@WHO @katierandall @linseymarr @MeganMolteni 10/ Both the direct deposition (old "ballistic droplets") and the airborne transmission / inhalation are grouped as "through the air transmission" This is awkward but not that important, in principle.
11? @carlzimmer has written a short article in @nytimes explaining all this, with some more links of interest: nytimes.com/2024/04/18/hea…
@carlzimmer @nytimes 12/ A pearl on that article: a medical expert complaining that the old terminology was nice because it was simple to apply EVEN IF IT WAS WRONG [Even it people in hospitals got sick and died because of the wrong protections -- OMG!] Not that uncommon... nytimes.com/2024/04/18/hea…
@carlzimmer @nytimes 13/ So overall, while not perfect, and with that awkwardness that can often arise of a "written by a large committee with strong internal disagreements", I view this as progress @WHO still has not apologized for their huge errors. I hope they do one day. But this is progress
@carlzimmer @nytimes @WHO 14/ Now, the more important decision is WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS? WHEN should we use protections for airborne inhalation, such as N95/FFP2 respirators, enhanced ventilation / filtration, CO2 meters etc? The @WHO report explicitly says that they do NOT take a position on that
@carlzimmer @nytimes @WHO 15/ Conceptually, we need a needle at a point between 2 extremes: - A (theoretical) mild disease w/ minor airborne component. Airborne protections may not be worth the costs - (theoretical) extremely deadly disease w/ major airborne component: definitely airborne protections
@carlzimmer @nytimes @WHO 16/ The key question, that this report doesn't take a position on, is: When is a disease serious enough to recommend airborne protections? @WHO doesn't want to recommend N95s if poor countries don't have them. Fears health care workers there would refuse to work w/o them
@carlzimmer @nytimes @WHO 17/ But as we have been seeing with the @CDCgov and its #HICPAC committee in the US, which is precisely trying to decide that question... ... this is NOT all about poor countries x.com/jljcolorado/st…
@carlzimmer @nytimes @WHO 17/ But as we have been seeing with the @CDCgov and its #HICPAC committee in the US, which is precisely trying to decide that question... ... this is NOT all about poor countries x.com/jljcolorado/st…
@carlzimmer @nytimes @WHO @CDCgov 18/ During pandemic, many experts told me @CDCgov has long been dominated by hospital industry Which views infection protection as: - Cost or savings for hospitals - Health burden or benefit for health care workers They choose savings for hospitals, burden for workers
@carlzimmer @nytimes @WHO @CDCgov 19/ Thankfully there has been enough pressure from nurses unions @NationalNurses and their allies that @CDCgov has not yet moved forward with that It is very important. Curiously very little press coverage, @DrJudyStone of @Forbes being an exception: x.com/drjudystone/st…
@carlzimmer @nytimes @WHO @CDCgov 19/ Thankfully there has been enough pressure from nurses unions @NationalNurses and their allies that @CDCgov has not yet moved forward with that It is very important. Curiously very little press coverage, @DrJudyStone of @Forbes being an exception: x.com/drjudystone/st…
20/ Responses to some comments below this point: For COVID-19 is dominantly airborne Direct deposition not demonstrated for any disease. I think unimportant, only if someone coughs in your face Surface was long exaggerated, due to not understanding air x.com/prasadkasibhat…
20/ Responses to some comments below this point: For COVID-19 is dominantly airborne Direct deposition not demonstrated for any disease. I think unimportant, only if someone coughs in your face Surface was long exaggerated, due to not understanding air x.com/prasadkasibhat…
21/ A new well-researched article on the @WHO new definitions of transmission, including airborne / inhalation, and direct deposition (old "droplets") By @MeganMolteni, with input from @linseymarr @Don_Milton @JeremyFarrar and yours truly statnews.com/2024/04/18/cov…