wearing masks even if they’re vaccinated, Dr. Anthony Fauci says it doesn’t look like the CDC currently plans to change its guidelines.” … health officials in Los Angeles recommended that “everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks indoors in public places as a precautionary measure.”..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-174-july-1-2021-coronavirus-while-the-who-is-encouraging-people-to-keep-wearing-masks-even-if-theyre-vaccinated-dr-anthony-fauci-says-it-doesnt-look-like-the-cdc-currently-pl/

POST 175. July 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Can a health care worker who is not against vaccines in general still harbor sincere concerns that scientists don’t yet know about all the side effects of these vaccines? Yes, says Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD — but those people should not work in health care.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-175-july-5-2021-coronavirus-can-a-health-care-worker-who-is-not-against-vaccines-in-general-still-harbor-sincere-concerns-that-scientists-dont-yet-know-about-all-the-side-ef/

POST 176. July 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Mercy Springfield ( Missouri) hospital…” ran out of ventilators for its patients over the Fourth of July weekend…”…“Mercy will require all current and future employees to be fully vaccinated.”…“The US government is deploying a Covid-19 surge team to provide public health support in southwest Missouri

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-176-july-9-2021-coronavirus-mercy-springfield-missouri-hospital-ran-out-of-ventilators-for-its-patients-over-the-fourth-of-july-weekend/

POST 177. July 12, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. the Delta variant is “the 2020 version of Covid-19 on steroids,”… “It is the most hypertransmissible, contagious version of the virus we’ve seen to date…it’s a superspreader strain if there ever was one .” but… now, there’s a Delta Plus variant…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-177-july-12-2021-coronavirus-the-delta-variant-is-the-2020-version-of-covid-19-on-steroids-it-is-the-most-hypertransmissible-contagious-version-of-the-vi/

POST 178. July 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Tennessee’s top vaccine official says she has been fired as punishment for doing her job in the face of political pushback.”..” More than 180 state and local public health leaders…have resigned, retired or been fired since April 1…”“Former President Trump and his GOP allies have stepped up attacks on Anthony Fauci…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-178-july-15-2021-coronavirus-tennessees-top-vaccine-official-says-she-has-been-fired-as-punishment-for-doing-her-job-in-the-face-of-political-pushback-more-tha/

POST 179. July 16, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “It, therefore, follows that the “harm principle” (“first, do no harm.”) can be used to justify compulsory vaccination programs in specific instances where the community interests or benefits are deemed to be significant.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-179-july-16-2021-coronavirus-it-therefore-follows-that-the-harm-principle-first-do-no-harm-can-be-used-to-justify-compulsory-vaccination-pro/

POST 180, July 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Most people will either get vaccinated, or have been previously infected, or they will get this Delta variant,”.. “And for most people who get this Delta variant, it’s going to be the most serious virus that they get in their lifetime in terms of the risk of putting them in the hospital,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-180-july-20-2021-coronavirus-most-people-will-either-get-vaccinated-or-have-been-previously-infected-or-they-will-get-this-delta-variant-and-for-most-people-who-get-this-delta-vari/

POST 181. July 22, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Health experts fear the Tokyo Olympics could become a COVID-19 superspreader event.” “Whatever happens in Japan isn’t likely going to stay in Japan since all of the athletes and accompanying coaches and staff will be returning to their home countries.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-181-july-22-2021-coronavirus-health-experts-fear-the-tokyo-olympics-could-become-a-covid-19-superspreader-event-whatever-happens-in-japan-isnt-likely-goin/

POST 182. July 26, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R): “Folks supposed to have common sense.”…“But it’s time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks, not the regular folks. It’s the unvaccinated folks that are letting us down.” ““Beginning in mid-September, New York City will require all of its 340,000 municipal workers, including police, firefighters and teachers, to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or tested weekly.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-182-july-26-2021-coronavirus-alabama-gov-kay-ivey-r-folks-supposed-to-have-common-sense-but-its-time-to-start-blaming-the-unvaccinated-folks-not-the/

POST 183. July 29, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. When I was appointed President and CEO of Jersey City Medical Center in1989 in the peak of the HIV/ AIDS crisis, we had a dedicated, and always full, dedicated 60 bed AIDS unit, staffed by one full time nurse and numerous part-time and per diem nurses. Today, right now, hospitals caught in the Covid-19 surge, are forced to redeploy nursing staff, respiratory therapists and other clinicians, most without prior infectious diseases experience. Why are we tolerating the unvaccinated putting our hospital staffs at risk?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/07/post-183-july-29-2021-coronavirus-when-i-was-appointed-president-and-ceo-of-jersey-city-medical-center-in1989-in-the-peak-of-the-hiv-aids-crisis-we-had-a-dedicated-and-always-full-dedicated-60/

POST 184. August 1, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The coronavirus could be “just a few mutations potentially away” from evolving into a variant that can evade existing COVID-19 vaccines, CDC director Rochelle Walensky said..” (A) “The Delta variant is more transmissible than the viruses that cause MERS, SARS, Ebola, the common cold, the seasonal flu and smallpox, and it is as contagious as chickenpox..” (I)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-184-august-1-2021-coronavirus-the-coronavirus-could-be-just-a-few-mutations-potentially-away-from-evolving-into-a-variant-that-can-evade-existing-covid-19-vaccines-cdc-director/

POST 185. August 6, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. ‘If you aren’t going to help, please get out of the way’: Biden turns up the pressure on GOP governors as Delta spreads”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-185-august-6-2021-coronavirus-if-you-arent-going-to-help-please-get-out-of-the-way-biden-turns-up-the-pressure-on-gop-governors-as-delta-spreads/

POST 186. August 8, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “One of the last things they do before they’re intubated is beg me for the vaccine. I hold their hand and tell them that I’m sorry, but it’s too late,” she added, referring to patients who have to be put on a ventilator.” (A) “There is no one definition of what the end of a pandemic means.”.. “The question of when the crisis will be over is a layered one — with different answers from local, national and global perspectives.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-186-august-8-2021-coronavirus-one-of-the-last-things-they-do-before-theyre-intubated-is-beg-me-for-the-vaccine-i-hold-their-hand-and-tell-them-that-im-sorry-but-i/

POST 187. August 11, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “As a result of the increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the state of Florida requested 300 ventilators from the federal government.”… “An 11-month-old girl with Covid-19 is stable and no longer intubated one day after she was airlifted to a Texas hospital 150 miles away because of a shortage of pediatric beds in the Houston area.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-187-august-11-2021-coronavirus-as-a-result-of-the-increase-in-covid-19-cases-and-hospitalizations-the-state-of-florida-requested-300-ventilators-from-the-federal-government/

