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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 |
| (about 16 hours 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. |
| “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. |
| Updated June 16, 2020 | |
| The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. | |
| So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. | So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. |
| Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. | Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. |
| The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. | The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. |
| Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission. | Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission. |
| States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people. | States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people. |
| Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. | Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. |
| If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) | If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) |
| Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications. | Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications. |
| The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing. | The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing. |
| If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. | If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. |
| If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested. | If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested. |
| 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.” |