Index

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A

Abbott, Greg, 238–241

Abbott Laboratories, 79, 107, 137, 308, 314–315, 364

Abel, Daniel, 453–454

Achrekar, Dr. Angeli, 39–40, 63

Adams, Dr. Jerome, 84–85, 133, 267, 336, 378, 393, 401

adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), 10

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 405–406, 407, 412

Africa. See PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief)

Alabama, 217, 218, 256, 325, 327, 336

Alexander, Paul, 249, 250–251

antigen (rapid) test, 198–201, 298, 314–316, 338–339, 453, 458, 461, 473

Arizona, 214, 218, 219, 248, 432

Birx visits, 226–227, 235, 242–243, 340, 351–352, 353

tribal nations in, 307–309, 319

UPenn/CHOP forecasting model and, 245, 268–269, 272, 286, 290–291, 299

vaccines and, 432

Arkansas, 214, 327

Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), 50, 66, 71–72, 80–84, 180–181, 377, 423. See also Kadlec, Dr. Bob

“Asymptomatic SARS Coronavirus 2 Infection: Invisible Yet Invincible,” 394

asymptomatic spread, of viruses generally, 15–17, 20, 22–23, 43–44, 48–51

Atlas, Dr. Scott, 388, 417

academic credentials of, 250, 251

backstabbing of Brix by, 273–274

Birx calls out dangerous guidance of, 250, 252, 274–275, 280, 286, 293, 302, 352, 353–355, 380, 383

Birx refutes assertions of during meeting with Trump, 284–288

Birx’s meeting with, 270–273

comments on Trump’s “policy” versus guidance, 285–286, 288–289

Covid Huddle and, 273, 276, 285, 292, 302

distortion of data and miscommunication by, 356–357

Florida and, 380

herd immunity and, 249–250, 252, 255, 274, 286, 290–293, 296, 301, 303, 329, 354, 380

influence on Trump, generally, 248–249, 251, 254, 263, 274–279, 288–289, 292–295, 353, 358–359

interviewed for Going Underground with Afshin Rattansi, 382–383

masks and, 271–272

Medical Experts Roundtable and, 292–293, 301

as policy wonk, not scientist, 250, 271

testing and, 255, 271, 295–299, 350, 351, 353–355

White House Coronavirus Task Force and, 275–276, 298–299, 302, 358–359, 376, 382

Avian flu, 9, 13–14, 52

Axios (television program), 280–281, 356

Azar, Alex

Atlas and, 301

Diamond Princess cruise ship and, 54

and early reports of virus in China, 18

excess mortality rate and, 356

press briefings and, 133, 378

remdesivir and, 207

testing and, 81

vaccines and, 227, 283, 370, 404–405, 406, 409, 412, 415, 429–432

White House Coronavirus Task Force and, 42, 60, 65, 71

B

Barrett, Amy Coney, 364

Bash, Dana, 276–278

Bauer, Zach, 397

BBC, reporting on “mystery” virus, 9, 11–13, 18, 423

behavioral science, research needs, 410, 448, 457–458, 468, 471–472

Bell, Wendy, 165

Beshear, Andy, 432

Bhattacharya, Dr. Jay, 292

Biden, Joseph and administration of, 308–309, 364, 384, 387, 401

pandemic plan of, 304–305, 439

presidential transition team and, 422–430

testing and, 388, 453, 465

vaccines and, 421, 430, 434, 439, 454

BinaxNOW rapid test, 321–322

Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), 67, 172, 423

Birx, Dr. Deborah

accepts position as coronavirus response coordinator, 1–2, 62–63

from Africa tracks initial news of “mystery” virus in China, 9–25, 32–33

as apolitical, 34, 64, 305

character of, 94–96

concern for unmasked White House staff, 363–365

decision to leave government service, 436–437

decisions to remain on Task Force, 223–224, 353, 358–359

first meeting with Trump, 1–5

as global AIDS coordinator. See PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief)

M. Pottinger urges to accept White House job, 1–2, 33–34, 37–38, 60–61, 65–66, 76

medical and research background, 10, 12–13, 31–32, 93

military experience, 52–53, 62, 66, 98, 210, 319, 332, 426

multigenerational household and personal life, 19–20, 63, 119–120, 194–195, 202, 381, 434, 439–440, 448–449, 461, 462–463

muzzled by White House, 208–209, 216, 352–353, 373–376, 379–380, 412

New York Times and, 261–264, 276

plans for after leaving public service, 389–390

press and, 33–34, 132–133, 152–153, 194, 198, 222, 276–279

Trump’s disinfectant remarks and, 189–194, 216, 357, 393

as woman in world of men, 95–96, 114–115, 287, 387, 398–399, 417

see also White House Task Force (WHTF)

