Coronavirus: Thread

[grarpamp]

Former FDA Commissioner: "Costly" Social Distancing Mandate "Wasn't
Based On Clear Science"

Amid the always-fearmongering, always-pessimistic,
always-more-control-demanded, (and almost always wrong) daily
headlines from Dr. Fauci, Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb
dared to speak optimistically about the way forward on Friday:

    "We now know that the vaccines dramatically reduce your chance of
both contracting COVID and becoming symptomatic to the point where you
are going to have a bad outcome; we also know it reduces asymptomatic
disease and reduces transmission... we are seeing that in the data."

The Pfizer board member does hedge a little by suggesting those who
are high risk should still take precautions.

By many measures, March was supposed to be a "difficult month" but as
the vaccine campaign continues uninterrupted, April and May will "look
much more clear."

    "...people can be more liberal... people will be taking off their
masks because we are going to see prevalence decline around the
country and people who've been vaccinated can go out with more
confidence."

Then Gottlieb dropped some serious truth bombs (which were
mysteriously edited out of CNBC's clip above) saying that within a few
weeks, it could be "obvious" that masks may be safely removed, and
even more significantly, following CDC's flip-flopping and confusing
rules this week on distancing in schools:

    "This six-foot distancing requirement has probably been the single
costliest mitigation tactic that we've employed in response to
COVID... and it really wasn't based on clear science... we should have
readjucated this much earlier."

Watch this 70 seconds and consider the source - this is not some
'white supremacist, disinformation-spreading, alt-right blogger', this
is the former FDA Commissioner who many mainstream media outlets have
listened to verbatim through the crisis.

    "This six-foot distancing requirement has probably been the single
costliest mitigation tactic that we've employed in response to COVID,"
says @scottgottliebmd. pic.twitter.com/M5tmgj3kTY
    — CNBC's Closing Bell (@CNBCClosingBell) March 19, 2021

But, but, but, what about Fauci's "science"?

This shocking revelation comes just days after Senator Rand Paul
destroyed Dr. Fauci's so-called "science"-based reasons for various
restrictions - from mask-wearing to social-distancing - as 'useless
political theater'.

Interestingly, Gottlieb said "both [Paul and Fauci] made valid
points," but specifically said that "Senator Paul was right, we need
to see light at the end of the tunnel and have guidance that
prescribes an environment where people can start doing things again."

Amid the now-politicized divide between nanny-state-obeyers and
science-denying-extremists (there is no middle ground anymore), it
would appear the entirely opposite-think statements, declarations, and
proclamations made by officials one year ago have been almost entirely
'memory-holed'.

As Sharyl Attkisson points out in an extensively researched note,
around this time last year:

    Vaccine propagandist Dr. Peter Hotez made the case against travel bans

    Dr. Anthony Fauci said there was no reason to walk around wearing masks

    New York City's Health Commissioner urged people to go to crowded
places and busy restaurants

    Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) encouraged people to get out and be
around others in San Francisco's Chinatown

And one year ago, the World Health Organization gave what many
scientist called confusing guidance on wearing masks for Covid-19.

World Health Organization, March 19, 2020: “Wearing medical masks when
not indicated may result in unnecessary costs and procurement burdens
and create a false sense of security that can lead to the neglect of
other essential measures, such as hand hygiene practices. Further,
using a mask incorrectly may hamper its effectiveness in reducing the
risk of transmission.”

It was just ten days after Dr. Anthony Fauci stated, on March 8,
“there’s no reason to be walking around with a mask.”

Dr. Fauci also, notoriously, testified to Congress that coronavirus
was ten times deadlier than flu about the same time he published a
scientific paper that said something quite different: Covid’s
lethality was akin to a bad flu season.

President Trump’s ban on travel from China had been installed January
31 when there had only been a few confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the
U.S.

Here's a look back at some of the most notable statements made by
public officials from January through March 31, 2020.

Some of the comments, guidance, and reflections proved accurate in the
long run; some did not. Some seem to have long been forgotten or
deposited down the selective memory hole.
Nothing to fear, It's a 'bad flu', 'masks, schmasks'...

    Dr. Anthony Fauci, White House Coronavirus Task Force, Jan. 21,
2020: “This is not a major threat to the people in the United States
and it is not something that the citizens of the United States right
now should be worried about.”

    Dr. Fauci, in sworn testimony to Congress, March 11, 2020:
’Coronavirus ten times more lethal than flu.’ but Dr. Fauci in the New
England Journal of Medicine, March 26, 2020: “…the case fatality rate
may be considerably less than 1%. This suggests that the overall
clinical consequences of Covid-19 may ultimately be more akin to those
of a severe seasonal influenza (which has a case fatality rate of
approximately 0.1%)…”

    Dr. Oxiris Barbot, New York City health commissioner, Jan. 27,
2020: People “who had recently traveled from Wuhan were not being
urged to self-quarantine or avoid large public gatherings.” “There is
no reason not to take the subway, not to take the bus, not to go out
to your favorite restaurant, and certainly not to miss the parade next
Sunday.”

    and

    “As we gear up to celebrate the #LunarNewYear [Chinatown parade]
in NYC, I want to assure New Yorkers that there is no reason for
anyone to change their holiday plans, avoid the subway, or certain
parts of the city because of #coronavirus…We are here today to urge
all New Yorkers to continue to live their lives as usual.”

    and

    “…there’s no risk at this point in time…about having it be
transmitted in casual contact, right?” “The risk to New Yorkers for
Coronavirus is low, and our preparedness as a city is very high.”

    LA Times, Soumya Karlamangla, Jan. 31, 2020: For Americans, flu
remains a bigger threat than coronavirus. “…unlike the coronavirus,
which so far hasn’t led to any deaths in the U.S., influenza has
killed approximately 10,000 Americans since October, according to
federal data released Friday.” “…a much deadlier killer already
stalking the United States has been largely overshadowed: the flu.”

    Rep. Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker, Feb. 24, 2020: Urged people to
visit San Francisco’s Chinatown. "That’s what we’re trying to do today
is to say everything is fine here. Come because precautions have been
taken. The city is on top of the situation."

    New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio, March 2, 2020: “…I’m
encouraging New Yorkers to go on with your lives + get out on the town
despite Coronavirus…”

    Cuomo, March 23, 2020: “Many people will get the virus, but few
will be truly endangered. Hold both of those facts in your hands: Many
will get it, up to 80 percent may get it, but few are truly endangered
and we know who they are.”

    Dr. Anthony Fauci, National Institutes of Health and White House
Task Force, March 8, 2020: “there’s no reason to be walking around
with a mask.”

    Read more hypocritical insanity here...

So what changed? Why did all these officials suddenly flip to
fearmongering the deadliest of deadly things imaginable (that leaves
99.7% of those 'infected' unharmed)?

It couldn't be politics, surely?