There is an important difference between taking steps that *appear* to reduce the spread of Covid and taking steps that actually reduce the spread of Covid.

A thread...

Cal Berkeley has barred students from exercising outdoors. UMass Amherst has told students they can't talk walks on campus. Some people yell at joggers who don't wear masks.

All these steps are forms of Covid absolutism: Attempting to eliminate any minute risk.

(2/n)

But there is no evidence that these measures reduce the spread of Covid.

Worldwide, scientists have not documented any instances of outdoor transmission unless people were in close conversation, as @mugecevik notes.

(3/n)

“The small number of cases where outdoor transmission might have occurred were associated with close interactions, particularly extended duration, or settings where people mixed indoors alongside an outdoor setting.” - @mugecevik

(4/n)

There's a similar dynamic with what @DKThomp has called "hygiene theater" - the frequent deep cleaning of the NYC subway etc.

NYT: “Scientists increasingly say that there is little to no evidence that contaminated surfaces can spread the virus.” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/18/world/asia/covid-cleaning.html

Of course, some people say: But what's the downside? Why not take every possible precaution to prevent Covid?

The answer: Because we're human. We will never take every possible precaution. (Do you ride in cars despite the risks?)

(6/n)

We're spending a lot of effort on Covid measures that do little or nothing: Banning campus walks. Telling people always to wear a mask outdoors. Performing deep cleanings.

And yet we're failing at many basics: mask wearing where it matters, distancing, rapid vaccination. (7/n)

Covid absolutism is a well-intentioned effort to reduce the spread of a deadly pandemic. In reality, it's making the fight against Covid harder to win.

(fin) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/12/briefing/trump-covid-chick-corea-olympics-president.html?action=click&module=Briefings&pgtype=Homepage