An article signed by 1200 health “professionals” saying that masks and distancing when possible should be implemented at protests, but protests are a fundamental part of our society and should be allowed somehow makes the top health experts and nearly unanimous medical consensus regarding covid untrustworthy?
It’s reasonable to question the degree to which the signatories of the letter are representative of medical professionals in general.
However, even with the most favorable spin which you have given the letter, you still have people who are leveraging their clout as health professionals to try to put weight behind a political position. That, on it’s own, undermines the perception of objectivity that medical professionals need to maintain if we are going to give their expert opinions weight in the formation of public policy. There is very little data that wearing an arbitrary piece of cloth on your face does much of anything good (wearing purpose built surgical or n-95 masks when properly fitted, changed out, cleaned or disposed of, and used according to training does appear to have good support). Mask mandates are based on belief that medical experts are objective and honest, and that belief is being called into question.
Moreover, that letter is not just saying that masks and distancing are good but protests are fundamental (which is itself a political statement, not just a statement of medical expertise). The letter contains gems such as “opposition to racism as vital to public health,” and “This should not be confused with a permissive stance on all gatherings…”
If you don’t think that there are a large number of public health professionals who are no longer able to draw an objective line between public health and political bias, you need to read the letter more carefully.
kind of like church services? Freedom to assemble in general?
Is saying freedom of speech is fundamental a political statement or a statement of fact regarding our nation’s laws?
With that said, I would have preferred if they said although a right, going to a protest is not a wise thing regardless of the issue. The protests would have happened regardless and the various municipalities would not have prevented them given the sizes of some protests. I don’t think you can say protests are an acceptable risk while other gatherings are not. Of course we know it’s because the issue was racism and not wanting to appear racist was the motivation behind not decrying the protests.
To argue that racism is a greater health risk than covid is nonsensical. And the irony is that the communities most at risk from covid were also home to protests.
Were outside church services disallowed by health experts?
Inside services were directly linked with spread. I don’t think that outdoor protests were linked with spread? Anecdotally, the blm march in Seattle in June '20 that drew 60,000 people was near universally masked and people were very covid conscious… And it did not result in a spreading event.
Of course it’s a political statement. It’s just not very controversial in 21st century USA. If they had just said the risk of outdoor gatherings is low and the right to do so should not be infringed, the damage to the reputation of public health would have probably been negligible. But they literally said, " “This should not be confused with a permissive stance on all gatherings…” They were very careful to make sure that their statement could not be construed to support gatherings they didn’t agree with even though there was no public health basis for making the distinction.
I thought that being outdoors is not a risk as long as it’s during the day.
What about outdoor concerts? Outdoor athletic events? Parades? Fireworks displays? Any evidence they were actually linked to spread?
Yes.
If it’s just for funsies (concerts, parades, fireworks, BBQs) then the risk outweighs the benefit. If it’s a fundamental rights (protest, church gathering) the benefit outweighs the risk.
Anti-lockdown protester pleads guilty to breaching COVID limits | London Free Press (lfpress.com)
These charges up here in Canada were in response to anti lockdown protests that were out in the open.
The charges stem from a time period during which the Province of Ontario had a fairly strict lockdown in effect. The picture depicts visibly little adherence to or maybe none of mask wearing.
I am unaware of actual statistics on whether these events concretely resulted in spread, but one might reasonably think there was high risk.
Strange. I don’t see anything that says that the government has to approve assembly or deem it important.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
If it endangers public safety they have a responsibility to weigh the risk reward and act appropriately.
If we consider arson, vandalism and looting a benefit.
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This seems almost unbelievable so buyer beware.
What’s unbelievable about it? With that said, I am confident that he’ll come back from this as he has in the past.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/billphillipsnews.com/2013/11/26/an-embarrassing-confession-i-wish-i-didnt-have-to-make/amp/
The “buyer” is literal.
It does (although reportedly extremely rare) amongst people under 30. The vast majority of reported cases were mild and self-resolved.
It’s a legitimate concern, though (EDIT: I’m referring to the part about rare instances of myocarditis occurring after vaccination, which has been seen in real world cases). The problem is when anti-vaxxers (NOT calling @sparkyo one) spread stuff like this, they don’t mention that catching COVID itself results in a MUCH higher chance of myocarditis occurring, and it would probably be even more severe.
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Some of the biggest risk factors for gallstones are obesity and diet. Another sad, most likely preventable death caused by bad lifestyle choices. I guess we should ignore that though and continue dividing people.
If anyone has read Bad Pharma, this is how it always goes. You scratch my back I scratch yours.
Wonder who will be next.
I did not know that, thanks. I just read that up to 60% had signs of it after recovering.
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