A study yesterday in PLOS One details how the COVID-19 pandemic pummeled an already underfunded and understaffed US public health system, straining workers, upending services, and putting patients at risk.Led by a University of Tennessee at Knoxville researcher, the study involved a survey of 298 public health experts working for government agencies or academic public health departments from Aug 23 to Oct 5, 2020.
Respondents included epidemiologists and workers who conduct disease surveillance, contact tracing, testing, and vaccination programs.The survey was distributed through professional networks and association listservs to professionals with either an academic degree in a field related to public health or a position in an academic or