POST 188. August 15, 20201. CORONAVIRUS. “According to an internal CDC briefing….an estimated 1.1 million people have already gotten unauthorized booster shots…”….”If it is left up to the honor system, I think many Americans will suddenly wake up and find themselves immunocompromised enough to get a 3rd dose,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-188-august-15-20201-coronavirus-according-to-an-internal-cdc-briefing-an-estimated-1-1-million-people-have-already-gotten-unauthorized-booster-shots/

POST 189. August 19,2021. CORONAVIRUS. “There wasn’t a single I.C.U. bed available in Alabama on Wednesday…”…”A triage plan on the Alabama health department’s website suggests that “persons with severe mental retardation” are among those who “may be poor candidates for ventilator support.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-189-august-192021-coronavirus-there-wasnt-a-single-i-c-u-bed-available-in-alabama-on-wednesdaya-triage-plan-on-the-alabama-health-depart/

POST 190, August 21, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “We’re looking, in essence, at running two systems — a COVID system and a non-COVID system of care,”..“Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and certified paramedics can now care for patients in Mississippi hospitals and emergency rooms under a new health office order issued by the Mississippi State Department of Health on Wednesday.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-190-august-21-2021-coronavirus-were-looking-in-essence-at-running-two-systems-a-covid-system-and-a-non-covid-system-of-care-emergency-medical/

POST 191. August 27, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Anthony Fauci, MD, chief medical advisor to the president and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, explained that late September gives the United States time to set up the logistics.” This is not medical science, but perhaps Political Science?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-191-august-27-2021-coronavirus-anthony-fauci-md-chief-medical-advisor-to-the-president-and-director-of-the-national-institute-of-allergy-and-infectious-diseases-explained-that-lat/

POST 192. August 30, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Gov. John Bel Edwards on Hurricane Ida – “I hate to say it this way, but we have a lot of people on ventilators today and they don’t work without electricity,” he said.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/08/post-192-august-30-2021-coronavirus-gov-john-bel-edwards-on-hurricane-ida-i-hate-to-say-it-this-way-but-we-have-a-lot-of-people-on-ventilators-today-and-they-dont-work-withou/

POST 193. September 3, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Nurses are leaving their hospitals and becoming travel nurses at hospitals across town “because they can make $4,000, $5,000, $6,000, $7,000 a week while not having to relocate anywhere..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-193-september-3-2021-coronavirus-nurses-are-leaving-their-hospitals-and-becoming-travel-nurses-at-hospitals-across-town-because-they-can-make-4000-5000-6000-7000-a-week-wh/

POST 194. August 2, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Recently-released data is painting a grim picture of the opioid epidemic that has gripped the United States — as the country is still grappling with the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than half a million Americans. Some people are calling them twin pandemics that have collided”…“Faced with a novel health crisis, researchers are collecting data on the long-term impact of using opioids to treat COVID-19 pain…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-194-august-2-2021-coronavirus-recently-released-data-is-painting-a-grim-picture-of-the-opioid-epidemic-that-has-gripped-the-united-states-as-the-country-is-still-grappling/

POST 195. September 6, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “…there are “zero ICU beds left for children in Dallas County, Texas,”.,..”That means if your child’s in a car wreck, if your child has a congenital heart defect or something and needs an ICU bed, or more likely if they have Covid and need an ICU bed, we don’t have one. Your child will wait for another child to die… (county judge Clay Jenkins)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-195-september-6-2021-coronavirus-there-are-zero-icu-beds-left-for-children-in-dallas-county-texas-that-means-if-your-childs-in-a-car-wreck-if-your-child/

POST 196. SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. PART 1. Military helicopters and jets were overhead, as President Bush was getting ready to leave NYC. PART 2. LESSONS LEARNED memorandum by hospital CEO Jonathan Metsch goes “viral”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-196-september-11-2021-september-11-2001-part-1-military-helicopters-and-jets-were-overhead-as-president-bush-was-getting-ready-to-leave-nyc-part-2-lessons-learned-memorandum-by-hospital/

POST 197. September 12, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Idaho officials have instituted “crisis standards of care” to help 10 hospitals and health care systems decide how to allocate personnel and resources to deal with a crush of COVID-19 patients.”… “The Washington Medical Coordination Center oversees facilitating transfers in the state, and it’s warning we could be nearing the point of “Crisis Standards of Care,” just like Idaho.” .. “These crisis models don’t actually save more lives, they just save different lives..”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-197-september-12-2021-coronavirus-idaho-officials-have-instituted-crisis-standards-of-care-to-help-10-hospitals-and-health-care-systems-decide-how-to-allocate-personnel-and/

POST 198. September 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. A pundit said “The most elegant policy riposte to the anti-vaxxers… is to refuse to allow Medicare or Medicaid to pay their medical bills in the event they become seriously ill. Private health insurers might also follow suit.” (but is making our hospitals become the bill collectors right?)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-198-september-15-2021-coronavirus-a-pundit-said-the-most-elegant-policy-riposte-to-the-anti-vaxxers-is-to-refuse-to-allow-medicare-or-medicaid-to-pay-their-medical-bills-in/

POST 199. September 19, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Crisis Standards of Care. “… to his knowledge, no patient in Idaho has been taken off life-support therapy in order to provide that therapy to another patient who has a better prognosis.” “While that has yet to occur, if we continue on this path, it will,”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-199-september-19-2021-coronavirus-crisis-standards-of-care-to-his-knowledge-no-patient-in-idaho-has-been-taken-off-life-support-therapy-in-order-to-provide-that-therapy-t/

POST 200. September 23, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. CDC Director overrides a recommendation of its scientific advisors saying “that people can get a booster if they are ages 18 to 64 years and are health-care workers or have another job that puts them at increased risk of being exposed to the virus.”…“In a pandemic, even with uncertainty, we must take actions that we anticipate will do the greatest good.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-200-september-23-2021-coronavirus-cdc-director-overrides-a-recommendation-of-its-scientific-advisors-saying-that-people-can-get-a-booster-if-they-are-ages-18-to-64-years-and-are-heal/

POST 201. September 27, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “A multibillion-dollar institution in the Seattle area is sitting on nearly $12 billion in cash… received at least $509 million in government funds (from) a federal program that is supposed to prevent health care providers from capsizing during the coronavirus pandemic.”

