Comparing #MAGA Rallies to #BlackLivesMatter protests in terms of #COVID19 risk is the new false equivalency. As a doctor I see unique public health risk with a #TrumpRally, which is why he’s making attendees sign waivers absolving him of liability if they get it. Some facts: 1/8
First, many #MAGA rallies are indoors. There is mounting evidence that aerosols (tiny exhaled droplets) containing #SARS-CoV-2 can linger in the air for 3 hours or more in indoor spaces with poor ventilation, and travel on air currents to others. 2/8 nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…
Second, while mask wearing has been shown to significantly decrease the spread of #COVID19, @realDonaldTrump continues to defy public health recommendations, and it is expected that a majority of attendees will follow his lead. 3/8 reuters.com/article/us-hea…
Third, social distancing (6ft) is highly recommended to limit the spread by large respiratory droplet. If previous #MAGA rallies are any indication attendees will be packed in to give the President the largest crowd possible to stroke his ego. 4/8 tulsaworld.com/news/local/gov…
Fourth, even if attendees are screened for symptoms and have temperature checks (unlikely) it is likely that up to 45% of infected people are asymptomatic and can spread to others. 5/8 cnbc.com/2020/06/10/dr-…
Let’s be honest: #MAGA rallies are political ego-trips for Trump. #BLM protests demand an end to racist public health inequities that are killing people of color at higher rates than white people. 7/8 pnas.org/content/116/34…
Trump will lie that his rallies are no different from demonstrations for justice & fairness for all Americans -- to distract us from the fact that 115K Americans are dead because he failed to prepare for a pandemic. /END
