Thread by @CPita3

Getting warmer... but still insufficient for an Airborne virus.

There are some easter eggs in this document, which tell us the @WHO IPAC Group is STILL drunk on #DropletDogma, and that they DO NOT support this minor change in RPE guidance.

That should concern us all.

🧵1/

https://twitter.com/gabbystern/status/1473691715244593158

First, Omicron is measles-level Airborne (maybe worse). 2 weeks ago I had no close friends or family that had caught COVID. As of today, 3 people close to me are positive after long-range Airborne transmission in restaurants or at work.

2/

https://twitter.com/cap1024/status/1473145923916255232?t=t_UEUHgCf9k1-Y6lGSA0sA&s=19

How do I know it's long range? They did not get within 20ft of an index case. They inhaled it from the air.

One friend wore a CAN99 everywhere, EXCEPT in his closed door office space, in a large work trailer. The index case was in the same trailer, on the opposite side.

3/

Back to the @WHO guidance... even given the EXPLOSIVE growth of Omicron and the blindingly obvious Airborne nature of it's spread, the WHO IPAC Expert group is not on board with N95s for HCWs.

See the note: This recommendation is INDEPENDENT from the @WHO IPAC Group.

4/

What does that mean?

It means @AHS_media's Dr. John Conly, who is the head of the @WHO IPAC Expert Group - is clearly STILL in denial about the Airborne nature of this virus, and the efficacy of respiratory PPE against an inhaled hazard.

5/

https://twitter.com/CPita3/status/1380902466687004676?t=zjW-1wme_vC84oUwVEKInA&s=19

Where have we seen the odd phrase "very low certainty/quality evidence" before?

In Dr. John Conly's @AHS_media Rapid PPE review from a few months ago, which also concluded N95s weren't necessary/helpful.

6/

Remember... Conly and co. are demanding an RCT of HCWs, before they will #ReleaseTheN95s. They want to give some nurses surgical masks and some nurses respirators, and see how many get sick with COVID. They don't believe in Physics or the Occupational Hygiene profession.

7/

Even the intransigent Ontario IPAC Directors, who signed a legal affidavit claiming Droplet precautions were sufficient in a lawsuit AGAINST the nurses (which they WON), have recognized Omicron as a time to pivot to N95s.

Thanks @HotaSusy!

8/

So it is frankly stunning that Conly and Co. won't use Omicron to save face, and finally get on board the N95 train.

N95s are not controversial for Measles... Omicron spreads like Measles.

9/

https://twitter.com/DrTomFrieden/status/1473127267392016386?t=iZQimTY08_I_ay-diFA6_Q&s=19

Also, we DO have RCTs of respirator vs surgical, which showed continuous respirator use was significantly protective against clinical respiratory illness. Yet the same cast of characters muddied and diluted that study in their systematic reviews.

10/

https://twitter.com/CPita3/status/1452498957930741761?t=zjW-1wme_vC84oUwVEKInA&s=19

It is egregious and scandalous that the @WHO continues to allow these intransigent, liability-compromised, dinosaurs set IPC policy for the world.

11/

This @WHO guidance provides too many off-ramps for intransigent IPC folks. They can say, "we have good ventilation, so we don't need N95s". I'm certain this is the line we'll be hearing from @AHS_media.

Also, don't miss the gaslighting re. "HCW perceived protection".

12/

My recommendation... ignore this nebulous advice and follow Klompas:

end/