Making Sense with Sam Harris #214 — A Conversation with Siddhartha Mukherjee
Aug 13, 2020
Siddhartha Mukherjee, an oncologist and acclaimed writer known for "The Emperor of All Maladies," joins the discussion to dissect the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He critiques the bureaucratic failures and delays in testing that hampered effective action. Mukherjee discusses the significance of asymptomatic spread and the political contamination of public health messaging. He also dives into the long-term consequences of the virus and highlights the importance of preparing for future pandemics, emphasizing the lessons learned from this crisis.
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COVID-19's Pandemic Potential
- COVID-19's pandemic potential stems from its novelty, high R0, and asymptomatic spread.
- Asymptomatic spread makes containment challenging, requiring testing beyond symptom identification.
Early Ineptitude and the Virus's Origin
- Ineptitude in handling the pandemic started early, with China delaying information.
- The origin of the virus remains unclear, potentially hindering future pandemic prevention.
Testing Delays in the US
- The CDC's initial COVID-19 test failed, delaying testing for 40 days.
- Academic labs like Alex Greninger's at the University of Washington had tests ready but faced FDA and CDC licensing delays.
