Expert coronavirus research is crucial at this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. The spread of COVID-19 in the world has been rapid. It was slow to make it the U.S. Meanwhile, we are now seeing spread in many states, and some evidence of extreme community spread, such as in New Rochelle, N.Y.

Only a few months have passed since the outbreak of COVID-19 was identified in Wuhan, China. Yet, from the earliest point of the diseases discovery, research was initiated in China, and has naturally spread around the world.

In this post, I am going to roundup a few articles that include basic research, and commentary by experts. There is a need, especially in the U.S. for full disclosure about events surrounding this pandemic. In short, when the Trump administration assumed power, the readiness of the U.S. to face and deal with such a crisis has deteriorated. The CDC was not fully prepared for this virus outbreak. There is a severe shortage of test kits. And to make matters worse, very few American citizens have been tested. This means that we have inaccurate numbers of cases. As you see in one of the articles cited below, there could be nearly 10,000 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. population.

Here is a brief roundup of expert coronavirus research and commentary that I think is important to review.

If you like charts and graphs, here is an outstanding article about Coronavirus: Why You Must Act Now.

Now, here’s the roundup.

Roundup

1. A Study Estimates COVID-19 May Have Infected Over 9,000 in the U.S. According to a new Cedars-Sinai study, by March 1, more than 9000 people in the U.S. may have already been infected by COVID-19 (coronavirus), far more than the number that had been publicly reported, Based on the assumptions they used in their research, the investigators estimated the total number of people in the U.S. infected with coronavirus as of March 1 to be between 1,043 and 9,484. You can read a short review of this research by clicking on the link above.

• 2. Researchers in Britain Say Individual Response to COVID-19 As Important as Government Action. How we respond to government advice on preventing the spread of COVID-19 will be at least as important, if not more important, than government action. This is expert coronavirus research commentary by researchers at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London, and Utrecht University, and the National Institute for Public Health and he Environment in the Netherlands. One of the researchers, Professor Hollingsworth said: ‘Completely preventing infection and mortality is not possible, so this is about mitigation. Our knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 will change over time, as will the response. High quality data collection and analysis will form an essential part of the control effort. Government communication strategies to keep the public informed will be absolutely vital.’

• 3. How Will Country-Based Mitigation Measures Influence the Course of the COVID-19 Epidemic? This is a link to the original study cited above by researchers in Britain and the Netherlands. What has happened in China shows that quarantine, social distancing, and isolation of infected populations can contain the epidemic. There are many unknowns about COVID-19. The researchers discuss them. They point out the one of the roles for epidemiologists is to help policy makers decide the main course of action of mitigation. Since no vaccine will be available for at least a year, then mitigation will be based on quarantine, preventing mass gatherings, closure of institutions, such as schools, identifying places of infection.

• 4. The Strongest Evidence Yet That America is Botching Coronavirus Testing. This is one of several articles you can read from The Atlantic. This article provides specific information on the status of testing at the state level. At this point, California has the highest ability to test individuals for COVID-19. Many states, however, do not have capacity to test very many people.

• 5. You’re Likely to Get the Coronavirus. The Atlantic 2-24-2020. Most cases are not life-threatening, which is also what makes the virus a historic challenge to contain.
• 6. What You Can Do Right Now About the Coronavirus. Over a dozen actions are outlined that people can do right now to try and protect themselves and others from COVID-19.

We are seeing a lot of people-absent images on city streets, ballparks, and malls. Italy is on lockdown. Lockdowns have been put in place in a couple of locations in the U.S. Public schools are shutting down for short periods of time, and there are a growing number of universities that closing, and moving courses online. Also, big events, such as the Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas, are being cancelled.

In this time of uncertainty, it is imperative that competence, not bluster and untruths, rule the day. More than ever, we need expert coronavirus research and commentary.