Read on TwitterTHREAD:
Roundtable discussion on Covid, chaired by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and three experts:
- Michael Levitt: Structural Biology: Stanford
- Jay Bhattacharya: Professor of Medicine (PoF) at Stanford
- Martin Kulldorf: PoF Harvard
The titles these men hold don`t give them enough credit. They have double PHD`s and are world leaders in pubic health
The discussion is two hours long; I appreciate many don't have time to watch a two hour discussion. I have therefore captured some of the key points:
The discussion is two hours long; I appreciate many don't have time to watch a two hour discussion. I have therefore captured some of the key points:
On Covid:
Looking at the data it all looked fairly consistent from the start. In terms of deaths and how viruses are. Coronavirus`s are not "novel", and neither was Covid-19
Exponential Growth:
A phrase used a lot without context. EG is quite hard to manage with a virus......
Looking at the data it all looked fairly consistent from the start. In terms of deaths and how viruses are. Coronavirus`s are not "novel", and neither was Covid-19
Exponential Growth:
A phrase used a lot without context. EG is quite hard to manage with a virus......
as it assumes that every infected person travels to an area of uninfected people, so on and so on. EG has been grossly misused during this pandemic.
Onto the projections made from imperial college which come from models based on EG....
Onto the projections made from imperial college which come from models based on EG....
Imperial College:
We were shocked with imperial college who calculated a death rate of 14%. This was nowhere on any data. We tried to contact but they didn't reply. We finally got through and we told them their models were out by a factor of 10. They dismissed us
We were shocked with imperial college who calculated a death rate of 14%. This was nowhere on any data. We tried to contact but they didn't reply. We finally got through and we told them their models were out by a factor of 10. They dismissed us
Tests:
Studies have shown that PCR tests show positive PCR for up to 90% of people who do not have the live virus. Leading to hundreds of thousands of people self isolating who do not have to. Locking down non-contagious people with no symptoms does nothing for virus control...
Studies have shown that PCR tests show positive PCR for up to 90% of people who do not have the live virus. Leading to hundreds of thousands of people self isolating who do not have to. Locking down non-contagious people with no symptoms does nothing for virus control...
Locking people down with no symptoms has actually proven to reduce likelihood of compliance with test and trace services. in LA, 60% of people are not engaging with test and trace.
The governor asked, has PCR testing ever been used in this way before?
A: PCR testing has never been used for a virus on this scale. It is likely that if PCR testing was used for Flu two years ago (bad strain), it would have shown similar trends for cases and deaths
A: PCR testing has never been used for a virus on this scale. It is likely that if PCR testing was used for Flu two years ago (bad strain), it would have shown similar trends for cases and deaths
Lockdowns:
The benefits of lockdown are much less than everyone said. The benefits are at most very small in terms of virus control, but come with catastrophic consequences. All lockdowns do is push the disease into the future, it does not prevent spread from happening
The benefits of lockdown are much less than everyone said. The benefits are at most very small in terms of virus control, but come with catastrophic consequences. All lockdowns do is push the disease into the future, it does not prevent spread from happening
Look at Peru, who enforced one of the strictest lockdowns and have the highest deaths per capita rate. Argentina and Spain also had hard lockdowns and they are now experiencing second waves.
The consequences of lockdown disproportionately impact the working class and poor.
Unemployment, poverty, recession, evictions. We are protecting students and professionals at the expense of the working class. Only the elderly require intervention
Unemployment, poverty, recession, evictions. We are protecting students and professionals at the expense of the working class. Only the elderly require intervention
Elderly and Herd immunity threshold (HIT):
The only way to really protect the elderly is through HIT, whether that is through herd immunity or a vaccine. Locking down people who are not at risk slows down the rate of HIT and actually harms the elderly longer term.
The only way to really protect the elderly is through HIT, whether that is through herd immunity or a vaccine. Locking down people who are not at risk slows down the rate of HIT and actually harms the elderly longer term.
Protecting the elderly is a hard thing to do, and we should think about what it means before overusing the term. A 90 year old person has quite a high chance of dying on a per month basis
Michael Levitt - I am 73 and i know my chances of dying each month are about 0.5%. This doesn't change any of my behaviour
Based on Florida data, the plurality of Covid deaths was about 85 years old. Covid death rate in older people is roughly the same as rate for all causes
Based on Florida data, the plurality of Covid deaths was about 85 years old. Covid death rate in older people is roughly the same as rate for all causes
University (College):
Should not be sent home. Should attend class as normal. They do not need aggressive testing. The only measure should be, when students are sick they should self isolate
Massing testing in schools and colleges is done with one purpose. Shut the college down
Should not be sent home. Should attend class as normal. They do not need aggressive testing. The only measure should be, when students are sick they should self isolate
Massing testing in schools and colleges is done with one purpose. Shut the college down
Mental Health:
We have to consider the adverse mental health effects this has on young people. CDC Research found that 1 in 4 young adults (16-24), had seriously considered suicide during the month of June..... WOW
We have to consider the adverse mental health effects this has on young people. CDC Research found that 1 in 4 young adults (16-24), had seriously considered suicide during the month of June..... WOW
Schools:
A really good study by Decode Genetics in Iceland, in which 12% of the population was sampled, found children do not pass on the virus to adults in the same way they do with other UTRI`s. Is quite difficult for a child to infect an adult
A really good study by Decode Genetics in Iceland, in which 12% of the population was sampled, found children do not pass on the virus to adults in the same way they do with other UTRI`s. Is quite difficult for a child to infect an adult
Keeping children at home in isolation, which carries an increased risk of suicide. Is more harmful than the risk of children going to school.
Norway released a joint statement with Sweden saying Sweden was right for keeping schools open, and Norway was wrong
Norway released a joint statement with Sweden saying Sweden was right for keeping schools open, and Norway was wrong
Experts:
People with little to no medical background are regularly shown on the TV promoting the stricter lockdown measures. Whilst experts who want to give a balanced message are excluded.
People with little to no medical background are regularly shown on the TV promoting the stricter lockdown measures. Whilst experts who want to give a balanced message are excluded.
Dr Gupta from Oxford University says she has struggled to get journals to publish and peer review nuanced research that suggests the measures are not proportionate to the virus.
Martin Kulldorf: I am absolutely shocked at the response from the scientific community
Martin Kulldorf: I am absolutely shocked at the response from the scientific community
END -
I shortened down long paragraphs to give an overview. All of the above was said in the discussion. I strongly advise giving it a listen
I shortened down long paragraphs to give an overview. All of the above was said in the discussion. I strongly advise giving it a listen
@threadreaderapp can you do your magic on this please
