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I Wish I Would Have Know This Sooner . . .

After graduation from medical residency, I served for four years as my AirForce Reserve unit’s biological/chemical weapons expert & physician. My job was to understand the risks of all the known biologic and chemical weapons that could be used on a human being, including severe viral and bacterial diseases that could pose a threat. My training was specifically focused on how to prevent and treat the effects of these illnesses in those under my care, military or otherwise.

I spent four years reading and researching where and when various types of masks, respirators and protective equipment would and should be used. Never once was a surgical or cloth mask ever found to be effective. Even N95 masks failed the rigors of these encounters.

This week our fearless Dr. Fauci says it’s “common sense” to wear two masks. So, my question to him and all of the other emperors of medicine is, what about three masks?

Even better yet, 10 masks makes even more “common sense!!” Where does this stop? (I stop at 11, because, my ears flop over at 12 masks.)

I’m thinking that 100 masks is 100% effective right?

I guess those filtered gas masks really aren’t essential then?!

One surgical mask decreases risk by 1-2% (yes, that’s the benefit of a mask that we’ve been required to wear). You’re more likely to have a 40% COVID risk reduction by throwing salt over your shoulder when you leave the house . . . (that’s the actual placebo effect).

The whole reason for mask wearing is to decrease “asymptomatic” transmission of COVID-19. That means, masks are supposed to decrease your risk of spreading or inhaling this virus when you or the person near you have no symptoms. Initially, we recommended wearing masks, because we did not know how infective the COVID-19 virus was to humans. We also knew that there was limited access to the N95 masks used in the hospital setting.

However, in the last 12 months, we’ve learned a great deal and we have a tremendous amount of data about treating this virus in the outpatient setting. You can follow Dr. Nally’s COVID-19 treatment protocol here.

How Contagious is COVID-19?

What’s the actual risk of spreading the virus when you have no symptoms? It’s about 0.06% if you have prolonged contact (3 hours continuous face-to-face) with a person within six hours of that person having onset of symptoms (i.e. – fever, sore throat, fatigue, headache, loss of taste or smell, or runny nose). It is very rare to be infected at all with COVID-19 asymptomatically if you contact a person 6-9 hours before they have symptoms.

In fact, a recent study revealed there were no positive tests (or asymptomatic spread) among 1,174 close contacts of asymptomatic cases.  So, why are we still wearing masks? Because it is politically convenient, increases fear, and increases your likelihood of getting a vaccine.

Are There Unintended Consequences of Mask Wearing?

Is wearing a mask to decrease a minimal risk by 1% more worth the risk? Increased bacterial and fungal infections that are on the rise as a consequence of chronic and continued daily mask wearing.

I’m seeing patients with increased frequency of facial rashes, fungal infections, non COVID-19 induced bacterial infections. Reports are coming from my colleagues, all over the world, that suggest bacterial pneumonias are on the rise.

Why? Because we are wearing and re-wearing of dirty masks. Untrained members of the public are wearing medical masks, repeatedly… in a non-sterile fashion… They’re becoming contaminated. They’re pulling them off of their car seat, off the rearview mirror, out of their pocket, from their countertop, and they’re reapplying a mask that should be worn fresh and sterile every single time. And, there is no way around this when 330 million people are required to wear a mask to go to Wal-Mart or Costco.

In a recent report in Emerging Infectious Diseases, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests what experts have stated all along: There is no conclusive evidence that cloth masks protects users from coronavirus, especially since most people do not use them correctly and do not keep them clean.

The report actually says, “To our knowledge, only 1 randomized controlled trial has been conducted to examine the efficacy of cloth masks in healthcare settings, and the results do not favor use of cloth masks. More randomized controlled trials should be conducted in community settings to test the efficacy of cloth masks against respiratory infections.”

So, why, again, are we wearing these masks?

Coronavirus, Mask Wearing & Death – Similarities to 1918 Flu

Isn’t it interesting, back in April and May, 2020, those of us closely watching the data stated that this virus would look much like the influenza pandemic of 1918.  Look closely at the numbers of deaths in St Louis (who participated in the 1918 quarantine – red line) and Arizona, who has done much the same in our approach (in the 2nd graphic below).

