Let's take a look at the text of the letter sent by Scott Atlas' Stanford medical colleagues outlining the non-scientific prattle he has been peddling about COVID. https://www.pids.org/images/resources/covid-19/open-letter-re-scott-atlas-final-20-09-09.pdf Dear Colleagues, As infectious diseases physicians and researchers, microbiologist and immunologists, epidemiologists and health policy leaders, we stand united in efforts to develop and promote science-based solutions that advance human health and prevent suffering from the coronavirus pandemic. In this pursuit, we share a commitment to a basic principle derived from the Hippocratic Oath: Primum Non Nocere (First, Do No Harm). To prevent harm to the public’s health, we also have both a moral and an ethical responsibility to call attention to the falsehoods and misrepresentations of science recently fostered by Dr. Scott Atlas, a former Stanford Medical School colleague and current senior fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University. Many of his opinions and statements run counter to established science and, by doing so, undermine public-health authorities and the credible science that guides effective public health policy. The preponderance of data, accrued from around the world, currently supports each of the following statements: The use of face masks, social distancing, handwashing and hygiene have been shown to substantially reduce the spread of Covid-19.Crowded indoor spaces are settings that significantly increase the risk of community spread of SARS-CoV-2. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 frequently occurs from asymptomatic people, including children and young adults, to family members and others. Therefore, testing asymptomatic individuals, especially those with probable Covid-19 exposure is important to break the chain of ongoing transmission. Children of all ages can be infected with SARS-CoV-2. While infection is less common in children than in adults, serious short-term and long-term consequences of Covid-19 are increasingly described in children and young people. The pandemic will be controlled when a large proportion of a population has developed immunity (referred to as herd immunity)and that the safest path to herd immunity is through deployment of rigorously evaluated, effective vaccines that have been approved by regulatory agencies. In contrast, encouraging herd immunity through unchecked community transmission is not a safe public health strategy. In fact, this approach would do the opposite, causing a significant increase in preventable cases, suffering and deaths, especially among vulnerable populations, such as older individuals and essential workers. Commitment to science-based decision-making is a fundamental obligation of public health policy. The rates of SARS-CoV-2infectionin the US, with consequent morbidity and mortality, are among the highest in the world. The policy response to this pandemic must reinforce the science, including that evidence-based prevention and the safe development, testing and delivery of efficacious therapies and preventive measures, including vaccines,represent the safest path forward. Failure to follow the science --or deliberately misrepresenting the science –will lead to immense avoidable harm. We believe that social and economic activity can reopen safely, if we follow policies that are consistent with science. In fact, the countries that have reopened businesses and schools safely are those that have implemented the science-based strategies outlined above. As Stanford faculty with expertise in infectious diseases, epidemiology and health policy, our signatures support this statement with the hope that our voices affirm scientific, medical and public health approaches that promote the safety of our communities and nation. (signatures of over 100 of his Standford colleagues)
Let's see if this is a scientific response or a political response... by seeing if there is science to back up their assertions. Remember science requires repeatable observations or test. Now remember we have had 33 million positive cases of Covid and we have had a ton of tracing. 1. The use of face masks, social distancing, handwashing and hygiene have been shown to substantially reduce the spread of Covid-19.Crowded indoor spaces are settings that significantly increase the risk of community spread of SARS-CoV-2. Very cute statement... Obviously political. The question is what has been scientifically tested and proven. There is no science saying that face masks prevent the overall spread of covid. This week we saw a group go back and review the data from one of the rare studies on the subject of flu and virus. (not Covid) The data showed that washing a cloth face mask in the hospital laundry preformed as well as a surgical mask... but masks washed at home were more dangerous. So the idea that mask prevent the spread of Covid... overall is conjecture... not science. Scientists should really be far more precise. Verdict... political statement. 2. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 frequently occurs from asymptomatic people, including children and young adults, to family members and others. Therefore, testing asymptomatic individuals, especially those with probable Covid-19 exposure is important to break the chain of ongoing transmission. There zero direct evidence from testing that asymptomatic spread Covid. The WHO even said every time member states have looked into asymptomatic spread... they found out there were at least some symptoms. Verdict... lie. Certainly not "frequently" 3. Children of all ages can be infected with SARS-CoV-2. While infection is less common in children than in adults, serious short-term and long-term consequences of Covid-19 are increasingly described in children and young people. Verdict ..OK... but would be better if they reviewed this with statistical info. 4. The pandemic will be controlled when a large proportion of a population has developed immunity (referred to as herd immunity)and that the safest path to herd immunity is through deployment of rigorously evaluated, effective vaccines that have been approved by regulatory agencies. Verdict.. This is conjecture and therefore obviously and opinion and hence political. We Believe would have been the proper way to qualify this. . 5. In contrast, encouraging herd immunity through unchecked community transmission is not a safe public health strategy. In fact, this approach would do the opposite, causing a significant increase in preventable cases, suffering and deaths, especially among vulnerable populations, such as older individuals and essential workers. Verdict. This is a slanted political statement. First of all it was never said to be left unchecked. Second... lockdowns have not made the virus go away. So it always going to be some form of letting the low risk out. The concept proposed by the declaration is to allow the low risk out and protect the vulnerable. Nobody can really argue with that anymore... now that we have seen almost every country which has opened to travel and commerce...breakout with infections.
