From the NY Times: They Let Us Down’: 5 Takeaways on the C.D.C.’s Coronavirus Response. “Early mistakes in testing, aging data systems, clashes with President Trump and an overly cautious culture shook confidence in the nation’s premier public health agency.”
Brookings plans two volumes, the first of which is available now. it is 105 pages.
Vol.1: Reopening America.
The first volume focuses on the American experience while the second one examines the experiences of other nations and lessons for the United States. Brookings President John Allen’s essay presents an overview of the pandemic and the serious questions it has raised for the world. Our goals in this project are to inform the public conversation about COVID, help business, government, and civic leaders take their next steps, and think about the immediate and longer-term consequences of the virus. We must learn as much as possible about this pandemic in order to address its overall ramifications.
New guidance from FEMA, this 69 page document: Planning Considerations; Disaster Housing.
From the new blog called HazardDoc: Presidential Disaster Declarations and the Politics of Need.
Note: Author Susan Cutter and the Diva are co-editors of the recent book U.S. Emergency Management in the 21st Century; from Disaster to Catastrophe, which is now on sale.
From HSDL: Challenges and Opportunities of Reopening Efforts
In addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brookings Institution published a new report, Reopening America and the World, providing an assessment of current efforts in restarting the economy and social institutions. As COVID-19 continues to shutter local businesses and communities, Brookings aims to contribute to the reopening debate by engaging in the most pressing topics of public health, economic revival, and social equality.
Significantly, the report emphasizes numerous points of concern, as well as some examples of success that became apparent in the midst of the global response to COVID-19. In particular, the implementation of heightened hygiene considerations and social distancing measures appear to be at the core of successful reduction of viral transmission. Furthermore, the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as enhanced healthcare capacity for testing and treatment remain essential in all reopening efforts during the pandemic.
From the Boston Globe: The Virus’s Tale – Track the Coronavirus in Massachusetts to its roots.
The Diva has posted several articles about the failings of several federal agencies, but here is a chilling account of early failures by public officials and medical experts in MA.
From TheHill: The island that can save America
As we focus on rebuilding our formerly vibrant pharmaceutical manufacturing base, policymakers should remember the place where so much of it was once located: Puerto Rico. That began to change in 1996, when federal tax policy spurred manufacturers to move out of Puerto Rico to foreign countries with cheap labor and low taxes, like China and India.
Puerto Rico can still offer immediate solutions to the current crisis, however, if the administration and Congress use the next relief package to create economic incentives to address two urgent needs at once: re-domesticating pharmaceutical manufacturing and stimulating the Puerto Rican economy.
From the Seattle Times: Embracing a new reality: Coronavirus may never go away, even with a vaccine
Consider the public policies and actions that will be needed.