Boehler, Adam, 232, 378, 399, 434–435

Boston Consulting Group, 176

Boyer, Devon, 321–322

Bright, Dr. Rick, 172

Bryan, William, 190–193

Burgum, Doug, 238, 245, 423

Bush, George W., 4, 27–28, 357–361, 394, 433–434, 454

Bush, Laura, 27–28, 360–361, 433–434

C

California, 128, 165–166, 214, 243–245, 256, 308, 336, 351, 432, 435

Caputo, Michael, 250–251

Carson, Dr. Ben, 226

Carter, Rosalynn and Jimmy, 433–434

Case Fatality Rates (CFR), 18, 156–158

Cavanaugh, Dr. Sean, 101

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 3, 37, 66, 165, 181–182, 251, 343

communication missteps, 447–448

community health and, 466–467

early faulty tests and, 48–54, 80, 81

early responses to Covid-19, 23, 32, 39, 44, 94

extension of shutdown and, 136

flu vaccine and, 371

flu-based data collection model and virus projection errors, 52, 67–68, 97–98, 101–110, 117, 120

future pandemics and, 449–454, 457–458, 466–470, 472

lack of data collection system, 57, 71–77, 86–87

mask guidance and, 84–86, 118, 179–185, 239, 394, 443–444, 457

measles and mumps report of, 269

Public Health Laboratories and, 48–49, 51, 79–80, 102, 257

screening of arriving travelers, 22–23

shutdowns and reopenings, 123–127, 136–137, 154, 178–180

staffing needs at state levels, 226, 319, 451–452

testing guidance, 199–201, 295–301, 308, 315, 330, 338–340, 350–354, 359

tracking of infections, 203–206, 216–217, 322–323

travel advisories and, 18–19, 22–23, 42, 132

vaccines and, 219–222, 226, 228, 319, 404–409, 420, 429–432, 435, 443–445, 448–449

virus spread and, 77–78, 135–136, 211–212, 216, 445

see also Redfield, Dr. Robert

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), 81, 330–331, 468. See also Verma, Seema

Chera, Stanley, 145, 148

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). See UPenn/CHOP forecasting model

China

Birx tracks news of “mystery” virus in, 9–25, 32–33

confirmed cases in, 42

masks and, 81–83, 163

SARS-CoV-1 and, 9–10, 25, 28

travel restrictions, 39–40, 42, 111–112

chloroquine, 172, 173

Christ, Dr. Cara, 244, 268–269

Clemson University, 334

Clinton, Bill and Hillary, 433–434

cloth masks, 84–85, 179–181

colleges and universities, 332–346, 376–377

funding issues for lost revenue, 340–341

housing issues, 344–345

mitigation efforts and obstacles to, 341–342, 344, 345–346

research laboratories, funding during university closures, 334–335

students and mental health issues, 342–344

testing and, 332–334, 337–340

compassionate use authorization (CUA), 410–411

Conway, Kellyanne, 286, 292–293

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, 107, 161, 185, 307–308, 315, 339–340, 344

Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), 116, 127, 141–142

flawed assumptions about COVID-19 spread and deaths, 155–163, 168–170, 188–189, 260

travel bans and, 213–214, 223

see also Goodspeed, Tyler

Covid Huddle, 270, 289, 304, 377–378, 399, 427

Atlas and, 273, 276, 285, 292, 302

Kushner and, 264, 377, 399

team members and purpose of, 265

Covid-19, generally

Birx tracks news of spread in China, 9–25, 32–33

deaths from, 132, 149, 156, 159, 161–162, 165, 188, 229–230, 290, 299, 324, 355–356, 379, 382, 392, 397, 399–400, 407, 445, 452, 462

Delta variant, 443–444, 446, 456, 460–463

facility-based outbreaks of, 203–205

forecasts and predictions of deaths from, 137–138, 143–144, 146, 148–149, 155–156, 163, 167, 213–214, 260, 299, 301, 380, 382

genetic sequencing of, 21, 109, 154, 170, 435–436, 460, 463

human-to-human transmission of, 14, 16, 20–22

incubation period and, 15–16, 22, 154

naming of, 46

Omicron variant, 446, 455, 462–463

Crozier, William, 226

Cuccinelli, Ken, 112

Cuomo, Mario, 130–131

D

de Blasio, Bill, 130–131

Defense Production Act, 197–198, 213, 227, 264, 419, 453

DeSantis, Ron, 257, 259, 351–352, 355, 374, 380, 455

Deutch, Ted, 207

DeVos, Betsy, 373

DeWine, Mike, 327

Diamond Princess cruise ship, 42–47, 51, 53–54, 56, 76, 77, 98

Dine Safe Ohio, 327

Ducey, Doug, 244–246, 268, 351

Dunn, Dr. Angela, 381–382

Dupuis, Kevin, 316

E

Eastern Carolina University, 333

Ebolavirus, 13, 14, 17, 227, 340, 449

economic issues

of shutdowns, 141–143, 154–156, 158–159, 162

of travel bans and restrictions, 113–117, 155, 160, 161, 223

Edwards, John Bel, 256, 325

elderly persons, 58–59, 76, 78, 89, 185, 249, 290–291, 296, 324, 329, 371, 382, 407, 411–412, 436, 444, 459, 470. See also nursing homes

