Andy Slavitt’s public #Covid19 response journal (March 14 through May 26, 2020)

Andy Slavitt ran Obamacare under president Obama. He understands the complexity of the US healthcare system. In early 2020 Andy began talking to governors and experts everywhere to prepare a coordinated response to the virus. Each night he would post a summary of these conversations on twitter. This, for me, was the best source of truth about what was happening. So I’m saving it here. I think it will be useful to look back at these threads later, and see what happened, and why, and how we could have done more, earlier, to improve outcomes for everyone.

Each of these tweets is a full thread (usually 20-30 messages) about the status of #covid19 on that day, and how the nation is responding to the threat.

March 2020

COVID-19 Prep Update- March 14:

Last night I was on with state & local officials around the US well into the night. By March 23 many of our largest cities & hospitals are on course to be overrun with cases.

I am going to prepare a memo for them. I will share highlights here.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 14, 2020

COVID-19 March 15Prep update:

Every day brings vital new developments and I talked to leading epidemiologists, public health experts about what is happening & coming & what we should be doing. I learned a bunch. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 15, 2020

COVID-19 March 16 Update: I’m going to try to have some of the positives in here, but also present the facts of what is around the corner.

This sums up what I know from the Administration, states, manufacturers of gear, hospitals, and major tech companies. And it’s only 4:30 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 16, 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/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 17, 2020

March 18 COVID Update 1: Today I may do two threads because so much is happening. This one contains a lot of positive things happening.

But in order to get there we need to be grounded in what he scientists & mathematicians are saying. And it’s disturbing.

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 18, 2020

March 19 COVID Update: My report out.

Today lots of conversation on the Hill; called other country’s health leaders to see what was different; heard from many many providers today. And it was a great day under a war time general. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 19, 2020

March 20 COVID Update: There’s crises of today (masks & beds), the crises of tomorrow (ventilators), clinical protocols, what Congress needs to do, what they are doing & helping us sustain #StayHome.

I worked on all of them. Could use your help on a few.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 20, 2020

March 21 COVID Update: I had an scientists & innovators trying to get as good a projection of the future that I could. It is wrong be definition. No one knows the future.

I also heard some about present: the Congressional bill, Admin plans & hospital realities. Here goes… 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 21, 2020

March 22 COVID Update: Will report on my day. It is hard to prepare for what the next several weeks will look like.

We will see things on TV we have only seen in other countries & hear death tolls that are hard to comprehend.

Right now it is in the public’s hands. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 23, 2020

March 23 COVID Update: Been on the phone with both Dem and Rep negotiators in the room. With several governors & a former presidential candidate on how to get people to #StayHome.

Good & bad news came to me today and I will happily report the former & gently report the latter.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 23, 2020

March 24 COVID Update: Based on calls with the WH, the Senate, testing companies, hospitals in Seattle, and people who have launched new capabilities.

Also much talk about avoiding too early an end to #StayHome without tanking the economy.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 24, 2020

March 25 COVID Update: Today I spent the morning with the leading scientists, diagnostic experts, Homeland Security specialists & risk assessors.

This afternoon on the Senate bill. And just now with the Minnesota Timberwolves organization dealing with a scary situation. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 26, 2020

March 26 COVID Update: Talked to the place in the world with the fastest growing cases. Two big launches— 1) doing something about vents & 2) new portal for people during the pandemic. More on testing. Some on saving lives. New projections?

Coming soon. Follow if interested.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 26, 2020

March 27 COVID Update: Coming after dinner.

A few gems today. Things I can happily reveal. Today is actually a lot about some of the best things we’re doing. The good news will lag what we see on TV. I was downbeat 2 weeks ago before most and am more upbeat today.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 28, 2020

March 28 COVID Update: This week & the month are going to be hard. We have to do our best to protect vulnerable populations & health care workers.

