Share this page!

Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture
Twitter logo
9 Apr, 8 tweets, 6 min read
Really looking forward to this event later today. Heavyweights in the field discussing how Covid is transmitted. Implications are huge, if we agree its airborne, we can protect billions of people with better masks and ventilation strategies. Register here: events.ucalgary.ca/obrien/#!view/… Image
Dr. John Conly is chair of a WHO expert group responsible for much of their current infection control policy
The WHO is hugely influential in setting policies for 194 member countries; any movement by them on this issue will have a huge impact on the lives of billions.
Advocates have been arguing that SARS2, like SARS1 has significant airborne spread, proven by superspreader events... now only worsened with the new variants. @zeynep's work has been a huge help to us front-liners trying to advocate for this.
The debate for me is very much a personal one; I was a medical student when SARS hit Toronto. Was quarantined along with half my class. Airborne precautions, wearing an N95 for every minute in the hospital, helped crush that outbreak. I have no doubt SARS2 will be the same. Image
We've been trying to draw attention to this issue for months with open letters and campaigns, but sadly we are still not protecting workers with proper masks, and the results in this new wave are obvious for all to see
The amazing @DFisman and @kprather88 are participating. Thanks to all the aerosol scientists, clinicians, epis and others who have really been advocating for this: @linseymarr @jljcolorado @CorsIAQ @ShellyMBoulder @DGBassani @DrEricDing @caruzycki @DrZoeHyde @DavidElfstrom
The poster is a bit of an homage to the greatest fight poster ever! Rumble in the Jungle with the GOAT vs Foreman.
#COVIDisAirborne Image
That was incredibly informative, and some shocking answers from Dr. Conly's side. Hopefully the recording will be up soon. His chief objection to broad use of N95s for the public: Acne! @kprather88 said it best, if the choice is Acne vs Death from Covid: that's no choice at all

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with Kashif Pirzada, MD

Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @KashPrime

Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture
10 Apr
Hard to believe the chair of the infection control committee at the @WHO is spouting misinformation about N95 masks to argue against their widespread use to save lives. This kind of thinking is why the WHO has been almost entirely useless in this fight.
Acne vs Death from Covid. Not much of a choice!

This is the event where this took place, where you can watch the full video:
To some of my infectious disease colleagues:
You were wrong about:
- how serious this pandemic was early on
- the utility of masks
- the early use of therapeutics (steroids, IL-6 inhibitors, monoclonals)
and you are wrong about airborne spread.
Read 5 tweets
Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture
6 Apr
I want to shed some light on why we are up in arms about our ICU numbers. The ICU is basically the backstop of a hospital, where the sickest patients go to get 'intensive' therapy to get stabilized and hopefully discharged home or to rehabilitation facilities.
This is where incredible resources, expertise and equipment are used to do what would have been impossible even 20 years ago. Beds are scarce as a result. The CCU is a similar unit but meant for heart attack and other cardiac patients. Staff are full time 1:1 and highly trained
This is the situation now in Ontario. Roughly half of ICU beds are occupied by Covid patients, surgeries are getting cancelled, and the wards are filling up. In Toronto, most of the ICUs are already full with Covid and other patients.
Read 7 tweets
Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture
4 Apr
Rapid tests need to be used ASAP to get workplace outbreaks under control. Many are sitting unused in warehouses across the country. You can combine the rapid strips (like the Abbott Panbio) with much more accurate molecular tests onsite to recheck positive results (Abbott IDNOW) Image
These were used in Nova Scotia to get their outbreaks under control. @michaelmina_lab has been a tireless advocate of these tests, and they can now be accessed in the US without prescription. Businesses and individuals can't easily get them in Canada.
One possible success story in Canada is Manitoba, which has been using rapid molecular testing in its schools since January.
gov.mb.ca/covid19/testin…
Read 7 tweets
Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture
4 Apr
We are facing a reckoning in Canada, a highly contagious, deadly variant is firmly rooted in BC and spreading eastwards. We were shocked when UK variant Covid starting targeting young people, this will make it much worse. We need action now!
What's happened to the Vancouver Canucks is just the beginning. More young people will get very sick until we take decisive action to contain this threat.
We need to address these underlying issues with at-risk populations. These measures will protect all of us:
Read 8 tweets
Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture
2 Apr
Let's go over some simple reasons why this new 'lockdown' won't work and what we can do about it:

Essential workers 30s-50s are the bulk of new ICU admissions. There's been no change in working conditions to protect them from an airborne virus. They are at huge risk right now
1) This virus is airborne, like SARS1 before it. That's why these new variants are more contagious. Distancing won't cut it, being in closed, poorly ventilated spaces is hugely dangerous. As @AndrewChangCBC describes, we need to up our game on masks:
2) Wear a better mask, like a tightly fitting N95 or equivalent. All workers should be provided with these now. Wear one to your grocery run, or switch to pickup or delivery if you can't. They are plentiful now.

Here's a list of Canadian suppliers:
docs.google.com/document/d/1ma…
Read 10 tweets
Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture
31 Mar
We are facing our 3rd lockdown in parts of Canada. It sucks, could have been prevented, but here we are. How can we make sure this is the last time this happens? With vaccines and summer weather coming, we have a golden opportunity to eliminate Covid completely...
We should adopt common sense measures used by Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Australia etc. to hammer case numbers down. Life in these places is mostly normal, with brief lockdowns whenever an outbreak happens. Schools are safe, businesses are thriving, and no one is dying
Why is it important to do this? Although most adults will be vaccinated, children will be left unprotected. Most don't get seriously ill with Covid, but they can get disabling long-term symptoms. No one knows for how long, but can we take that risk with 10% of all children?
Read 10 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Like this author's thread?

Get emails when @KashPrime has new unrolls!

Check out other threads from @KashPrime!

Read all threads by @KashPrime