election of 2020, 282–283, 375, 390–395, 397, 400, 403, 418

Elmhurst Hospital, 144–145, 147, 148

Emanuel, Zeke, 177

emergency use authorizations (EUAs), of FDA, 50–51, 83, 135, 171, 173, 182, 370, 410–411, 414–415, 420

Evers, Tony, 317

F

Farah, Alyssa, 206, 286, 350–351

Fauci, Dr. Anthony, 65, 188–189, 202, 267, 297, 393, 423

Africa and HIV/AIDS, 30, 47, 319

Alexander and, 251

Atlas and, 251, 289, 293–294

Biden administration and, 429

Birx and, 72, 224, 387–388, 435

Birx’s forecast of fatalities, 146–147, 299

character of, 31–32, 417

compassionate use authorization and, 410

data and reluctance to rely on models, 76, 77–78, 140, 171

early reponses to Covid-19, 39, 42

hydroxychloroquine and, 171–172, 174

Navaro and attempt to discredit, 264

postelection strategic plan and, 379

press and, 133, 216, 221

shutdown and, 121, 122–123, 140–141, 144, 150, 164, 265

surge in 2020 and, 230, 231

testing and, 200–201

travel restrictions, 112–113

Trump and, 281, 367

vaccines and, 406, 412, 413, 416–417, 430

White House Coronavirus Task Force and, 66, 96–99, 195, 273, 275

Florida, 207, 214, 218, 256–257, 281, 351–352, 354–355, 380, 455

Florida State University, 355

flu, seasonal

average yearly deaths from, 52

response model as wrong for Covid-19, 3–4, 11, 38, 49, 51–52, 54, 56–57, 67–68, 70, 74, 78, 81, 92, 97–98

vaccines and, 371, 409–410

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

approved testing sites, 135

emergency use authorizations (EUAs), 50–51, 83, 135, 171, 173, 182, 370, 410–411, 414–415, 420

hydroxychloroquine and, 173

masks and, 181

medications and, 182

vaccines and, 370, 403–405, 411

Frieden, Dr. Tom, 98, 121–123, 136, 177

fully symptomatic spread, of viruses, 15

G

Gallo, Dr. Robert, 31

Gao, George, 18

Gastfriend, Daniel, 100, 143

Gaynor, Pete, 428

genetic sequencing, of Covid-19 virus, 21, 109, 154, 170, 435–436, 460, 463

Georgia, 256–259, 325, 326, 397, 434

Giroir, Dr. Brett, as testing “czar,” 81, 174, 199, 201, 213, 220, 267, 296, 298–299, 308, 316, 333–334, 422–423

Gleason, Amy, 100–101

Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID), 21

Going Underground with Afshin Rattansi, Atlas and, 382–383

Goodspeed, Tyler, 141, 143, 154–162

Gottlieb, Scott, 177

Gray, John, 373–375, 398

Grogan, Joe, 89, 91–92, 121–122, 127, 164, 176, 206

Gupta, Sanjay, 92

H

H1N1 infections, 52–53, 340

Hahn, D. Stephen, 171, 202, 267, 375, 388

Birx and, 188–189, 224, 262, 393

compassionate use authorization and, 410

hydroxychloroquine and, 171, 173, 174–175

masks and, 82, 83, 88

postelection strategic plan and, 379

press briefings and, 133, 216

remdesivir and, 207–208

shutdown’s extension and, 140–141

vaccines and, 283, 369–370, 371, 401, 406, 412, 413, 414–415, 430

White House Coronavirus Task Force and, 137, 273, 275

Hannity, Sean, 56

hantavirus, 323

Harvard Medical School, 167

Harvier, Martin, 307–308

Hassett, Kevin, 154–162

health care workers

masks and, 83–84

prioritization of initial vaccine doses and, 406–408, 412, 420

Health and Human Services (HHS), 18, 39, 52, 56, 71–72, 89, 176

Community Profile of, 304–305, 427, 438

Indian Health Service and, 308, 322

masks and, 180–181

tests and, 50, 80, 135, 296

tacking of pandemic and, 205–207

travel and, 47

vaccines and, 228

see also Azar, Alex

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), 76

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), 320

Herbert, Gary, 381

herd immunity

Alexander and, 250–251

Atlas and, 249–250, 252, 255, 274, 286, 290–293, 296, 301, 303, 329, 354, 380

flu vaccines and, 409–410

measles and mumps and, 252–253

mitigation issues and, 254–255

threshold numbers and, 253–256

vaccines and, 254–255, 441

ways to achieve, 252–254

Hicks, Hope, 116, 212, 286, 363

higher education. See colleges and universities

HIV-AIDS, 14, 24, 26–28

asymptomic spread and, 15–17, 53

Atlas and, 250, 255

behavioral changes to control spread of, 35–37, 257–258, 409–410

Bush administration and, 357–358, 360–361

Pelosi and, 276–277

see also PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief)

