Fauci says the public is ‘misinterpreting’ the CDC’s latest mask guidance
By: Michael Birnbaum , Katerina Ang , Jennifer Hassan , Lateshia Beachum and Reis Thebault (The Washington Post)
Nine ways to nuthin'. Another day, another Fauci.
Masks do nothing -- for those who have been vaccinated. The scientific evidence is clear and unequivocal; or so we've been told by none other than Anthony Fauci.
Just another case of Fauci whiplash. Fauci's advice has drifted between 'any risk is too great' and 'there's nothing to worry about' depending upon political circumstance and expediency. We should be accustomed to Anthony Fauci taking all sides on every issue.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Anthony S. Fauci, the government’s leading infectious-disease expert, told Axios that the public is misinterpreting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s announcement last week that fully vaccinated people can go without masks indoors.
“I think people are misinterpreting, thinking that this is a removal of a mask mandate for everyone. It’s not,” he told Axios. “It’s an assurance to those who are vaccinated that they can feel safe, be they outdoors or indoors.”
Fauci emphasized that the health agency did not explicitly tell unvaccinated people to go without masks but instead communicated to vaccinated individuals that they will not get infected indoors or outdoors.
“People either read them quickly, or listen and hear half of it. They are feeling that we’re saying: ‘You don’t need the mask anymore.’ That’s not what the CDC said,” he told the news outlet.
Reaction to the CDC’s guidance has been applauded by those who say it shows the efficacy of vaccinations against the coronavirus and criticized by those who say it is too soon to forgo masks.
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Nine ways to nuthin'. Another day, another Fauci.
No wonder there is so little trust in our institutions.
What, specifically, is your complaint?
What is the complaint now?
compared to this :
Net: if you are fully vaccinated the statement is that there is no need to wear a mask or physically distance in many cases.
What, specifically, is the complaint?
Who knows. Perhaps some just want to complain?
According to Anthony Fauci, you're too stupid and ignorant to understand.
How many times have we heard Fauci claim 'we just don't know' as scientific justification for whatever stringent precaution he has commanded?
Well that I agree with. People are stupid!
"We don't know" is an honest answer and justifications are based on prior experiences with diseases.
What, specifically, is your complaint?
You aren't Anthony Fauci. So, where does that place you on the spectrum of stupidity?
Fauci has been giving advice based upon unyielding adherence to the science pertaining to influenza pandemics. And that advice worked very well with influenza; spread of and infection by influenza was the lowest on record.
Obviously the coronavirus doesn't behave the same as an influenza virus. But Fauci stayed with the influenza playbook instead of using his experience to look at the behavior of the coronavirus. Dr. Anthony Fauci really did protect the country from an influenza pandemic; the evidence is clear and unequivocal.
Yes, Fauci followed the science. But it was the wrong science for the coronavirus pandemic.
Just slightly above stupid.
If Covid is spread by similar modes of transmission that influenza is, then it's reasonable to utilize similar precautions against it. Especially given the lack of information about Covid we had at the time, and still do now to a certain degree.
It's not about how it "behaves" (whatever that means). It's about how it spreads, and the steps necessary to avoid spreading it.
I should hope so. Too bad so many did not.
How so? Like I said, the understanding of Covid was quite limited. Given that, using established guidelines for viruses that spread in a similar fashion is a reasonable course of action.
Common ground!
Obviously the coronavirus does not spread the same as influenza. The mandated measures were very effective against influenza but not nearly as effective against the coronavirus. That should have raised alarms that the similarity in modes of transmission wasn't sufficient for guidance. Addressing the modes of transmission based upon similarity did not prove to be adequate.
Over the past year we have been arguing about how to protect ourselves from the spread of influenza. Attention was focused on mandated measures to control the modes of transmission. That worked very well for influenza.
But that approach didn't work so well for the coronavirus. Our adherence to the science pertaining to influenza pandemics has missed something. We've been following the wrong science based on controlling the modes of transmission.
No, general stupidity is the common ground. I'm maybe 1 step above it.
You're kidding, right? Both Covid and flu spread by droplets expelled during coughing or sneezing, or when touching a mucous membrane after touching a contaminated surface and not washing your hands. From Johns Hopkins Medicine (and the CDC too),
They are effective. But to be effective, people need to properly adhere to them.
It works for Covid too. Also from Johns Hopkins and the CDC:
No, many people have not been following scientific mandates. That's obvious considering how often people refuse to wear masks, downplay Covid, or some other similar nonsense, as it's been well covered and documented in the media. Even now some still refuse to follow proper guidelines. That's why it's not working as well as it should. So I'm not sure where you get the idea that the modes of transmission are different or that protective measures do not work.