“Based on our estimates…we find preventable COVID-19 hospitalizations cost $5.7 billion from June to August in 2021.”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-201-september-27-2021-coronavirus-a-multibillion-dollar-institution-in-the-seattle-area-is-sitting-on-nearly-12-billion-in-cash-received-at-least-509-million-in-government/

POST 202. September 30, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “..NY Governor Hochul signed an executive order expanding healthcare worker eligibility requirements…to head off potential staffing shortages fueled by the state’s new COVID-19 vaccination requirements.” “The.. order allows out-of-state/ out-of-country healthcare workers to practice in New York…”..”It allows EMTs graduates to temporarily pitch in at additional healthcare settings; allows various types of healthcare workers to more easily administer and order COVID-19 vaccinations; enables telemedicine physician visits in nursing homes; permits facilities to more quickly discharge, transfer or receive patients…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/09/post-202-september-30-2021-coronavirus-ny-governor-hochul-signed-an-executive-order-expanding-healthcare-worker-eligibility-requirementsto-head-off-potential-staffing-shortages/

POST 203. October 3, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “.. more than 125,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in pregnant people, including more than 22,000 hospitalized cases and 161 deaths”…The risk is not just to the mother. Covid-19 in pregnancy can cause preterm birth or babies born so sick they have to go straight to the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU.” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-203-october-3-2021-coronavirus-more-than-125000-laboratory-confirmed-covid-19-cases-have-been-reported-in-pregnant-people-including-more-than-22000-hospitalized-cases-and-161-deaths/

POST 204. October 5, 2021.CORONAVIRUS. “News that an experimental antiviral drug from Merck appears to halve the risk of hospitalization or death from Covid-19 has bolstered hopes of finding a simple at-home treatment for the virus.”..” A more blunt assessment came from vaccine scientist Dr. Peter Hotez of Baylor College of Medicine’s National School of Tropical Medicine. “It’s not a miracle cure but a companion tool, So get vaccinated.””

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-204-october-5-2021-coronavirus-news-that-an-experimental-antiviral-drug-from-merck-appears-to-halve-the-risk-of-hospitalization-or-death-from-covid-19-has-bolstered-hopes-of-finding-a/

POST 205. October 11, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. The AAP reported nearly 226,000 new child cases over the past week ending. “Hospital care for children does not occur in isolation from that of adults. Many of the resources we use are the same—a twenty-pound baby and a two-hundred-pound man might use the same kind of ventilator, for example. Dialysis machines, which could cleanse a seven-year-old’s blood as easily as his grandfather’s, are in high demand. Pediatric resident physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists get cross-deployed to care for adults during the surges.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-205-october-11-2021-coronavirus-the-aap-reported-nearly-226000-new-child-cases-over-the-past-week-ending-hospital-care-for-children-does-not-occur-in-isolation-from-that-of-adults/

POST 206. October 15, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. to borrow from Winston Churchill about where we are with the pandemic –  “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-206-october-15-2021-coronavirus-to-borrow-from-winston-churchill-about-where-we-are-with-the-pandemic-now-this-is-not-the-end-it-is-not-even-the-beginning-of-the-end-but-it-is/

POST 207. October 17, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “…if you choose your own unauthorized booster shot, what happens if later research proves a different combination is better? That’s why experts say it’s a bad idea to become your own vaccine advisory committee and get a shot out of turn.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-207-october-17-2021-coronavirus-if-you-choose-your-own-unauthorized-booster-shot-what-happens-if-later-research-proves-a-different-combination-is-better-thats-why/

POST 208. October 22, 2021, CORONAVIRUS. “What is the “delta plus” variant?” Scientists are monitoring the delta-related variant — known as AY.4.2. — to see if it might spread more easily or be more deadly than previous versions of the coronavirus.

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-208-october-22-2021-coronavirus-what-is-the-delta-plus-variant-scientists-are-monitoring-the-delta-related-variant-known-as-ay-4-2-to/

POST 209. October 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “The quest at Mount Sinai began with a mystery.”…”America was not simply struggling to contain a once-in-a-century pandemic, caused by a virus far more dangerous than seasonal influenza. Many patients were, for unknown reasons, not recovering.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-209-october-28-2021-coronavirus-the-quest-at-mount-sinai-began-with-a-mystery-america-was-not-simply-struggling-to-contain-a-once-in-a-century-pandemic-ca/

POST 210. October 31, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Some people want the FDA to speed up. Others want it to be more cautious…There’s a fundamental tension between the right to get access to a drug people are desperate for and the right to protection from dangerous failures of quality. The first demands speed; the second requires time…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/10/post-210-october-31-2021-coronavirus-some-people-want-the-fda-to-speed-up-others-want-it-to-be-more-cautioustheres-a-fundamental-tension-between-the-right-to-get-access/

POST 211. November 4, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Colorado – “…there are patients who really ought to be in an intensive care unit but instead they’re in an emergency room. Or they ought to be in a step-down unit but instead they’re on the floor. Or they ought to be getting one-to-one nursing, and instead they’re getting two-to-one, or three-to-one nursing….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-211-november-4-2021-coronavirus-colorado-there-are-patients-who-really-ought-to-be-in-an-intensive-care-unit-but-instead-theyre-in-an-emergency-room-or-they-ough/

POST 212. November 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “They went into hospitals with heart attacks, kidney failure or in a psychiatric crisis. They left with covid-19…” “A new report shows the coronavirus pandemic had a direct increase on the number of healthcare-acquired infections in hospitals nationwide.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-212-november-9-2021-coronavirus-they-went-into-hospitals-with-heart-attacks-kidney-failure-or-in-a-psychiatric-crisis-they-left-with-covid-19-a-new-repor/

POST 213. November 13, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Since the earliest days of the pandemic, there has been one collective goal for bringing it to an end: achieving herd immunity…Now the herd is restless. And experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have set aside herd immunity as a national goal.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-213-november-13-2021-coronavirus-since-the-earliest-days-of-the-pandemic-there-has-been-one-collective-goal-for-bringing-it-to-an-end-achieving-herd-immunity-now-the-herd-is-rest/

POST 214. November 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “This virus is doing what this virus does,” said Michael Osterholm… “We don’t understand why surges start, we don’t understand why they end.” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-214-november-20-2021-coronavirus-this-virus-is-doing-what-this-virus-does-said-michael-osterholm-we-dont-understand-why-surges-start-we-dont-understand-why-they-en/

POST 215. November 26, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Fauci on the new South African variant: “It’s not going to be possible to keep this infection out of the country. The question is: Can you slow it down?”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/11/post-215-november-26-2021-coronavirus-dr-fauci-on-the-new-south-african-variant-its-not-going-to-be-possible-to-keep-this-infection-out-of-the-country-the-question-is-can-you/

