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THREAD: Today, Gov. @tatereeves blamed media & protestors for spikes in #COVID19 cases nationwide after singling out Mississippi& #39;s protests a day earlier.
To tell this story & its unexpected ending right, it must be done chronologically. /1
https://www.wlbt.com/2020/07/06/msdh-no-evidence-protests-caused-spike-mississippis-covid-cases/
https://www.wlbt.com/2020/07/0... href="https://twtext.com//hashtag/wlbt"> #wlbt
To tell this story & its unexpected ending right, it must be done chronologically. /1
https://www.wlbt.com/2020/07/06/msdh-no-evidence-protests-caused-spike-mississippis-covid-cases/
July 1: State Health Officer @TCBPubHealth tells reporters after being asked, that there is no evidence linking protests in MS to a rise in #COVID19 cases.
Dr. Thomas Dobbs says they& #39;re seeing more community spread in population centers.
He said this next to Reeves. /2
#wlbt
Dr. Thomas Dobbs says they& #39;re seeing more community spread in population centers.
He said this next to Reeves. /2
#wlbt
July 5: Gov. @tatereeves says uptick in the state& #39;s cases began "within days" of protests, implying causation.
@ChelseyOnTV and I show that the governor& #39;s claim runs counter to the top health expert in the state by quoting Dr. Dobbs& #39; words from four days earlier. /3
#wlbt
@ChelseyOnTV and I show that the governor& #39;s claim runs counter to the top health expert in the state by quoting Dr. Dobbs& #39; words from four days earlier. /3
#wlbt
July 6: Gov. @tatereeves holds a 15-minute Facebook broadcast in lieu of a press briefing.
There, he no longer implies it, saying there& #39;s a link between protests & new cases, couching his claims in a national context.
Reeves calls it "common sense," cites no data. /4
#wlbt
There, he no longer implies it, saying there& #39;s a link between protests & new cases, couching his claims in a national context.
Reeves calls it "common sense," cites no data. /4
#wlbt
He also blames the national media, saying that the lack of coronavirus coverage during the period of protests caused people to "put their guard down," making national reporters complicit in spreading the virus.
Reeves cites no source for that claim. /5
#wlbt
Reeves cites no source for that claim. /5
#wlbt
Reeves takes no questions from the public or press, & ignores my questions during the broadcast.
His deputy chief of staff, @parkerwbriden, reads but does not respond to my email asking where Reeves got the data to say this. I sent this before Reeves& #39; Facebook live. /6
#wlbt
His deputy chief of staff, @parkerwbriden, reads but does not respond to my email asking where Reeves got the data to say this. I sent this before Reeves& #39; Facebook live. /6
#wlbt
. @msdh, however, does respond. I asked them if @tatereeves cited any MSDH data to draw his conclusion, and if so, what?
Comms director Liz Sharlot sends a statement, which doesn& #39;t answer my question, but does reaffirm "no evidence" of a protest/case link at this point. /7
#wlbt
Comms director Liz Sharlot sends a statement, which doesn& #39;t answer my question, but does reaffirm "no evidence" of a protest/case link at this point. /7
#wlbt
Claim 1: Protests caused spike.
False. Dr. Dobbs & MSDH maintain at this time there& #39;s no evidence showing that.
Claim 2: It took "10-14" days before a case spike in U.S.
@Forbes cited research saying "no evidence" protests reignited #COVID19 case growth in U.S. /8
#wlbt
False. Dr. Dobbs & MSDH maintain at this time there& #39;s no evidence showing that.
Claim 2: It took "10-14" days before a case spike in U.S.
@Forbes cited research saying "no evidence" protests reignited #COVID19 case growth in U.S. /8
#wlbt
Furthermore, for Mississippi, it took 19 days before the state saw its most significant spike in new cases: 1,092 on June 25.
Cases began significantly increasing on June 23, 17 days out from the Jackson protest. Again, past the two-week window. /9
#wlbt
Cases began significantly increasing on June 23, 17 days out from the Jackson protest. Again, past the two-week window. /9
#wlbt
We also looked at county-specific data and saw no significant increases in daily new cases for Hinds Co. (until June 24) or Oktibbeha Co., where largest protests were held.
Dr. Dobbs, at that July 1 briefing, agreed with that assessment when I mentioned our analysis. /10
#wlbt
Dr. Dobbs, at that July 1 briefing, agreed with that assessment when I mentioned our analysis. /10
#wlbt
Claim 3: National media neglected to cover coronavirus or warn of dangers to protesters.
I don& #39;t watch cable news; locally, @WLBT provided daily updates of cases/deaths still does), & we also aired stories that talked about potential risk. Our competitors did, too. /11
#wlbt
I don& #39;t watch cable news; locally, @WLBT provided daily updates of cases/deaths still does), & we also aired stories that talked about potential risk. Our competitors did, too. /11
#wlbt
This is not the first time @tatereeves has said something
contrary to @msdh& #39;s own data.
In May, he claimed 7-day averages of #COVID19 numbers were "relatively flat," when they actually had been trending upward for weeks.
https://www.wlbt.com/2020/05/27/daily-average-covid-cases-trend-upward-gov-reeves-calls-seven-day-averages-relatively-flat/
/12">https://www.wlbt.com/2020/05/2...
contrary to @msdh& #39;s own data.
In May, he claimed 7-day averages of #COVID19 numbers were "relatively flat," when they actually had been trending upward for weeks.
https://www.wlbt.com/2020/05/27/daily-average-covid-cases-trend-upward-gov-reeves-calls-seven-day-averages-relatively-flat/
/12">https://www.wlbt.com/2020/05/2...
Why this huge thread? Because of the need for #transparency, not just from public officials but in the way we gather this information for you.
Hopefully this shows much more than 280 characters could provide. /13
#wlbt
Hopefully this shows much more than 280 characters could provide. /13
#wlbt
