Dear Colleagues,
I became aware of very pernicious policies being planned and implemented in Belgium on August 9 in the NYT. It was written by Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Matt Apuzzo and Monika Pronczuk. I wrote to the Editor because I couldn’t get the email addresses of the authors and initially my response appeared to find some favor with the Editor[a few months earlier my comments of the COVID 19 was actually published by the NYT- Part of great deal of information prepared in March 2020 for use in the Aware Recovery care’s response] then I appeared to hit a wall especially after I developed my concepts further and shared these with the Editor. Then I came upon the very fine essays written by Bojan Pancevski and Dominic Chopping in the WST. I have written to them and referenced the detailed story of what was happening in Belgium along similar axes. First I sent these Introductory comments. [A 1.] I will forward my more substantial comments in successions. I have been working on these matters for 2-3 months as Chair of the Community Engagement and Outreach Standing comm of the Community Advisory Council of the Office of Health Strategy of CT. We have shared our information with the contractor retained by the Governor to study what caused the debacle in the care systems in the Nursing Homes especially after studying the Interim Report of the contractor- Mathematica.
I have shared the information to follow with the NYT and the WST. The impact of the information was very painful to take and assimilate.
Corona Virus is taking a high toll on Sweden’s Elderly- Families blame the Govt. I have made comments at different points of interest to me that you described very well, fairly and succinctly in all these items. Reports A.I, II and III reside in the attachment on right side. The Transcript of PBS presentation on TV is in the middle attachment. Finally the dreadful story of what was happening in Belgium per official Govt. policy is on the Left side. I have not commented on the extensive report directly. I intend to share with you a series of reports I created and shared with some key people in the USA. I am Chair, Community Engagement and Outreach Comm of the Community Advisory Council of the Office of Health Strategy of the State of CT [Connecticut] and member of these Committees of the CT. State Medical Society: Quality of Care, Ethics, Disaster Preparedness Committee. This may help you to understand my perspectives and priorities.
II.
Inside Sweden’s Radically Different Approach to the Coronavirus
No lockdown, no quarantines, just voluntary advice and a big dose of hope
By Bojan Pancevski
III.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/scientist-behind-swedens-no-lockdown-policy-says-it-wasnt-strict enough-11591196353n
Scientist Behind Sweden’s No-Lockdown Policy Says It Wasn’t Strict Enough
You will interested to know that PBS presented a report on the strategies adopted and implemented by nations on two different sides of the bridge. I am providing you with link to the report TV broadcast- Nightly News with Ms. Judy Woodruff.
B.I.
Denmark and Sweden responded differently to the Pandemic. How did they Fare?
You may or may not be aware of a very sad and devastating two page report[several columns with pictures] on what was happening in Belgium that was published by the NYT on 08 09 20
- I
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/08/world/europe/coronavirus-nursing-homes-elderly.html
Officials Did not Prepare Nursing Homes for a Pandemic and Did not help them when on hit.
Doctors of Médecins Sans Frontieres who worked in Belgium have made damning assessments of what was happening to the neglected and marginalized elders in Belgium. “Behind the curve” When COVID -19 hit, Many Elderly were left to die.[In Belgium- The health minister was pleased with their record vis a vis nursing home residents] By Matina Stevis-Gridneff, Matt Apuzzo and Monika Pronczuk
I welcome your responses.
All the best.
Velandy Manohar, MD