Search Results for "face masks"

Article by OffGuardian, ZeroHedge claiming to list 30 facts about COVID-19 contains multiple inaccurate and misleading statements

The COVID-19 mortality rate greatly depends on age and the presence of comorbidities. Multiple countries have observed excess mortality related to COVID-19, and healthcare systems also experienced significant strain during the pandemic. Measures such as lockdowns and mask-wearing are effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19. PCR and other tests are highly valuable tools for detecting infections and determining what public health measures should be implemented to minimize the impact of the pandemic.

Multiple scientific studies suggest that masking can help limit transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in schools, contrary to claim in Federalist article

Many studies show that the use of masks in schools can limit the transmission of the virus, especially when complemented by other preventative measures like ventilation. Using a single study that found a non-statistically significant decrease in COVID-19 incidence in schools with mask requirements compared to schools with optional masking to claim there’s no science to back mask mandates overstates scientific confidence. Additionally, while it is true that the risk of serious illness and death is far higher in adults than children, children can still experience severe COVID-19 and die. The main benefit of masks in schools is to protect both children and the community at large by reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Family physician Daniel Stock repeated previously debunked misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and control strategies in a Mount Vernon School Board Meeting

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect individuals and communities from potentially harmful diseases. History shows that vaccines don’t need to completely block infection or eradicate the disease to control the spread of infectious diseases within a population. COVID-19 vaccines can effectively reduce infections and prevent over 90% of severe illnesses and deaths, making them one of our best tools to curb the pandemic.

Fauci’s emails don’t support viral claims on masks, hydroxychloroquine and virus engineering

Studies showed that masks reduce the spread of viral respiratory infections like COVID-19. Clinical trials found that hydroxychloroquine didn’t offer any meaningful benefit to COVID-19 patients. There is evidence showing that most people who had COVID-19 develop some level of immunity. But individual variability in immunity and virus variants mean that vaccination can still benefit a person who already had the disease. Scientific studies of the virus’ genome to date haven’t shown evidence that the virus was engineered in a laboratory. There is a lack of evidence that allows us to accept or reject the hypothesis of a laboratory accident with a high degree of certainty. At the moment, both zoonosis and laboratory escape remain plausible scenarios.

Not all coronaviruses are seasonal, contrary to pathologist Ryan Cole’s claim; COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing illness

Not all coronaviruses exhibit seasonal activity. While common cold coronaviruses are seasonal, the viruses that cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) aren’t seasonal. Data from clinical trials and the ongoing vaccination campaigns show that the COVID-19 vaccines are effective at reducing the risk of illness. While they commonly cause side effects such as fever, headache, and soreness, these are mild and short-lived. The benefits of COVID-19 vaccines far outweigh their risks, when compared to the risks associated with COVID-19.

Both viruses and bacteria cause disease; pathogenic viruses aren’t naturally created in the body as a response to damage

Pathogenic viruses and bacteria cause infectious diseases and, for both of these microbes to cause a disease, they first have to be caught, they are not generated spontaneously inside one’s body. In the case of viruses, these microbes infect cells and replicate inside them, using the cell’s machinery to produce more copies of the pathogenic virus that can leave the infected cells and infect new cells and also new individuals.

Mask mandates are associated with reductions in the spread of COVID-19 cases and deaths; contrary to One America News article

A recent CDC study found that mask mandates were associated with a significant decrease in the growth rate of both COVID-19 cases and deaths during the 100 days after the policies were implemented. The study also found that policies allowing on-premises restaurant dining were associated with an increase in the growth rate of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Claiming that the CDC study shows mask usage had a negligible impact on the spread of COVID-19 is inaccurate.

Misleading Wall Street Journal opinion piece makes the unsubstantiated claim that the U.S. will have herd immunity by April 2021

“The article’s claim that the U.S. is near herd immunity rests on two numbers: 1) the detection of infections by testing (claimed to be 10 – 25 percent) and 2) the infection fatality rate (claimed to be 0.23 percent). Using the same number of deaths as the author indicates that 0.15%/0.6% = 25% of the U.S. population has been infected, rather than two-thirds as the author claims. Thus, the author’s argument that 55 – 66 percent of the U.S. population has already been infected and has immunity is not supported by available data.”

COVID-19 vaccines protect individuals from developing the disease and are necessary tools to end the pandemic along with physical distancing measures

Authorized COVID-19 vaccines stimulate COVID-19 immunity in vaccinated individuals and significantly reduce the number of symptomatic COVID-19 cases. Preliminary data indicate that the COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use may also reduce the risk of person-to-person transmission of the virus that causes the disease, however, the degree of this effect has not been determined by scientific studies yet. Therefore health authorities recommend that vaccinated people still wear masks to reduce the spread of COVID-19.