1. Vax/boost are key (I said about 40x...) 2. Not reckless for NFL to stop routine testing of vaxxed. Were doing 1x a week which is a surveillance strategy, not a control strategy. (you've seen viral kinetics of Omicron, right?)
3. Overestimating transmission risk on the field (they have good ventilation/filtration in locker room, trainer, weight room...right? RIGHT??) 4. Overestimating superspreader risk in large volume spaces, like outdoor stadiums (and even indoor arenas)
continued...
5. Not just a $ issue. (So easy to attack in this way.) Many tens of thousands of incomes and livelihoods on the line (which, is, you know... public health), and what the sports leagues do influences what schools and others do (see: NBA closing, March 2020)
continued...
6. The playbook must change for 2022. The leagues have better data than most, and we can learn from them, including - and especially - when they pilot new approaches.
"there is still some debate about how the new coronavirus that causes Covid-19 is spread. This has resulted in an overly narrow approach taken by the federal CDC and WHO. That’s a mistake."
This picture is creating misplaced outrage bc Biden is in a surgical mask instead of an N95.
1. Yes, N95s or KF94s are better if you need to wear a mask
—AND—
2. Everyone is fully vaxxed and boosted, so masks provide limited benefit (especially considering 5 and 6)
🧵
3. Even though surgical mask has lower efficiency, the combined efficiency of two 70% masks is 91%. Saying they’re useless is incorrect.
4. In addition, surgical masks get dinged bc ‘leaky’ out the sides, but this misses point that they still help lower the concentration in the cone of emissions directly in front and slow the speed of the emission jet. (particularly relevant when you factor in 5 and 6 next…)
What can schools do right now, if feeling anxious and don't want to wait 2 weeks til Omicron gets sorted out? Implement the simple tips from our Lancet COVID19 Commission report: covid19commission.org/safe-work-trav…
(BONUS...improvements to school buildings come with many other benefits!)
Here are 4 things we should do to prioritize the health of children:
1⃣ Mandate vaccines for all adults in schools
2⃣ Host at-school vax clinics in every school
3⃣ Expand use of rapid antigen tests
4⃣ Improve ventilation and filtration
1⃣ "Mandate vaccines for all adults in schools, as Los Angeles and New York City have done. We know this causes vaccinate rates to rise sharply. New York City’s Department of Education saw its rate spike from around 50 percent in early August to 95 percent."
2⃣ "Host at-school vaccination clinics in every school in the country. Any family that wants their child vaccinated should have that opportunity as soon as vaccines are available. No more crossing our fingers and hoping that people will find a local clinic or CVS to go to."