Post

How to get URL link on X (Twitter) App

On the Twitter thread, click on or icon on the bottom
Click again on or Share Via icon
Click on Copy Link to Tweet
Paste it above and click "Unroll Thread"!
More info at Twitter Help

Dr. Lucky Tran

@luckytran

Jun 1, 2023 • 5 tweets • 3 min read • Read on X

Scrolly

With COVID transmission data removed from the CDC website after the end of the public health emergency, wastewater is now our best indicator for surges.

And wastewater data shows that all of NYC has high COVID levels.

mbcolli.shinyapps.io/SARS2EWSP/_w_e…

@Gothamist

Note that NYC switched to a more sensitive COVID wastewater detection method in March. But per Dr. David Larsen who runs the dashboard, this isn't responsible for the increase. So likely uptick is due to real world COVID spread.

(Reported by @Gothamist: gothamist.com/news/is-covid-…)

Note that New York State COVID wastewater levels are graded high, moderate, and low. These levels correlate to similar ones on the CDC's old transmission map tracking COVID tests. Intent is to make NYS wastewater data easier to interpret to the public & to make policy decisions.

It isn't surprising that we are seeing an uptick of COVID cases at the start of summer of 2023. We've seen a similar pattern ever since Omicron appeared, where there's been a high level of COVID spread throughout the whole year apart from a couple of months in spring.

Previous CDC guidance directed hospitals to institute mask mandates when COVID transmission is high. They removed this when the PHE ended, citing lack of testing data as an excuse.

But wastewater data shows COVID levels are high. NYC hospitals should #KeepMasksInHealthcare!

• • •

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 @luckytran

Dr. Lucky Tran

@luckytran

Nov 14

As a scientist who is the director of science communication for the medical center of a major university, my advice is:

Please don't rely on an economist who has spread misinformation about COVID to advise you about how to effectively message on public health.

Oster's work has been embraced by right-wing think tanks such as the Manhattan Institute and the Cato Institute. Her audience is affluent parents who seek permission to disengage from the social contract and ignore harmful impacts to the working class and people of color.

Here's a horrendous example of COVID misinformation spread by Emily Oster in 2020, which has been proven wrong by research many times since. Please do not listen to any of her advice about public health.

Read 4 tweets

Dr. Lucky Tran

@luckytran

Nov 5

The current admin has failed to adequately address the ongoing and long-term impacts of COVID. They have been rightfully criticized and should continue to be held accountable.

However, a Trump win will make things worse, resulting in many more deaths and people becoming sicker.

Trump will accelerate mask bans, restrict vaccine availability, reduce healthcare access, stop clean air efforts, block Long COVID treatment funding, dismantle health agencies etc.

The outcome of the election will critically impact COVID and public health policy for decades.

Let’s break down a few of these points:

Read 13 tweets

Dr. Lucky Tran

@luckytran

Sep 18

New poll finds half of Americans believe they'll never get COVID again.

The data shows that COVID surges at high levels throughout the year. Denial is one hell of a drug.

Source: ipsos.com/en-us/half-ame…

What’s tragic is that the CDC’s own study showed that most people are likely to take precautions like wearing a mask when they are alerted that COVID transmission levels are high.

However, most people are unaware of true transmission levels.

This is a public health failure.

Read 4 tweets

Dr. Lucky Tran

@luckytran

Aug 28

https://twitter.com/luckytran/status/1828194803021955291

Hearing people being turned away from CVS because they say the bridge program doesn’t cover the updated vaccines. A Washington Post reporter also heard this from the CDC.

Why has the CDC not updated their website to make this clear, and why are there not more stories on this?

https://twitter.com/luckytran/status/1828194803021955291

The CDC’s website still says the bridge access program will end in August 2024.

The CDC should clarify that it doesn’t cover the updated vaccines ASAP.

People shouldn’t only find out at the last moment when they try to get the vaccine.

cdc.gov/vaccines/progr…

A CVS spokesperson has told reporters the updated COVID vaccine will cost around $201.99 for uninsured patients paying out of pocket.

thecity.nyc/2024/08/27/new…

Read 4 tweets

Dr. Lucky Tran

@luckytran

Aug 23

There's lots of misinformation on rapid tests.

Rapid tests still work for new variants because they target an area of the virus that doesn't change much.

Negative tests happen because people don't test multiple times or due to user error.

Here's a good article from last year on rapid tests and variants. The same principles still apply. cnn.com/2023/09/18/hea…

*Meant to say misleading negative tests happen, even though someone has COVID, because people don't test multiple times or due to user error.

Read 4 tweets

Dr. Lucky Tran

@luckytran

Aug 19

The University of California is banning masks in the middle of one of the largest summer COVID surges of the pandemic. Unacceptable.
theguardian.com/us-news/articl…

Here's the list of things banned from University of California.

It says "no person shall wear a mask with the intent of
intimidating any person or group, or for the purpose of evading identification."

Unclear if it includes wearing mask for COVID protection or health reasons.

Here's the full letter from the University of California President which provides details on their mask and protest ban: documentcloud.org/documents/2505…