Thread by @DrSidMukherjee

1/1 The question of whether the PUBLIC should be wearing masks is the elephant in the room....

Let's assume that we FIRST GET MASKS TO THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS FIRST. That is obvious.

2/2 It seems that this question rests on several facts

1. Do they actually protect the wearer from infection ? Likely, if they are the right kind. This is an empirical question. A lab can test this in 3 days.

3/3 Next: can they be decontaminated safely ? Again, empirical question. Probably need VERY clear instructions from the CDC about how to do this.

4/4 Next: can we actually procure enough, in rapid time ? This is a business/logistic question. Surely someone can answer this ?

5/5 If we cannot procure, can we produce ? Again business/logistic question. Not my area of expertise.

6/6 But maybe N-95 respirators to health care workers, and surgical masks to ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL WHO STILL NEED TO BE OUTSIDE. Seems like a 10 day project, with detailed study, could be launched in NYC.

7/7 NONE OF THIS MEANS THAT WE SHOULD STOP SOCIAL ISOLATION AND DISTANCING. PLEASE DO NOT STOP THAT. BUT ESSENTIAL WORKERS NEED TO RETURN TO WORK.

8/8 And finally, recall that aside from health care workers, most essential workers are likely to be exposed to chronic, but low, viral loads in fomites (cough droplets etc). So decontamination can be done every 12 hours etc. This is an empirical question, easily answerable.

9/9 And this is some empirical data (thanks to @AndytweetM). Non N-95 masks are still useful.

10/10 Giving the essential workers instructions (no need to wear masks OR need to wear masks) without EMPIRICAL DATA THAT CAN BE GATHERED IN 5 DAYS is irresponsible. It just increases mistrust in the govt.

11/11 If it's a procurement or production issue, we have DOZENS of people smarter than me who can figure this out. END

Finally, these are questions that would take LITERALLY 5 days to solve, and a 10-15 day study in population dense area.

nytimes.com/2020/03/17/opi…