Doctor, Epidemiologist, Describe “Five-Point Plans” To Mitigate Pandemic
In a discussion of the ongoing pandemic, and the overarching effect on society, an important question arises: what can we actually do that would address the pandemic, and mitigate the worst effects? Here are a few takes on the answer.
The question sprang from a discussion of what the pandemic is doing to the healthcare system. When Uché Blackstock, MD, a physician and researcher, warned that the increasing numbers of hospitalized patients are untenable and will be too much for the healthcare system, MSNBC‘s Chris Hayes asked for 5-point plans legislators could implement
What would be the best five point plan that policy makers could implement?
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) January 8, 2022
Dr. Blackstock offered her suggestion: First, provide high-quality masks and tests for everyone. Second, actually expect people to use them in public places. Nobody gets on a domestic flight without a vaccine, everyone who can work from home does so, and for those essential workers who can’t stay home, implement workplace protections.
1) free high-quality masks and rapid tests for every person
2) indoor mask policies in public places
3) domestic air travel vaccine mandate
4) nonessential workers WFH for next 3-4 weeks, as well as remote school option
5) workplace safety standards for essential workers https://t.co/0CiFgpLL3j— uché blackstock, md (@uche_blackstock) January 8, 2022
Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist who has weighed in on policy and health education throughout the pandemic, ahead a similar list.
Like Dr. Blackstock, he suggested free high-quality masks and tests for all. He also would like to see “fully vaccinated” include a booster shot, and some changes that can be done more structurally, so individual reluctance to follow rules doesn’t come into play — better ventilation and disinfectant standards.
1. Ventilation & indoor air disinfection standards (key advantage—agnostic of politics/behaviors)
2. Boosters & reclassify “fully vaccinated” w/ booster.
3. N95 for all essential workers—free KN95 for public.
4. Free or $1 rapid tests.
5. Unvaxxed pay more insurance premiums. https://t.co/mh1XGaQLhR pic.twitter.com/UFU8EU8y7R
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) January 9, 2022
When it comes to the refusal to comply, though, Dr. Feigl-Ding has a suggestion for that too — the unvaccinated should pay higher insurance premiums, he says.
He added a few additional points, echoing Dr. Blackstock’s call for vaccination requirements (or at least testing, he says) for air travel, and also calling for vaccine passports for indoor activities and large gatherings.
3) This is a good point — we didn’t solve the unhygienic water by just making the world boil water. We solved it by making the water cleaner in our pipes. Hence we need to make the air more hygienic in schools and workplaces with better indoor air infrastructure! https://t.co/kgAYFAfqmx
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) January 9, 2022
Ultimately, though, he returned to one major point: infrastructure that would make schools and workplaces safer, not just through this pandemic but going forward.
“[W]e need to make the air more hygienic in schools and workplaces with better indoor air infrastructure!”
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