Year: 2020
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The surgical mask is a bad fit for risk reduction
The following article was written for CMAJ by Canadian physician and poet, Shane Neilson. Written in 2016, Neilson exposed the fear-based messaging proliferated by mask wearing. He says that mask wearing prepares us for a future pandemic. In addition, Nielsen says, mask wearing is aimed at cultivating collective anxiety which rationalizes the intensification of risk…
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It is time to question what you know about COVID
In this article by Makia Freeman reveals the 11 assumptions about COVID-19 that are based on fear, not facts. Here are the false assumptions about the coronavirus: The method of counting COVID deaths are accurate and sensible. The RT-PCR test is accurate. The antibody test for COVID is accurate. COVID case infections are rising. Imaging…
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Study shows coronavirus can be transmitted in utero
A study published by Nature Communications last July 14, 2020 shows evidence that the coronavirus may be transmitted by pregnant women to a fetus. The subject of the study was a baby born in March to a mother who was confirmed positive for the coronavirus. The baby is now three months old, and is “very much improved,…
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Expert panel recommends reopening of schools for young children and children with special needs
A new report released by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) recommends that younger children and those with special needs attend school in person. For these scientists and educators, in-person learning for younger children must be prioritized as online learning is ineffective for their needs. The NASEM is the second panel of experts to support…
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Study: People who cross-check claims of mainstream media on COVID-19 get branded as “conspiracy theorists“
A newly published study from Cambridge University shows that people who mainly use social media for news tend to believe in conspiracy theories. Respondents were asked to identify true statements from a list of six statements, three of which were as considered conspiracy beliefs: (1) The virus that causes COVID-19 was probably created in a laboratory,…
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What does the WHO say about masking?
The following is a Q&A about masks and COVID-19 taken directly from the WHO website. It discusses the WHO’s stand on the use of non-medical, fabric masks, whether they should be worn by the general public, among other concerns related to the topic. Indiscriminate use of masks is not necessary, and no less than the…
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Mandatory masking interferes with personal autonomy
The imposition of province-wide masking for indoor spaces interferes with personal autonomy. This is the position set out by the Justice Center for Constitutional Freedoms. The Center maintains that there people who are unable to wear masks safely due to physical or psychological illnesses. Moreover, the Center points out that even the WHO says that the use…
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The return of plastic
Before the pandemic, the call for eradicating plastic was resounding. But the pandemic has brought with it the resurgence of plastic, as well as the quieting down of the conversations about the climate crisis. This feature by The Guardian features various images of the how plastic has reclaimed its role in our daily lives. Editor’s Note: The zero…
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Immune systems of recovered COVID-19 patients recognize SARS-COV-2
This May 15, 2020 article published by Science Daily summarizes the findings of a study conducted by the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. The study, which included 20 adults who recovered from COVID-19, shows that the body’s immune system is able to recognize the SARS-COV-2 virus in various ways. This article comes as a response to the…
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Johan Giesecke: Why lockdowns are the wrong approach
In this May 17, 2020 interview with RNZ, Johan Giesecke, physician and professor emeritus at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, offers a clear explanation of the Swedish approach, their bases for their decision, as well as the future advantages their approach offers. Editor’s Note: We cite this article here despite its age because some countries are still…
