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Common sense uses limited info to make assumptions that fail in complex systems. 'Common sense' has always butted heads w medical science because science is not easy to understand and common sense makes... sense. but that doesn't mean it is true. Esp re: #COVID19... 
Common sense: masks either work or don't work.
Reality: masks offer a layer of protection; benefit varies based on the kind of mask, setting, etc. There are cases where masks alone offer limited protection and others where they provide significant benefit at population level.
Reality: masks offer a layer of protection; benefit varies based on the kind of mask, setting, etc. There are cases where masks alone offer limited protection and others where they provide significant benefit at population level.
Common sense: there is a certain distance beyond which you are 'safe' in public spaces.
Reality: distance provides a spectrum of risk especially re: droplet spread. The risk drops off the further away you are with diminishing returns. https://twitter.com/laxswamy/status/1324186456965943297?s=20
Reality: distance provides a spectrum of risk especially re: droplet spread. The risk drops off the further away you are with diminishing returns. https://twitter.com/laxswamy/status/1324186456965943297?s=20
Common sense: cases are 
in the community & schools are open. Schools mustcases.
Reality: schools may or may not be driving cases- depends on what school looks like & what else is happening in the community! For the most part, transmission isn't significant in schools.
in the community & schools are open. Schools mustcases. Reality: schools may or may not be driving cases- depends on what school looks like & what else is happening in the community! For the most part, transmission isn't significant in schools.
Common sense: #COVID19 is lethal. there is no such thing as too safe.
Reality: There are always tradeoffs. There is no zero risk, but there ARE harms from being "too safe." For example: don't delay important medical care and there is SAFE socialization & harms from isolation.
Reality: There are always tradeoffs. There is no zero risk, but there ARE harms from being "too safe." For example: don't delay important medical care and there is SAFE socialization & harms from isolation.
Common sense: most people won't get that sick and we have treatments. Why are we still worried?
Reality: We are better, but not great at saving lives from COVID. We don't know who will get sick or die. Treatments work at a population level, but fail many individual patients..1/2
Reality: We are better, but not great at saving lives from COVID. We don't know who will get sick or die. Treatments work at a population level, but fail many individual patients..1/2
2/2
Most importantly, the virus spreads rapidly and silently; individuals don't have a lot of control who they could pass it on to, especially if they aren't using basic protective measures like masks, distancing, and avoiding high risk environments.
Most importantly, the virus spreads rapidly and silently; individuals don't have a lot of control who they could pass it on to, especially if they aren't using basic protective measures like masks, distancing, and avoiding high risk environments.
Common sense is tempting. It should prompt you to ask questions. But it isn't reasonable to assume that the answers are simple - they rarely are. You don't need to have absolute trust in what 'experts' say- but we all need to listen and work through this together.
Also check out this great piece by @zeynep, h/t @Craig_A_Spencer for the share! https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/06/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-masks.html#click=https://t.co/SLKbEr6O2A