The death count curves are nearly identical.   Interestingly, the numbers of those that died St Louis are almost identical to Arizona’s graph below, directly from the Arizona Department of Health Website.  We know that the rates of infection differ between the two viruses and a number of things including domicile proximity, health of the city or state, transportation methods, sanitary condition, etc. play a significant role in the infection rates.  My point is not to compare the two viruses, but to point out that the effect of quarantine did exactly what we expected it to do.

We expected the resurgence of the virus.  Let’s say that again.  We expected it.  However, the media and many health professionals that I interact with seem horrified that it occurred.

 

We predicted this pattern months ago.

I am surprised at the number of health professionals that are just beside themselves about this virus.  I recognize that, in its most severe form, this virus can be deadly.  And, so is the flu, RSV and other RNA viruses.  Do these professionals not read history?  Do they not read the actual scientific literature?  Do they not see the patterns that diet and control of hyperinsulinemia have on this virus?

Instead, these medical professionals have remained quiet, and in some cases cheered, as our government over-reach and personal liberty infringement took place.  We’ve lost our ability to travel, participate in group gatherings and church services.  Quarantine, mask wearing and social distancing has essentially done nothing for our community in the last 3 months.

Our initial reasoning for quarantine was to take the peak off of hospitalizations.  That was done.  Yet continued suppression of personal liberties has done nothing for the overall health of our society.  The second wave of infection was going to occur no matter what we did.

Instead, the media fear mongering, social distancing and force wearing of masks has lead to increased risk of suicide, overdose and drug addiction.  Estimates are as high as 150,000 deaths due to the effects of quarantine and social distancing mandates.  In fact, much of the anxiety and PTSD that is expected will not be seen until 4-6 month after the quarantine occurs.

According to a recent JAMA report, “It is possible that the 24/7 news coverage of these unprecedented events could serve as an additional stressor, especially for individuals with preexisting mental health problems.” Our routines have been completely upended and even things like wearing a mask or waiting in lines at the grocery store can make you feel tense.

Some common signs of pandemic-induced stress are:

  • Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
  • Changes in sleep or eating patterns
  • Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
  • Worsening of chronic health problems
  • Worsening of mental health conditions
  • Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

What we know from research after the SARS outbreak is that post-traumatic stress (PTSD) is possible, especially in front line healthcare workers. In one particular study, about 10 percent of the hospital employees had had high SARS-related PTSD symptoms post-outbreak. And about half of them still had symptoms three years later. Other studies have shown that when a person’s PTSD symptoms persist for more than 6 months after an event, they are very likely to continue to persist over the long term.

A significant part of the problem in both the lay public and among health care workers is confusion about actual risk of disease, what can be done to prevent/treat the disease, and how to access treatment.  I see this confusion today in many physicians and nurses I interact with in my community.

If you are having symptoms of anxiety, stress or depression, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.  Knowledge is power.  The more you know, the less fear and anxiety you will have.

Wear your mask if you want.  Initially, when we didn’t know how invective this virus was, I was all for using any protection available.  But, since the end of April, the data has changed my mind.  Wearing a mask isn’t doing anyone any good.

Some cities and states have mandated mask wearing. I’m not telling you to break the law.  I am saying that the mask mandate has done nothing to “slow the spread” as so many people have now bought into.  Research demonstrates that homemade masks to little to stop the spread of viral infections and surgical mask that have been properly fitted and worn correctly decrease this risk of viral spread by only 2-5%.  In the most recent review of the mask wearing literature, the authors stated, “The evidence is not sufficiently strong to support widespread use of face-masks as a protective measure against COVID-19. However, there is enough evidence to support the use of face-masks for short periods of time by particularly vulnerable individuals when in transient higher risk situations.”

What is effective is washing your hands regularly with soap and water, avoiding those who are actually sick or have fevers over 101 degrees, eating a healthy diet that prevents diabetes risk and getting adequate sleep.  Those at high risk for infection can and should be vigilant about avoiding exposure.