1/ People with a Great Barrington Declaration bent ("don't do anything to control Covid-19 and hang the consequences - who cares how many people will die...") are now attacking the rest of us for saying we should continue to do what we can to control the disease.
2/ "You want it to go on for ever", they say, echoing the prime minister's "if not now, when?" questions.
It's a complete straw man attack. We have never said that.
It's a complete straw man attack. We have never said that.
3/ There are some discussions about whether we should try to eradicate the virus completely; or just bring it down to controllable levels.
But nobody's saying we need to take precautions for ever.
But nobody's saying we need to take precautions for ever.
4/ Right now, case numbers are ridiculously high - the UK stands out like a sore thumb compared to other Western European countries. We have been extremely complacent.
If you are vulnerable or susceptible, you are not safe. There is too much transmission.
If you are vulnerable or susceptible, you are not safe. There is too much transmission.
5/ The risks of catching it are much too high.
Decisions are being made that discount the long-term consequences of Covid-19, which we know young people are susceptible to, too.
Decisions are being made that discount the long-term consequences of Covid-19, which we know young people are susceptible to, too.
6/ We really need to keep wearing masks in schools, public transport, shops and other enclosed public spaces (and MPs and ministers should be modelling good practice, rather than undermining their own guidance).
Not forever.
Not forever.
7/ But until case rates drop to no more than 10 cases per 100k population per week.
8/ At those levels the risks will be very much lower; and it will be possible to identify cases and their contacts early, and to ensure that they - and their contacts - are required (and supported, even paid - they are acting on behalf of the public) to do so.
9/ And thereby to keep case numbers low.
We will get the case numbers down. We could do it relatively quickly and relatively painlessly by bringing back (and strictly enforcing) mask mandates, standards for ventilation (relating to crowding) and air quality…
We will get the case numbers down. We could do it relatively quickly and relatively painlessly by bringing back (and strictly enforcing) mask mandates, standards for ventilation (relating to crowding) and air quality…
10/ (That's another straw man attack used by the GBDers and the "Covid Recovery Group" of Brexity MPs, by the way: the idea that public health advocates want to bring society to a halt with another full lockdown.
11/ Actually we're only calling for people to wear masks, and better ventilation...)
12/ Or we can wait until vaccination brings herd immunity up high enough - which will only happen when a high proportion of the population has had three doses of vaccine at appropriate intervals (probably ≥6 weeks between 1st and 2nd dose; ≥3 months between 2nd and 3rd).
13/ It will take us a long time, at current rates of vaccination, to get there; and the longer we take, the more people will get sick, get Long Covid, require critical care, and die.
So we really should bring back the measures that work.
So we really should bring back the measures that work.
14/ And those people who say that mask-wearing is "a sign of cowardice" or an infringement on their liberties (often raising completely spurious and unfounded "science" to claim masks are dangerous)…
15/ …What these antimaskers are actually saying is "I don't care who I infect, or if anybody dies because they caught Covid from me…"
It is a sign of having a complete absence of compassion or care for anybody other than themselves. I have no sympathy whatsoever for them!
It is a sign of having a complete absence of compassion or care for anybody other than themselves. I have no sympathy whatsoever for them!
@threadreaderapp unroll
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