But a couple states I talked to today feel there is a real fork in the road. I will share what the paths seem to be.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 28, 2020

March 29: COVID Update. I’ve tried to use these threads to give you the straight story as best I can of what I see. And I will continue to do that Monday-Saturday.

But Sunday is going to be something different. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 30, 2020

COVID Update March 30: Tonight’s update is going get to the heart of how Trump decided to make the leap to start discussing the potential US death toll from Coronavirus.

I talked to Italy, the White House, US hospitals and others about what they see and what they expect. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 31, 2020

COVID Update March 31: I spent the day trying to assess some of the greatest needs we have & what the Federal government could be solving now.

Yesterday was about our challenge. Today is about solutions. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) March 31, 2020

April 2020

COVID April 1 Update: Been a marathon night & day to report on. We can solve the ventilator problem and save lives. Testing woes & hopes. And unfinished business from yesterday.

Coming in a few. Follow if interested. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 2, 2020

COVID Update April 3: I spoke to a Senator (& recorded it), the CEO of 1 of the biggest vent manufacturers (didn’t record but will read out here), talked with 1 governor & states about how they get to the next stage. And am expert on capacity projection.

Follow if interested.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 3, 2020

COVID Update April 5: It was a busy day on all fronts. But today is Sunday. And last Sunday I didn’t tweet the news, but did something different that I will do again.

Coming soon. Follow if interested. #IntheBubble 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 6, 2020

Update COVID April 6: I spent much of the day checking in first hand if the curve is really flattening.

Got a science update, looked at risk factors. We launched a new service to support front line health care workers.

Talking to Asia, thread about an hour. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 6, 2020

COVID Update April 7: Today a governor at ground zero, talking to Congress about their package, a national testing strategy, “surveillance” plan— the new buzzword. And 50 people called me about baseball.

Coming up in 10 (seriously!) minutes. Follow if you like. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 8, 2020

COVID Update April 8: Most of the day with the US Senate on what’s in the next bill— negotiations beginning, the testing mess, what’s happening in hospitals right now that I didn’t know. And @PhilMurphyNJ.

About an hour after I dig through some reports I got sent. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 8, 2020

Update COVID April 9: The big conversation is around the 60,000 death toll model so I had confidential conversations with the modelers. Can share without attribution.

Also a palliative care doc walked me through a day with a COVID patient day.

1 more Senate call. Soon.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 9, 2020

COVID Update April 10: I spent the day in conversations w some of the people on society’s margins. Criminal justice, nursing homes, people w disabilities. And on NY and NJ.

Going on @maddow on @maddow at 9:25E or so. Will tweet soon after if interested, follow here. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 11, 2020

COVID Update April 11: Today I spent on food— not (just) eating it. But what’s going on in the food banks, with food producers & for hungry people.

Got the inside story on testing & contact tracing & a few others. Coming in about 90 minutes. Follow if interested. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 11, 2020

COVID Update April 12: Special Sunday thread tonight.

Have an online memorial service to attend— the best friend of @ASlavittsMom. Then probably a toast first.

If you haven’t see my past Sunday threads to decide if you want to follow tonight. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 12, 2020

COVID Update April 13: Trump is making a decision about how he wants to proceed & so I called someone who knows how he operates better than anyone I could think of— @Scaramucci.

(Full convo will be on #inthebubble soon). Insights here soon. Follow if interested. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 14, 2020

COVID Update April 14: The day— what Congress should do next. The food supply & the drug supply. Ventilators, hospitals & Trump. The numbers.

A day in my life. How was yours today? Coming very soon. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 15, 2020

COVID Update April 15: I worked on some visible problems & dove into some less visible ones. Visible— the infrasructure needed to contain future outbreaks. Less visible— prisons, what’s happening to primary care & the health care system.

And more from scientists. 10 minutes. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 16, 2020

COVID Update April 16: A day of progress, sorta progress, the governors vs. the President. Testing & contact tracing.

