Coronavirus experts on what to do and U.S. response to the pandemic
As the novel coronavirus spreads — and fears over the virus seem to spread even faster — how do we separate fact from fiction? And how well are we, as a nation, responding to this pandemic? Paste BN's Editorial Board has been meeting with leading experts. Below, watch short video interviews or click the links for the full Q&A.
The World Health Organization
Feb. 8, 2022
Even as countries continue to battle COVID-19, with mixed strategies and success stories, the World Health Organization is working with them and looking ahead to ensure it is prepared for the next global health emergency. It is focused on rebuilding trust, its internal systems and alliances with its 194 member nations. "A lot of work is being done on this, the idea of a treaty or an accord or legal instrument ... that's open and transparent," said Steve Solomon, principal legal director. "This builds trust."
As the world records nearly 400 million cases of COVID-19 and 6 million deaths and the United States confirms about 77 million cases and more than 904,000 deaths, Paste BN's Editorial Board spoke with Solomon and other leaders from the WHO, including Executive Director Jane Ellison; Stewart Simonson, assistant director-general at the United Nations; Dr. Jaouad Mahjour, assistant director-general of the Emergency Preparedness Division; Dr. Maria van Kerkhove, COVID-19 technical lead; and Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, assistant director-general of Health Emergency Intelligence.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner who's on the Pfizer board
Dec. 8, 2021
As the United States approaches 50 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and 800,000 deaths, but only 60% of the population is fully vaccinated, the Paste BN Editorial Board spoke Tuesday with Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration who now serves on the board of Pfizer.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Aug. 6, 2021
Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s point man on infectious diseases, spoke with the Paste BN Editorial Board on Friday about the latest coronavirus developments. Fauci, 80, has been director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA chief now serving on Pfizer board
Dec. 7
With the latest coronavirus wave producing record numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths across the United States, the Paste BN Editorial Board spoke Monday with Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Gottlieb, 48, serves on the board of Pfizer, which is asking the FDA to authorize the company’s vaccine for emergency use.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Nov. 18
With U.S. coronavirus deaths passing 250,000 and at least two effective vaccines on the horizon, the Paste BN Editorial Board spoke Wednesday with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading authority on infectious diseases. Fauci, who turns 80 next month, has been director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984.
Dr. Larry Brilliant, epidemiologist who helped eradicate smallpox
Aug. 3, 2020
With more than 155,000 Americans dead and the novel coronavirus continuing to spread across wide swaths of the United States, Paste BN’s Editorial Board spoke Monday with Dr. Larry Brilliant, a noted epidemiologist who helped eradicate smallpox. Brilliant, 76, is chairman of the advisory board of the organization Ending Pandemics and CEO of Pandefense Advisory.
Dr. David Satcher, former Surgeon General and director of the CDC
July 15, 2020
With 32 states adding COVID-19 cases faster than in the worst spring week, Paste BN’s Editorial Board spoke Wednesday with Dr. David Satcher, former Surgeon General and director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Satcher, 79, is now director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute and a professor at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. His new book, "My Quest for Health Equity: Notes on Learning While Leading," is due out later this summer.
Francis Collins, National Institutes of Health director
June 24, 2020
As COVID-19 cases continued to spike in the South and West, Paste BN’s Editorial Board spoke Tuesday with Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health and a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Collins, 70, led the international Human Genome Project and is noted for his landmark discoveries of disease genes.
Dr. Caitlin Rivers: Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
June 17, 2020
Amid concerns about coronavirus spikes caused by reopenings or mass protests, Paste BN’s Editorial Board spoke Tuesday with Dr. Caitlin Rivers, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, about the state of the pandemic.
Randi Weingarten: American Federation of Teachers president
May 28, 2020
This week, as U.S. coronavirus deaths topped 100,000 and President Donald Trump tweeted that “schools in our country should be opened ASAP,” the Paste BN Editorial Board spoke with Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. The teachers’ union has issued detailed guidelines for reopening schools.
Dr. Michael Osterholm: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy director
May 12, 2020
As the number of U.S. deaths attributed to COVID-19 approached 81,000 on Tuesday, the Paste BN Editorial Board spoke with Dr. Michael Osterholm, one of the nation’s leading epidemiologists. Osterholm, 67, is director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota and co-author of "Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs."
Dr. Tom Inglesby: Hopkins expert on pandemics and infectious diseases
April 28, 2020
As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States topped 1 million and states began reopening, Paste BN’s Editorial Board spoke on Tuesday with Dr. Tom Inglesby, a leading expert on pandemics and infectious diseases. Inglesby, 53, is director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.
Marc Lipsitch: Harvard epidemiologist
April 8, 2020
As daily coronavirus-related deaths reached new highs in New York and nationally, Paste BN’s Editorial Board spoke Wednesday with Dr. Marc Lipsitch, one of the nation’s leading epidemiologists, about the state of the pandemic. Lipsitch is a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and director of Harvard’s Center of Communicable Disease Dynamics.
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and Ann Druyan, creator of the 'Cosmos' series
April 2, 2020
Can science save us from the new coronavirus? With the internet awash in both sound science and pseudoscience, how can people know what to believe? Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and Ann Druyan, creator of the “Cosmos” series now airing on the National Geographic channel, discussed these and other issues with the Paste BN Editorial Board.
Tom Frieden: Former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
March 24, 2020
Dr. Tom Frieden, one of the nation’s leading experts on public health and infectious disease, spoke with Paste BN’s Editorial Board on Tuesday as New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned that the new coronavirus is “spiking” in his state and President Donald Trump said he wants “the country opened up and just raring to go by Easter.” Frieden, 59, is a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and former New York City health commissioner.
Scott Gottlieb: Former commissioner, Food and Drug Administration
March 9, 2020
As the stock market was plunging Monday amid coronavirus fears, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who served as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration from 2017 to 2019, met with Paste BN’s Editorial Board to discuss the COVID-19 outbreak. Gottlieb, 47, did a residency in internal medicine at New York’s Mount Sinai Medical Center and is currently a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.
Anthony Fauci: Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Feb. 17, 2020
With China taking extreme measures to prevent further spread of COVID-19 and previously quarantined American cruise ship passengers returning to the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s point man on infectious diseases, spoke with the Paste BN Editorial Board about the latest coronavirus developments. Fauci, 79, has been director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984.
