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| The Silicon Valley Doctor Who Doesn’t Mince Words on Coronavirus Threat | The Silicon Valley Doctor Who Doesn’t Mince Words on Coronavirus Threat |
| (3 days later) | |
| SAN FRANCISCO — A hoax? Just the flu? A serious pandemic? The conflicting messages as the coronavirus spreads across the nation leave Americans wondering what and who to believe. | SAN FRANCISCO — A hoax? Just the flu? A serious pandemic? The conflicting messages as the coronavirus spreads across the nation leave Americans wondering what and who to believe. |
| In Silicon Valley, a hot spot in the outbreak, one outspoken doctor boasts that his guidance comes with no spin and no political filter, despite efforts by some in his department to tone down his messages. | In Silicon Valley, a hot spot in the outbreak, one outspoken doctor boasts that his guidance comes with no spin and no political filter, despite efforts by some in his department to tone down his messages. |
| “Nobody tells me what to say — nobody,” said Dr. Scott Morrow, the chief health officer for San Mateo County, which includes the headquarters of Facebook and many other big technology companies. | “Nobody tells me what to say — nobody,” said Dr. Scott Morrow, the chief health officer for San Mateo County, which includes the headquarters of Facebook and many other big technology companies. |
| Dr. Morrow has made a name for himself as the medical officer who dispenses pithy, unvarnished and personalized bulletins on the outbreak as it moves through his part of the country, a departure from the sterile health warnings issued by most other health officials. | Dr. Morrow has made a name for himself as the medical officer who dispenses pithy, unvarnished and personalized bulletins on the outbreak as it moves through his part of the country, a departure from the sterile health warnings issued by most other health officials. |
| His messages, which have circulated widely on social media, convey a skepticism about what the government can ultimately do to help people. It is an unconventional and not entirely reassuring position for a government health officer whose job is to give official advice to the public. | His messages, which have circulated widely on social media, convey a skepticism about what the government can ultimately do to help people. It is an unconventional and not entirely reassuring position for a government health officer whose job is to give official advice to the public. |
| “Government likes to convince the people that they’re in charge and everything is under control and we’ll take care of you — and that’s not true,” Dr. Morrow said of the crisis. “You’re mostly going to experience this on your own.” | “Government likes to convince the people that they’re in charge and everything is under control and we’ll take care of you — and that’s not true,” Dr. Morrow said of the crisis. “You’re mostly going to experience this on your own.” |
| In a rare (“I generally don’t talk to reporters”) interview, Dr. Morrow underlined that he lets his staff know that it is crucial that his assessments are sent out to the public exactly as he writes them. He fashions his messages the way he would talk to his patients in his private internal medicine practice, he said. | In a rare (“I generally don’t talk to reporters”) interview, Dr. Morrow underlined that he lets his staff know that it is crucial that his assessments are sent out to the public exactly as he writes them. He fashions his messages the way he would talk to his patients in his private internal medicine practice, he said. |
| Dr. Morrow has advised residents to stock up on a few months of medicine and to check their earthquake kits — the stockpile of batteries, water, canned food and other essentials that many Californians keep in their garages. | Dr. Morrow has advised residents to stock up on a few months of medicine and to check their earthquake kits — the stockpile of batteries, water, canned food and other essentials that many Californians keep in their garages. |
| On Tuesday, his bulletin to residents, written conversationally and posted on the county’s website, said that Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, was already widespread in the community. | On Tuesday, his bulletin to residents, written conversationally and posted on the county’s website, said that Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, was already widespread in the community. |
| “The only way to slow the spread of Covid-19 in the light of having community transmission is to have everything in our society grind to a halt for an extended period of time,” Dr. Morrow wrote. | “The only way to slow the spread of Covid-19 in the light of having community transmission is to have everything in our society grind to a halt for an extended period of time,” Dr. Morrow wrote. |
