Tag: social distancing

Social Distancing To Fight the Coronavirus Saves Lives and Preserves the U.S. Economy

Center for American Progress logoIn the midst of an exponentially rising global coronavirus pandemic, the Trump administration—after first denying the severity of the crisis and then reacting too slowly and haphazardly—remains eager to relax measures that have belatedly been put in place to limit its effects.

The rationale for the administration’s stance is purported to be purely economic, based on a claim that the economic consequences of social distancing and other life-saving measures are just too high. But like so many of the claims this administration makes, it is false. Evidence overwhelmingly suggests that our economy would be much better off if we take strong measures to limit spread of the virus.

COVID-19 has the potential to harm many people. The virus is highly contagious and has a significant mortality rate. A surge in the numbers of those seriously affected is already overloading hospitals in hard-hit areas, leading to preventable deaths and making it difficult for the U.S. health system to provide care for non-COVID-19 patients. Continue reading.

Coronavirus Slowdown in Seattle Suggests Restrictions Are Working

New York Times logoOfficials in Washington State worry that their gains are precarious, but they see evidence that containment strategies have lowered the rate of virus transmission.

SEATTLE — The Seattle area, home of the first known coronavirus case in the United States and the place where the virus claimed 37 of its first 50 victims, is now seeing evidence that strict containment strategies, imposed in the earliest days of the outbreak, are beginning to pay off — at least for now.

Deaths are not rising as fast as they are in other states. Dramatic declines in street traffic show that people are staying home. Hospitals have so far not been overwhelmed. And preliminary statistical models provided to public officials in Washington State suggest that the spread of the virus has slowed in the Seattle area in recent days.

While each infected person was spreading the virus to an average of 2.7 other people earlier in March, that number appears to have dropped, with one projection suggesting that it was now down to 1.4. Continue reading.

Experts converge on plans for easing coronavirus restrictions safely

Washington Post logoThe Trump administration’s national social distancing guidelines expire early this week. So what’s the plan?

If there’s one thing people agree on, even as they debate the government’s coronavirusresponse, it is this: We can’t do this forever.

The nationwide shutdowns, the home quarantines, hospital shortages, layoffs, deaths and infections. All seemingly without end. So what exactly is our next step?

Concerned about the nation’s halting, uncoordinated response — which has featured a patchwork of state-by-state, competing and at times contradictory decisions — health experts are rushing to offer their own long-term strategies to combat the virus and edge America closer back to normal. Continue reading.

Governors, health experts warn coronavirus restrictions must stay in place

The Hill logoGovernors and health experts alike warned Sunday that restrictions to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic must stay in place as the disease continues to spread.

Widespread social distancing guidelines and orders can’t be lifted until the number of COVID-19 cases levels off or drops, experts said, also cautioning that more widespread testing is needed to ensure accurate numbers.

“I want to see a flattening and a turning down to the curve. So, if somebody asked me a question, what about New York, should we be pulling back on New York, obviously not,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”  Continue reading.

Social Distancing To Fight Coronavirus: A Strategy That Is Working and Must Continue

Center for American Progress logoFor the last several days, President Donald Trump has become increasingly vocal in his opposition to the social distancing policies that state and local governments have put in place to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing concerns about their business impact. This position is utterly reckless and contradicts the universal consensus of public health and infectious diseases experts. It also ignores the reality that allowing further spread of COVID-19 will result in more damaging and longer-term economic impact than continuing with social distancing. State and local governments must continue to lead in this crisis; measures that may seem overly disruptive remain essential to protect people’s health.

The United States is still in the early stages of this pandemic. For this reason, it may seem to some as though social distancing rules are unnecessary, overly onerous, or not working. In fact, evidence from other countries shows that social distancing interventions can slow the spread of COVID-19. Beyond the international evidence of social distancing’s effectiveness, there is promising data from states that were early adopters of key social distancing policies, including bans on large gatherings and closing bars and restaurants. Together, these case studies should reassure state and local governments that they are continuing on the correct path.

Social distancing and the spread of COVID-19

Mass testing allows officials to utilize up-to-date and localized data on the disease spread, including identifying asymptomatic individuals who can then isolate themselves before they further spread the virus. In the absence of widespread testing, however, the centerpiece of the public health response to COVID-19 is social distancing. The goal of social distancing is also to prevent contagious people from coming into close contact with healthy people in order to “flatten the curve”—slowing down the spread of the virus—which in turn helps to avoid a spike in cases that overwhelms the health care system. To lessen the chances of catching COVID-19, experts recommend that people stay at least six feet away from each other. Social distancing policies include telework and business and school closures. Continue reading.

World Health Organization Issues Stern Warning Against Early End To Pandemic Restraints

The World Health Organization on Wednesday came out against sending people back to work and school in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that ending social distancing measures too soon could worsen the ongoing outbreak.

“These measures are the best way to suppress and stop transmission, so that when restrictions are lifted, the coronavirus doesn’t resurge,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general, said at a news conference on Wednesday.

“The last thing any country needs is to open schools and businesses, only to be forced to close them again because of a resurgence.” Continue reading.

Most Americans agree with measures to fight the pandemic that Trump claims ‘real people’ want to see end

Washington Post logoLet’s just note at the outset that the national effort to curtail social interactions with an eye toward limiting the novel coronavirus pandemic came from President Trump himself.

“My administration is recommending that all Americans, including the young and healthy, work to engage in schooling from home when possible,” Trump said on March 16. “Avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 people. Avoid discretionary travel. And avoid eating and drinking at bars, restaurants and public food courts. If everyone makes this change or these critical changes and sacrifices now, we will rally together as one nation and we will defeat the virus.”

He put a boundary on that recommendation of 15 days but even on Tuesday insisted that any decision to rescind those recommendations would be “based on hard facts and data.” Continue reading.

Cellphone data reveals Minnesotans are among best at social distancing

Well, it is ingrained in the state psyche.

Minnesota is among the best states in the country at social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak.

That’s according to new data provided by Unacast, which has graded each state and county based upon their cellphone movements – Minnesota gets an “A” grade.

Since the outbreak began, Minnesotans have decreased their distance traveled by 45.66 percent, after state leaders called on residents to stay home when possible to slow the spread of the virus. Continue reading.

Deniers and Disbelievers: ‘If I Get Corona, I Get Corona.’

New York Times logoMany have ignored the urgent calls for social distancing. How much they are worsening the coronavirus outbreak may never be known.

NOVATO, Calif. — A climbing destination on the remote eastern side of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada, Bishop, Calif., was packed last weekend, as crowded as any holiday, despite growing calls for isolation in advance of a predicted wave of coronavirus cases.

“People were like, ‘Social distancing? I’m going to Bishop. Can’t get any more distant than that,’” said Jeff Deikis, a resident and climber.

Although the risks of climbing are primarily associated with the heights and terrain, adventurers jammed the coffee shops and the brewery in Bishop. Driving four hours from Los Angeles and six hours from San Francisco, packs of climbers scaled the nearby boulders and canyons, sharing fresh air and, perhaps, infectious disease. Continue reading.

Why outbreaks like coronavirus spread exponentially, and how to “flatten the curve”

Washington Post logoAfter the first case of covid-19, the disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus, was announced in the United States, reports of further infections trickled in slowly. Two months later, that trickle has turned into a steady current.

This so-called exponential curve has experts worried. If the number of cases were to continue to double every three days, there would be about a hundred million cases in the United States by May.

That is math, not prophecy. The spread can be slowed, public health professionals say, if people practice “social distancing” by avoiding public spaces and generally limiting their movement. Continue reading.