Thread by @tomaspueyo

As a Stanford University alumnus, I am appalled at @ScottWAtlas's defense of herd immunity, and disappointed at @Stanford's response. But the nuances are important to get right. Thread:

https://twitter.com/Stanford/status/1328500857852203008

[1/

First, @ScottWAtlas. The @washingtonpost reported his herd immunity position. The quick idea: (a) It's impossible to stop the virus, (b) it doesn't kill that many people anyway, (c) Sweden has succeeded letting it run, (d) lockdowns are too expensive
[2/

washingtonpost.com/politics/trump…

(a) It's impossible to stop the virus... except for all the places that have succeeded

https://twitter.com/tomaspueyo/status/1322808643494977536

[3/

(b) It doesn't kill that many people.
This is comparing #COVID19 against total ANNUAL deaths for other major causes. If we add 2k deaths/day until Dec 31st, we'll get close to 340k deaths

(c) Sweden has succeeded letting it run...

Sweden, which does more than @ScottWAtlas suggests, including limits to social gatherings to 8ppl.

https://twitter.com/tomaspueyo/status/1328522234877632513?s=20

(d) Yes! @ScottWAtlas is right. Lockdowns are too expensive. It's all the other measures that are crucial: test-trace-isolate, masks, fences... The lockdowns should not be the go-to tool, only a stop-gap solution to do everything else right.
tomaspueyo.medium.com/coronavirus-th…

Unfortunately, @ScottWAtlas doesn't support these other measures. He just wants people to catch it.

nytimes.com/live/2020/10/1…

That makes @ScottWAtlas dangerous to tens of thousands of Americans, who might die because of his advice. It's also why Stanford's response is inadequate.
[9/14]

When tens of thousands of lives are at stake, you should not stop at saying "I don't endorse this person." If you really disagree with him, you need to condemn his words energetically.

But don't fire him.
[10/14]

Free speech is a cornerstone of higher education. People should not face life-altering consequences for speaking their minds. Otherwise, they will stop speaking up, we will lose variety of opinions, and it will only radicalize ppl.
[11/14]

The pbm is not @ScottWAtlas defending Herd Immunity. It's the White House. It would have found another talking head to support their views.
[12/14]

However, it is not the only member of @Stanford promoting poor science to keep the economy open.

https://twitter.com/GidMK/status/1316511734115385344?s=20

[13/14]

@Stanford, the world is looking at you, but we can barely hear your voice. Speak up.
[14/14]

Forgot to mention this. Not only is @ScottWAtlas promoting doing nothing at the federal level. If only. He is pushing people to actively disobey state laws in very questionable terms.

https://twitter.com/ScottWAtlas/status/1328120887128842240