You are possibly correct. But I'll give Nerm a chance to explain first.
Then why were the mandated measures to control the mode of transmission highly effective against influenza while much less effective against the coronavirus?
Controlling the mode of transmission was highly effective -- for influenza. The mandated measures worked very well -- for influenza. Doesn't that suggest we missed something?
IMO we can't say that with any certainty. The claim that 'many people have not been following scientific mandates' has only been supported by anecdotal evidence.
There has been virtually no reporting or discussion of CDC surveys of mitigation efforts. And it's unclear if the CDC really expended much effort to obtain data concerning compliance with mitigation efforts.
We've spent more money on testing for coronavirus infections than we have spent on vaccinations. How much have we spent on monitoring mitigation efforts? Has anyone collected that data? Why hasn't the CDC informed us of that data?
Probably because people were less inclined or complaint to follow Covid guidelines.
Just look at the news. There wasn't a day that went by where I didn't hear about a situation of people refusing to wear masks or causing a disturbance about it. It's also the most reasonable explanation. Cough/sneeze around someone in too close of a proximity, and you risk them contracting covid. Wear a mask, and others are at much less risk.
That doesn't change the fact that guidelines are appropriate.
Testing and vaccines are 2 different things and occurred at different times. You can't compare them.
Well, if you must know....
It is normally something that makes no sense, is derogatory to others and things that most do not pay attention to.
Glad I can help.
Sorry, I don't understand the point you are trying to make with that comment.
The mandated measures to control modes of transmission were in place during cold & flu season. And those mandated measures worked very well against cold & flu. If people were not complying with the mandated measures then we should have seen more cases of cold & flu.
Were are a nation of 330 million. A few thousand people not complying with the mandated measures isn't even a statistical blip.
An 80 pct compliance rate for mitigation efforts means 66 million people refused to comply. A 50 pct compliance rate for mitigation efforts means 165 million refused to comply. There have been 33 million reported infections which would suggest non-compliance wasn't as risky as we have been told. But blaming non-compliance contradicts the observed result that the cold & flu season was almost non-existent.
The CDC guidelines and the mandated measures were based upon science pertaining to an influenza pandemic. And the results clearly show that the guidelines and mandates were extremely effective against influenza. If non-compliance was that big a factor then we should have seen more cases of influenza.
Why would the mandated measures be highly effective against influenza but much less effective against the coronavirus? The dichotomy between spread of the coronavirus and spread of influenza suggests we've missed something.
Just because people followed recommendations for the flu doesn't automatically translate to them following recommendations for Covid. If anything, Covid requires stricter adherence to precautions, as its incubation and infectivity is different than the flu. Many people seemed unwilling to get that strict.
It only takes one to start a pandemic. A few thousand can keep it going.
Is that supposed to be some kind of rationalization? 33 million infected and nearly 600k dead. Meanwhile, the healthcare system has been overwhelmed for over a year trying to keep up with and treat the infected. It's quite disingenuous to imply non-compliance isn't "as risky."
Oh good grief! How many times must this be explained to you before you get it? Covid and flu are not the same thing. They are transmitted the same way. The difference between them, other than being different viruses, is that Covid is more contagious, shares some of the same symptoms as the flu, takes longer to produce symptoms (while remaining contagious), has more serious effects, and takes longer to resolve. CDC/medical guidelines are meant to combat the mode of transmission. A person might feel fine and consequently not wear a mask. But they are still contagious. Longer if it's Covid. A person may not want to wear a mask for an extended period of time, especially if they feel fine and others around them might have a false sense of security if they see another appears fine. Downplaying the necessity of precautions is as bad (and ignorant), if not worse, than downplaying the severity of Covid.
You're welcome
Your posts are replete with inconsistencies, contradictions, irrelevancies. That's the complaint about Fauci.
There are not separate recommendations and guidelines to control the modes of transmission for influenza and coronavirus. As you pointed out earlier, the guidelines, recommendations, and mandates are concerned with controlling spread of the virus. Those guidelines and recommendations have been based upon planning for an influenza pandemic because the modes of transmission are similar for the coronavirus.
Pointing out that the coronavirus and influenza aren't the same is rather trite (and pointless) after pointing out they spread by similar modes of transmission and mitigation efforts are intended to control those modes of transmission.
The guidelines, recommendations, and mandated measures have been highly effective against spread of influenza (as shown by data) but much less effective against spread of coronavirus (as shown by data). The mitigation efforts have been directed toward controlling spread of viruses that cause respiratory disease and are not specific for any one virus. Since the mitigation efforts were highly effective against influenza then it does not follow that non-compliance accounts for less effectiveness against the coronavirus. Non-compliance would affect spread of both coronavirus and influenza since the modes of transmission are similar. But that is not what the data shows.
