Unwavering Kindness as Our Pandemic Response (with Dr. Michael Osterholm)

Baratunde reflects on Election Day and contemplates the record set this week for positive COVID cases recorded in a single day. He speaks to his trusted source for all things pandemic response, Dr. Michael Osterholm, and learns about the "pandemic of kindness" that Dr. Osterholm hopes will be more contagious than the virus in the coming weeks. Dr. Osterholm shares how he keeps moving forward despite the dire facts, and he wrestles with the injustice of people of color being disproportionately impacted by the disease. Listen to his weekly COVID podcast, The Osterholm Update, here.

Show Notes + Links

We are grateful to Dr. Michael Osterholm for joining us!

Follow him on Twitter @mtosterholm and @CIDRAP. You can learn more about the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota here. 

We will post this episode, a transcript, show notes and more at howtocitizen.com.

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HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW. ACTIONS FOR THIS EPISODE. 

This is another critical moment in the pandemic and we can't take our eyes off the ball of suppressing the disease and stopping its spread.  

INTERNAL ACTIONS 

Subscribe to the Osterholm Update podcast. 

It’s weekly. It’s honest. It’s essential. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/podcasts-webinars

Think about the worst and the best with this pandemic. 

What’s the worst you’ve experienced? Job loss. Loss of a loved one? Make a little space to grieve and acknowledge that. What’s the best? Have you had quality time with friends? Did you finally clean your garage? Embrace those positives without guilt or shame. Embrace the good and the bad from this year and know that you are not alone. 

Recommit to suppressing the virus. 

We know it’s hard. We are tired and angry. Let’s remember why we are making sacrifices: to save lives; to keep our healthcare system from being overrun. Keep physical distance. Wear masks. Wash hands. Let’s dig deep and rediscover the spirit of shared sacrifice that has enabled us to rise to other occasions. 

EXTERNAL ACTIONS

If you can, support a local COVID relief fund.

Search for “donate Covid relief fund” and the name of your city. There are so many people in need. If you have something to give to help folks through this please do. 

Be kind. Spread a pandemic of kindness. 

Do something nice and unexpected for someone today. Repeat tomorrow. And tell us about it. Even try to stretch beyond your comfort zone as we live in these unprecedented times.

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If you take any of these actions, share that with us - action@howtocitizen.com. Mention Unwavering Kindness in the subject line. And share about your citizening on social media using #howtocitizen. 

We love feedback from our listeners - comments@howtocitizen.com. 

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