Thread by @ElonBachman

1\ I have been inundated this week with messages from irate doctors chastising me for "downplaying" the Coronavirus cases currently swamping US hospitals

It's been a fascinating glimpse into how echo chambers get started

What follows in my thread is a generic example...

https://twitter.com/MyTsla/status/1240010127975034885

2\

Doc: "I follow your tweets, and I can't believe how badly you're missing the picture. In my 20 year career I have never seen a medical catastrophe like this. Our system is buckling"

Me: "Wow. Ok. Can you tell me what you're seeing?"

3\

Doc: "Never seen kids dying like this. Hospitals totally swamped. System overrun."

Me: "Wait a minute. How many Coronavirus cases are at your hospital?"

Doc: "Mine? Oh, none. We're actually kind of empty because nobody is coming in for elective stuff."

4\

Me: "Okaaaaay. So where are you seeing Coronavirus overwhelming hospitals?"

Doc: "Well, just do the math! Read the news! Look at governments shutting down!"

Me: "Ummmmm....okay."

5\ I've had a dozen conversations EXACTLY like this. All over the country. All types of facilities.

Now consider that these same docs are spreading this panic on Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Then the press quotes them as authorities

Then other docs read the press....

6\6 I'm all for preparedness

I'm glad the US has 900,000 hospital beds that average 65% occupancy

I wish we didn't have CON Laws preventing the erection of more hospitals

But letting panic get ahead of actual facts is not helpful. It is harmful.