Hoelscher, Doug, 226

hospitals

data and, 75–76, 102–106

financial incentives for COVID-19 diagnoses, 165–166

overcrowding of, 130, 135

remdesivir and, 205–206

reopening plans, 178

Hutchinson, Asa, 327

hydroxychloroquine, 171–175, 379, 393

I

ID NOW tests, 308, 364

Idaho, 321–322

immunity

need for research into dynamics of, 457, 471

protective immunity, 369, 421, 459, 470

sterilizing immunity, 368–369, 421

waning of natural immunity, 254, 440–441, 460

zoonotic viruses and, 13–14

see also herd immunity

Indian Health Service (IHS), 309–310, 312, 314, 321–322

Indiana, 241, 327

influenza

Spanish influenza pandemic (1918), 19–20, 86, 324

see also flu, seasonal

Inslee, Jay, 88–90

International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 394

Iowa, 203, 299, 311

Italy

lockdowns in, 117, 138

usefulness of data from, 74, 78, 95, 139–140, 148, 156–158, 163–164

Ivey, Kay, 256, 327, 366

J

Janssen/Johnson and Johnson, 410, 430

January 6 insurrection, 424–427

Japan

data from, 77–78, 88

early RNA test for Covid-19, 44

masks and, 181, 394

see also Diamond Princess cruise ship

Jernigan, Dr. Dan, 98

Johns Hopkins University, global tracking data of, 28–29, 106, 137, 164, 335

Justice, Jim, 245, 266, 323, 432

K

Kadlec, Dr. Bob, 71, 80–81, 207–208, 377

Kan, Derek, 116, 143, 154, 160, 183, 209

Kellogg, Keith, 168

Kemp, Brian, 256–257, 259

Kentucky, 259, 299, 432

Kessler, David, 304–305, 383–384, 387, 401, 427

Kikwete, Jakaya, 65

Kolata, Gina, 167

Kudlow, Larry, 111, 115–117, 157, 161, 315, 380

Kulldorff, Dr. Martin, 292

Kushner, Jared

Atlas and, 254, 263, 276, 302, 303, 354, 383

Birx and, 209, 230, 231, 232, 265, 386, 395, 398, 428, 435

Covid Huddle and, 264, 377, 399

economic issues and, 141–142, 158

masks and, 163, 212, 246

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) and, 269

Operation Warp Speed and, 227

postelection strategic plan and, 381

remdesivir and, 206

travel ban and, 116

Trump’s disinfectant remarks and, 192–193

vaccines and, 227, 370, 414

L

Ladapo, Dr. Joseph, 292

Lancet, 167, 172

Leading Age Oklahoma, 331–332

Liddell, Chris, 206, 264

Lindell, Mike, 193

Louisiana, 128, 218, 245, 256, 325–327

Louisiana State University, 326, 334

Lujan Grisham, Michelle, 238, 242–243

Lynfield, Ruth, 317

Lyons, Chip, 304

Lyons, Derek, 154, 179, 183

M

Magufuli, John, 65

malaria, 26, 30, 79, 171–172, 227, 357

Malaysia, masks and, 82–83, 163

Malcolm, Jan, 317

Mango, Paul, 264, 378

Marsh, Dr. Clay, 323

masks and masking

Atlas and, 271–272

benefits of wearing, 36, 398

future pandemics and, 457–458, 462, 464, 471–472

health care workers and, 83–84

HIV/AIDS and, 36

initial shutdown to slow the spread and, 118

lack of domestic producers of, 81–83

muddled CDC guidance on, 84–86, 118, 179–185, 239, 394, 443–444, 457

N95 and KN95 masks, 36, 81–84, 180–181, 457, 462, 471–472

reopening plans and, 179–183, 186

SARS-CoV-1 and, 36, 45

states and, 239, 330, 331, 351

testing of efficacy of, 180–181

Trump and, 179, 212, 224, 366–367

women and, 247, 311

McCance-Katz, Dr. Elinore, 237, 342–343

McEnany, Kayleigh, 206, 286

McGuffee, Tyler Ann, 208, 248, 249, 282–283, 302, 352, 362, 364, 378, 389

McMaster, Henry, 265

Meadows, Mark, 209, 267, 276, 282, 378, 386, 398

Atlas and, 274–275, 302, 383

Birx’s reports to governors and, 352–353

economic data and, 158, 160

infected with Covid-19, 400

leaks and, 262, 388, 391–392

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) and, 269

postelection strategic plan and, 381

remdesivir and, 206, 207, 208

as Trump’s chief of staff, 154–155, 160, 165, 206, 208, 264, 274

vaccines and, 370, 414, 424

measles and mumps (MMR) vaccine, 252–253

Meissner, Dr. Cody, 292

Messonnier, Dr. Nancy, 23, 98

Michigan, 187–188, 316, 397

