Conversation

Mar 17, 2020

COVID-19 March 17 Update: Every day represents a day like we’ve never had before. I talked to two hot spots hospital, a Comgressional briefing, WH calls, 3 states, 2 Cong committees & more to come. Here’s my update to follow if interested. 1/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

First I’m going to announce that the entire

@USofCare

organization which I chair and founded is going to devote 100% of its resources to helping people, states & the federal government for the foreseeable future. 2/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Next, what I’m hearing from hot spot hospitals -Average admission is 3 weeks -CCU nurses are limiting factor -Reveiving N95 masks because a hot spot but know others aren’t -Shortages of infrared thermometers & paper shields (not pronounced like 📝) 3/

10:13 PM · Mar 17, 2020Twitter for iPhone

Replying to

The outcry from nurses and doctors over having enough protective gear will be the major story over the next week. Italy lost 10% of its doctors (I have heard in some places). We can’t afford that. 4/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

Every day I wake up and thank the health care workers in this country. And every night before I go to bed. But thoughts and prayers aren’t enough. Here’s what I think we need... A $5000/month to every health care worker who is out there every day. 5/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

I made that recommendation to bipartisan leaders in Congress today. A Republican who was kind enough to co-host with me agreed. 5/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

Part of the reason why— allow me to take a detour.

@somuchweirdness

drove by 3 parks today & dozens of kids were playing together in close proximity. 7/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

Will explain in a second. Right now going on

with

614

So anyway I was coming out of the Green Room and ran into the world’s leading pandemic expert, the guy who predicted this in 2005 Michael Osterholm. He’s the brain and I’m the mouth. 7/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

He made some interesting points which I will convey. But then I got locked out of Twitter. That was serious. notsurethe#/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

But all those kids together. Back to that point (I’m sure you gave up on me by now), some are the kids of health care workers. And so that has to stop. Paying extra not just compare pay but for childcare is important. 8?/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

Hoping on a call from a Senator for five minutes-ish on the upcoming (third bill and convincing him of the $5k/month hopefully) back soon. Thanks for sticking w me. 11?/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

So that was good. And I got to count my tweets. In this marathon, we will need to build capacity to manufacture masks & tests & all those things including starting new factories. I know what you’re thinking. /13

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

You’re thinking but the President said this will be over by August. I think you can safely ignore that. You’re thinking— but this is America. We don’t make things. We buy things. Well guess what— every country is going to want the same pandemic fighting items. 14/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

Sec Mnuchin is now talking about a 20% unemployment rate for a period of time. Lots of people to rev up a new public health sector in a stimulus bill. And (God forbid), actually bring in new immigrants. 15/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

And then when we produce enough, start building a strategic reserve— like we do with oil. For when we have COVID-20, COVID-21, etc. Yes, climate change indicates there will be more (a thread for later). 16/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

What did Mike tell me? He said prepare for an 18 month war. He makes the point that we can’t change our social lives and economies for 18 months. So as this rolls through cities, we will need to pick our economy up while we create a vaccine. 17/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

He “the brains” believes that the conversation we will have as a society is what is the “middle ground.” What part of the economy opens, what part needs to stay close. One thing I think is sadly clear: we will need a prolonged isolation of seniors & ppl w medical conditions. 18/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

I think about this as one of the most significant consequences of where we are. We will adjust. We will #StayHome. (I’m watching Mike Bloomberg talk about how it’s unrealistic for people to stay home. He really needs to stay home & off TV. ) 19/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

As we cross the 100 death mark today, we will cross the mark where hundreds, then thousands will join this list. Health care workers stopped showing up in Italy. Death rates jumped. Keep the people you love at home. Please. 21/

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 17, 2020

If it’s your thing throw back a cold one while you are practicing #StayHome for St. Pat’s day. Laugh. I promise you we will get through this. /endfornow

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Andy Slavitt

@ASlavitt

Mar 18, 2020

Very important to clarify. I’ve heard from several people that I was NOT CLEAR in my haste to pound this message out when I said “lost.” I meant lost to the workforce temporarily, NOT lost in the worse way. So sorry to cause confusion or concern. Feel bad. Facts are important.

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