POST 216. December 1, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Covid cacophony: as states struggle to address health care staffing shortages, a federal court puts Biden administration health care worker vaccination mandate on hold. 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-216-december-1-2021-coronavirus-covid-cacophony-as-states-struggle-to-address-health-care-staffing-shortages-a-federal-court-puts-biden-administration-health-care-worker-vaccination-mandate/

POST 217. December 3, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. President Biden Announces New Actions to Protect Americans Against the Delta and Omicron Variants as We Battle COVID-⁠19 this Winter

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-217-december-3-2021-coronavirus-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-protect-americans-against-the-delta-and-omicron-variants-as-we-battle-covid-%e2%81%a019-this-winter/

POST 218. December 5, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “In some ways, Delta is the ideal variant: It’s transmissible enough to dominate more dangerous variants, and its virulence can be controlled through vaccination. In the next few weeks, we’ll find out whether Omicron will have its own silver lining—or whether it’ll be catastrophically worse.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-218-december-5-2021-coronavirus-in-some-ways-delta-is-the-ideal-variant-its-transmissible-enough-to-dominate-more-dangerous-variants-and-its-virulence-can-be-controlled-t/

POST 219. December 9, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Entering uncharted territory, the U.S. counts 500,000 Covid-related deaths.”… “So yes, I am furious at the unvaccinated, and I am not ashamed of disclosing that. I am no longer trying to understand them or educate them.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-219-december-9-2021-coronavirus-entering-uncharted-territory-the-u-s-counts-500000-covid-related-deaths-so-yes-i-am-furious-at-the-unvaccinated-and-i/

POST 220 December 13, 2021. CORONAVIRUS.  Dr. Osterholm. “You cannot outrun the game clock with this pandemic. This virus will find you… We’ve seen health care systems virtually broken by this pandemic. They just couldn’t provide critical care to non-Covid patients.” (A)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-220-december-13-2021-coronavirus-dr-osterholm-you-cannot-outrun-the-game-clock-with-this-pandemic-this-virus-will-find-you-weve-seen-health-care-systems-virtually/

POST 221. December 18, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Johnson & Johnson’s Covid vaccine was going to be a shot for the world. Now, under the weight of a mountain of bad PR, one wonders if the world will want it.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-221-december-18-2021-coronavirus-johnson-johnsons-covid-vaccine-was-going-to-be-a-shot-for-the-world-now-under-the-weight-of-a-mountain-of-bad-pr-one-wonders-if-the-wor-2/

POST 222. December 20, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. So why my “inside baseball” focus on COVID-19 from the perspective of a retired hospital CEO?

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-222-december-20-2021-coronavirus-so-why-my-inside-baseball-focus-on-covid-19-from-the-perspective-of-a-retired-hospital-ceo/

POST 223. December 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Links for a case study of Crisis Standards of Care.

POST 223. December 28, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. Links for a case study of Crisis Standards of Care.

POST 224. December 29, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “crisis standards of care protocols in Maryland – “It also allows us to slim down documentation,… allows unconventional staffing models such as using nurses that have not been bedside. It also sets the expectations for the community that it’s not business as usual.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2021/12/post-224-december-29-2021-coronavirus-crisis-standards-of-care-protocols-in-maryland-it-also-allows-us-to-slim-down-documentation-allows-unconventional-staffing-models-such/

POST 225. January 3, 2021. CORONAVIRUS. “Be first, be right, be credible,” are among the most important principles for health authorities to follow in a crisis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared in a pamphlet on crisis communication in 2018….”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-225-january-3-2021-coronavirus-be-first-be-right-be-credible-are-among-the-most-important-principles-for-health-authorities-to-follow-in-a-crisis-the-centers-for-disease/

Post 226. January 5, 2022. CORONAVIRUS.  New York City – “The city’s ambulance corps are so understaffed because of the COVID-19 surge, they’re now under new orders to try to convince stable patients with flu-like symptoms not to go to the hospital.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-226-january-5-2022-coronavirus-new-york-city-the-citys-ambulance-corps-are-so-understaffed-because-of-the-covid-19-surge-theyre-now-under-new-orders-to-try-to-c/

POST 227. January 10, 2020. CORONAVIRUS.  “Stay indoors. But also return in person. Wear a mask. Not that one. The expensive one, that you can’t find. Take rapid tests. Which you also can’t find. But if you find them, don’t buy them. Rapid tests don’t work. You need PCR. There are zero appointments in your area.” (F)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-227-january-10-2020-coronavirus-stay-indoors-but-also-return-in-person-wear-a-mask-not-that-one-the-expensive-one-that-you-cant-find-take-rapid-tests-which-you-also/

POST 228. January 13, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “State officials are attempting to address California’s staffing shortage through a sweeping policy change that allows asymptomatic healthcare workers who have tested positive for the coronavirus to return to work immediately.” “Asymptomatic health professionals who had tested positive for COVID-19 should “preferably be assigned to work with COVID positive patients.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-228-january-13-2022-coronavirus-state-officials-are-attempting-to-address-californias-staffing-shortage-through-a-sweeping-policy-change-that-allows-asymptomatic-healthcare/

POST 229. January 16, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “It is now highly unlikely that the U.S. will hit the ~85-90% of Americans vaccinated to get to the other side of the pandemic…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-229-january-16-2020-coronavirus-it-is-now-highly-unlikely-that-the-u-s-will-hit-the-85-90-of-americans-vaccinated-to-get-to-the-other-side-of-the-pandemic/

POST 230. January 20, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “Dr. Fauci also said that the world is still in the first of what he considered to be the five phases of the pandemic. The first is the “truly pandemic” phase, “where the whole world is really very negatively impacted,” followed by deceleration, control, elimination and eradication.”…to paraphrase Churchill – “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”..