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), 3, 11–12, 13, 17, 38

mildly symptomatic spread, of viruses, 15–16, 20–21, 43, 51, 166

Millennials, and ability to communicate slowing the spread, 133–134

Miller, Katie, 164, 165, 193, 206

Miller, Stephen, 111, 154, 164–165, 281–282, 388

Minnesota, 187, 306–307, 310–311, 316–319

Mississippi, 217, 218, 256, 325–326

Missouri, 281, 339

Mnuchin, Steve, 111–117, 155, 157, 161, 276, 315

Moderna, 227, 370, 405–406, 410–411, 420, 430, 446

monoclonal antibody treatments, 362, 367, 371, 423, 442, 455, 467, 470

Montana, 395–396

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), of CDC, 269

Morgenstern, Brian, 264

motorcycle rally, in South Dakota, 378–379

Mulvaney, Mick, 60

Murphy, Phil, 238

Murthy, Vivek, 427

N

National Guard, 220, 330–331, 388, 420, 430, 436–437, 471

National Hospital Security Network (NHSN), 102–104

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). See Fauci, Dr. Anthony

National Institutes of Health (NIH), 13, 39, 48, 163–164, 174, 180–181, 220, 322–323, 334, 343, 419, 447–448, 458, 472

National Security Council (NSC), 28, 70–71

native Americans. See tribal nations

natural immunity, waning of, 254, 440–441, 460

Navarro, Peter, 154, 171, 173–174, 264

Nebraska, 203, 329

New Hampshire, 337

New Jersey, 129, 169, 188, 238, 261, 307

New Mexico, 226, 227, 235, 238, 242–243, 248, 307, 325

New York City and State, 104, 128–132, 138–139, 144–145, 147, 169, 173, 188, 203, 219, 435

New York Times, 13–14, 18, 144, 167, 261–264, 276

Newsom, Gavin, 243–244, 351

Nkengasong, Dr. John, 59–60

Noem, Kristi, 354, 378–379

North Carolina, 219, 420

North Carolina State University, 333

North Dakota, 238, 412, 423, 432

Northam, Ralph, 266

Notaristefani, Carlo de, 228

nursing homes

residents of, 58, 89, 93, 105–106, 136, 153, 164, 185–186, 197, 220, 249, 254, 290–291, 330–331, 341, 441, 446, 458–459

staff at, 186, 227

vaccines and, 404, 406, 408, 410–411

O

Obama, Barack and administration of, 4, 53, 98, 389, 454

Obenshain, Tucker, 226, 373, 398, 432, 435

O’Brien, Robert, 422

Office of the Staff Secretary (Staff Sec), 179, 285, 303, 356, 376

Ohio, 327, 399

Ohio State University, 435

Oklahoma, 242, 281, 310–312, 319, 331

Oklahoma State University, 435

O’Malley, Devin, 164–165, 193

Operation Warp Speed (OWS), 227–228, 253, 283, 368, 399, 404–406, 415, 419, 432. See also vaccines

Oregon, 336

Ortagus, Morgan, 264

Oz, Dr. Mehmet, 171, 193

P

pandemics, lessons for handling in future, 412, 438–473

CDC and community health, 466–469

data’s value and predictable patterns, 438–439, 459–465, 468–473

diverse population issues and, 450–452

laboratory testing, 438

local leadership and, 465

masks and, 457–458, 462, 464, 471–472

need for studies of vaccine hesitancy, 449–457

politics and, 450, 453–454

summary of issues, 475–481

testing’s importance, 443–444, 454–457, 461, 470, 472–473

PCR (nucleic acid) test, 77, 107, 198–199, 201, 338–339, 454

Pelosi, Nancy, 276–277, 279

Pence, Mike, 170, 194, 207

Atlas and, 293, 302–303

Birx and, 69–70, 72–73, 92, 161, 164, 209, 265, 270, 273, 354, 395, 415–418, 433

certification of election results and, 418

colleges and universities and, 332, 340

election of 2020 and, 223

January 6 insurrection, 426

leaks and, 261–262, 263

masks and, 82, 301, 365

op-ed in Wall Street Journal, 217–218

shutdown to slow the spread and, 117–128, 131–132

shutdown’s extension and, 146, 147

state-specific mitigation approach and, 219, 230–232, 260, 289, 354

testing and, 197–198

travel restrictions and, 111, 116–117

vaccines and, 413, 429

White House Coronavirus Task Force and, 397–398, 453–454

Pence, Mike Jr., 416

Pennsylvania, 245, 267, 338

PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), 42, 46, 47, 59–61, 319, 322, 454

