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TRUMP- AND HIS VIRUS MISCONSEPTIONS

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent on September 26^th gave the 5 most common misconceptions against the Covid-19 virus and the science and facts you need to know.  Since the beginning of 2020 it has been a struggle to sift out the fact from Trump’s wishful thinking, and that of his minions in his administration when it comes to the ASRS-CoV-2 virus.

The fact is our understanding of the virus, what it is, how it infects people, who it infects and how we can protect ourselves and others have all evolved as our knowledge and experience with the virus has grown.  The evolution has been confusing with changing information and recommendations, and in some cases deliberate disinformation.

Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus, director general of the Word Health Organization said last Wednesday: “Just as Covid-19 has spread around the world, so too have rumors, untruths, and disinformation.  And it can be just as dangerous.”  The disinformation has led to people harming themselves with dangerous and toxic chemicals, self-mediation with potentially harmful prescription drugs.  This misinformation has eroded the trust in institutions which could result in people turning their backs on actual remedies.

The WHO issued a statement and Tedros said: “calling on all countries to put in place national action plans to promote science-based health information and to combat misinformation.  And we call on the media technology companies, civil society, researchers, and people everywhere to keep the ‘infodemic’ from spreading.”  I am sure he was aiming the comment at the United States and its penchant to tailor information to help Trump’s campaign avoiding inconvenient truths.  Below are a mere 5 of the common myths Trump and his minions have stated over the last 9 months concerning the virus.

Misconception #1: Only older people are impacted by the virus.

A week ago Monday Trump said at a rally; “it affects elderly people.  Elderly people with heart problems and other problems, if they have other problems. That’s what it really affects.  That’s it.  You know, in some states thousands of people—nobody young.  Below the age of 18.  Like, nobody.”

Fact check-people of all ages have been impacted by the virus.  Older people and those with certain pre-existing conditions are most likely to get the sickest or die from Covid-19, younger people are by no means immune.

In a new study published Wednesday by the CDC in its weekly Morbidity and Mortality report found young adult 20-29 accounted for 20% of the cases in the U.S, during June thru August—the highest incidence rate of all age groups.

Some young people have comorbidities that put them at greater risk and potentially causing a condition known as multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) caused by overreaction and a chemical reaction known as cytokine.

Misconception #2: Masks don’t protect you against coronavirus.

Fact check- Initially when masks were in short supply and we were told masks weren’t important for those not in close contact with sick people.  N-95 masks were in short supply and are still in demand.  Science found two important facts, the first is that people can spread the virus even without symptoms, and the second is that the virus is very likely spread through the air, in small virus containing aerosols and not from surfaces. 

Dr.Fauci said: “We were not aware that 40-45% of people were asymptomatic, nor were we aware that a substantial proportion of people who get infected get infected from people who are  without symptoms.  That makes it overwhelmingly important for everyone to wear a mask.”

Studies have found that masks reduce the aerosols by 60-90% depending on the mask.  Not all masks are the same.

Misconception #3: You can only catch Covid-19 if you’ve been in close contact with someone that has symptoms.

Fact Check-A choir in Washington State had 61 members catch the virus, only one had symptoms showing the virus spreads through aerosols perhaps further than 6’ and perhaps as much as 20’ in areas with poor circulation.  Asymptomatic people can infect anyone else.

Misconception #4: This is like the flu

Fact Check-Trump insisted: “this is the flu, this is like a flu”  Both Covid-19 and the flu are caused by the respiratory viruses and share similar symptoms including fever, fatigue and cough.  And in some cases the symptoms are milder than others.  There are big differences Recent best guess for the likelihood of dying—the infection fatality ratio—is very low for people under the age of 50.  Ages 50-59, it is 0.5% chance of death ½ of 1%.  For people 70 and older, mortality jumps to 5.4%.  Compared with the annual flu with a mortality rate of 0.1%.  Current mortality rate for all is close to 2% overall that’s 20 times the mortality of the flu.  It’s possible that the Covid-19 will be the third largest cause of death in 2020 behind heart disease and cancer.

Misconception #5: Everyone can get a vaccine this winter

Fact Check- Dr. Fauci and other public health officials have said it is highly unlikely a vaccine will be available by election day.  The FDA and the administration are in discussions on new protocols which would push out any approval of a vaccine to after the election.  Trump has repeatedly said a vaccine could be ready by November 3^rd.

Dr. Moncef Slaoui the head of the “operation Warp Speed” project to have an effective vaccine ASAP.  In a statement recently he said: “if it’s shown efficacious in November or in December, we don’t have enough vaccine doses.  We’d have a few million in November and maybe 10,20 million of each in December.  That will be enough to start vaccinating certain populations but not the whole population.”

It is not a given that a vaccine will be available as any vaccine will be required to be effective enough (50%) and the data is not yet in.

Dr. Fauci stressed: “lets stay focused on what the science tells to overcome this.”  I’m excited about the potential for a vaccine—“but in the meantime there are simple and effective things we can do ourselves: wash our hands, avoid large gatherings, and wear a mask”