Dean's Notes

Jan 11, 2021

History imprints us indelibly with momentous events and the days when they happened. Some dates are remembered because of tragedies; annually we note these dates and remember the event and where we were at the moment. January 6, 2021: our Capitol desecrated by a violent mob—I was in zoom meetings during a pandemic, at home.

Jan 4, 2021

Yes, 2021 will mark the start of the turn toward normalcy, at least the 2021 version. That new normalcy will not directly mirror 2019 or the “carefree years” before.

Jan 3, 2021

The “costs” of public health measures have been questioned by critics who view the broader economic consequences of these interventions as too high. To understand the consequences of public health measures, we need to know what would have happened if steps were not taken to control the pandemic.

Dec 21, 2020

This is my last commentary for 2020. I am proud that the Colorado School of Public Health has played key roles with many partners to help slow the COVID-19 pandemic. My metaphorical model predicts a healthier 2021.

Dec 14, 2020

There had been warnings of a “dark winter” from many; predictably it has arrived. The daily death count in the United States, now reaching over 3,000, has been compared with the numbers from the September 11 terrorist attacks (2,605) and Pearl Harbor (2,403).

Dec 7, 2020

Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been produced with extraordinary rapidity, reflecting technological advances and the urgency of the pandemic. On December 5, there were 2,190 deaths across the United States, equivalent to about three deaths every two minutes.

Nov 30, 2020

Last week’s 5-4 Supreme Court decision striking down New York Governor Cuomo’s restrictions on the size of religious gatherings has potentially significant implications for control of the pandemic. The majority opinion cited the First Amendment.

Nov 23, 2020

Not surprisingly, reactions to calls for small and restricted Thanksgiving holiday gatherings have been mixed. A gathering via Zoom is a poor substitute for a shared meal, but far safer. With the anticipated availability of efficacious vaccines, next year’s holiday might be a return to normalcy.

Nov 16, 2020

No one is running the circus as every metric for the COVID-19 pandemic soars in most states and in Europe. In a vacuum of national coordination, state and local governments and their public health agencies are imposing ever more drastic measures. I summarize as follows: the virus has a plan, but we do not.

Nov 9, 2020

The implications of the Biden-Harris victory for public health are profound. As the states continue to struggle with controlling the pandemic, cohesive coordination among the Administration and the national public health agencies will be beneficial.

Nov 2, 2020

Writing on November 1, the topics for comment are numerous. Let’s start with the pandemic in Colorado. The latest modeling report from the COVID-19 modeling team provides a clear and certain projection; within the first two weeks of this month, the April peak of people hospitalized with COVID-19 (N=901) will be passed.

Oct 26, 2020

Quoting George Box, the British statistician once again: “All models are wrong, but some are useful.” The most recent updating of the core SEIR model (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered) incorporates a single variable, termed “transmission control,” to capture success in reducing infectious contacts among Coloradans.

Oct 19, 2020

Another worrisome week: the pandemic is surging across the United States and Europe; the Johnson and Johnson vaccine trial was halted because of a possible adverse event in a participant; Eli Lilly’s trial of a monoclonal antibody therapy was paused because of safety concerns; and remdesivir was found to be ineffective.

Oct 12, 2020

Over the last week, there were further revelations about meddling by the Administration in public health measures proposed by the CDC, and specifically a requirement for universal wearing of masks in public commercial transportation, including airplanes.

Oct 6, 2020

The White House outbreak further emphasizes the public health significance of super-spreader events and the necessity for ongoing measures to guard against them.

Sep 28, 2020

With many colleges and universities back in session for a month or more, the high incidence shift to younger ages continues. A New York Times survey shows a disturbing and worsening picture with more than 130,000 campus-related cases since the pandemic's start.

Sep 21, 2020

Trust is implicit as the nation turns to the CDC for health information and that trust has been continually eroded as the pandemic has played out.

Sep 15, 2020

The fall semester has launched, but with remote instruction. We remain a school and a community, not a collection of online courses.

Sep 8, 2020

This Labor Day stands alone: a pandemic is in progress; ash from the Cameron Fire falls in the backyard; and a pending swing from 100 degree high temperatures during recent days to a forecasted 70 degree drop with snow on the day after Labor Day. And there is more...

Aug 31, 2020

Last week, the NASEM held a two-day workshop on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, a highly controversial topic with critical implications for strategies and policies directed at controlling the pandemic.