Tweet

ScienceUpFirst | LaScienced'Abord

Apr 5 • 10 tweets • 5 min read

Cases in many parts of Canada are on the rise 😩

And, because testing is so limited right now, most case graphs tell only part of the story.

So what do we do about it?

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [1/10]

First of all: Are cases really going up?

Yes, because of a more infectious sub-variant (Omicron BA.2), relatively low booster coverage, and relaxing protection measures: health-infobase.canada.ca/covid-19/epide…

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [2/10]

Because tests are limited, in places like Ontario, experts estimate the true case count is 10x higher than what gets reported.

That’s why it’s useful to look at poop 💩.

Wastewater testing is telling us we’re in a 6th wave.

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [3/10]

Honestly, this sucks.

We wish the pandemic was over too.

But wishing it doesn’t make it so.

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [4/10]

What can we do about it?

Ultimately, public health responses come from our leaders and public health authorities.

They set the tone and the rules.

So if the rules in your area aren’t matching up with the science, let your officials know! 📧

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [5/10]

After the last two years, we all know rules and timelines can shift.

Protections can be implemented again!

In QC, they’re delaying the lifting of mask mandates. And that comes after a lot of advocacy from health experts across the province.

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [6/10]

After 2+ years, we’ve learned a heck of a lot about what works to slow the spread of this virus:

- Masking
- Testing
- Isolation when sick
- Vaccination
- Ventilation

Use the tools at your disposal.

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [7/10]

It’s been a longggg 2+ years.

We understand that pandemic fatigue can kick in.

But don’t give up! Your actions matter.

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [8/10]

@edyong209

Don’t give up hope.

We’ll leave you with something @edyong209 wrote back in December:

“The infectious nature of a virus means that a tiny bad decision can cause exponential harm, but also that a tiny wise decision can do exponential good.”

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [9/10]

Got questions? Let us know! We’re here to help.

References: tinyurl.com/SUFRisingCases

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [10/10]

• • •

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

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

More from @ScienceUpFirst

ScienceUpFirst | LaScienced'Abord

@ScienceUpFirst

Mar 7

People don’t just wake up one morning convinced “globalists run the Internet.” 👁️

To get to that point, they need to travel down the rabbit hole. 🕳️

So what drives people towards conspiracy theories and extremism?

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵[1/12]

Feelings of isolation (1) and uncertainty due to events outside your control (2) are a recipe for radicalization. It’s no wonder the pandemic has amplified conspiracy theories. 😰

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵[2/12]

Conspiracy theories give simple and structured answers for difficult questions, and can help ease anxiety. 😮‍💨

People with a greater desire for “cognitive closure” (total understanding of the world) are more likely to believe conspiracy theories (9).

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵[3/12]

Read 12 tweets

ScienceUpFirst | LaScienced'Abord

@ScienceUpFirst

Mar 3

A recent safety report by Pfizer has been seized upon by misinformers. There’s nothing particularly new or scary about it, despite the #Pfizer #VaccineSideEffects hashtags circulating online.

Let’s dig in on how this data has been misrepresented 👇

🧵[1/9]

#ScienceUpFirst

Part of the mix up comes from a misunderstanding of “adverse events”.

Adverse events (AEs) ≠ side effects

AEs may or may not be related to a treatment (e.g. vaccines) and they are monitored for both treatment groups and placebo groups.

🧵[2/9]

#ScienceUpFirst

For example, if a trial participant swallowed a penny, that would be included as an adverse event. Even though it’s clear vaccines can’t make you swallow pennies.

As always, correlation ≠ causation

🧵[3/9]

#ScienceUpFirst

Read 9 tweets

ScienceUpFirst | LaScienced'Abord

@ScienceUpFirst

Mar 1

COVID isn’t over. We know that’s not what anyone wants to hear right now, but it’s true. 🤷🏽‍♂️

So what is endemicity, and what will it take for us to get there?

Read on to learn more 👇

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [1/12]

What is an endemic disease? 🤔

A single definition of “endemic” is tough to pin down (1). But epidemiologists say it’s when the rates of a disease are constant - not rising and not falling (2).

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [2/12]

So, are we there yet with COVID-19? 📍

No we are not. COVID-19 remains unpredictable (3) and new variants will make it even more so (4).

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [3/12]

Read 12 tweets

ScienceUpFirst | LaScienced'Abord

@ScienceUpFirst

Feb 18

Heard some sketchy stuff about the COVID-19 vaccine and your immune system?

This thread breaks down the myths 👇

🧵[1/12]

#ScienceUpFirst

Myth: “COVID-19 vaccines created an HIV variant”

Reality: COVID-19 vaccines are not responsible for an HIV variant circulating in the Netherlands. A misrepresented study actually says the variant likely emerged in the 1990s.

🧵[2/12]

#ScienceUpFirst

Myth: “COVID-19 vaccines make you more susceptible to HIV/AIDS”

Reality: There is no UK report claiming vaccines increase the incidence of AIDS. Vaccines don't lower your T cell count causing immunosuppression. Vaccines boost T cell response!

🧵[3/12]

#ScienceUpFirst

Read 12 tweets

ScienceUpFirst | LaScienced'Abord

@ScienceUpFirst

Feb 17

Misinformers often present only 2 choices. This or that.

But two seemingly opposite ideas can be true! 🤝

Come with us on a journey across the pandemic’s most popular false dichotomies. 🗺️ And learn how the world is more nuanced than this vs that.

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [1/8]

Why bother with masks if you have the vaccine? 💉

Protecting yourself isn’t an either/or situation.

Both vaccines AND masks help protect you and everyone around you from disease. Who doesn’t want that?

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [2/8]

We often hear that we have to pick between public health and the economy. 👨🏽‍⚕️ / 💰

But, while the pandemic has hurt the economy, these measures also protect it. A healthy economy needs healthy people!

#ScienceUpFirst

🧵 [3/8]

Read 8 tweets

ScienceUpFirst | LaScienced'Abord

@ScienceUpFirst

Feb 16

No vaccine is perfect. That includes the COVID-19 vaccines.

But they don’t need to be in order to save millions of lives.

A thread about transmission 👇

🧵 [1/11]

#ScienceUpFirst

Transmission is the passing of a disease-causing pathogen (like a virus) from an infected person to someone else.

COVID-19 vaccines directly and indirectly reduce the transmission of COVID-19.

🧵 [2/11]

#ScienceUpFirst

COVID-19 vaccines can directly reduce transmission by stopping your body from passing on live copies of the virus.

Vaccines were good at interrupting transmission of the Alpha/Delta variants. How well they stop Omicron transmission is being studied.

🧵 [3/11]

#ScienceUpFirst