| But like a professor musing over a philosophical question, Dr. Morrow went on to write that this “would cause us more harm than good.” | But like a professor musing over a philosophical question, Dr. Morrow went on to write that this “would cause us more harm than good.” |
| Instead, he called for all nonessential gatherings to be canceled, postponed or done remotely, a step that several communities have taken. He implored people to stop shaking hands. And those over the age of 60 or with underlying health conditions should avoid gatherings altogether. | Instead, he called for all nonessential gatherings to be canceled, postponed or done remotely, a step that several communities have taken. He implored people to stop shaking hands. And those over the age of 60 or with underlying health conditions should avoid gatherings altogether. |
| Dr. Morrow says he is deeply troubled by what he sees as a dangerous practice of filtering official information on the coronavirus. The Trump administration’s order that all federal-level interviews be cleared by the White House, including those by experts such as Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was “unacceptable,” he said. | Dr. Morrow says he is deeply troubled by what he sees as a dangerous practice of filtering official information on the coronavirus. The Trump administration’s order that all federal-level interviews be cleared by the White House, including those by experts such as Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was “unacceptable,” he said. |
| Dr. Morrow enunciated every syllable: UN-ACC-EPT-ABLE. | Dr. Morrow enunciated every syllable: UN-ACC-EPT-ABLE. |
| He does not allow his bulletins to be edited by anyone — his staff included. | He does not allow his bulletins to be edited by anyone — his staff included. |
| “They literally go into apoplexy when they read my statements,” Dr. Morrow said of the county’s public relations team. “I have fights with them constantly and tell them to back off. This is not a negotiation.” | “They literally go into apoplexy when they read my statements,” Dr. Morrow said of the county’s public relations team. “I have fights with them constantly and tell them to back off. This is not a negotiation.” |
| Don Horsley, a member of the San Mateo Board of Supervisors, praised Dr. Morrow as well-prepared and competent but admitted to wincing when he read the doctor’s comments about society possibly needing to “grind to a halt.” | Don Horsley, a member of the San Mateo Board of Supervisors, praised Dr. Morrow as well-prepared and competent but admitted to wincing when he read the doctor’s comments about society possibly needing to “grind to a halt.” |
| “I don’t think I would have said that,” Mr. Horsley said. “I’m a politician. I would have been more careful.” | “I don’t think I would have said that,” Mr. Horsley said. “I’m a politician. I would have been more careful.” |
| Mike Callagy, the San Mateo County manager, says some residents have asked for clarification about Mr. Morrow’s bulletins. | Mike Callagy, the San Mateo County manager, says some residents have asked for clarification about Mr. Morrow’s bulletins. |
| “He has a different style of delivering messages than probably most health officials throughout the United States,” Mr. Callagy said. “But I can tell you it all comes from the right place in trying to help people.” | “He has a different style of delivering messages than probably most health officials throughout the United States,” Mr. Callagy said. “But I can tell you it all comes from the right place in trying to help people.” |
| “He’s always been very forthright — that’s Scott’s nature,” Mr. Callagy said. “He’s not going to sugarcoat anything. It may be a very different opinion from anyone else but I know that I’ll always get his unvarnished opinion with no barriers, no agenda.” | “He’s always been very forthright — that’s Scott’s nature,” Mr. Callagy said. “He’s not going to sugarcoat anything. It may be a very different opinion from anyone else but I know that I’ll always get his unvarnished opinion with no barriers, no agenda.” |
| Decisions on how to handle the spread of the coronavirus have been decentralized in California, as they have in other parts of the country. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said ordinances banning gatherings or closing schools were best handled at the local level. | Decisions on how to handle the spread of the coronavirus have been decentralized in California, as they have in other parts of the country. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday said ordinances banning gatherings or closing schools were best handled at the local level. |
| Updated August 17, 2020 | |
| “Each and every county is experiencing a different set of circumstances on the ground,” Mr. Newsom said. | “Each and every county is experiencing a different set of circumstances on the ground,” Mr. Newsom said. |
