Starting in 20th century, attacking science and portraying scientists as public enemies became a signature of totalitarianism. There is a saying attributed to Bertrand Russell: “Without science, democracy is impossible” and Maxim Gorky “Without science, democracy has no future”

Many will endure hardships. For me (and committed colleagues), it means the struggle to defend science + counter antiscience forces becomes more complicated/daunting. This time we’ll need better support from the societies, college presidents, elected leaders who care. Tough times

We have so many oncology patients who were either in remission or improving & then after one or more covid infections their cancer came back or worsened. I dread the thought of another infection while I'm fighting bladder cancer. I 💯 believe SARS-CoV-2 can be oncogenic.

MISINFORMATION is a mistake DISINFORMATION is a choice Saying "AFTER THE PANDEMIC" is a choice made by Govt That's why we can't have nice things Like health Like freedom from preventable disease Like a return to normal 😢

Nassau County, NY just passed a mask ban and now residents say they are going to take pictures of anyone wearing a mask and send them to police. This is why we need to stop any kind of mask ban legislation. They empower vigilantes to harass and surveil people wearing masks.

Medical exemptions are NOT the answer to mask bans. They’re discriminatory, ableist & leave far too many people behind. These bans represent a return to ugly laws & fuel the dangerous narrative that “only the vulnerable” need to worry about covid 🧵 disabledginger.com/p/nassau-count…

We really need non-minimizer, non-textpert, non-arrogant virologists and epidemiologists and infectious disease control docs to step up and be heard. The damage being done to the credibility of your fields by the few who are are the loudest and get everything wrong is serious.

🧵 During my former days as a Republican media commentator, I was always frustrated that my fellow rightwingers were so lazy and biased that they routinely promoted nonsense w/o bothering to verify. Trump did this today falsely claiming that Kamala Harris faked a crowd w/AI...

Some say I’m obsessed with Covid. Not at all – what I’m obsessed about is our inability to scientifically assess risk, and make rational decisions about how to utilize tools and policies to optimize individual and societal benefit. This is about far more than just Covid. 🤷🏽‍♂️ 🦠

Masks are not the only mitigation against airborne infection, but they're often one of only two mitigations that people have left available to them when all others have been taken away. To ban them is evil.

StatCan just dropped a bombshell report on LC. This is the most important figure. It highlights that the risk of long term symptoms is cumulative, it increases with increasing number of infections. By 3+ infections, 38% report long term symptoms — that’s 1 in every 2.6 people. 🤯

Nassau county’s mask ban flies in the face of science

I worry about the future of our nation’s infectious disease workforce, a combination of low salaries, attacks by elected leaders & antiscience groups, disappearing physician-scientist role models, someone like me an MD PhD physician who runs a vaccine laboratory a vanishing breed

I’ve made a video on how to put on an effective mask to better prevent Covid infections after hearing about David Lynch This does not constitute medical advice, and look into fit testing with your assistants if you want extra security However this has worked for me

Thread on the Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation The Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (EIN: 35-2779639). Our goal is to provide cleaner air in school & other public buildings with particular interest in underserved and/or vulnerable communities.

Nassau County's ban on masks is a misguided policy that ignores the benefits of mask-wearing, infringes on individual rights, and is unlikely to achieve its intended security objectives. It is absurd to prioritize a superficial security measure over PH and personal freedom 5/5

Enforcement is likely to be inconsistent and subjective, leading to potential abuses of power and racial profiling. There is a risk that marginalized communities, could be unfairly targeted and penalized for wearing masks. This exacerbates existing social inequalities 4/5

The argument that the mask ban is necessary to prevent criminal activities is flawed. The ban disproportionately affects law-abiding citizens who wear masks for legitimate reasons. 3/5

😷 bans sets a dangerous precedent, suggesting that the government can arbitrarily dictate personal behaviour without considering the broader implications. Such actions not only erode public trust but also infringe on civil liberties, which are foundational to a free society. 2/5

Mask bans, especially in the wake of the C19 pandemic, are reckless moves that disregard the safety & well-being of the community. Mask-wearing can significantly ⬇️ the spread of viruses, saving countless lives. I don't write a lot of 🧵s, but this topic deserves a deep dive 1/5