Read on Twitter
1/
Thread on objections to face coverings for the general public.
See this tweet for a longer lay summary.
https://twitter.com/trishgreenhalgh/status/1249743825637199875?s=20
[Mute thread if youâve had enough on this topic.]
Thread on objections to face coverings for the general public.
See this tweet for a longer lay summary.
https://twitter.com/trishgreenhalgh/status/1249743825637199875?s=20
[Mute thread if youâve had enough on this topic.]
2/
Also draws on this with @zeynep @jeremyphoward
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/04/dont-wear-mask-yourself/610336/
And on Jeremyâs âFAQs for scepticsâ https://www.fast.ai/2020/04/20/skeptics-masks/#mightnt-people-handle-their-masks-wrong-and-make-things-worse
Also draws on this with @zeynep @jeremyphoward
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/04/dont-wear-mask-yourself/610336/
And on Jeremyâs âFAQs for scepticsâ https://www.fast.ai/2020/04/20/skeptics-masks/#mightnt-people-handle-their-masks-wrong-and-make-things-worse
3/
Objection 1: Iâm a scientist. The evidence isnât there.
Rebuttal 1: Do you mean: âIâm a randomised controlled trial (RCT) man. I choose to ignore the laws of physics and evidence from laboratory studies, natural experiments and mathematical modellingâ?
Objection 1: Iâm a scientist. The evidence isnât there.
Rebuttal 1: Do you mean: âIâm a randomised controlled trial (RCT) man. I choose to ignore the laws of physics and evidence from laboratory studies, natural experiments and mathematical modellingâ?
4/
Objection 2: But RCTs are the best form of evidence. All other policies on covid-19 are RCT-evidence-based
Rebuttal 2: No theyâre not. There are no RCTs on social distancing, hand-washing, closing schools, or national lock-downs in covid-19.
Objection 2: But RCTs are the best form of evidence. All other policies on covid-19 are RCT-evidence-based
Rebuttal 2: No theyâre not. There are no RCTs on social distancing, hand-washing, closing schools, or national lock-downs in covid-19.
5/
Objection 3: If we recommend masks for the public, there wonât be enough for doctors.
Rebuttal 3: You donât need a medical-grade mask! Medical masks protect the wearer from tiny aerosols. Cotton covers stop *droplets* from the wearer getting out, so they donât get aerosolised
Objection 3: If we recommend masks for the public, there wonât be enough for doctors.
Rebuttal 3: You donât need a medical-grade mask! Medical masks protect the wearer from tiny aerosols. Cotton covers stop *droplets* from the wearer getting out, so they donât get aerosolised
6/
Objection 4: Face coverings are a very weak barrier, not as effective as a proper medical mask.
Rebuttal 4: This is true for blocking incoming aerosols. Itâs not true for blocking outgoing droplets, which are bigger and more easily stopped by cotton weave.
Objection 4: Face coverings are a very weak barrier, not as effective as a proper medical mask.
Rebuttal 4: This is true for blocking incoming aerosols. Itâs not true for blocking outgoing droplets, which are bigger and more easily stopped by cotton weave.
7/
Objection 5: You shared a platform with a Blue Peter make-your-own-mask presenter so youâre not a proper scientist.
Rebuttal 5: I know the difference between a droplet and an aerosol, and between ingress and egress. What are your qualifications?
Objection 5: You shared a platform with a Blue Peter make-your-own-mask presenter so youâre not a proper scientist.
Rebuttal 5: I know the difference between a droplet and an aerosol, and between ingress and egress. What are your qualifications?
8/
Objection 6: Cotton only blocks 95% of droplets. What about the other 5%?
Rebuttal 6: This is about stamping out a pandemic. See video of mousetraps firing off. If you space the mousetraps wide enough, the chain reaction is broken.
Objection 6: Cotton only blocks 95% of droplets. What about the other 5%?
Rebuttal 6: This is about stamping out a pandemic. See video of mousetraps firing off. If you space the mousetraps wide enough, the chain reaction is broken.
9/
Objection 7: What about some people with learning difficulties who may find it unacceptable and frightening to cover their faces?
Rebuttal 7: No problem. If 95% of us do so, they wonât need to.
Objection 7: What about some people with learning difficulties who may find it unacceptable and frightening to cover their faces?
Rebuttal 7: No problem. If 95% of us do so, they wonât need to.
10/
Objection 8: The curve is flattening already.
Rebuttal 8: Thatâs because weâre in lockdown. If we want to get society up and running again without an uptick in death rates, we need additional measures.
Objection 8: The curve is flattening already.
Rebuttal 8: Thatâs because weâre in lockdown. If we want to get society up and running again without an uptick in death rates, we need additional measures.
11/
Objection 9: Famous professor X disagrees with you.
Rebuttal 9: Famous professor X hasnât published a point by point critique of anything Iâve written.
Objection 9: Famous professor X disagrees with you.
Rebuttal 9: Famous professor X hasnât published a point by point critique of anything Iâve written.
12/
Objection 10: Infringement of civil liberties.
Rebuttal 10: Better than being dead.
Objection 10: Infringement of civil liberties.
Rebuttal 10: Better than being dead.
13/
Objection 11: People would behave recklessly (stop washing their hands, go round hugging each other) because they'd feel protected.
Rebuttal 11: No evidence. Introduce seat belts -> most people drive *more* safely. Not a single example of public masks -> contagion increased.
Objection 11: People would behave recklessly (stop washing their hands, go round hugging each other) because they'd feel protected.
Rebuttal 11: No evidence. Introduce seat belts -> most people drive *more* safely. Not a single example of public masks -> contagion increased.
14/
Objection 12: Many people very stupid. Would not put on (don) or remove (doff) face covers properly.
Rebuttal 12: Medical-level don/doff technique not needed. You're touching your own germs, not same as doctor self-contaminating with a patient's germs. Most people not stupid
Objection 12: Many people very stupid. Would not put on (don) or remove (doff) face covers properly.
Rebuttal 12: Medical-level don/doff technique not needed. You're touching your own germs, not same as doctor self-contaminating with a patient's germs. Most people not stupid
15/
Objection 13: You only need to cover your face if you're coughing and sneezing.
Rebuttal 13: Between 23% & 62% of covid-19 transmission occurs from asymptomatic or presymptomatic cases. See 3 papers:
https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/5-58
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0869-5 https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.05.20031815v1
Objection 13: You only need to cover your face if you're coughing and sneezing.
Rebuttal 13: Between 23% & 62% of covid-19 transmission occurs from asymptomatic or presymptomatic cases. See 3 papers:
https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/5-58
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0869-5 https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.05.20031815v1
