One of the jobs going forward is to treat air the way we treat water: if you do not have access to clean water, that's a failure and a scandal of infrastructure. Now that, finally, airborne transmission of respiratory illnesses is increasingly understood, we can reduce them all.
-
-
Show this thread
-
Too much of our pandemic response focused on individual responsibility: "just stay home" (what about those who cannot?), "wash your hands" (what about the shared air?), (belated) "wear a mask" (great, but how about providing better ones?), "get tested" (good luck on your own!)...
Show this thread -
These failures worsen other failures: if the authorities aren't seen as trustworthy (denying airborne transmission, for example), people end up seeking information on other things on their own, too, and everything gets confusing. People can fall prey to cranks and misinformation.
Show this thread -
I increasingly see people willing to believe things are so bad because this is a superzombieantigencalifragilisticexpialidocious virus, with extraordinary properties. Tragically, as
@michaelmina_lab says, it's a straightforward, almost textbook virus. The failure is the response.Show this thread -
Someone asked so what I *actually* wrote in the NYT in response to CDC change in mask rules in May 2021:"I’d tell [employers] to keep up the mask rules indoors and pay attention to ventilation, regardless of vaccination status." I thought it was too early. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/opinion/coronavirus-masks-vaccines.html …pic.twitter.com/DjNBFmPg01
Show this thread -
Also my article at the end of May, warning about Delta, as soon as the initial data made it clear this wasn't a "scariant" (remember: variants are many, but only two have caused a real challenge). Title: "Covid's deadliest phase may be here soon." https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/28/opinion/covid-vaccine-variants.html …pic.twitter.com/Tp07qnKkiH
Show this thread -
I wrote a warning article about one other variant, once, what we know call Alpha, in December of 2020. I don't think it's useful to sound equal alarms about everything. That adds to the cacophony and the fatigue. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/12/virus-mutation-catastrophe/617531/ …pic.twitter.com/uqMNlKvYmc
Show this thread -
Can one be an early mask advocate, argue for indoor masks while cases high, see airborne transmission as key mitigation target, oppose outdoor mask *mandates* (not wearing) and beach pic fixation, view transmissible variants as a challenge and believe vaccines as key way forward?
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
-
-
@DFisman sounds familiar.Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
-
-
-
Fyi the Victorian Government in Australia has taken some responsibility on the ventilation issue, to their great credit:https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-23/victoria-melbourne-schools-plan-covers-ventilation-vaccination/100483622 …
-
Yep - pity we haven't been able to get NSW to implement the same measures. It's almost like NSW is volunteering to be the control group as we reopen :/
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.