Thread: great question from @LBC to @MattHancock and Prof Van Tam as to the differences between countries regarding their advice to citizens about the necessity (or lack thereof) of wearing #facemasks by the general public (1/5)

A substantial and acceptable answer was given by @MattHancock and Prof Van Tam (that they are taking an evidence based approach). However, it begs the following follow-up questions... (2/5)

#academicchatter #coronavirus

a) this implies that countries advocating different advice re #facemasks are either not taking an evidence-based approach or are looking at different scientific results to @10DowningStreet... which is it?

b) assuming it’s the latter, are our experts aware of these results? (3/5)

c) why has @10DowningStreet followed the guidance of certain sources but not those that others countries have based their info on?

d) if it’s down to interpretation, what is the justification for ours vs other countries to reach such different conclusions?

#coronavirus (4/5)

These are genuine questions and I’d love to start a dialogue in good faith with anyone who’d like to weigh in. (5/5)

#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #COVIDー19 @MattHancock @BorisJohnson #questiontime #GetInvolved

It would be great if one of @AcademicChatter @OxfordDiplomat @mrjamesob @MaajidNawaz could retweet this thread to get the conversation started.