4 ms·

> If research came out that changed the recommendations, well, that's how science works. But that's not what happened. There was plenty of studies showing that

by bnralt 5y ago

> If research came out that changed the recommendations, well, that's how science works. But that's not what happened. There was plenty of studies showing that masks could be effective before the pandemic started[1]. Here are a couple of Hacker news discussions from early March 2020 about studies done years earlier showing that mask use is effective[2][3]. And this article from right before the CDC changed it's recommendation, for good measure[4]: "Do you need a mask? The science hasn't changed, but public guidance might" I'm not sure why it's so hard for people to consider the possibility that the CDC made a mistake. [1] https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HLrm0pqBN_5bdyysOeoOBX4pt4oFDBhsC_jpblXpNtQ/preview https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HLrm0pqBN_5bdyysOeoOBX4p... [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22460630 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22460630 [3] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22498941 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22498941 [4] https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/do-you-need-mask-science-hasn-t-changed-public-guidance-n1173006 https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/do-you-need-mask-...

joshribakoff 5y ago
Whether masks could be effective was never in debate. If you recall, they were concerned people would use the masks incorrectly and that could do more harm, as well as potential shortages in the supply chain and getting the masks to the most important workers. I don’t recall the CDC ever saying “masks do not work”
- a9h74j 5y ago
  Fauchi, presumed spokesman for the CDC, came as close as possible to saying so, and/or was taken as such. If that early statement can be justified by "fog of war" changing virus-related information at that time, then Fauchi should have allowed himself that complication. By offering "there were not enough masks available then" as a later explanation, he seems to have explained it essentially by saying he lied. In doing so he apparently threw away a substantial amount of his credibility, for many people. At worst a lying move; at best a lightweight move with lives at risk.
andreilys 5y ago
I don't think the CDC made a mistake - I think they intentionally "lied" for the sake of the public good, aka the Noble Lie. Rather than saying "Hey lets hold off on buying masks so that we have enough for essential care workers" they instead said "do not buy masks because they aren't effective, or might even make risk of infection higher!"

by bnralt 5y ago

joshribakoff 5y ago

Whether masks could be effective was never in debate. If you recall, they were concerned people would use the masks incorrectly and that could do more harm, as well as potential shortages in the supply chain and getting the masks to the most important workers. I don’t recall the CDC ever saying “masks do not work”

a9h74j 5y ago
Fauchi, presumed spokesman for the CDC, came as close as possible to saying so, and/or was taken as such. If that early statement can be justified by "fog of war" changing virus-related information at that time, then Fauchi should have allowed himself that complication. By offering "there were not enough masks available then" as a later explanation, he seems to have explained it essentially by saying he lied. In doing so he apparently threw away a substantial amount of his credibility, for many people. At worst a lying move; at best a lightweight move with lives at risk.

andreilys 5y ago

I don't think the CDC made a mistake - I think they intentionally "lied" for the sake of the public good, aka the Noble Lie. Rather than saying "Hey lets hold off on buying masks so that we have enough for essential care workers" they instead said "do not buy masks because they aren't effective, or might even make risk of infection higher!"