You're peddling nonsense again.... let's start with your mask assertions. Masks been shown to substantially reduce the spread of Covid-19. This is a scientific fact. It has been investigated in multiple studies at the micro-level (testing at a droplet transmission at micro level in a lab) to the macro level (seeing the impact of mask mandates on the spread of COVID in a population. Let's provide you with reminders so you can reacquaint yourself with the facts. Masks Save Lives: Duke Study Confirms Which Ones Work Best https://hartfordhealthcare.org/about-us/news-press/news-detail?articleid=27691&publicId=395 COVID-19 cases in Arizona dropped 75% after mask mandates began, report says https://www.azcentral.com/story/new...opped-75-following-local-mask-man/5911813002/ All the items providing in the letter about COVID are proven scientific facts -- once again you are pushing nonsense. None of the items from Stanford medical professors in their letter are political statements -- you (and Atlas) are the ones pushing a political agenda not aligned with science.
no... you all are ignorant as can be.. the medical community is aware of so many negatives about the lockdown... but they have been silenced to some degree.. now... its coming out... https://www.kusi.com/child-abuse-and-neglect-cases-up-nearly-80-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/ SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Child abuse pediatricians are seeing a spike in abuse and neglect cases amid the coronavirus pandemic. This coming as there is a simultaneous 40% decrease in reporting of cases due to school not being in session and children having less in person doctor visits. Child abuse pediatricians have seen an 82% increase of outpatient visits and 75% increase in inpatient consultation since the government ordered shelter in place order began. The increased rates despite decreased reporting indicates that there is likely a large population of children who are being harmed but not being recognized because there injuries aren’t severe enough to be recognized or referred to medical services. Medical Clinical Director in the Chadwick Center at Rady Children’s Hospital, Dr. Shalon Nienow, joined KUSI’s Lauren Phinney on Good Morning San Diego to explain how the coronavirus lockdowns are leading to the increase in child abuse and neglect cases.
Most child abuse cases are discovered in school - according to my understanding. I can certainly believe that over 200K cases of child abuse have not been reported in the U.S. due to schools being shut down. Note however this figure is not proven but likely IMO. The other sad part is that when kids are home 24/7 with their abusive parents/guardians it is more likely that they are being abused -- in tense home situations which may involve the parents/guardians being at home full-time due to being unemployed during COVID or having to be home to watch the kids.
Both the infected group and non infected group wore masks 70 something percent of the time... (almost always) of the infected group... 70.6 percent always wore masks 14.4 often 11 sometimes Yet they still got infected... New CDC Study Finds Majority of Those Infected with COVID-19 ‘Always’ Wore Masks By Katy Grimes, October 13, 2020 10:41 am Once again it appears there are conflicting facts, data and plenty of opinions about the efficacy of wearing masks to prevent contracting the Coronavirus. In addition to causing “maskne” and skin infections on the face and around the mouth, persistent coughing, “mask mouth,” and respiratory illnesses including lung infections, it turns out that most everyone infected with COVID-19 “always” wore masks, according to a newly published study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The study found 74.2% reported wearing masks “always” while 14.5% wore masks “often,” or 85% almost always woremasks. It is difficult not to conclude that wearing non-surgical cloth face masks or face coverings does little to prevent contracting the coronavirus. California Globe reported in April on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s unilateral decision which he announced on MSNBC, to spend $1 billion on surgical face masks, and said the contract had already been “inked.” Newsom made the $1 billion face mask deal with Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD for 150 million N95 masks and surgical masks each month, despite the conflicting science about using face masks for coronavirus prevention. The real reason for the contract is still unknown. However, the CDC study, conducted by 11 medical institutions, also said, “CDC and other public health authorities recommend community mitigation strategies to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 (1,2).” And the CDC still recommends masks, saying “cloth face coverings help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others,” according to a July statement. From the CDC Study: Participants were asked about wearing a mask and possible community exposure activities (e.g., gatherings with ≤10 or >10 persons in a home; shopping; dining at a restaurant; going to an office setting, salon, gym, bar/coffee shop, or church/religious gathering; or using public transportation) on a five-point Likert-type scale ranging from “never” to “more than once per day” or “always.” For each reported activity, participants were asked to quantify degree of adherence to recommendations such as wearing a face mask of any kind or social distancing among other persons at that location, with response options ranging from “none” to “almost all.” In the 14 days before illness onset, 71% of case-patients and 74% of controlparticipants reported always using cloth face coverings or other mask types when in public. Close contact with one or more persons with known COVID-19 was reported by 42% of casepatients compared with 14% of control-participants (p<0.01), and most (51%) close contacts were family members. Interestingly, the CDC found: Adults with confirmed COVID-19 (case-patients) were approximately twice as likely as were control-participants to have reported dining at a restaurant in the 14 days before becoming ill. In addition to dining at a restaurant, case-patients were more likely to report going to a bar/coffee shop, but only when the analysis was restricted to participants without close contact with persons with known COVID-19 before illness onset. Reports of exposures in restaurants have been linked to air circulation (7). Direction, ventilation, and intensity of airflow might affect virus transmission, even if social distancing measures and mask use are implemented according to current guidance. Masks cannot be effectively worn while eating and drinking, whereas shopping and numerous other indoor activities do not preclude mask use. (Of note, the question assessing dining at a restaurant did not distinguish between indoor and outdoor options. In addition, the question about going to a bar or coffee shop did not distinguish between the venues or service delivery methods, which might represent different exposures.) 3.9% of respondents said they never wore face masks; another 3.9% said they rarely did. Of the case patients and control participants 61.2% reported at least one of the following underlying chronic medical conditions: cardiac condition, hypertension, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency, psychiatric condition, diabetes, or obesity. https://californiaglobe.com/section...ose-infected-with-covid-19-always-wore-masks/
Keep in mind the primary purpose of masks is to stop you from infecting others. They have limited ability to stop you from getting infected.