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No, scientists & doctors didn& #39;t "lie" to you about #masks.
To think so requires a fundamental misunderstanding of science & public health policy.
Scientific knowledge changes. Public health policy changes with it.
Mask policy is an example.
A thread:
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To think so requires a fundamental misunderstanding of science & public health policy.
Scientific knowledge changes. Public health policy changes with it.
Mask policy is an example.
A thread:
1/
Science is not a body of knowledge. It doesn& #39;t *say* anything.
Science is a process.
We propose hypotheses about how something works in the world, then use experiments that try to disprove those hypotheses. If we can& #39;t disprove them, we assume them to be true--for now.
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Science is a process.
We propose hypotheses about how something works in the world, then use experiments that try to disprove those hypotheses. If we can& #39;t disprove them, we assume them to be true--for now.
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The novel #Coronavirus is "novel" because it only emerged in humanity at the end of last year. Obviously, that& #39;s not a lot of time to study & understand this virus.
When it first emerged, the science community reasonably inferred it would behave like other coronaviruses...
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When it first emerged, the science community reasonably inferred it would behave like other coronaviruses...
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Other #coronavirus diseases, like SARS, don& #39;t spread w/o symptoms. We assumed this was true about #SARSCoV2.
But scientists began testing that hypothesis.
Meanwhile, the virus was spreading quickly & ppl were getting extremely sick.
This put a strain on hospitals& #39; PPE.
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But scientists began testing that hypothesis.
Meanwhile, the virus was spreading quickly & ppl were getting extremely sick.
This put a strain on hospitals& #39; PPE.
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Ppl (often price gougers) were buying up #masks to hoard & sell.
This threatened to choke off #PPE & masks from people who needed it most: healthcare workers on the frontlines working with SYMPTOMATIC ppl.
5/ https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-sellers-hijack-listings-face-masks-coronavirus/">https://www.wired.com/story/ama...
This threatened to choke off #PPE & masks from people who needed it most: healthcare workers on the frontlines working with SYMPTOMATIC ppl.
5/ https://www.wired.com/story/amazon-sellers-hijack-listings-face-masks-coronavirus/">https://www.wired.com/story/ama...
So #publichealth policymakers recommended that the public NOT wear masks.
1) because we didn& #39;t think masks could protect them (e.g. symptomatic vs. asymptomatic spread)
2) to reduce demand & save masks for ppl we thought needed them.
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1) because we didn& #39;t think masks could protect them (e.g. symptomatic vs. asymptomatic spread)
2) to reduce demand & save masks for ppl we thought needed them.
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Then science happened.
We learned:
1) #COVID19 spread *without* symptoms
2) cloth masks were effective at stopping it
Policymakers reversed course: EVERYONE should wear masks to protect against asymptomatic spread.
We learned something new & adjusted policy accordingly.
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We learned:
1) #COVID19 spread *without* symptoms
2) cloth masks were effective at stopping it
Policymakers reversed course: EVERYONE should wear masks to protect against asymptomatic spread.
We learned something new & adjusted policy accordingly.
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This isn& #39;t "lying." This is the scientific & policy process working like they should.
Scientific knowledge changes. Policy changes with it.
This is how the process is supposed to work. Lack of knowledge is not "lying," it& #39;s just lack of knowledge.
But...
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Scientific knowledge changes. Policy changes with it.
This is how the process is supposed to work. Lack of knowledge is not "lying," it& #39;s just lack of knowledge.
But...
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...you know who did lie?
ppl who CONTINUE, despite firm science, to play down the virus, play down #masks, ignore the record-setting spread of #COVID19 in America& #39;s biggest states, who want to undercut scientists & doctors to excuse their own mishandling of the virus.
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ppl who CONTINUE, despite firm science, to play down the virus, play down #masks, ignore the record-setting spread of #COVID19 in America& #39;s biggest states, who want to undercut scientists & doctors to excuse their own mishandling of the virus.
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So don& #39;t blame the scientists, doctors, & policymakers who& #39;ve tried their best to stay honest & accurate to the science like #DrFauci. And yes #DrFauciIsAHero.
Blame the politicians & pundits who& #39;ve tried to twist their words for their ends, or silence them.
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Blame the politicians & pundits who& #39;ve tried to twist their words for their ends, or silence them.
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