Kenney’s position in this article has got to be among the top ten most ridiculous arguments I have ever seen.

He doesn’t just contradict the facts, he contradicts himself

And his position is dangerous. #AbLeg

Thread https://calgaryherald.com/news/braid-kenney-says-critics-of-staged-covid-19-measures-create-false-hope/wcm/e2710794-d410-4da8-964a-667254e843a5/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

There’s this: “The notion that “adjusting the toggles . . . to have a certain outcome in terms of COVID-19 numbers is not supported by the real experience out there.”

He seems to be suggesting we can’t use restrictions to impact case numbers. Big problem.

#ableg 2/

If Kenney is saying he doesn’t think that restrictive measures can have an impact on case numbers, that

1) appears to be false

2) is very troubling from a leader

3) raises the question why he has implemented restrictions - is he planning to fail?

#AbLeg 3/

“Asked if he thinks that at a certain point the virus is highly resistant to human control, Kenney said: “Yeah, exactly ... We should all have a little bit of humility and to recognize that in a certain sense, this virus has a mind and a life of its own.”

4/ #AbLeg

Kenney seems again to be saying that restrictive measures can’t impact case numbers.

There is a big difference between not being able to get the number to zero in two weeks, and not being able to have any effect at all. He seems to be ignorant of, or ignoring it.

5/ #AbLeg

Our leader saying we can’t get case numbers under control is a problem for several reasons.

First, it doesn’t exactly scream “please follow the restrictions people, they are important.” Quite the opposite, some will definitely take this as permission not to bother.

6/ #AbLeg

Second, if Kenney truly doesn’t believe that restrictions can reduce case numbers (or not reduce them enough to matter to him) it suggests the restrictions he has implemented are pure politics, which should not give us confidence they are based on best evidence.

7/ #AbLeg

Kenney goes on to suggest we shouldn’t “beat ourselves up” because we couldn’t have done anything anyway. Again, suggesting restrictions are pointless. But worse, letting himself, and all those not doing their part, off the hook — arguably encouraging them.

8/ #AbLeg

Then, Kenney inexplicably goes on to beg people to follow the restrictions. After twice suggesting we can’t use restrictions to have enough of an impact on case numbers to be relevant (for whatever weird definition of relevant he has).

I mean, which is it?

9/ #AbLeg

After reading this I am left with a sense of dread that he has either missed the point - bringing case numbers down, even if they are still high, preserve ICU resources, which can save lives - or doesn’t think that is a valid point.

10/ #AbLeg

Overall, his position on whether restrictions work is, at best, unclear - which in a time where clear, consistent, science based leadership is critical, is really bad.

Worse, he appears to be saying restrictions don’t work.

11/11 #AbLeg