3 ms·

I think a major problem is that "we don't recommend masks" too easily gets interpreted as "we recommend no masks", and we need new clear language to say the fo

I think a major problem is that "we don't recommend masks" too easily gets interpreted as "we recommend no masks", and we need new clear language to say the former (no position on masks) with no risk of misinterpretation (position against masks). Edit: I misremembered the original advice. CDC specifically said masks were unnecessary. Obviously they didn't have the evidence to make that kind of assertion.

boogies 6y ago
IDK about the WHO & CDC, but “the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government of the United States” (according to Wikipedia) did not have “no position on masks”. I’d quote him here, but his position was emphatic enough to technically break HN’s guidelines: https://nitter.net/Surgeon_General/status/1233725785283932160 https://nitter.net/Surgeon_General/status/123372578528393216...
- mortehu 6y ago
  You are right. CDC said in March "You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask)".
- mancerayder 6y ago
  It's fashionable to criticize (correctly) the current administration but let's not absolve stuff-that-isn't-that-administration like the WHO https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/30/world/coronavirus-who-masks-recommendation-trnd/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/30/world/coronavirus-who-masks-r... (reversed in June) The CDC has more an ambiguous relationship but they came out against masks in Feb and reversed course somewhat in April. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/05/22/mask-wearing_guidance_a_timeline_of_slow-to-shift_messaging_143264.html# https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/05/22/mask-w...! I would take a step back from partisan politics for this issue, something people have a very tough time with even in the best of times. We should criticize all institutions when they're wrong on questions of public health.
  - boogies 6y ago
    Thank you for the info about the the WHO, I genuinely did not know/remember that or mean to absolve stuff-that-isn't-that-administration.

boogies 6y ago

IDK about the WHO & CDC, but “the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government of the United States” (according to Wikipedia) did not have “no position on masks”. I’d quote him here, but his position was emphatic enough to technically break HN’s guidelines: https://nitter.net/Surgeon_General/status/1233725785283932160 https://nitter.net/Surgeon_General/status/123372578528393216...

mortehu 6y ago
You are right. CDC said in March "You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask)".
mancerayder 6y ago
It's fashionable to criticize (correctly) the current administration but let's not absolve stuff-that-isn't-that-administration like the WHO https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/30/world/coronavirus-who-masks-recommendation-trnd/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/30/world/coronavirus-who-masks-r... (reversed in June) The CDC has more an ambiguous relationship but they came out against masks in Feb and reversed course somewhat in April. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/05/22/mask-wearing_guidance_a_timeline_of_slow-to-shift_messaging_143264.html# https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/05/22/mask-w...! I would take a step back from partisan politics for this issue, something people have a very tough time with even in the best of times. We should criticize all institutions when they're wrong on questions of public health.
- boogies 6y ago
  Thank you for the info about the the WHO, I genuinely did not know/remember that or mean to absolve stuff-that-isn't-that-administration.