The number of infections is related to transmission of the virus. The number of fatalities is related to the severity of the disease caused by infection and is unrelated to transmission. Citing fatalities provides no useful information about the effectiveness of mitigations efforts to control spread.
COVID and flu are not the same but the mitigation efforts are the same for both. The mitigation efforts do not differentiate between influenza and coronavirus. We are using the same type of testing, we are using the same type of contact tracing, we are using the same types of mitigating behaviors. You're just trying to Fauci me by using pointless information to make emotional claims that are inconsistent, contradictory, and irrelevant.
Is your complaint about me or Dr. Fauci?
Correct. If those methods are effective in controlling the spread of influenza, then it stands to reason those methods would be similarly effective against other viruses that have the same mode of spread, like Covid.
Did you bother reading my post, or just cherry pick it? Pointing out the differences highlights the necessity of protection and that people might be less willing to endure or adopt those methods for the additional time necessary to prevent the spread of Covid.
Probably because people have been less inclined to follow the guidelines for Covid and that Covid is more contagious than influenza.
Yes, and?
You're still not getting it! If a person has influenza and another has Covid, the covid individual is more contagious and for a longer duration than the influenza person. They must use precautions for a longer period of time than the influenza individual. Clearly the length of time becomes difficult for some people. Hence, they are less likely to remain compliant, if at all. Especially if one has the mentality that Covid is not so bad or "like the flu."
It's also about the infectiveness of the virus itself. As we know, covid is more contagious. In addition, population density plays a factor too. Among other things.
You brought numbers into this. I simply included all data. And yes, it is relevant. Higher fatalities demonstrates how contagious and dangerous the virus really is. Hence the need for precautions and for people to follow them.
They don't need to if the mode of transmission is the same.
What "emotional claims?" More like you're just trying to argue for arguments sake. I offered simple facts and explanations. Much of this is also common sense. You don't seem to grasp the basics here, despite my attempts to explain it, and then complain about it while offering nothing. And you still haven't explained what your specific complaint is. But then, this does seem to be a recurring pattern of yours too!
Awwww
Couldn't come up with something on your own?
Too bad
Not surprising
No one should pay any attention to this quack
Yeah, I think that’s probably a diplomatic way of expressing the fact that some people are either ignorantly or deliberately abusing the privilege. I’m sure there are people who think they can get away with not wearing masks or distancing now, even though they haven’t gotten the vaccine. They are taking advantage of the new guidance in a way that was not intended.
Unfortunately, it looks like we will always have people who will go out of their way to not take this seriously and mock those who do.
This disingenuousness can be found all around. First, you’ve got the people I have just described who talk themselves and their friends into believing that the virus is fake or the vaccine is intended to actually hurt people. And then to support the campaign of confusion, we’ve got this idea that Fauci is somehow contradicting the new guidance. He’s not. He’s dealing in nuance. He’s focused on details people are ignoring.
I have been critical of Fauci a few times, but in this case, he is right.
Anthony Fauci has clearly based his advice and guidance on the idea that people cannot think for themselves. Fauci is being pretty Pollyanna to suggest that people should begin thinking for themselves now.
Fauci's nuance is the science of identifying scapegoats and placing blame. Fauci can do no wrong; it's everyone else's fault.
Look, we live in a United States that demands equal outcomes. What some can do, everyone must be allowed to do. And if everyone cannot be allowed to do something then those who can must be punished. The United States has become a country of all or nothing. There isn't any nuance in political or public expectations.
Well, a lot of times, they can’t. And when it comes to infectious diseases, thinking for themselves might be a bad idea if all of their thinking is rooted in ignorance.
I didn’t see him suggest that. He said they were misinterpreting what the CDC said. The fact that people do that should not surprise us.
I don’t see him blaming anybody for anything. All he is saying is don’t go changing your masking and distancing protocols if you haven’t been vaccinated.
I think he does stuff wrong. It just happens that this is not one of those times.
When dealing with the public one must cater to those more inclined to do foolish things. The more intelligent / informed individuals will of course figure things out. This is why it was such a problem when Trump downplayed the virus or offered potential means of protection. The more ignorant (and stupid) among us would be more likely to take him at his word.
Seems to me that no matter what Fauci says you have a complaint. He cannot revise his position without being deemed incompetent (or a liar). He cannot target advice to those more likely to be foolish without you accusing him of talking down to the American people.
Actually Nerm, to some Fauci cannot do anything right. The incessant Trump-sourced-partisan whining gets old.
And they did.
You are welcome. But I would not expect any change in behavior since I was stating the obvious.