Thread by @rant_rn

A few hours ago, the @OttawaCitizen posted an article entitled, "Face to Face with COVID deniers in the ICU."

Here is the reply I posted:

- It is OK to believe that some people will get really sick...and some with die from COVID-19.

1/...

- It is OK to realize that the vast majority of those patients are elderly, have at least 3 comorbidities (affecting heart, lungs, immune system), AND live in a cohorted care setting - such as LTC.

2/...

- It is OK to realize that smoking is a HUGE risk factor for respiratory infections - and one that is often forgotten or discounted by patients, the health care system and media.
(Still looking at vaping and CV-19...)

3/...

***It is ALSO OK to...

- It is also OK to realize that Influenza targets the same high risk groups as above - but, UNLIKE COVID-19, Influenza kills young children EVERY year in this country.

4/...

- It is also OK to realize that children have an extremely LOW to negligible risk from COVID-19 and are NOT super-spreaders.

5/...

- It is also OK to know that we knew QUITE early on who & where the high risk pop. was - AND that our previous plans ALL incl. focused protection...AND mitigating the impact on the rest of society...AND that our gov't leadership caved & threw all that...AND US, out the window...

- It also OK to realize that the governments' abysmal failure to recognize that the majority of resources AND restrictions should be placed where the highest risk individuals are, is utterly mind-blowing.

7/...

- It is also OK to admit that the #CollateralDamage to our children, education, health care, cancer care, mental health, small businesses, families, job loss, bankruptcy, etc. - is mind-numbing.

8/...

- It is also OK to realize that there is no reason to be tested for CV-19 this far in - when, just like Novel H1N1, this virus quickly became both #endemic & part of the regular #seasonal mix.
It goes against every principle of public health & clinical epidemiology.

9/...

- It is also OK to be confident that the apocalyptic predictions for the latest "Variant of the Month" will be an abysmal failure just like every other variant.

10/...

- It is also OK to realize that #variants are a NORMAL & EXPECTED course in the error-prone replication of RNA viruses - and that each may briefly have a competitive edge for transmission that quickly wanes - AND that they become less NOT more deadly...AND...

11/...

Thousands of variants have been circulating at any given time in North America this entire time. (nextstrain.org/ncov/north-ame… )

12/...

- It is also OK to realize that, prior to CV-19, a "case" was someone ill enough to seek out the medical attention that resulted in testing...AND that by creating a new "case definition" that did NOT require ANY symptoms...

13/...

...they moved the goal posts....leaving us with completely useless data - after having literally spent ++ Billions of $$$ on testing asymptomatic (aka healthy) people.

14/...

- It is also OK to realize that a flawed "case definition" meant that the MAJORITY of "Cases" - and MANY "Hospitalizations" & "Deaths" were NOT sick with CV-19.

15/...

- It is also OK to realize that we should NOT be surprised by a higher baseline of "positive" test results this summer - as a much higher % of our population has been exposed by now - & (by our government's own admission) the test will pick that up!

16/...

- It is also OK to realize that “Cases” don’t equal infections.
(facebook.com/.../cases-dont… )

- It is also OK to realize that “two weeks to flatten the curve” was about 1st-wave hospital capacity - NOT eradicating a virus.

17/...

- It is also OK to realize the utter arrogance of @fordnation & @JustinTrudeau as they legislated exemptions to restrictions for the #NHL - & not only allowed exemptions for, but attended protests, marches & vigils they support (while condemning those they don't)...tells us they

...a) think that they are endowed with magical abilities that can lower both transmission & risk at events they deem to be noble,

OR...

b) realize that relative risk to the general public is low - especially this far in when the virus is clearly both.

19/...

- It is also OK to realize that, further to the previous point, despite assurance on the PMO website that the Prime Minister would strictly adhere to COVID-19 precautions while at the G7 Summit, that he:

- attended INDOOR meetings with no mask,

20/...

- attended crowed cocktail parties on a patio with elderly members of the Royal Family sans mask,

AND...

- pranced around & posed shoulder-to-shoulder with super models...sans mask...

21/...

- It is also OK to realize that further to the TWO previous points, that clearly @JustinTrudeau, @fordnation, & @cafreeland can NOT argue that limits on our freedoms are "justifiable & reasonable", NOR applied in "good faith" - if they do NOT adhere to those same limitations.

- It is also OK to realize that @fordnation's so-called "Re-Opening" plan is more of a "Re-Lockdown" plan - as their is NO Step 4 (aka actually re-opening)....AND that in fact, Step 3 in many ways still leaves us MORE restricted than we were LAST summer!

23/...

- It is OK to realize that at least 32 states in the U.S. are now FULLY re-opened, and like #Florida & #Texas, saw ALL numbers drop AFTER re-opening - and PRIOR to a high % of their population being vaccinated.
Most of the remainder are re-opening this week or by the end of June

- It is OK to realize that #Canada generally, and #Ontario specifically, are the MOST restrictive & locked-down jurisdictions in North America currently AND over time.
We are very quickly going to be left behind in the dust.

25/...

- It is also OK to realize that the number of our "cases" (aka people who happen to have a "positive" test result) is falling rapidly.

26/...

- It is also OK to realize that EVERYONE should be able to return to FULL normal now - regardless of whether you choose (or are able) to have the vaccine or not.

27/...

***** It is also OK to believe, think, understand...ALL of the above - and STILL NOT be a "COVID Denier"

28/...

#stoptesting
#stopgettingtested
#scariants
#endemic
#seasonality
#stoplivinginfear
#OpenUpNow - FULLY & COMPLETELY
#NoRestrictions
#NoVaccinePassports
#NoMasks
Living is more than just existing.
Living is more than just not dying.
Time to start living again!

@OnCall4ON @OntarioReopen @ABetterOntario1 @BKarahalios @Roman_Baber @randyhillier @NewBlueON @anthonyfurey @joe_warmington @TrueNorthCentre @TPostMillennial @JCCFCanada @LDBildy @CDNConstFound @LiftLockdown @NML_Canada @Milhouse_Van_Ho @rubiconcapital_ @Golden_Pup @DerekSloanCPC

@threadreaderapp please unroll

Just a reminder!
#FactsNotFear

@nursejackeey @nursecaro13 @Nursemecj @NursesCanadian @erin_bsn FYI.

@CFIB @cfibON @CFIBNews @alexbrown17 @AlexBerenson @SpencerFernando @brianlilley @sunlorrie @LibertyCCanada @everychildleft @unmaskkids @Metabo_PhD @WAlfster @TuckerCarlson @MaximeBernier @erinotoole @LeslynLewis @AndrewLawton @CandiceMalcolm @SheilaGunnReid @RebelNewsOnline FYI.