American Thoracic Society Issues Joint Statement to Congress and Trump Administration

New York, NY – March 26, 2020 – Today, the American Thoracic Society and a unified group of critical care societies issued a joint statement urging the Trump administration and congress to strengthen social distancing requirements in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which has reached pandemic status. The statement, in its entirety, is below:

The Critical Care Society Collaborative, comprised of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), the American Thoracic Society (ATS), and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), urge the U.S Federal, state and local governments to maintain and strengthen social distancing requirements. We also implore the public to fully participate in the social distancing effort to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 virus. 

“While staying at home and distancing yourself from others may feel passive, it is the most active step the American public can take to fight the epidemic,” said James M.  Beck, MD, president of the ATS.   “America’s first responders, physicians, respiratory therapists, nurses and advanced health care providers are doing their part to protect the public, we urge the public and policy makers to join us in this effort to maintain social distancing until we have flattened the curve on COVID,” said Stephanie Levine, MD, president of CHEST. 

As a unified group of critical care professionals who are caring for patients infected with COVID-19, we implore federal, state and local officials to continue to implement social distancing and suspend non-essential activities to slow the progress of the pandemic and allow adequate capacity in the U.S. health care system to effectively treat affected patients.   This directive should include suspension of all mass transit systems (air, rail, sea and land) as well as closure of all hotel and hospitality venues (except those serving healthcare-related workers and natural disaster victims).

In addition, Lewis J. Kaplan, MD, president of SCCM, urges health care institutions to “suspend non-essential activities (e.g. elective surgeries and procedures) to support social distancing, minimize patient and provider exposures, and preserve healthcare resources.”

“If this virus is not stringently contained now, the repercussions to the health of the American population, as well as the impact on the country’s economic, educational and welfare systems, will be incalculable,” notes Megan E. Brunson, RN, president of AACN.

The directive should require all people within the borders of the United States to shelter in place for at least three weeks, beginning on March 30, 2020, allowing movement for urgent medical attention, food necessities and local, independent exercise only. 

Our guidance to the public, U.S. Federal Government and state and local governments comes after substantial input from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and careful examination of best practices from other health officials from around the world. 

Contact for Media: Dacia Morris American Thoracic Society [email protected]

 

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The Critical Care Society Collaborative, comprised of the @AACNme, @accpchest, @atscommunity, and @SCCM urge the U.S Federal, state and local governments to maintain and strengthen social distancing requirements. Read it here: https://www.thoracic.org/professionals/clinical-resources/disease-related-resources/joint-society-letter—final.pdf

 

About the American Thoracic Society

Founded in 1905, the American Thoracic Society is the world’s leading medical association dedicated to advancing pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. The Society’s 15,000 members prevent and fight respiratory disease around the globe through research, education, patient care and advocacy. The ATS publishes three journals, the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology and the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

 

 

 

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