This week, the ATS joined several public letters to Congress and the White House urging immediate action to contain the COVID19 pandemic. The ATS joined peer organizations CHEST, SCCM, and AACN in a letter to the White House strongly recommending continued commitment to social distancing policies. “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, ATSF president of the ATS. 

Additionally, the ATS joined a broad health-community sign-on letter to the White House asking the Administration to maintain national calls for social distancing. The letter notes, “Lifting restrictions on gathering and travel by an arbitrary date endangers the health of Americans and control of this public health crisis.” The letter also calls for economic assistances for patients, providers, families and businesses impacted by the COVID19 pandemic.

The ATS also joined members of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies open letter calling for securing and distributing urgently needed personal protective equipment for health care workers responding to the COVID pandemic. The letter also strongly opposed any retribution for providers who speak to the media about the acute shortage of PPE.