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-230-january-20-2022-coronavirus-dr-fauci-also-said-that-the-world-is-still-in-the-first-of-what-he-considered-to-be-the-five-phases-of-the-pandemic-the-first-is-the-truly/

POST 231. January 24, 202. CORONAVIRUS. “Florida’s top public health official in Orlando has been placed on administrative leave after sending an email to his employees noting their lackluster coronavirus vaccination rates and urging them to get the shots.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-231-january-24-202-coronavirus-floridas-top-public-health-official-in-orlando-has-been-placed-on-administrative-leave-after-sending-an-email-to-his-employees-noting-their-la/

POST 232. January 28, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “A Boston hospital’s denial of a heart transplant to a man who is unvaccinated for Covid-19 has generated national attention, but experts say mandating vaccines is in keeping with other long-standing requirements that patients have to meet to receive an organ — including getting other shots…”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/01/post-232-january-28-2022-coronavirus-a-boston-hospitals-denial-of-a-heart-transplant-to-a-man-who-is-unvaccinated-for-covid-19-has-generated-national-attention-but-experts-say-m/

POST 233. February 2, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “The same virus can cause endemic, epidemic or pandemic infections: it depends on the interplay of a population’s behaviour, demographic structure, susceptibility and immunity, plus whether viral variants emerge.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-233-february-2-2022-coronavirus-the-same-virus-can-cause-endemic-epidemic-or-pandemic-infections-it-depends-on-the-interplay-of-a-populations-behaviour-demographic-struct/

POST 234. February 2, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell demanded an end to the COVID-19 state of emergency on Wednesday , saying it was time for Americans to get on with their lives after two years on a ‘hellish highway.’”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-234-february-2-2022-coronavirus-senate-republican-leader-mitch-mcconnell-demanded-an-end-to-the-covid-19-state-of-emergency-on-wednesday-saying-it-was-time-for-americans-to-get-on/

POST 235. February 17, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Over time, the U.S. health care sector has implemented various pieces of the  (pandemic) safety-assessment-and-improvement puzzle, but it has not instituted a thorough system of safety that reaches from the boardroom to the front lines and that can be maintained during times of crisis.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-235-february-17-2020-coronavirus-over-time-the-u-s-health-care-sector-has-implemented-various-pieces-of-the-pandemic-safety-assessment-and-improvement-puzzle-but-it-has-no/

POST 236. February 22, 2021. CORONAVIRUS.  MOUNT SINAI AT HOME – “We began thinking about how we could use hospital-at-home to meet the needs of our hospital system in our community, in terms of responding to the crisis of COVID-19…” 

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-236-february-23-2021-mount-sinai-at-home-we-began-thinking-about-how-we-could-use-hospital-at-home-to-meet-the-needs-of-our-hospital-system-in-our-community-in-terms-of-responding/

POST 237. February 27, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “Decision-makers are increasingly embracing the reality that we will have to “learn to live with” the coronavirus. But how will they know when to impose or lift restrictions?”  “Now, the CDC’s “Covid-19 community level” metrics are based on three pieces of data in a community: new Covid-19 hospitalizations, hospital capacity and new Covid-19 cases.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/02/post-237-february-27-2020-coronavirus-decision-makers-are-increasingly-embracing-the-reality-that-we-will-have-to-learn-to-live-with-the-coronavirus-but-how-will-they-k/

POST 238. March 5, 2022, CORONAVIRUS. “Two different scientists can look at the same set of data and come up with different conclusions. That’s not to say that one person is being unscientific or ignoring the scientific process,” said Leana Wen, an emergency physician and a professor at George Washington University. “Public health policy is also a measure of values.””

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-238-march-5-2022-coronavirus-two-different-scientists-can-look-at-the-same-set-of-data-and-come-up-with-different-conclusions-thats-not-to-say-that-one-person-is-being-unscientific-or-ig/

POST 239. March 9, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “War is an infectious disease’s best friend,” says Michael Osterholm, “It challenges every public health program you can possibly have. It limits the medical care available for those who might be seriously ill, and often fosters transmission when so many people are crowded into bomb shelter locations and on trains. This is going to be the perfect storm of one serious challenge after another.” (E)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-239-march-9-2022-coronavirus-war-is-an-infectious-diseases-best-friend-says-michael-osterholm-it-challenges-every-public-health-program-you-can-possibly/

POST 240. March 15, 2022. ““China is modifying its Covid-19 playbook amid a surge in cases as it seeks to avoid strains on its healthcare system.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-240-march-15-2022-china-is-modifying-its-covid-19-playbook-amid-a-surge-in-cases-as-it-seeks-to-avoid-strains-on-its-healthcare-system/

POST 241. March 20, 2022, CORONAVIRUS. Dr. Ashish Jha will serve as the new White House COVID-19 response coordinator.” He is not, for the record, a virologist, immunologist, or vaccinologist…But he is a public health expert and a practicing internist, which means he has years of experience explaining complicated and often incomplete information to people who neither know nor care about the correct pronunciation of “adenovirus.” That’s who he imagines on the other end of his webcam.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-241-march-20-2022-coronavirus-dr-ashish-jha-will-serve-as-the-new-white-house-covid-19-response-coordinator-he-is-not-for-the-record-a-virologist-immunologist-or-vaccinologist/

POST 242. March 24, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “How worried should people be about the BA.2 variant? Will vaccines protect against it? What if someone contracted a previous variant — could they become reinfected? Is BA.2 milder than previous versions, and if so, should people try to get it? Could BA.2 cause another surge in the US, and is it time for restrictions to be put back into place?”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-242-march-24-2022-coronavirus-how-worried-should-people-be-about-the-ba-2-variant-will-vaccines-protect-against-it-what-if-someone-contracted-a-previous-variant-could-they-becom/

POST 243. March 28, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “…the US Food and Drug Administration is planning authorize a fourth dose of the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines for adults over age 50 next week.”…”The decision to make fourth doses available now will bypass independent groups of scientific advisers for both the FDA and CDC, which would normally meet and publicly review the available science and then make recommendations to the agencies.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/03/post-243-march-28-2022-coronavirus-the-us-food-and-drug-administration-is-planning-authorize-a-fourth-dose-of-the-pfizer-and-moderna-mrna-vaccines-for-adults-over-age-50-next-wee/

POST 244. April 4, 2022.CORONAVIRUS. “Here’s a scary thought: America’s ability to face the pandemic’s next phase may depend on a handful of senators.”…. “When the end of the COVID-19 pandemic comes, it could create major disruptions for a cumbersome U.S. health care system made more generous, flexible and up-to-date technologically through a raft of temporary emergency measures.”
https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-244-april-4-2022-coronavirus-heres-a-scary-thought-americas-ability-to-face-the-pandemics-next-phase-may-depend-on-a-handful-of-senators/

POST 245. April 10, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. We can’t react to a wave we don’t see coming. “I keep thinking back to this idea of If we don’t measure it, it won’t happen,”…(As President Donald Trump once put it, “If we stop testing, we’d have fewer cases.”) In reality, “it’s very well happening, and we just don’t see it yet.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-245-april-10-2022-coronavirus-we-cant-react-to-a-wave-we-dont-see-coming-i-keep-thinking-back-to-this-idea-of-if-we-dont-measure-it-it-wont-happ/

POST 246. April 15, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “State authorities and health care organizations could pay a high price for reinstating SCOPE OF PRACTICE (SOP) restrictions when the pandemic ends.” (e.g. NPs, PAs, Pharmacists +++)

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-246-april-15-2022-coronavirus-state-authorities-and-health-care-organizations-could-pay-a-high-price-for-reinstating-scope-of-practice-sop-restrictions-when-the-pandemic-ends/

POST 247. April 23, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The DOJ lawyers tasked with defending the CDC’s mask mandate authority have warned Biden administration officials that continuing to push the legal fight over the mask mandate could backfire, if the conservative-leaning appeals court upholds the order.”….”A Supreme Court ruling upholding the decision to strike down the mask mandate would make the Florida judge’s conclusions about CDC authority binding nationwide.”

