Read on Twitter
1/ One of the issues w/ public health policy making is the lack of accountability or even full understanding of the effects of those policies. Yesterday was an example of this when #LACounty @lapublichealth @MayorOfLA restricted outdoor TVs from playing the #SuperBowl.
2/ I personally know of multiple unvaccinated friends who decided to gather indoors as a result.
It was 70 degrees & sunny in Los Angeles yesterday.
The state already opened outdoor dining & made people feel like it was 'safe' to do this.
But then- they ban TVs outside.
It was 70 degrees & sunny in Los Angeles yesterday.
The state already opened outdoor dining & made people feel like it was 'safe' to do this.
But then- they ban TVs outside.
3/ What they are essentially telling the public is that they aren't responsible enough to do this.
That the government decides how responsible you are, rather than mitigating risk & giving you ways to socialize more safely.
And then they wonder why...
That the government decides how responsible you are, rather than mitigating risk & giving you ways to socialize more safely.
And then they wonder why...
4/ People don't trust them. Public health paternalism is detrimental.
There are many safer alternatives that could have been done.
They could have limited number of beverages per person; limited capacity; instated distancing measures; or put screens out in parks- many options
There are many safer alternatives that could have been done.
They could have limited number of beverages per person; limited capacity; instated distancing measures; or put screens out in parks- many options
5/ But to ban TVs while simultaneously telling people its ok to dine out; & then to tell people not to socialize when apparently it is safe enough to do so at restaurants all of a sudden...this is bad messaging. And ultimately, the risk is that people gather indoors instead but..
6/ It will be hard to know for sure how many people did that
It will be hard to know for sure if allowing more people to have gathered outdoors would have made a big dent in transmission during this event
We don't know for sure & probably won't. Have to act either way
It will be hard to know for sure if allowing more people to have gathered outdoors would have made a big dent in transmission during this event
We don't know for sure & probably won't. Have to act either way
7/ From what we know & understand of the virus, outdoor transmission is several fold lower than indoor.
Time around & distance to others also matters.
Ultimately, public health functions not as the dominant force in people's lives, but another consideration.
Time around & distance to others also matters.
Ultimately, public health functions not as the dominant force in people's lives, but another consideration.
8/ I think #LACounty had the chance to do better; get creative; leverage the advantage of the weather & the outdoors.
We can't control what people do in private settings, but helping them safely socialize can also help them understand *how to do this* even in private. #covid19
We can't control what people do in private settings, but helping them safely socialize can also help them understand *how to do this* even in private. #covid19
9/ And we often won't know the true effects of one policy decision v the other, but we (as public health departments) have to act either way.
Acting according to both our understanding of the science + our understanding of how our public socializes w/ one another is critical.
Acting according to both our understanding of the science + our understanding of how our public socializes w/ one another is critical.
10/ Putting in place large sweeping policies that have the potential to backfire (more indoor gatherings, less trust in the policies themselves) is not the way to go IMO.
And this seems to be done over and over again. #covid19
And this seems to be done over and over again. #covid19
