There is ALSO enough evidence that universal mask wearing can reduce enough community spread that, on balance, it’s best for now to recommend them *with* social distancing still in place. But all of this is complicated & none is common sense.
-
-
So masks might offer *some* protection to you and (more likely) those around you, but absolutely should not be a substitute for social distancing handwashing etc. What's so complicated about that?
1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes -
I was going to respond w “you don’t work in public health, do you?” But I read your bio, so I’m guessing you simply don’t spend much time with health & sci communication bc what you wrote is actually a VERY complex message for public health communication.
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
I do a fair bit of science communication and am genuinely curious why you think the messaging is so difficult.
6 replies 0 retweets 1 like -
It wasn’t difficult at all. The messaging was botched, and it’s hard for people who botched it to admit it was botced so they make up complications that don’t really exist. That’s why I started writing about it and had no difficulty. People get it once once you’re straight.
1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes -
Replying to @zeynep @EpicFeil_ and
Increased risk compared to no masks? Made up. False sense of security? Absolutely not supported by decades of research on other safety devices, no reason to think so here. There was a shortage and authorities botched the message and, sadly, too many science writers followed them.
2 replies 0 retweets 2 likes -
Replying to @zeynep @EpicFeil_ and
No evidence that masks do anything but block some cough droplets. Evidence suggests masks increase face touching and masks don't protect eyes, a big risk in SARS1. Masks also distract from effective PPE in the community, which are face shields. Check out:https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2765525 …
1 reply 1 retweet 3 likes -
Replying to @eliowa @tarahaelle and
No data in the linked article to support the face-touching, so that must come from other studies?
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @Telecordial @tarahaelle and
snark: So you need a study to show you that putting on a face mask or taking a face mask off causes you to touch your face? Kinda like needing a study to show spoons are better than forks for eating soup 1/2
2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @eliowa @Telecordial and
From ECDC: "There is a risk that improper removal of the face mask, handling of a contaminated face mask or an increased tendency to touch the face while wearing a face mask by healthy persons might actually increase the risk of transmission" https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/COVID-19-use-face-masks-community.pdf …
2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes
ECDC claim also uncited. I've seen no evidence presented for either increased face-touching or why it's worse than no masks (touching your face with no mask surely worse?). Also false security (ECDC claim) is unwarranted and contradicted by decades of research on safety devices.
-
-
That said, face shields have may advantages and may well be a good thing to move to them compared with masks, why not? Face shields also better the deaf community. As long as we move from no masks. (I looked, couldn't find any evidentiary basis for masks increase risk claims.)
1 reply 0 retweets 3 likes -
I would love to see a move toward face shields & think the evidence is stronger—based on what w know of the epidemiology of the disease & some of the limitations of masks—for face shields. I think getting ppl to wear them may be as tough as masks—Idk. I hope not.
0 replies 1 retweet 2 likes
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.