Follow if interested. Here goes. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 16, 2020

COVID Update April 17: Today I went to school on the WHO, on testing swabs, on why we can’t have tests, on little kids, on new tests, on drug trials, on where states are, on contact tracing.

My thread won’t be able to keep up with my day but I will try.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 18, 2020

COVID Update April 18: States are assuming they must figure out how to ramp testing capacity & manage contact tracing with little support more than they’re getting now.

How are they doing? Coming in a few. A short one I promise. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 19, 2020

COVID Update April 19: Sunday edition coming up. Sunday threads have been different. I may sneak a few tweets in after.

I will start tweeting after the Michael Jordan special. I’m from Chicago. So an hour. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 20, 2020

NEW- CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE: It seems like CARES 2 is likely to get done this week. Although much could change or derail things, $450 billion appears to be the total: 3/4 for small business, the rest for hospitals & for increased testing.

Long way to go but this is needed. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 19, 2020

COVID Update April 20: The next narrative will be one of the states vs the federal government & who has responsibility for testing.

The Hill, governors, WH, testing cos. I got a little of everyone’s opinion.

30 minutes or so if you’re interested in following. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 21, 2020

COVID Update April 21: My focus on the Senate Bill, what it means and what’s next. The next bill. And I talked to my hero today about one of our greatest challenge. And he’s even more my hero now.

Will be out with this starting in 30. Follow if interested. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 22, 2020

COVID Update April 22: Shiny objects, who’s getting screwed, and what can we do.

Will tweet after @CNN with @ChrisCuomo at 9:35 Eastern. Follow if interested. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 23, 2020

COVID Update April 23: Today I talked to a dozen health care experts of widely differing views on what we should do & started chasing my biggest question.

Follow if interested. I will try to start before @chriscuomo on @cnn at 10:15 Eastern, but won’t finish until after that. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 24, 2020

COVID Update April 24: What is the game on the next Congressional relief package? People talking about why we should be like Sweden so I called Sweden. How are states doing about testing?

Going on @cnn with @Chriscuomo about 10:30 Eastern. Will start before & finish after. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 25, 2020

COVID Update April 25: The calls started early today. People wanted to talk to me about the science & the trap of vaccine-savior thinking. I listened & answered questions & took notes. We also discussed distribution/equity issues if there is a vaccine.

Shortly. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 25, 2020

COViD Update April 26: If you follow me for my nightly threads, thank you. I hope they are helpful. Sunday they are different. They try to honor what everyone is doing.

Coming soon. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 26, 2020

COVID Update April 27: Today, along with 15 others, sent a detailed proposal to help the country move forward. I will share it, but also the why & the just for fun, how work like this gets done.

Rest of my TV for the night got cancelled so hopefully no interruptions. Soon. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 28, 2020

COVID Update April 28: Today I had a crash course in what we can learn from the HIV crisis, what’s going on in Indian Country, employer based coverage & what’s next out of Congess.

Will start now & finish after @ChrisCuomo at 9:30 E on @cnn. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 29, 2020

COVID Update April 29: What’s happened to the $20 billion? That’s what I wanted to find out today.

I got some answers but they are not good ones.

Will tweet soon. Follow if interested. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) April 30, 2020

COVID Update April 30: Today an hour with the head of vaccines at WHO. Much more if I can fit it in without too many tweets.

Coming soon with a couple potential small interruptions. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 1, 2020

 

May 2020

COVID Update May 1: It’s May 1, 2020 and everyone who wants to be tested for COVID-19 should be able to get one. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 2, 2020

COVID Update May 2: Welcome to 30 days of bliss. The type of bliss that often comes from ignorance. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 3, 2020

COVID Update May 3: On Sunday my updates are different from the rest of the week. I try to recognize a small part of what #thebestofus are doing. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 3, 2020

COVID Update May 4: We’ve been lied to about the potential death toll in this country & it matters. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 5, 2020

COVID Update May 5: It’s time to put on our big boy pants and turn testing into a real industry so that every American who wants a COVID test can get one.

