Share this page!

Dr Satoshi Akima Profile picture
Twitter logo
18 Nov, 5 tweets, 2 min read
Masks are 2x more effective than social distancing according to a new BMJ systematic review. This isn't the first systematic review to come to such conclusions. That it is mechanistically plausible based on COVID's airborne mode of spread makes it highly credible #COVIDisAirborne
From a Cochrane review dated 6th Jul 2011: "Surgical masks or N95 respirators were the most consistent and comprehensive supportive measures. There was limited evidence that social distancing was effective" cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.10…
The information found in that 2011 Cochrane review formed a springboard for the South Koreans to develop aerosol-mitigation based systematic biosecurity defence protocols that are the envy of the world
The South Koreans see this as a fundamental sociopolitical threat: in a geopolitical military biowarfare sense as well as a threat from an economic, sociopolitical cohesion/stability, and public health sense. We can all do well to learn from them in a bipartisan way
Korean aerosol-mitigation protocols for civilians are set to higher standards than most of the rest of world. It is thus predictable that a Korean study of mask found that they are even more (90%+) effective than the BMJ review science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…

• • •

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

Keep Current with Dr Satoshi Akima

Dr Satoshi Akima 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 @ToshiAkima

Dr Satoshi Akima Profile picture
20 Nov
Unsolicited Review: Castle Grade N98 respirator. This gets a recommendation from me. TGA approved making it suitable for HCWs. It is comfortable and reusable. Ideal for Australian HCWs who suffer PPE burns from N95 masks, while upgrading aerosol protection castlegrade.com.au Image
Initial concerns included that I am not fit-tested by work, but as soon as you put it on you can tell there is reduced air leakage around the mask edges vs. a fit-tested N95. That means ZERO fogging of glasses. The tight seal pushes the air through the front of the respiratory
The acid test is whether I'd wear it working on COVID duties despite not being fit-tested. The answer is YES. There is obvious reduction in air leakage around the mask edges. It would be difficult for work to object to me wearing a TGA approved N98 respiratory instead of an N95
Read 8 tweets
Dr Satoshi Akima Profile picture
20 Nov
Another cycling day today. 50km done wearing a KF94 mask all throughout the ride (only removed to drink water). The trick to avoiding having it fog up your glasses is to push it as high on the bridge of your nose as possible. ImageImage
During my work N95 fit testing, I was instructed to push the N95 mask as high up as possible. A KF94 is smaller so it causes it to sit above your chin, but this encourages exhaled air to be expelled from the bottom—not the top, fogging up the glasses
I was also instructed to carefully mould the nose bridge wire so that it fits the contour of your face. It's best to do this in front of a mirror. This further improves the fit, reducing leaks of air upwards, fogging up your glasses.
Read 6 tweets
Dr Satoshi Akima Profile picture
19 Nov
The answer is that it doesn't matter. Masks, social distancing and lockdowns are NPIs not drugs. It's enough signal that everyone gets masked and the burden of proof is on those who want to demask to provide level 1 evidence it won't cause excess mortality/morbidity.
The burden of proof to come up with evidence to substantiate their position falls on those who propose the potentially unsafe course of action. With novel drugs, that falls on the prescriber/manufacturer of the drug. With NPIs it is the de-prescriber of precautionary measures
There is no level 1a+++ evidence for the efficacy of lockdowns, handwashing, or social distancing for COVID. That is not grounds for de-prescription of these precautionary NPIs. The burden of proof falls on those who wish to de-prescribe them to prove it won't increase mortality
Read 6 tweets
Dr Satoshi Akima Profile picture
19 Nov
If Australians wish to avoid further disruptive lockdowns, we must find alternative NPIs to take their place. The evidence is clear: universal mask mandates are the best solution. They probably work even better than lockdowns or social distancing while keeping the economy running
The only reason to reject masks is that we love lockdowns. That's what's going to happen if we don't find a better alternative. Now we know #COVIDisAirborne we can use this insight to find more mode-of-transmission specific NPIs other than crude lockdowns
Anyone who rejects masks is an agent of chaos who secretly wishes more lockdowns upon us for the purpose of stirring social unrest, then harnessing it for their crazed populist cause. Gallows and all Image
Read 6 tweets
Dr Satoshi Akima Profile picture
24 Oct
People get curiously upset about the idea that viral infections might drive neurodegenerative disease. But this is an old concept that has been well explored in the literature. For example the link between Herpes simplex and Alzheimer's nature.com/articles/s4146…
There are people who get upset over the fact that I am tweeting on an area I'm not published in. It doesn't change the fact that there are peer-reviewed publications on the subject statnews.com/2020/05/06/res…
I believe in anthropogenic climate change, yet I am not a climatologist. Likewise, it is reasonable for me to post material viruses causing neurodegenerative disease where I am able to support my statements with quality citations pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34205498/
Read 8 tweets
Dr Satoshi Akima Profile picture
23 Oct
As John Maynard Keynes said: "Anything we can actually do we can afford". We can give three COVID jabs to everyone: the developed and developing world alike. We cannot afford not to vaccinate everyone to eliminate reservoirs
There is a false dichotomy being spread that we have a choice either to give third doses to the developed world, or to vaccinate the developing world with two doses. Developed nations must donate their "booster" doses to developing countries
What is needed is effective funding and infrastructure to manufacture vaccines for the developing world. The world needs to come together to produce this. What is lacking is a global drive to attain that goal
Read 5 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

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Like this author's thread?

Get emails when @ToshiAkima has new unrolls!

Check out other threads from @ToshiAkima!

Read all threads by @ToshiAkima

:(