Yesterday, I commented on something tech, and someone was like, what do you have to do with tech? Lol! I've been pandemic writing for months. He had no idea I do tech. I didn't want to write "flatten the curve" or "we need masks" pieces. But people who should and could weren't.
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Forget reflection, I got weird pushback.
@NateSilver538 was so mad about me writing about the complacent/lagging media message that he caricatured my position beyond recognition and told me to "sit this one out". Yet, I'll say it again: there should be a reckoning & hasn't been.12 replies 19 retweets 203 likesShow this thread -
zeynep tufekci Retweeted
Yes. For example, we are finally seeing more coverage of asymptomatic transmission, in context of finally admitting the argument for masks. We had many many peer-reviewed papers on asymptomatic and non-feverish, atypical clinical presentation since Jan 29. https://twitter.com/hhavrilesky/status/1245362927630090242 …
zeynep tufekci added,
This Tweet is unavailable.5 replies 31 retweets 117 likesShow this thread -
zeynep tufekci Retweeted Cliff Featherstone
More countries are switching to masks. Yeay! That's the good. If media had earlier dug into the science of masks and the experience of Asian countries that had been successful in containing this epidemic, we could have been here weeks ago. That's the bad.https://twitter.com/seaef/status/1245444646664355843 …
zeynep tufekci added,
4 replies 31 retweets 90 likesShow this thread -
zeynep tufekci Retweeted COVID Perspective
This is great! California! By the way, would love for CA issue guidelines for correct use and sanitization. It's good to say masks *in addition to* other measures. But I have yet to see a single convincing study of "incorrect" use being worse than no mask.https://twitter.com/covidperspectiv/status/1245438129974083584 …
zeynep tufekci added,
COVID Perspective @covidperspectivCalifornia will issue new guidance today around the use of face masks / coverings in public, making it we believe the first state to do so. The state is stressing the correct use of masks and... it will not be a replacement for physical distancing; "additive" to other guidance.3 replies 31 retweets 92 likesShow this thread -
My prediction is that, until vaccines, we will go through waves where we necessarily relax social isolation but masks will help a lot during those intermittent periods. How much is an empirical question but Japan—screwing up everything else but masks—suggests it is a great deal.
9 replies 70 retweets 250 likesShow this thread -
Center for Evidence Based Medicine at Oxford concludes that surgical masks are *as effective* as respirators for preventing infection in viral outbreaks. Fits Hong Kong's hospital practice. Asia was ahead on the science of this. Our experts were lagging. https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/what-is-the-efficacy-of-standard-face-masks-compared-to-respirator-masks-in-preventing-covid-type-respiratory-illnesses-in-primary-care-staff/ …pic.twitter.com/DodJIwQWza
3 replies 76 retweets 160 likesShow this thread -
Your daily irresponsible media failure: clickbait headline from
@washingtonpost claiming "masks were useless" in the 1918 flu epidemic based on no research or evidence but one historian saying so in a throwaway manner in a book. Shame on you,@elizamcgraw. Lives are at stake.pic.twitter.com/v4bi8QORUW
7 replies 29 retweets 126 likesShow this thread -
So,
@elizamcgraw who normally writes about horses finds a casual sentence in a book that was more about how the 1918 epidemic spread and builds a piece around it titled masks "were useless" and it gets published on APRIL 2, 2020 in the middle of a pandemic in the@washingtonpost?4 replies 12 retweets 82 likesShow this thread -
cbergenholtz Retweeted Julie Leask
It is not merely the Washington Post. 'Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy' just posted this review of the evidence: https://twitter.com/JulieLeask/status/1245444131523981312?s=20 … (sadly claiming the evidence doesn't support masks)
cbergenholtz added,
Julie LeaskVerified account @JulieLeaskMasks should be preserved for HCW. Telling public to wear cloth and surgical masks could do more harm than good. Useful overview by@CIDRAP http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/04/commentary-masks-all-covid-19-not-based-sound-data … pic.twitter.com/8zvR9utXBs1 reply 1 retweet 1 like
What that study shows is that for *aerosol generating procedures* like intubation, N95s are better than surgical masks. That's true! No debate about that. That's why the actual science matters. Here's the overview for non-aerosol (i.e. everyday) contexts: https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/what-is-the-efficacy-of-standard-face-masks-compared-to-respirator-masks-in-preventing-covid-type-respiratory-illnesses-in-primary-care-staff/ …
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The main message in their review is: "We do not recommend requiring the general public who do not have symptoms of COVID-19-like illness to routinely wear cloth or surgical masks because" http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/04/commentary-masks-all-covid-19-not-based-sound-data …
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Replying to @justsomeoneDK @zeynep and
I should add that I find their review puzzling. They cite evidence that masks can filter to some degree, and don't cite evidence that mask wearing might make people relax other distancing efforts.
0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
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