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-247-april-23-2020-coronavirus-the-doj-lawyers-tasked-with-defending-the-cdcs-mask-mandate-authority-have-warned-biden-administration-officials-that-continuing-to-push-the-legal-fig/

POST 248. April 27, 2022. CORONAVIRUS. “For at-risk Americans without access to a “test-to-treat” drugstore that has a qualifying provider available, this means some will have to make multiple trips to get the pills. You have to develop COVID symptoms, you have to subsequently get a test for COVID-19, get the result of that test, find and go to see a provider, get a prescription, and then fill that prescription. That’s six steps in five days,”…

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/post-248-april-27-2022-coronavirus-for-at-risk-americans-without-access-to-a-test-to-treat-drugstore-that-has-a-qualifying-provider-available-this-means-some-will-have-to-make-multip/

April 26, 2022

POST 247. April 23, 2020. CORONAVIRUS. “The DOJ lawyers tasked with defending the CDC’s mask mandate authority have warned Biden administration officials that continuing to push the legal fight over the mask mandate could backfire, if the conservative-leaning appeals court upholds the order.”….”A Supreme Court ruling upholding the decision to strike down the mask mandate would make the Florida judge’s conclusions about CDC authority binding nationwide.”

for links to POSTS 1-247 in chronological order, highlight and click on

https://doctordidyouwashyourhands.com/2022/04/coronavirus-tracking-links-to-posts-1-247/

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that its order requiring masking on planes and other public transit is still needed, setting in motion a Justice Department appeal of a federal court decision that overturned the mandate.

“It is CDC’s continuing assessment that at this time an order requiring masking in the indoor transportation corridor remains necessary for the public health,” the agency said in a Wednesday statement. “CDC will continue to monitor public health conditions to determine whether such an order remains necessary. CDC believes this is a lawful order, well within CDC’s legal authority to protect public health.”

Following the CDC statement, Justice immediately filed a notice of appeal…

The Justice Department said Tuesday it planned to appeal a Florida federal judge’s ruling that voided the federal mask mandate for travelers if the CDC believes masking remains necessary.

The White House faced a dilemma as it weighed an appeal. If the appeal succeeds and passengers are forced to wear masks on planes again, the president could face political blowback.

But White House press secretary Jen Psaki said an appeal is needed not just to preserve the 15-day extension of the mandate but to preserve “CDC authority over the long-term” in case the pandemic worsens again. “Because as we’ve noted from here, we expect there to be ups and downs of the pandemic. And we certainly want the CDC to continue to have this authority.”

Even though the federal government said earlier this week that it is is no longer enforcing the mask mandate, the White House is recommending passengers wear masks.

U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle said the CDC failed to justify the order and didn’t follow proper rulemaking procedures.

As a result, the CDC said Monday that it would no longer enforce its order requiring masks on mass transportation systems, though it continued to recommend masks in “indoor public transportation settings at this time.”..

The federal mask mandate was announced in January 2021. Before the judge’s decision, the mandate was set to last through at least May 3. It required face coverings on airplanes, trains, buses and public transportation hubs.” (A)

“The Justice Department’s appellate filings didn’t immediately include a request for a stay seeking to put the court order on hold and reinstate the mask mandate, a standard move in emergency circumstances.

That’s an indication that the legal effort is less about the current Covid-19 conditions and more about trying to preserve the CDC’s authority in the future…

The appeal is a risky move that could limit the government’s ability to make similar mandates in the future. If the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals — which oversees appellate challenges from Florida, where the federal judge who struck down the mandate sits — upholds the ruling striking down the mandate, it would be precedent for all the other federal courts in that circuit, which covers the Southeast.

The DOJ lawyers tasked with defending the CDC’s mask mandate authority have warned Biden administration officials that continuing to push the legal fight over the mask mandate could backfire, if the conservative-leaning appeals court upholds the order.

The case could then be appealed to the Supreme Court, where conservative justices have been ruling against Covid-19 measures since the start of the pandemic. In January, the high court invalidated a vaccine requirement for large companies, and last summer it struck down a moratorium on evictions. A Supreme Court ruling upholding the decision to strike down the mask mandate would make the Florida judge’s conclusions about CDC authority binding nationwide…

Pressed on why the Justice Department didn’t immediately appeal the ruling or seeking an emergency stay, Psaki pointed to the CDC’s need to gather more data on the BA.2 subvariant of Covid-19, the original reason for the extension of the mandate last week.” (B)

“Why did the judge strike down the mandate?

Mizelle, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, had two main reasons for invalidating the regulation, which was rolled out by the CDC in early 2021. She said that the agency exceeded the authority given to it by Congress, and that — in how it rolled out the mandate — that it violated an administrative law that dictates the process executive branch agencies must go through in policy-making.

On the latter point, Mizelle’s ruling was one of several rulings where the administrative law, the Administrative Procedure Act, has been used to block executive branch policies of administrations of both parties. Biden initiatives on immigration have also been struck down for violating the APA, as have Trump era immigration policies. The law was also cited in striking down Trump-era changes to the 2020 Census, for instance.

Mizelle said that the mask mandate violated the APA because the administration didn’t have an adequate excuse for forgoing public notice and comment on the rule, and because the CDC did not offer enough of an explanation for why it was implementing the requirement.

Her ruling on the CDC’s statutory authority dug into the meaning of the word “sanitation” in the relevant section of the 1944 law giving the executive branch the authority to issue regulations that address communicable diseases.

She said that the use of “sanitation” in the statute referred to regulations around “measures that clean something, not ones that keep something clean,” and thus, Mizelle concluded, the mask requirement was outside of what the law contemplated.

She said that the mask requirement — in how it applies to individual travelers and their ability to use transportation — was more akin to the “detention” and “quarantine” type regulations referenced in a separate section of the law. But because the mandate applied to all travelers — and not just those who had been determined infected upon examination, as spelled out in that part of the law — it stretched beyond that part of the statute as well.