Birx and, 2, 13, 68, 168, 210, 224, 467, 469

CDC and, 87

creation of, 28

Rice and Bushes and, 357–361

scope of program, 26–27, 30, 59, 79

Zaidi and, 59

Perna, Gustave F., 228, 404–406, 431

Pfizer, 370, 405–406, 410–411, 414–415, 420, 430, 446

Philadelphia, PA, 267, 338

Plymouth State University, 337, 339

Polowczyk, Rear Adm. John, 206, 207, 228, 377

Pottinger, Matthew

asks Birx to become spokesperson for response to Covid-19, 1–2, 33–34, 37–38, 60–61, 65–66, 76

background of, 32–33

Biden transition and, 422

Birx’s reliance on, 72

concerns about Trump administration’s response to Covid-19, 2, 38–39, 54–55, 66, 68–69, 93

masks and, 36, 67–68

role in Trump administration, 1, 32–33

travel restrictions and, 116

Pottinger, Yen, 32–35, 38–39, 54, 60–63

PPE production and supply, 2, 60, 81–84, 93, 163, 174, 178, 189, 196, 257, 331, 351, 455, 472

presymptomatic spread, of viruses, 15–17, 23, 44, 50–51, 179, 315

protective immunity, 369, 421, 459, 470

Q

Quillian, Natalie, 427

R

Rader, John, 248–249, 251

Raimondo, Gina, 238

Redd, Dr. Steve, 80–81, 101–102, 121

Redd, John, 207

Redfield, Dr. Robert, 101, 188–189, 202, 224, 257, 267, 281, 299, 375, 387–388, 393

