Thread by @zeikonline

🧵 Repeating some COVID facts ppl keep forgetting/ignoring:
- New variants much more contagious than origin strain
- Vaccines & boosters less effective for new variants
- Vaccine & booster immunity wanes over time
- Vaccine focus on preventing severe acute symptoms

- COVID Vaccines do not prevent transmission: you are still similarly contagious
- Asymptomatic infections also contagious
- Even CDC which has been minimizing everything admits ~20% COVID patients get #LongCOVID
- You can get #LongCOVID even if asymptomatic acute infection

- Cloth masks are fairly useless. Surgical masks are better. N95 masks are v good.
- Disposable N95 masks can be safely reused w appropriate care
- You can get COVID infections outdoors
- COVID doesn’t stop if you take masks off for photos or eating/drinking in public

- #COVIDIsAirborne which means virus particles can linger in air for hours
- If you’re unmasked or wearing a bad quality mask you can inhale COVID particles in an empty room that was recently occupied by someone COVID+ not wearing a good quality mask

- The 6 ft rule was based on outdated data from the 1930s & assumed COVID was not airborne but #COVIDIsAirborne
- Physical distancing still good idea but being distanced & unmasked esp indoors not safe

- rapid tests have more false negatives for new variants
- do not rely on rapid tests to decide to not wear a mask
- rapid tests still a good idea if you’re exposed. I do one anytime I have had to be in a crowded indoor space like a medical clinic

Use layered precautions aka Swiss Cheese model:
- wear good quality masks - N95 or better - indoors & outdoors (esp in crowded spaces)
- stay up to date w vaccine boosters
- avoid large gatherings. avoid small ones too esp w ppl not being careful
- avoid nonessential travel