The judge said that her ruling invalidated the mandate would be effective nationwide, and on all the different types of travel the administration applied it to. Even as she expressed skepticism of nationwide injunctions generally, she said in this case it would be difficult distinguishing the individual plaintiffs from the millions of other travelers.

“How is the ride-sharing driver, flight attendant, or bus driver to know someone is a Plaintiff to this lawsuit with permission to enter mask-free?” she asked, before concluding that completely wiping out the policy was “necessary to remedy” the legal harm being inflicted on the plaintiffs.” (C)

“Mizelle begins her analysis by arguing that this list of examples limits the CDC’s authority to make regulations — an assumption that, in fairness, is grounded in the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the statute. Thus, according to Mizelle, if the law authorizes the masking requirement, “the power to do so much be found in one of the actions enumerated” in the statute’s list of examples. The masking rule must be a regulation providing for “inspection, fumigation, disinfection, sanitation,” or something similar.

But that shouldn’t be a problem. The word “sanitation” appears right there in the statute, and the masking requirement is a classic sanitation regulation. Its whole purpose is to prevent passengers from spewing a dangerous contaminant into the air that can infect other passengers. And, as Mizelle admits in her opinion, dictionary definitions of the word “sanitation” include “measures that keep something clean.” She even quotes dictionaries that provide definitions such as “the use of sanitary measures to preserve health.”

Nevertheless, Mizelle refuses to give the word “sanitation” its ordinary meaning, instead claiming that this word’s meaning must be limited “to measures that clean something, not ones that keep something clean.” (D)

“This pandemic is not over. A new variant could emerge at any time, and cases are rising in some parts of the country. Too many people are, according to the C.D.C., still at risk. The judge’s ruling may argue that the organization has exceeded its statutory authority, but that doesn’t mean that we’re out of the woods.

It’s not yet time to give up on measures that might protect the public and make places and activities safer for those who cannot protect themselves. But instead of continuing to bicker about things that have become hopelessly politicized like mask mandates, those in public health could focus on efforts that might make much more of a difference. One way forward is to identify and vocally get behind policies and tools with potentially higher impact and lower risk of backlash.

One of the most important is getting better ventilation in many buildings across the country. Too many don’t have filtration capabilities to remove infectious particles from the air, and too many aren’t of high enough quality to prevent spread.

Another policy that was important before Covid but is now imperative involves robust sick leave. Too many Americans are fearful of staying home if they’re ill, afraid to lose income or, even worse, employment. The American work culture still values toughing it out, and campaigns are needed to explain that this is not only misguided but also dangerous.

The law also needs to support better work accommodations for those truly still at increased risk, especially the immunocompromised. Some people may need to work from home; others may not be able to work at all. They and even some of their caregivers may need extra support as long as risk from Covid exists.

It is intolerable that disparities in the health care system still exist that prevent Covid-19 treatments from being equitably available to all. Making them free is necessary but not sufficient. The testing, prescription and sourcing need to be easily accessible for everyone, and yet many of those who need the most help are struggling to get it.

Cajoling has gotten the United States as far as it’s going to get on immunizations. Mandates work, but they’ve become politically toxic as well. America’s public health apparatus needs to get much more innovative with vaccination campaigns. Health workers could go out into communities door to door or where people work or spend their time and could offer them immediate immunization. We could do better at explaining how vaccines are free, safe and easily received. Public health departments should train a legion of trusted voices within different populations to help with the effort…

Committing to large-scale efforts that are less contentious and more effective seems like an easy choice. We spend too much time fighting one another and not enough time fighting the pandemic. Every day we do so, everyone loses.” (E)

“Cases are increasing in more than half of the 50 states. But Covid-19 hospitalizations are close to their lowest level since the government began tracking that metric in July of 2020. As the use of at-home tests rises, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has warned that there is potentially a huge undercount of cases because those results often don’t get reported. They estimate that only about 7% of positive cases in the US are being detected — suggesting that the case rates are 14.5 times higher than reported.

Still, at a time when about 66% of Americans are vaccinated with at least their initial series and less than a third have received their boosters, many are signaling that they are ready to move on and live with the virus — with only 1 in 10 calling the pandemic a crisis in a recent Axios-Ipsos poll.

That has left President Joe Biden and other Democrats in a tenuous position where they are still urging Americans to take the virus seriously — cognizant that another surge from a new variant could trigger a backlash against the party in power in November — but aware that Republicans will quickly weaponize any perceived retrenchment on Covid restrictions. The GOP has already hammered Democrats in some races for being too heavy-handed when it came to mask mandates, limitations for businesses and keeping children out of school during the height of the pandemic, and in some cases, have moved on to attacking Democrats for high gas prices, crime and inflation.

In a sign that even Democrats have been eager to move away from masking requirements, four senators facing reelections this fall joined with most Republicans in supporting a resolution from GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky last month to repeal the federal mask mandate on public transportation…

Congress left Washington earlier this month for a two-week recess without passing a $10 billion Covid-19 package that had been crafted through bipartisan negotiations led by GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat of New York. The package was focused on preparing the US for preventing future outbreaks and included funds for testing, treatments and therapeutics — paid for in part by repurposing funds from last year’s Covid relief package.

But it stalled after Republicans demanded a vote on an amendment that would restore Title 42, a Trump-era rule imposed during the pandemic that allowed the US to immediately send immigrants back to their home countries because of the public health emergency. The Biden administration’s decision to roll back Title 42 by May has become a central issue in this midterm campaign year, drawing criticism not just from Republicans but also from a number of vulnerable Democratic lawmakers, who say the administration has yet to formulate a plan to deal with the surge of immigrants at the southern border that is likely to follow the phase-out of that rule.

While it is unclear how soon Congress might move on the Covid package given the impasse over immigration, Biden could face an embarrassing situation when he leads a second global summit on Covid-19 in May after US lawmakers rebuffed the administration’s requests to provide more funding to subsidize global vaccines. Earlier this month, then-White House Covid-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients framed that failure to include funding for the global Covid response in the latest package as “a real disappointment.”

But it also was a sign of lawmakers’ perception that the issue is receding as a top concern for most Americans, as state governments and localities once again take the lead on Covid guidance and response. In the current patchwork, the rules hinge as much on politics as they do on science and that is likely to affect how local lawmakers shape rules for their public transit systems now that the federal rule has been struck down.”  (F)

“Over the past month and a half, a number of cities, including Philadelphia, lifted mask mandates that had been in place for some of the deadliest months of the Covid-19 pandemic, signaling that a return to normalcy was perhaps, once again, near. But another oddly named subvariant soon arrived, and infections began heading upward again. With a low but quickly climbing case count, Philadelphia became the first major American city this spring to order its residents to put the masks back on.

