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This is what gaslighting from the Federal government looks like. We are going to compare what the Federal government used to say about surgical masks and their role as PPE, with what it says now.
It's unbelievable, so get ready to pinch yourself.
A short thread.
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It's unbelievable, so get ready to pinch yourself.
A short thread.
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April 2020. Infographic from the Safework Australia website. Surgical masks don't protect the wearer from bacteria or viruses. But these are the situations where you should use them with infectious patients, including known COVID. Oh, and you should fit check them. (How?!)
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July 15th. Still the same. A little, how shall we put it? 'Inconsistent'? 'Nonsensical'? 'Dishonest'? 'Contemptuous'? 'Insert your own adjective here'?
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August 6th. Oh look! All change! The reference to 'not protecting the wearer from bacteria or viruses' is now gone. Now, surgical masks are 'designed for medical settings to provide droplet protection'. Fit checking is still recommended.
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Let's first remark that surgical masks are NOT designed to protect the wearer from infection, but to protect the patient. Let us also note that ICEG says nothing about 'fit-checking' surgical masks, BECAUSE IT IS AN OXYMORON.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/09/the-use-of-face-masks-and-respirators-in-the-context-of-covid-19.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjNiq_Apt3sAhVUOSsKHQo-AbEQFjAHegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw1J0UINEUtfaKlhGZqvgfxo
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https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/09/the-use-of-face-masks-and-respirators-in-the-context-of-covid-19.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjNiq_Apt3sAhVUOSsKHQo-AbEQFjAHegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw1J0UINEUtfaKlhGZqvgfxo
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And now let us reflect on what all this means.
It means that they are lying to us, the HCWs, the very people whose lives are at risk in caring for Covid patients.
It means that they know they are lying and are changing previously published information to cover it up.
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It means that they are lying to us, the HCWs, the very people whose lives are at risk in caring for Covid patients.
It means that they know they are lying and are changing previously published information to cover it up.
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It means that the very government agency which is supposed to make sure we are kept safe at work (the clue is in the name, 'Safe Work Australia') is lying to us, is gaslighting us. Think about that and what that does to the covenant of trust...
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... between people and government, between employer and employee. They don't care about your welfare. If they say they do, it's a lie. This is no surprise to me, but I can't deny it is still saddening, disappointing.
We've all learned a lot in 2020, haven't we?
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We've all learned a lot in 2020, haven't we?
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With thanks to @VicAusMidwife and @AndrewHewat for pointing me to this information. And to the crew of the 1944 film, Gaslight, for reaching down the decades to give us the perfect word for what we are all experiencing in 2020.
/Ends
/Ends
