Let me say this outright: This is unscientific, stupid and wrong. This is incredible. Six months in, how can we be this behind the science? This make so little sense that my head hurts. This is why focusing on the right science matters. h/t @MartynaAFoxhttps://twitter.com/POLITICOEurope/status/1288897647344889863 …
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Because of my piece on ventilation, I keep getting asked for practical advice. CDC and health authorities should update guidelines. But for individuals? I'd say avoid Japan's 3Cs: closed spaces, crowded places, close-range conversations. And wear masks. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/07/why-arent-we-talking-more-about-airborne-transmission/614737/ …pic.twitter.com/w9lnPVUhDB
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Pandemic theater. Broncos players are coming out of an *indoors* locker room, to pant at each other at close range, but not before being sprayed by, uh, mumbo-jumbo nano-crystalline disinfectants!. (Do more! Activate the holosensors! Use positronic beams too!)
ht @benjiwadepic.twitter.com/gv7bNmDNjn
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I mean if we’re going to do pandemic theater, at least let’s do it right, with some elegance amd history. My grandmother would’ve put an evil eye charm on all of them.
Tradition > technobabble.pic.twitter.com/A2mi6dnaXK
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Write an article about aerosols, get a LinkedIn inbox that feels like who's who of HVAC/IAQ companies.
No I can't endorse products.
But my own AC is on the fritz? (And my landlord is trying to evict me, so not going corrupt and helping fix his AC for free at the same time!)Show this thread -
YES! Dr. Fauci acknowledges some aerosolization. Says indoor/outdoor different, indoors "much greater risk than outside.” Emphasizes "mask-wearing indoors." Acknowledges ~5-10 μm can float, says they likely got that wrong.
Now, hopefully new guidelines! https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/03/fauci-says-theres-a-degree-the-coronavirus-is-spreading-through-air-particles.html …pic.twitter.com/flPn9T4V8a
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Thrilled to see the message about the importance of ventilation *finally* breaking through to the broader public (at least, I hope so!). (Sane policies for/media coverage of the safer activities outdoors, maybe, too, one can hope?)https://twitter.com/misguidedsoul7/status/1291069337600774144 …Show this thread -
Why important to understand the role aerosols may play correctly even though they, too, cluster in close-range of the person. Droplets=only in front of one. Aerosols=escape behind one if mask is poorly fitting. Keep your mask on indoors even at distance.https://twitter.com/jljcolorado/status/1280935408398766080 …
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Short answer: Hepa filters with no gimmicks (ionizer, UV) are good for unventilated spaces. Higher CADR (smoke rating) is better. If you can open windows/doors for good air circulation, better. Better answer: follow
@jljcolorado@ShellyMBoulder@kprather88https://twitter.com/__apf__/status/1292085934767316997 …Show this thread -
Thread below with some answers. Also more experts to follow:
@linseymarr,@corsiaq,@JimRosenthal4,@stephensbrent. That said, it's past time for CDC to step up and give us guidance on ventilation. As I wrote, Japan has been doing that since the beginning.https://twitter.com/jljcolorado/status/1291760621822726145 …Show this thread -
The dearth of communication from health authorities on even the most basic questions like the one below is maddening. The few experts on social media are doing what they can, but it's really time for the academy to form it's own shadow CDC to communicate.https://twitter.com/zeynep/status/1291777886014365696 …
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Same dynamics that led to misrepresentation of mask research early on—ignoring evidence (a-presymptomatic spread), making baseless claims (false sense of security/harm), treating the public like children, lack of clarity on evidence to action etc. are in-play with ventilation.
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"More research is needed." Yep, as usual. Just like with masks in March, there's a preponderance of evidence to act on ventilation. The answer to shortages was to treat the public as a partner & adults who deserve information; the answer to "don't scare the public" is.. the same.
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FWIW, the reason I got into ventilation/short-range aerosol research was what I heard from *epidemiologists* first who decisively argued that that epi data was the strongest reason to suspect this mode of transmission. This isn't a US-only conversation!https://twitter.com/B_resnick/status/1293934375009165312 …
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That engineers are arguing for aerosol transmission while Epi/ID folks are against works only if one cherry-picks examples plus ignores countries with top-notch experts and solid track record outside the US/EU. Even here, despite disagreements, the consensus/overlap isn't small.
