Medical community pinning hopes on new coronavirus strategy

President-elect Joe Biden’s first order of business, even before his inauguration, is his plan to tackle the coronavirus crisis.

Biden has spoken about increasing personal protective equipment and testing levels, expanding contact tracing and improving resources for schools.

Local medical experts are optimistic and believe the new administration will make a difference.

But they acknowledge it won’t be easy, given the coronavirus fatigue that many appear to be experiencing.

“Oh, no one’s more fatigued by coronavirus than this guy,” said Dr. Paul Pottinger. “I am exhausted by this.”

Exhausted, says this University of Washington infectious disease specialist who, along with his colleagues, has witnessed up close the devastating toll of the coronavirus.

They are pinning their hopes on the change in leadership in this country, hoping it will mean a change in how the country handles this deadly disease.

“Focusing on testing,” said Pottinger. “Focusing on prevention. Making sure that health care providers have all the equipment they need to take care of people safely. Making sure that people have access to testing in a very timely and prompt fashion.”

It is a shift he and others in the medical community insist is sorely needed, given the grim statistics in this state alone. Some 121,000 people have been infected, with more than 2,500 of them having succumbed to this deadly disease. And the numbers are rising daily.

But can Biden really stop this virus with his actions?

“We can reduce the spread by the actions, for sure, definitely,” said Dr. Ali Mokdad, chief strategy officer at UW’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).

The IHME has long projected a bleak future without more stringent methods to contain the virus, stating examples abound that a national approach can make a lifesaving difference.

“If you compare us, the United States, with what you see in Thailand,” said Mokdad. “What you see in Singapore. What you see in Korea. What you see in China. They’ve been able to control the virus.”

He said these countries have done it by delivering a unified message — that people need to stay apart, wear masks and avoid large indoor gatherings.

That will be especially true with the holidays on the horizon.

Cox Media Group