| But this approach has exposed inconsistencies in how the spread of the virus is being handled. In the port of Oakland, Calif., federal authorities organized an elaborate operation to extract passengers from the Grand Princess, the cruise ship that idled off the coast for days when it was found that 21 people onboard were infected with the virus. | But this approach has exposed inconsistencies in how the spread of the virus is being handled. In the port of Oakland, Calif., federal authorities organized an elaborate operation to extract passengers from the Grand Princess, the cruise ship that idled off the coast for days when it was found that 21 people onboard were infected with the virus. |
| All 2,400 passengers were ordered quarantined for 14 days at military bases. Non-Americans were being flown to their home countries on chartered planes, with boarding directly on the tarmac to avoid contact with passengers and staff in terminals. Passengers were given wipes to disinfect their suitcases. | All 2,400 passengers were ordered quarantined for 14 days at military bases. Non-Americans were being flown to their home countries on chartered planes, with boarding directly on the tarmac to avoid contact with passengers and staff in terminals. Passengers were given wipes to disinfect their suitcases. |
| Yet 40 miles south, in Silicon Valley, San Mateo County is no longer carrying out quarantines of infected patients, Dr. Morrow said. The coronavirus is spreading through the community and a decision was made several days ago to move from trying to contain the virus to mitigating it, he said. | Yet 40 miles south, in Silicon Valley, San Mateo County is no longer carrying out quarantines of infected patients, Dr. Morrow said. The coronavirus is spreading through the community and a decision was made several days ago to move from trying to contain the virus to mitigating it, he said. |
| As of Wednesday evening, San Mateo County had 15 cases of coronavirus and neighboring Santa Clara County had 48. | As of Wednesday evening, San Mateo County had 15 cases of coronavirus and neighboring Santa Clara County had 48. |
| “We are not doing deep investigations on them, we are not quarantining them, we are not isolating them except in rare circumstances,” Dr. Morrow said of coronavirus patients. | “We are not doing deep investigations on them, we are not quarantining them, we are not isolating them except in rare circumstances,” Dr. Morrow said of coronavirus patients. |
| Dr. Morrow’s professorial style matches his gray, bushy beard that is halfway to Rip Van Winkle length. Although he issued stark warnings over risks to the community, he has also made clear he was conflicted over what to do. | Dr. Morrow’s professorial style matches his gray, bushy beard that is halfway to Rip Van Winkle length. Although he issued stark warnings over risks to the community, he has also made clear he was conflicted over what to do. |
| “I have been faced with unanswerable dilemmas and conundrums daily,” Dr. Morrow wrote in his note on Tuesday. “I have been asked to make significant policy decisions with very little information on which to base them.” | “I have been faced with unanswerable dilemmas and conundrums daily,” Dr. Morrow wrote in his note on Tuesday. “I have been asked to make significant policy decisions with very little information on which to base them.” |
| To underline his point that government may not be able to help residents as much as they might hope or expect, he turned to a familiar aphorism: “Preparedness equals self-sufficiency.” | To underline his point that government may not be able to help residents as much as they might hope or expect, he turned to a familiar aphorism: “Preparedness equals self-sufficiency.” |
| Dr. Morrow said his office had received hundreds of messages commenting on his bulletins, the vast majority laudatory, he said. But there are detractors, too. | Dr. Morrow said his office had received hundreds of messages commenting on his bulletins, the vast majority laudatory, he said. But there are detractors, too. |
| “One percent — it might be a little higher than that — think it’s fearmongering and that I should be fired.” | “One percent — it might be a little higher than that — think it’s fearmongering and that I should be fired.” |
| He tries to tune out the criticism. In the cradle of American technology, where companies like Facebook and Twitter were spawned and grew to be the giants they are today, Dr. Morrow says he does not engage. | He tries to tune out the criticism. In the cradle of American technology, where companies like Facebook and Twitter were spawned and grew to be the giants they are today, Dr. Morrow says he does not engage. |
| “I don’t know what’s going on in the blogosphere or Twittersphere or whatever these things are called,” he said. “And I don’t care.” | “I don’t know what’s going on in the blogosphere or Twittersphere or whatever these things are called,” he said. “And I don’t care.” |