Africa and, 30, 31, 47–48

Atlas and, 251, 289

Biden administration and, 429

Diamond Princess cruise ship, 54

early reponses to Covid-19, 18, 39, 42, 54, 72

hydroxychloroquine and, 174

pandemic data and, 73–74, 76, 77–78, 87–88, 171

postelection strategic plan and, 216, 379

press briefings and, 133

reopening plans and, 177

shutdown to slow the spread and, 125, 127

shutdown’s extension and, 140–141, 144

surge in 2020 and, 219–220

testing and, 200, 296, 297–298, 354

travel restrictions, 112–113

vaccines and, 401, 406, 409, 412, 413, 416–417, 430

White House Coronavirus Task Force and, 66, 96–99, 273, 275

Reeves, Tate, 256, 326

remdesivir, 205–208, 241, 362, 371, 377, 423, 470

reopening plans, 176–188

gating criteria for states and, 177–178, 183–184, 186–188

groups involved in planning, 176–179

mask guidance issues, 179–183, 186

testing and, 184–186, 330

Rhode Island, 238

ribonucleic acid (RNA), 21, 44, 65, 77

Rice, Condoleezza, 357, 360

Rubin, Dr. David, 236–237, 338

S

San Diego State University, 379

SARS-CoV-1, 3, 13

China’s handling of, 9–10, 25, 28

M. Pottinger and, 33

masks and, 36, 45

social distancing and, 37

United States and, 19, 28

virulence of, 17–18

SARS-CoV-2. See Covid-19

Schuchat, Dr. Anne, 98, 127, 251

seasonal flu. See flu, seasonal

Seattle, Washington, 23, 88–91, 93

sentinel testing, 178, 184–185, 230–231, 239, 255, 350, 423, 456

Shahpar, Dr. Cyrus, 427–428

Short, Marc, 209, 282, 378, 386

Atlas and, 275, 276, 302, 383

Birx and, 216, 261, 265, 267–268, 301–302, 397, 400

Birx’s reports to governors and, 350–351, 373

CEA data and, 158

leaks and, 388

MMWR report and, 269

New York Times and Birx, 261

as Pence’s chief of staff, 69, 70–71, 73, 146, 301, 365

postelection strategic plan and, 381

press and, 194

shutdown to slow the spread, 121, 126, 127

shutdowns’ extension and, 146, 147

states and, 259, 266, 398

testing and, 364

travel restrictions, 111, 116

Washington Post leak and, 386–387

White House Coronavirus Task Force and, 70–71

shutdown, of country

economic issues, 141–143, 154–156, 158–159, 162

initial 15 days to stop the spread, 117–128

mental health of students and, 237, 342–343, 448

planning for, 96–99, 104

shutdown’s extension and, 129–151

Trump’s change in attitude toward, 152–163, 177, 188–189, 251, 278, 285–286, 389

see also reopening plans

Slaoui, Dr. Moncef, 227–228, 283, 405

Smith, Brad, 232, 264, 339, 378, 399, 435

social distancing, Covid-19 and, 118, 138, 179, 182, 187, 196, 243, 256, 371–373

colleges and universities and, 333, 336, 345

tribal nations and, 311, 314–315

White House staff and, 282–283, 366

social distancing, SARS-CoV-1 and, 37

South Carolina, 214, 265, 325, 337, 340, 344, 348

South Dakota, 203, 354, 378–379, 464

South Korea, 20, 22–23, 78, 86, 89, 113, 132

Spanish influenza pandemic (1918), 19–20, 86, 324, 416

Stanford University, 166, 167

State of the Union (television program), 276–279

states, generally

Birx and Zaida visit, 225–232, 235–247, 248, 256–259, 266–269, 299, 325–346, 385–386, 390, 460–461

CDC and “voluntary” versus “mandatory” reporting, 106–107

gating criteria for reopening and, 177–178, 183–184, 186–188

shutdown to slow the spread and, 120–121, 129–132

shutdown’s extension and, 129–132

surge in 2020 and, 202–231

Trump and excess mortality statistics, 355–356

vaccine distribution and, 404, 406

wastewater analysis and, 326–327, 334

see also specific states

states, Birx’s reports to governors of, 258–260, 347–350

administration’s editing and censoring of, 352–353, 373–376, 377, 379–380, 412

creation of, 221–222

sterilizing immunity, 368–369, 421

Stony Brook University, 341–342

students, mental health issues of, 237, 342–343, 448

sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). See Covid-19; SARS-CoV-1

“surface transmission” theory, of virus spread, 77

Swan, Jonathan, 280–281

Sweden, 301

swine flu, 52

symptomatic testing, 135, 339

T

Tennessee, 281, 299, 345, 432

tests and testing, 67, 70

Atlas and, 255, 271, 295–299, 350, 351, 353–355

benefits for understanding Covid-19’s spread, 185–186

Biden and, 388, 453, 465

CDC guidance, 199–201, 295–301, 308, 315, 330, 338–340, 350–354, 359

development plans, 107–108

expansion of testing sites, 135

financial incentives for COVID-19 diagnoses, 165–166

future pandemics and, 443–444, 454–457, 461, 470, 472–473

in Georgia, 257

Giroir and 81, 174, 199, 201, 213, 220, 267, 296, 298–299, 308, 316, 333–334, 422–423

hospitals and, 165

influenza-like illness (ILI) and Covid-like illness (CLI), 103

lack of private test developers, 78–81, 134–135

mitigation needed in addition to, 365–366

need for increased testing in 2020, 197–199

as pillar of effective response to viruses, 21

reopening plans and, 184–186, 330

sentinel testing, 178, 184–185, 230–231, 239, 255, 350, 423, 456

tribal nations and, 308–309

Trump and, 197–199, 212–214, 215, 229, 280–281, 298–301

see also specific tests

Texas, 165, 214, 226–227, 238–245, 248, 281, 352, 360, 423, 434–435

Texas A&M University, 341

3M, 82, 88

travel restrictions, economic issues of, 113–117, 155, 160, 161, 223

tribal nations, 203, 306–324, 468

attitude toward, in Washington DC, 318–319

community and, 323–324

health issues and comorbidities, 307–308, 312–313

high fatality rates, 307

historic treatment and culture of, 312–314, 318–319

mitigation efforts and obstacles to, 306, 309–312, 313–314, 316–318, 319–322

testing and, 308–309

vaccines and, 404

Troye, Olivia, 69–71, 121–122, 125

Trump, Donald J. and administration of, 31, 38, 47, 96–97

atmosphere in White House, 64, 278, 388–389

Axios and, 280–281

Birx refutes Atlas’ assertions during meeting with, 284–288

Birx’s appearance on State of the Union and, 277–279

Birx’s first meeting with, 1–5

CDC and voluntary versus mandated reporting, 108–109

Chera and, 145, 147–148

“disinfectant” and sunshine remarks of, 189–194, 216, 357, 393

economic issues and, 110–116, 221–222, 224, 393

hydroxychloroquine and, 171–175

leaks and staff, 63, 208, 217, 263, 387–394

masks and, 179, 212, 224, 366–367

mathematical assumptions differing from Birx’s, 154–163

mentions disbanding White House Task Force, 195

Obama pandemic plan and, 53

overly optimistic messages about COVID-19, 39, 55–56, 58–59, 229, 351, 355–356

political concerns of, 209, 215, 223, 282–283, 294, 298–299, 358–359

positive test for Covid-19, admission to Walter Reed Hospital, and recovery, 362–363, 366–367, 368, 370–373, 376