But instead of taking that on, the White House task force is abandoning ship. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 6, 2020

COVID Update May 6: Like many countries we picked a strategy to beat COVID-19. We just decided not to stick to it. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 6, 2020

COVID Update May 7: The happy talk from the White House is hurting Americans who are being led to expect miracles like a vaccine by Fall rather than face the challenges head on. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 8, 2020

COVID Update May 8: The political strategy of Trump turning “public health official” into the equivalent of “climate scientist” is underway. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 9, 2020

COVID Update May 9: When we look back on this time, the tally of people who died from the virus & those who died out of neglect & indifference will be told.

It is not a pretty picture. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 9, 2020

COVID Update May 10: In honor of all the moms, like @ASlavittsMom, Sunday’s tweet thread brings you #thebestofus Mom edition. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 11, 2020

COVID Update May 11: Mondays I am going to give my sense of the state of the union of COVID-19. Where we stand.

5 categories: the virus trends, fed & state response, science, economy, & the analysis of the week. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 12, 2020

COVID Update May 12: The time to prepare for a second wave is now. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 13, 2020

COVID Update May 13: In the midst of the largest death toll from illness in 100 years, Trump is pushing to end health coverage for millions & limit it for tens of millions more.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 14, 2020

COVID Update May 14: The attacks on Anthony Fauci is a mis-placed hit job.

And it’s actually dangerous. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 15, 2020

COVID Update May 16: It’s the middle of May and we don’t know how we’re doing.

A lot of people of course think they do. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 16, 2020

COVID Update May 16: Big businesses, Trump & @senatemajldr McConnell want to open the country badly but they want no risk if it goes wrong.

You should be suspicious.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 17, 2020

COVID Update May 17: Sunday’s tweets have been dedicated not to the news of the day but the people of the day.

If it’s not your thing, of course, feel free to skip. But to me it’s a mosaic of hope in the face of challenge.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 17, 2020

COVID Update May 18: Monday I try to provide a state of the union on COVID.

Categories today: New York/rest of US, State Openings, Science, Congress, Public Discource 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 19, 2020

COVID Update May 19: I wanted to explore this simplified idea that to deal with COVID we “just isolate” the old people.

Why do I get the impression that the people who say this have neither interest nor plans in caring for the most vulnerable?1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 20, 2020

COVID Update May 20: “Except for the beginning and the crazy messaging, I think we did a good job,” someone in the WH said.

Of all the words in that sentence, the word that bothered me the most was “did.” 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 21, 2020

COVID Update May 21: Something is happening in the world that we should pay attention to.

Sadly we are ignoring it and the many warnings it represents. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 22, 2020

COVID 19 Update May 22: The most dangerous current effect of the pandemic may be denial.

Denial this was bad. Denial it has killed significant number of people. Denial it might come back even stronger.

Most of all, denial that social distancing actions had a big impact.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 23, 2020

COVID Update May 23: 2 months ago, with things heading off the rails & we launched #StayHome, experts told me that if we were successful at reducing the death toll, many wouldn’t believe COVID was much of a problem after all.

Fascinating look at where else I was right & wrong.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 24, 2020

COVID Update May 24: Sunday is the day when my threads are different. They are less newsy. They are less popular. But they are dedicated to the 100,000 people we’ve lost & their families and everyone that’s put themselves out to serve them. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 25, 2020

COVID Update May 25: State of the Union: as expected the early May openings are increasing hospitalizations.

Topics: the spread, science, the politics, the globe.1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 26, 2020

COVID Update May 26: 100,000 people have died from COVID-related causes.

These deaths have been largely alone, not properly mourned, without notice, discounted, under-counted, and preventable. 1/

— Andy Slavitt @ 🏡 (@ASlavitt) May 27, 2020