Dr. Dan Hartman: COVID-19: What Does the Future Look Like‪?‬ Rise Seattle

Dr. Dan Hartman is the director of Integrated Development for Global Health at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation here in Seattle, and in this episode of the Rise Seattle podcast, Dan helps us to better understand the ever-evolving situation surrounding COVID-19. 
Dan and podcast host Tyler Davis Jones chat via Zoom, and Dan answers questions like:
What is the U.S. healthcare system experiencing now?  Is Washington State on the tail end of this?  When and how do you think we'll get back to normal?  What is the Gates Foundation doing in response to coronavirus?  Where did we go wrong in our response to this?  If you could wave a magic wand and make everyone know and understand one thing, what would it be?  As a physician trained in internal medicine and pulmonary critical care, Dan now works with a highly talented team in product development assisting the different disease area teams at the foundation.
Dan starts off the episode explaining some of the science behind SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (aka COVID-19):
“It’s very different than the flu… the way it's transmitted is about 2 - 3 times easier than the flu, AND it’s about 10 - 20 times more deadly,” he shares. “When you combine those 2 things together, that’s when you start seeing healthcare systems start to be crushed under the weight of this particular disease.” 
As far as what the U.S. healthcare system is experiencing right now, Dan has heard from friends who still work in hospitals who are experiencing firsthand everything that’s been happening. In the past couple of weeks, COVID-19 has been hitting different parts of the country in waves, and in some places, the majority of patients that are coming into a hospital have COVID-19. Some first responders are also reporting that 90 - 100% of people they’re helping are all dealing with COVID-19. 
While those who need intervention from the healthcare system are in the minority of cases, it’s still enough that in many places, it’s completely overwhelming the healthcare system. Many people can stay at home and get better, but the people who are seeking healthcare are the ones who are experiencing serious respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath. 
And of course, there are many people who are pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic but aren’t aware of it. 
“What we’re learning is there are a significant number of people who are walking around without symptoms, and that’s both good and bad,” shares Dan. “It’s good that they're not having symptoms, it’s bad that they’re walking around spreading it.” 
COVID-19 has a much longer incubation time than the flu, making the spread even more likely. 
“I think it was a really good idea to start to request that people would wear masks if they’re going outside and are going to be close to people,” Dan says. 
TREATMENT FOR COVID-19
“It’s important for people to understand that there’s no specific therapy to treat SARS-CoV-2 and it’s really just supportive care,” Dan says. There's a lot of misinformation out there right now, and there have been many reports that specific treatments are helping people get better. But anecdotal success stories are much different than actual studies. 
“If you’re on a ventilator in an ICU your probability of getting off is only around 20%. And almost all of those people are getting these drugs,” Dan shares. The drugs that Dan is referring to cover a wide range of potential treatments; if a patient is in serious decline, doctors are using all of the knowledge and tools that they currently have to try their best to treat their patients. Sometimes their methods work, and sometimes they don’t. 
Of course, this is not a long-term strategy, and the Gates Foundation is actively working on treatment options. 
“We’re working on 10 to 15 different products that could work in this area,” shares Dan. 
“It’s great working with two