Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Global – 76,900,000; 1,700,000; USA – 18,200,000/321,700 Mayer Bowser of DC declared December 24, 2020 “Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. Day in Washington, DC: “Dr. Fauci has been a hero to our nation during this incredibly difficult year, working tirelessly to save lives and guide our nation’s response to and recovery from the pandemic,” said Mayor Bowser. “We are incredibly proud to count him among the many DC residents who are sacrificing so much to keep our communities healthy and safe. I issue this honor on behalf of all Washingtonians in gratitude and recognition of Dr. Fauci’s service to our nation and our city.” “Surprise” tribute to me from the 1st responders at NIH and Montgomery County: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10Vi4mozXkpCjolo9phs0XoWpwoxSJ_oj/view?usp=sharing A group of activists from “the old days” surprised me with a surprise birthday party on Zoom in my office at 4:30 PM. Organized by Peter Staley and Janet Tobias. On the Zoom were: Gregg Gonsalves, Peter Staley, David Barr, Mark Harrington, Jim Eigo, James Kellerstein, Peggy Hamburg, Judy Auerbach, Wafaa El Sadr, Matthew Rose, Moises Agosto Had Zoom call last night with Vivek Murthy, Rochelle Walensky and David Kessler. Vivek wanted to discuss in more detail what our advice would be to Biden regarding the mutant virus in the UK. We discussed options of 1) shutting down travel from UK; 2) requiring pre-boarding testing from UK flights or even all flights from EU and South Africa or even all foreign flights; 3) also discussed post-landing strategy such as giving people BINAX tests to take home and test themselves after they arrive. Seems we will recommend at least pre-boarding testing, probably from all of EU and RSA. Surge continues in some areas and decreases in others. Deb’s notes: There is a growing evidence showing aggressive public mitigation and clear messaging together does flattening the curve. When one compares TN to OH, NC, WVA, KY – surrounding states. TN fatalities/pop is 30-40% higher as states with more aggressive mitigation as it decreases the area under the curve – decreasing hospitalization and deaths per populations. When all is done excess mortality will be greater in states with less mitigation when normalized for population age and other multivariants. Deb 1. The Coasts (80% of the population) are now driving the increasing cases, hospitalizations and soon deaths. The East and West Coast, Sunbelt, IN, OH, KY, TN, WVA surging cases will drive cases and hospitalizations over the next week stressing their hospital systems and and inpatient care The Vaccine Before Christmas By Kevin A. Wilson (with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore) ‘Twas some days before Christmas—how many I’m not sure (The days ran together; everything was a blur). All the houses were locked down from COVID-19, With everyone wishing for the promised vaccine. The children were nestled and sleeping just fine. They were all tuckered out from their classes online. And mamma in her kerchief and I in my cap Had just sanitized our hands and hung up our masks. The year had been hard. We were due a vacation. But the thing wanted most? Emergency use authorization. Then out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I assumed it was another 2020 disaster. I ran to the window and put on my mask, But what would I see? I was too scared to ask. The neighbors were quiet and socially distant, Awaiting the time they’d be COVID resistant. But despite travel bans, there then did appear A miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. But this wasn’t Santa. His gut wasn’t paunchy. It was the trusted presence of Anthony Fauci. More rapid than eagles, at warp speed they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: “Now Pfizer! Now Sanofi! Now Johnson & Johnson! “On Moderna! On BioNTech! On Adaptive and Amgen! To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall! Now vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate all!” As a virus expelled by a cough or a sneeze When it meets plexiglass rises up on the breeze; So up to the house-top the pharma all flew, With the sleigh full of hope, and Dr. Fauci, too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney Fauci came with a bound. He was dressed in a suit, as was always his way, And his neatly cut hair was a smart silver-grey. A chart in one hand, a syringe in the other, And a medical bag—a gift from his mother. The wisdom in his eyes and the knowledge in his head Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. With his reassuring smile covered up with a mask, His no-nonsense style led him straight to the task. He sprung to my side as I rolled up my sleeve, And he stuck in the vaccine as quick as you please. He flew to the bedroom, gave mamma a shot, Then vaxxed both our kids without waking them up. Inoculations complete, he returned to the chimney, And gave me a pamphlet about what he put in me. Then raising his finger but not touching his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. “C’mon, team!” he said. “We’ve a great opportunity. If we vaccinate more we can reach herd immunity!” Then he yelled back to me, as the sleigh quickly rose, "I’ll be back in a fortnight for the follow-up dose." PRESS: WNYW Local NYC TV with Rosanna Scotto – great interview. The entire TV crew sang Happy Birthday to me on the air; Bloomberg TV – “Balance of Power” with David Westin; CBSN- Online TV; ITV (UK) news interview with Tom Bradby; Washington Post article: Coronavirus Living Health Fauci’s Christmas Eve: Turning 80 and fighting the pandemic Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and head of the U.S. pandemic response, on Dec. 12. (André Chung for The Washington Post) By Joel Achenbach

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