The decision comes at an uncertain time in the pandemic, as new variants of unknown risk show up while the wide availability of home tests has complicated official tallies of new infections. The Omicron subvariant known as BA.2 reversed a nationwide decline in new cases, but it is spreading in a country that is better vaccinated than when the Delta variant arrived last year. There are good antiviral medication options now. And so far, a spike in hospitalizations has not followed the spike in infections.

At the same time, many people, even some of the most cautious, have lost their appetite for vigilance, and rules have grown harder to keep track of. Seeking to forestall a new surge, the Biden administration extended the federal mask mandate on public transportation for two more weeks, but then a federal judge in Florida vacated the mandate on Monday. Hours later, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority lifted its mask mandate for customers and employees.

As cases tick up, local and state leaders across the country will have to decide if a point comes when recommendations are no longer enough and policies like mask mandates are again called for.

“From the kind of larger public health perspective, this is a constant dance that we are in, especially here in the United States, of when to put things into policy,” said Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician and academic dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.

For Philadelphia’s health department, that point was reached last week, when a rising number of cases automatically triggered the mask mandate. The city of 1.6 million people has been broadly compliant with public health directives for the past two years, and masking was widespread even without a mandate. Still, the reversal presents a case study for other cities, a test of how thin patience may have worn for pandemic restrictions, even in a place where thousands of people have died from Covid-19…

It’s hard to keep track of mask rules. After the Biden administration extended a federal mask mandate on public transportation for two weeks, a judge vacated the order. And hours later, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority lifted its mask mandate for customers and employees…

“If I’m vaccinated, why do I have to wear a mask?” fumed Myesha Romero, 31, whose displeasure was hardly concealed beneath a red mask with the Temple University logo. “What’s the damn point?” she asked. “Every day it’s a new rule.” Coretta Nesmith, 32, sitting maskless in a row of seats at the other end of the laundromat from the counter, smiled broadly. “You can tell my view,” she said.” (G)

“Biden officials “are trying to project this nonchalance that we’re back to normal, even in D.C., in these corridors of power,” said Gregg Gonsalves, an infectious disease expert at Yale University. “It gives the impression that they don’t care and infections don’t matter…This is all about political expediency and optics more than anything else, and it’s entirely depressing.”

Taking this kind of approach could haunt the country because of the long-term health risks of infection, including for the vaccinated, critics say.

“I want the administration to be mindful that downplaying cases is a very dangerous and an inaccurate approach,” Abraar Karan, an infectious disease doctor at Stanford University, who called the administration’s behavior “cognitive dissonance.”

“It doesn’t make sense,” he said.

Emblematic of the risks the administration is taking, several public health experts say, is this month’s Gridiron Club dinner, during which more than 600 Democratic and Republican officials partied with members of the press, including from POLITICO, maskless for hours indoors. More than 13 percent of the 625 revelers later tested positive, including White House aides, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, journalists and at least two Cabinet secretaries.

Tom DeFrank, the Gridiron Club president and a veteran White House correspondent, said he wasn’t aware of anyone pushing precautions beyond vaccination, including Biden officials. The first invitation went to Fauci, who said he would be “delighted” to attend. “The fact that he was coming was seen by all of us as a good sign,” he said…

CDC spokesperson Jason McDonald said the agency recommends that individuals test before indoor gatherings, though added that “this event is an example of what living with COVID-19 could look like,” with no deaths or hospitalizations due to high vaccine coverage.

The administration’s critics, like Ganapathi, say the example underscores the danger of guidelines that recommend people gauge risk for themselves rather than for the public.

“The CDC gives cover for all these activities,” Ganapathi said. “It’s going to be very hard to go against it because we look at the CDC as the foremost authority here, if not the world.”..

In recent days, several D.C. universities increased their Covid protections in response to spiking infections in the city, she noted. Howard University turned to remote learning for the rest of the semester and George Washington University and American University reinstated indoor mask requirements…

In the absence of strong CDC recommendations to do so, event organizers are unlikely to put mitigation measures in place, said Jeremy Faust, an emergency physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School.

The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, set for April 30, recently upgraded its requirements to include vaccination as well as a negative same-day test. President Joe Biden and the first lady plan to attend, according to the association.

But other recent D.C. events involving administration officials had no measures in place.

“We can’t just look at poll numbers and throw up our hands,” said Raifman, of Boston University. “We don’t poll people about whether they want speed limits.

“Part of having a functioning society,” she added, “should be mitigating the amount of Covid in the air.” (H)

“SHAPIRO: So if it was a question of authority whether the CDC is allowed to do this, is it clear what kinds of powers the CDC has?

HUANG: Well, traditionally, the CDC makes the most use of its soft powers; you know, using science and reason to persuade states and individuals to do things for the sake of public health. But it also has hard powers which go back to the 1944 Public Health Service Act. In the past, the agency has used these to quarantine individuals. And in this pandemic, CDC has been using them to issue broad orders on a range of things, like making travelers test and mask to banning evictions and turning migrants away at the borders. Dr. Marty Cetron, the CDC’s head of global migration and quarantine, told me last year that this is new territory for the CDC…

LINDSAY WILEY: A lot of the general public and a lot of federal judges feel like, you know, this isn’t exactly what CDC’s role should be; this is something state and local governments are doing, and it should really be left to them.

HUANG: Ultimately, the Supreme Court said CDC didn’t have the authority to do it, and they struck it down. Now, that was one ruling on evictions, but law experts say it had a ripple effect. Lower courts could use it to limit the CDC’s powers too, and the judge in Florida did cite it this week as she canceled the travel mask mandate.

SHAPIRO: What would that ripple effect do? If the CDC’s powers get restricted more broadly, what kind of impacts could that have on public health?

HUANG: Well, health experts told me that they worry that limiting public health powers is shortsighted. Here’s Wendy Parmet, a health law professor at Northeastern University.

WENDY PARMET: You can’t assume that everything in the future is going to look either epidemiologically or politically like what we have seen.

HUANG: She says that the next pandemic could be very deadly to kids or one where Republicans might want more restrictive measures than Democrats, as they did during the Ebola outbreak. She says that the CDC needs to have flexible powers to deal with health threats effectively. Now, ultimately, Congress may need to step in and spell out the agency’s powers, but with the current political climate, it’s not a clear path.” (I)

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