postelection focus of, 390–395, 397, 400, 403, 418

shutdown, change in attitude regarding and “never again” comment, 152–163, 177, 188–189, 251, 278, 285–286, 389

shutdown, to slow the spread of Covid-19, 121–128

South Dakota and, 379

staff and lack of masking, 363–365, 400

states and reopening plans, 186–188

testing and, 197–199, 212–214, 215, 229, 280–281, 298–301

undermining of public health case for seriousness of virus, 164–170

vaccines and, 305, 419, 454

U

Unified Command Group, 453–454

United States

Covid-19 deaths in, 132, 149, 156, 159, 161–162, 165, 188, 229–230, 290, 299, 324, 355–356, 379, 382, 392, 397, 399–400, 402, 407, 445, 452, 462

first confirmed Covid-19 case in, 23

SARS-1 and, 19

security around White House in early 2021, 425–427

University of Alabama, 336, 344

University of Chicago, 138

University of Connecticut, 334

University of Kentucky, 341, 342

University of Minnesota, 22

University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), 335, 344, 345

University of New Hampshire, 337, 344

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 333

University of Pennsylvania. See UPenn/CHOP forecasting model

University of South Carolina, Columbia, 149, 334, 340, 344, 345

University of Southern California, 166

UPenn/CHOP forecasting model, 236–237, 239, 240, 243–245, 265, 268, 272, 286, 290, 299, 301, 338, 380

USA Today, 264

Utah, 307, 381

V

vaccines

for measles, mumps, and rubella, 252–253

for seasonal flu, 371, 409–410

vaccines, for Covid-19

breakthrough infections and, 441, 445–447, 458, 462

bridge to, 367–368

CDC and, 219–222, 226, 228, 319, 404–409, 420, 429–432, 435, 443–445, 448–449

distribution issues, 403–406, 415

early plans for development of, 92–93

emergency use authorizations and, 410–412, 414–415

in Georgia, 258

given to former presidents, 433–434

herd immunity and, 254–255, 441

immune response issues and, 419–421

mitigation measures needed in addition to, 412–421, 440–445

as pillar of effective response to viruses, 21, 52

prioritization of initial doses, 406–408, 412, 420

protection offered by, 368–371

roll outs of, 429–432

vaccine hesitancy and, 371, 408–410, 449–457

waning immunity and, 440–441, 445–446, 458

what they can and cannot do, 447, 452–453

see also Operation Warp Speed (OWS)

Van Kerkhove, Dr. Maria, 211

Vanderbilt University Hospital, 377

Verma, Seema, 81, 106, 133, 170, 185–186, 200, 289–291, 295, 299

Virginia, 187, 266–267, 299

Virginia Tech, 335

viruses, generally

human-to-human transmission of, 14, 16, 20–22

types, spread, and containment of, 15–17, 77

zoonotic viruses, 13–14, 15, 17, 52, 170

Vitek, Chuck, 101, 137

W

Wall Street Journal, 217–218

Walsh, Erin, 28–29, 32, 33

Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Birx and, 10, 12–13, 31–32, 93

Trump and, 212, 362, 366–367, 372, 376

Walz, Tim, 316

Washington Post, 18

Birx memo leaked to, 384–389, 390–393, 396, 398

Washington State, 88–89, 136, 154, 336. See also Seattle, Washington

wastewater analysis, states and understanding of community spread, 326–327, 334

West Virginia, 432

White House Coronavirus Task Force (WHTF)

accomplishments of, 196, 359

Atlas and, 275–276, 298–299, 302, 358–359, 376, 382

Azar and, 42, 60, 65, 71

Birx as response coordinator, 1–2, 62–63

Birx’s early preparation and concerns about prior plans, 42, 63–69

Birx’s team at, 101–102, 137

early lack of detailed CDC data, 73–76, 86

European travel ban, 110–116

Fauci and, 66, 96–99, 195, 273, 275

loss of Trump’s attention, 188–189

Pottinger urges Birx to join, 1–2, 33–34, 37–38, 65–66, 76

refocusing of Trump plan, 91–99

reopening plans and, 176–177

shutdown to slow the spread, 117–128

shutdown’s extension, 129–151

Trump mentions disbanding of, 195

vaccine development and, 92–93

Wisconsin, 317, 397

Woodward, Bob, 58–59

Wright, Dr. Craig, 31

Wyoming, 320–322

Z

Zaidi, Irum

Atlas and, 249

CEA data and, 161

data and, 74, 76, 98, 137, 203, 207, 359

masking and, 364–365

modeling and, 139, 143

PEPFAR and, 59

travel to states, 226, 232, 235–247, 248, 256–259, 299, 325–346, 352, 384, 390, 432

White House Coronavirus Task Force and, 100

Zients, Jeffrey, 427

Zika, 12

zoonotic viruses, 13–14, 15, 17, 52, 170