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This week, the WHO is holding a "wear-a-mask" challenge and our outlets are writing a "how did the WHO/US/CDC/UK/EU/media got it so wrong" articles. How about we do better this time and practice evidence-based causal inference and communication that treats the public like adults?
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Honestly, the idea that there's some sort of engineers vs. epidemiologists/infectious-disease specialists divide on airborne/aerosol transmission is just not true the moment you step out into the world. Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan.. US is just behind, again, that's all.
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This is why this "debate" matters. This isn't safe even if people are distanced (WHO says 3 feet and CDC says 6 feet is enough!!) exactly because short-range aerosols and their accumulation indoors, not just droplets that immediately fall, is a concern.https://twitter.com/trishgreenhalgh/status/1293826751844450304?s=20 …
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Why getting airborne right matters. UNC has clusters. (Surprise? No). They're contact tracing for within six feet without masks. NOT ENOUGH FOR INDOORS. Distance isn't that protective indoors *and* source-control masks aren't magic. We need updated evidence-based guidelines ASAP.pic.twitter.com/ob2zTSVALa
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The cost of not explaining the mode of transmission and risks correctly. This is simply not protective enough indoors, and CDC and the WHO need to urgently update their guidelines. (Look at that window that's being ignored!) https://twitter.com/ProfChrisMJones/status/1293909582692007936 …
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(Also, the answer to the terminology issues is to use the terms people will use—yes, airborne—with ample description and visuals. Linguistics teaches us that we cannot prescriptively do away with people's words, and if we try, what we will get is misunderstanding misinformation.)
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Other countries have managed to communicate this well, we can too. Japanese epidemiologists told me they suspected aerosols early on because of transmission data and acted accordingly—and have had a stellar public communication strategy. We should repeat. https://twitter.com/dylanhmorris/status/1294829604167876613 …
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Remember the "people will not be able to wear masks correctly" or "they will have false sense of security" claims as obstacles to recommending masks even though other countries managed just fine? Let's not do this again. We can communicate with the public, just like others do.
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Alternative to communicating the correct & detailed mental models to the public is rigid, rule-based but ineffective behavior. The problem isn't just terms—which cannot be dictated if there is an everyday word: it's insufficient effort in explaining them.https://twitter.com/JuliaLMarcus/status/1294784174616961025 …
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Stellar example of effective science communication from
@JamesEKHildreth who clearly but matter-of-factly explains a latest key paper on aerosol transmission, and why, by itself, distance isn't all protective indoors—especially in low ventilation settings.https://twitter.com/i/status/1294947678011502592 …
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Excellent FAQ for use of HEPA filters in indoor environments. Keep in mind: mitigations stack and every layer helps reduce risk. Masks. Distance. Effective filters (HEPA). Ventilation. Reduce crowding. Less talking. Keep within a cohort. etc. All adds up.https://twitter.com/Poppendieck/status/1292433631743561729 …
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Fascinating thread from an aerosol scientist, also talking of a forthcoming preprint exploring a compelling case I heard from multiple scientists about a major scientific error by WHO in their transmission mode documents. These details aren't minor issues.https://twitter.com/jljcolorado/status/1295524565179748352 …
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Germany (and some other European countries) are rapidly moving to acknowledge the importance of ventilation and updating their advice. It's way way way past time for the WHO and CDC to update us with proper guidance, beyond broad generalities.https://twitter.com/jljcolorado/status/1296251453296664576 …
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Merging some threads here! Please go read this very interesting article by
@jljcolorado, but please don't look at the picture! (Link to article in next tweet).https://twitter.com/zeynep/status/1299365652982124550 …
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Here's the article by
@jljcolorado that compiles a lot of evidence about aerosol transmission playing a role for COVID, with practical takeaways. (I genuinely don't know what it will take for news media to stop with the obsession with outdoor pictures.)https://time.com/5883081/covid-19-transmitted-aerosols/ …Show this thread -
"Because of the remarkable increase of COVID-19 infections in a very short time period despite the use of surgical masks, the ventilation system of the outbreak ward was investigated in addition to routine source and contact tracing" Ventilation study: https://twitter.com/linseymarr/status/1300782502550876161 …
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This matters, because having the correct mental model can empower people to think through this.
