How to fix the Covid-19 dumpster fire in the U.S.

(HYACINTH EMPINADO/STAT)

Americans make up fewer than 5% of the world's population, but account for a quarter of the world's Covid-19 cases and deaths. And the U.S. response to the pandemic, to put it simply, "is a raging dumpster fire," writes STAT's Helen Branswell. But getting out of the current predicament is going to take a lot more coordination than the country has shown thus far. A total lockdown like in the early months of the pandemic is not possible again, but neither is an option to throw caution to the wind. STAT asked a number of experts for their thoughts on what we ought to do now: Top infectious disease official Anthony Fauci shared that we ought to turn back the clock and start over, not with lockdowns but with closing bars, banning large gatherings, and encouraging mask wearing outdoors all the time. "I would almost guarantee that we would see a turnaround of the resurgence that we’re seeing now,” he says. Read more here.

Here's what else is going on with Covid-19:

What could be next for Anthony Fauci, if the White House keeps up with its recent attempts to sideline and discredit him? He could be dismissed from his post as head of the NIAID, writes STAT's Lev Facher, or could even be formally barred from conducting public interviews or briefings. Read more here.
As California continues to see a surge in Covid-19 cases, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a sweeping rollback of reopening plans in the state, including indoor closures of restaurants and movie theaters statewide as well as complete shutdown of bars' operations. Los Angeles and San Diego school districts also announced that they will be online-only in the fall.
A new modeling study estimates that deaths from HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria in some low- and middle-income countries could increase due to disruptions in care from the pandemic. HIV deaths could increase by as much as 10% over the next five years, the study finds, while TB deaths could rise by 20% and malaria deaths could go up by 36%.
An Amnesty International report estimates that 3,000 health care workers around the world have died from Covid-19, with the most deaths in Russia, the U.K., and the U.S. This figure likely represents an underestimate given the lack of reporting, the analysis says. The report also outlines serious shortages of protective equipment and the threat of reprisals from employers and members of the public for raising concerns about the coronavirus.