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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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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Also important, by
@DKThomp. Some activities are worse than others: talking, singing, huffing and puffing. We should learn from countries that have guidelines for indoors (library rules: keep it low!)https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/08/wear-your-mask-and-stop-talking/615796/ …Show this thread -
Consequences of lack of proper guidance on ventilation. This restaurant has blocked *outdoor tables* with plants as per NC guidance, but has reduced seating inside. Everyone should be outside! These tables are far enough.(Place is otherwise well-organized; staff all masked etc.)pic.twitter.com/sG4JRekJQq
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CDC? WHO? We still don’t have ventilation integrated into our guidelines. People are being told to wash their hands, but not open their windows. It’s September 2020.https://twitter.com/adamhamdy/status/1304120806943928329 …
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UPDATE! CDC has *finally* explicitly acknowledged the role of aerosols, airborne transmission and the importance of ventilation for COVID. Now urgently waiting for specific guidelines. (Japan had them since February!) Woot! (Hopefully, WHO soon as well). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html …pic.twitter.com/btHcplh34w
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Weekend update, CDC has finally explicitly acknowledged airborne transmission, and is now highlighting the importance of inhalation as a route, and thus ventilation as mitigation. See thread for interesting science history of how key measures got mangled.https://twitter.com/jljcolorado/status/1307920120203759616 …
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Some experts on here say this isn't a major update. I totally disagree. The experts may have already been in the know. General public? Businesses? Schools? Still a lot of bleaching surfaces while not even opening windows. Finally, the science is reflected.https://twitter.com/jessica_bassett/status/1308022681732886529 …
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Yes. Updated CDC guidelines acknowledging airborne transmission and inhalation as key route have *huge* implications for both masking guidelines & indoor behavior—before we even get to additional ventilation mitigation. Details is in my article upthread.https://twitter.com/HikerDave57/status/1308025529472151554 …
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Fits very well actually. Known transmissions are surprisingly rare & are usually from the pre-masking era. Need better data but no huge outbreaks. Airplanes change air aggressively AND have HEPA filters. So they aren't like bars *despite* crowded indoors.https://twitter.com/MakatiTiger/status/1308035014249132032 …
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Seems CDC has removed airborne update for now but it looks like they accidentally posted a draft. Okay. The wording could be a bit clearer anyway.
Let's wait for the (hopefully quick) update, as trust is key to public health. It's already late!https://twitter.com/j_g_allen/status/1308086726179643394 …Show this thread -
Scientists have been trying—all year—to highlight and explain airborne transmission of aerosols. Both CDC & WHO are still lagging. My article is from July. But here we are. Everyone simply wearing masks would be better than whatever this is supposed to do.https://twitter.com/amysrosenberg/status/1312546192669265922 …
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Don't get me wrong; Jamie Harrison is doing the best he can, along with the rest of the public muddling through the confusing and incomplete guidance. Without proper visuals and guidelines or airborne transmission from the authorities, what can people do? It's an overall failure.
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No masks indoors but on playgrounds?
Failure all around. CDC still hasn't posted guidelines for airborne transmission. WHO's advice to the public still doesn't *mention* ventilation or how 3 feet isn't enough indoors or say masks on at all times indoors. https://twitter.com/reneritchie/status/1313103214963838978 …This Tweet is unavailable.Show this thread -
This is WHO's page for the public. It has many paragraphs on the use of hand-sanitizers but doesn't say *even once* that ventilation is important or outdoors is safer than indoors. WHO guidelines maintain the fiction that mere three feet is enough indoors. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public …pic.twitter.com/gBkU5Ihva7
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We need to be able to trust the CDC and the WHO to lead, to give us the best of research and public health guidelines. It's October 2020. I know there are people in both organizations who spent their lives for public health. But please. If not now, when? This is catastrophic.
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I WANT TO support the WHO. But this is their *current* mask guidelines. It says that community health workers doing screenings, or the public being screened, do not need to wear masks AT ALL if one meter apart (a mere three feet)—even if indoors. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-in-the-community-during-home-care-and-in-healthcare-settings-in-the-context-of-the-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)-outbreak …pic.twitter.com/sbLRklR7qh
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YEAY! We finally got the CDC update. Acknowledges airborne transmission, emphasizes ventilation, says six feet not absolute when indoors especially if singing/exercising (add talking). There may be minor quibbles among the scientists but this is important! https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html …pic.twitter.com/LOmF7PWaBB
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Finally, solid guidelines from the CDC. Masks at all times *around others*; indoors/crowds are higher risk; outdoors/good ventilation are better! Aerosol scientists also emphasize that they concentrate *near* the person so distance is important regardless one's underlying theory.pic.twitter.com/PftF07TirO
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Yep! This CDC update is not more of the same without impacting guidelines or recommendations. It has *many* important practical implications and changes compared to the one that did not acknowledge airborne transmission. That's why it matters a lot.https://twitter.com/HikerDave57/status/1313190311745654784 …
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End of conversation
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