Raimondo’s Lack of Action Was Deeply Disappointing But Not Surprising - MINDSETTTER™ Landekic

Raimondo’s Lack of Action Was Deeply Disappointing But Not Surprising - MINDSETTTER™ Landekic

Governor Gina Raimondo’s lack of meaningful action on Friday was deeply disappointing but not surprising. After initially saying to ‘be prepared for significant changes’, her announcement implemented meaningless trivialities that will have no more of an impact on the raging pandemic than the previous weeks’ equally worthless throwaway action of disallowing workplace breakrooms. 

The pandemic is raging out of control in Rhode Island. This is not a time for empty, hollow gestures. Only decisive, dramatic action has any chance of slowing this catastrophe. On Friday, 6 new coronavirus deaths and 562 new cases were reported. Over the past week, there have been an average of 394 cases per day, an increase of 97% from the average two weeks earlier. For the past three weeks nearly every day has set new records for confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. 

covidactnow.org, a non-profit multidisciplinary team of technologists, epidemiologists, and public health experts affiliated with Harvard, Stamford, and Georgetown Universities (people who probably know something about medicine and pandemics) continues to forecast over 700,000 total infections afflicting nearly 70% of the entire population of the state over the next year. Rhode Island remains the only state on the entire east coast in a condition of Uncontrolled Outbreak and Critical spread. With Rhode Island’s current mortality rate, that could mean tens of thousands of unnecessary and pointless deaths. 

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Governor Raimondo needs to be concerned not only with people surviving their acute infectious phase of COVID-19, but the long term consequences. Emerging research shows that even those who survive the acute infection, there are significant long term, and possibly permanent, problems. 

A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that 78% of survivors - those no longer showing symptoms of acute infection - had heart damage, and 60% still had active cardiac inflammation despite no longer having COVID-19 symptoms.

Another large study just published by the Imperial College London in over 84,000 people showed significant cognitive impairment in survivors, equivalent to the brain aging by 10 years.

Chronic fatigue syndrome, “long haul COVID”, is another serious concern. Several recent studies have shown that over half of survivors have chronic fatigue.

These effects - heart damage, cognitive impairment, chronic fatigue – can last months. It’s uncertain how long the effects will last, but some could well be permanent. Another alarming finding from these studies is that these problems - heart damage, cognitive impairment, chronic fatigue – is independent of the severity of the initial infection. It’s not limited only to the severe cases that had these problems, but also afflicts those who had mild initial acute infection symptoms, as well as younger subjects. 

The implications of this are breathtaking. If Governor Raimondo allows over 700,000 Rhode Islanders to become infected over the next year, the result could be over half a million people with long term if not permanent heart damage, cognitive impairment, chronic fatigue, and potentially other problems. The population of the state could effectively be debilitated. This would be a humanitarian disaster of unprecedented proportions. While the Governor may not be moved by deaths and suffering, she should consider the impacts on the state economy if the majority of the population becomes disabled. She may have her sights and attention fixated on a cabinet position in a (hopefully) future Biden administration, but the rest of us will be left with the results of her inaction and mismanagement. 

In the face of such clear and overwhelming data from outside experts screaming about the horrific and rapidly worsening tragedy in Rhode Island, it is appalling that Governor Raimondo continues to do nothing.

Many people have been economically injured by the pandemic. Ways must be found to help those who are hurting. But lives cannot be traded for profit. Human life is more precious than short-term financial interests. If people do not feel they can safely go out and patronize businesses - or if they’re not well or even alive to do so - there will be be no business activity. The pandemic must be contained first, before normal business activity can resume. Iowa stands as a stark example of what happens if the realities of the pandemic are ignored in deference to ‘financial interests’. Despite never having implemented any containment measures, their economy is suffering. On the other hand, the experiences of states such as Vermont that acted prudently and contained the pandemic shows that their economies have recovered faster and more successfully. 

Minuscule useless measures will do nothing to change the disastrous trajectory we are on. As much as it is unpleasant to hear and everyone would prefer an easy solution, there is only one course of action that might be effective. We must start over, with a stay at home order for everyone; returning schools to remote learning only; allowing only take-out service or outdoor dining at restaurants; close bars and non-essential businesses; and require mask wearing at all times outside the home. When the incidence reaches a continuously low and declining level (4/100,00/day), then reopening can restart, prudently, cautiously, and following science-based guidelines this time and not caving in to financial pressures. No one wants to hear this, but magical thinking will not save us. Without these measures, the illness and death toll - and ultimate economic costs - in Rhode Island will be catastrophic.

These measures are not theoretical. This is the path taken by Vermont and Maine. As a result, their infection rates are a fraction of Rhode Island’s, and their economies are functional. The last COVID-19 death in Vermont was in July. They have had 58 total deaths to Rhode Island’s 1,201. We are experiencing over 500 new cases a day while Vermont is averaging 20. Which approach seems to have worked better? The only thing keeping us from being in Vermont’s situation is our Governor.

If the Governor will not do what is needed then the state legislature must either force her hand or take action despite her intransigence. Our elected legislators must abide by the oath they took to the people of Rhode Island. In a few days the election will be over, and those in office will be safe (for now) from any negative reactions from voters. I hope they will do the right thing, and act to save lives and safeguard the health of Rhode Islanders - and the future of the state.

Nick Landekic a retired scientist and biotechnology executive with over 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.