Thread by @jksmith34

@VRiffault @jljcolorado @WHO @DrMariaNeira Devil's advocate now... Unknown risk associated with lack of evidence when the volume of observations is high should provoke the precautionary principle if no harm is clear.
We dont know if an infectious dose is possible via micro droplets. But, they could be. What's the harm? 2/

@VRiffault @jljcolorado @WHO @DrMariaNeira There's a shortage of masks for medical workers. Full stop. That's the key message. We can & should make our own masks or use the reusuable pollution respirators with silocone seals that medical workers are not using. WHO recommends masks for asymptomatic influenza outbreaks.

@VRiffault @jljcolorado @WHO @DrMariaNeira 'non-pharmaceutical public health measures for mitigating the risk and impact of epidemic and pandemic influenza'.
Search "Asymptomatic". You will land on the relevant guidelines table.
#PrecautionaryPrinciple
apps.who.int/iris/bitstream…

@VRiffault @jljcolorado @WHO @DrMariaNeira Wearing masks for asymptomatic individuals during a severe epidemic/pandemic is conditionally recommended by @WHO.

"Although there is no evidence
that this is effective in reducing
transmission, there is mechanistic
plausibility for the potential
effectiveness..."

@VRiffault @jljcolorado @WHO @DrMariaNeira Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease expert at Korea University’s Guro hospital in Seoul explains masks can be effective if only because because well or asymptomatic people dont adhere to social distancing.

@VRiffault @jljcolorado @WHO @DrMariaNeira @threadreaderapp unroll