Dr. Lucky Tran :verified:

📢 Scientist and organizer working in public health, climate justice, and science communication

🎓 Columbia, Cornell, Cambridge, Adelaide

➡️ Contact/Links: https://linktr.ee/luckytran

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/luckytran
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luckytran_at_med-mastodon.com@momostr.pink

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Last Notes

2024-08-15 18:30:32

Please stop saying we should wear masks "when appropriate."
COVID surges throughout the year, and other viruses, pollution, wildfire smoke etc. are also significant health issues.
It is ALWAYS appropriate to wear a mask.

2024-08-08 04:15:37

GOOD NEWS: Earlier this year the requirement for US hospitals to report key COVID data to the federal government ended.
Thousands of activists submitted public comments to CMS, and now hospitals will be required to report key COVID, flu, and RSV hospitalization data again outside of public health emergencies.
Advocacy works!
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/924/440/278/024/412/original/64daa1b06f6ed303.png
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/924/440/309/162/807/original/1564bba80603bcf4.png
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2024-08-07 23:27:12

Olympians have access to best-in-class healthcare which helps them overcome asthma, Long COVID, POTS, kidney disease, mental health struggles and more to win gold medals.
Imagine what society could achieve if every single person had access to high quality healthcare.

2024-08-07 05:00:32

Must read account of what really happened at the Nassau County mask ban meeting, where disabled and higher risk advocates were harassed by anti-maskers, attacked by law enforcement, and silenced by legislators. Thank you to Jews for Mask Rights for writing, and everyone who spoke out!
https://www.jewsformaskrights.com/resources/anti-mask-harassment-nassau-countys-mask-ban-hearing

2024-08-06 21:28:29

Gabby Thomas, who just won the 200m at the Olympics, is not only a gold medalist, but she is a champion for health equity!
Gabby Thomas:
🏅 Studied neurobiology at Harvard
🏅 Got her Master's degree in Epidemiology
🏅 Volunteers at a clinic for uninsured people in Texas
👏👏👏
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/917/193/300/409/886/original/16b2a7d2c7053a82.jpeg
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2024-08-06 17:59:07

people who just finished their PhD thesis can relate to this
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/916/370/643/322/679/original/51fadc1e98ab86c1.png

2024-08-06 04:02:43

One of the advocates opposing the Nassau County mask ban was violently arrested by the cops at the meeting, as shown on this News 12 segment. Cops are already disproportionately targeting higher risk people wearing a mask before the mask ban is even signed into law.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/913/083/680/303/259/original/f574775411bd05c7.mp4

2024-08-06 01:58:50

Cops are not medical professionals. They should never be given the power to decide who can legally wear a mask for health reasons.

2024-08-05 23:58:22

- reply

Here's the Nassau County mask ban bill language. Health and religious exceptions are noted, but leaves it up to the judgement of the police officer. As written, the ban applies to all public spaces, not just protests. There will be many legal challenges.
https://nassaucountyny.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/3192?fileID=247452
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/912/120/980/274/434/original/4133ac9bd86efb6b.png
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/912/121/058/279/026/original/dba747b89c2617e0.png

2024-08-05 23:56:15

It's official: Mask ban in Nassau County, New York passes along party lines, 12-0 (7 abstentions). It makes wearing a mask a misdemeanor (with unclear health and religious exceptions) and gives police the power to fine people wearing a mask $1,000 and sentence them to jail time.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/912/115/750/854/003/original/d6b9af59fc29fe58.mp4

2024-08-05 23:05:54

The Nassau County mask ban hearing is happening now and Nassau County Legislators are cutting off people speaking against the mask ban, and security officers are intimidating people wearing masks. Here's a video of one of these incidents.
#NoNYMaskBan
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/911/917/691/902/011/original/bef9b47ff9cb70d5.mp4

2024-08-05 20:18:14

Trusting cops to judge who is "legitimately" wearing a mask for health reasons is ridiculous. Cops have been some of the biggest COVID deniers. They don't understand and won't be willing to acknowledge everyone has a right to wear a mask because everyone is vulnerable to COVID.

2024-08-04 20:26:47

Noah Lyles, who just won gold in the 100m sprint at the Paris Olympics suffers from asthma. He takes several precautions including wearing a mask to protect himself from COVID.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/905/621/645/766/309/original/14c619a4b1a28da5.png
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/905/621/879/665/523/original/d5d06912a79ea57c.png
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2024-08-04 17:12:47

Flavor Flav being the fairy godmother of the Olympics is not something I had on my bingo card, but I’m here for it.
https://ew.com/flavor-flav-pays-u-s-olympian-s-rent-after-her-concerned-post-8687618

2024-08-02 17:54:29

UNICEF: "To raise money for transport, Imane Khelif sold scrap metal for recycling and her mother sold couscous. Together they were able to afford the bus to the town for Imane to have regular boxing training sessions."
https://www.unicef.org/algeria/en/stories/top-female-boxer-imane-khelif-dreams-gold-inspire-young-people
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/894/208/425/867/592/original/0cb42e63413b4b2c.png

2024-08-01 18:18:50

Olympic athletes are dropping out or struggling due to COVID or the extreme heat. If we want the competitive sports that we love to continue, we need to stop ignoring pandemics and climate change.

2024-07-31 04:33:58

It's a public health failure that Olympic and Tour de France athletes only started wearing masks and taking precautions after their teammates had to withdraw due to COVID. We know COVID is widespread and highly transmissible, it was always going to disrupt these competitions.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/30/olympic-swimmers-wear-masks-as-concerns-over-covid-rise-across-camps?CMP=share_btn_url

2024-07-30 17:57:07

COVID denialism and misinformation has led to Olympic athletes not even washing their hands because they wrongly think it will help them become more resistant against disease.
There is no evidence handwashing weakens your immune system. There is no evidence that adopting unsanitary practices makes your immune system stronger. But there is a lot of evidence that handwashing and other precautions protects you and others from infectious diseases, especially in risky environments like bathrooms.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/876/724/065/197/556/original/5483ef448df5df4b.jpeg

2024-07-29 21:26:21

This year's summer COVID surge shows that (predictably) the change in the CDC's isolation guidelines is a disaster. Hearing about so many instances of people returning to work/school unmasked 24 hours after testing positive.
Most people are infectious with COVID for at least 10 days. 24 hours was never going to cut it. And while the CDC did try to mitigate this by adding that you should mask for a few days after returning, predictably no-one is even doing this.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/871/890/135/269/100/original/996af9a0f1fdd378.jpeg

2024-07-29 05:07:00

Trump: "I will not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine or mask mandate"
Though all political leaders are failing to address the ongoing harm of COVID, this is a critical reminder the election could make public health worse and increase the risk of future pandemics.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/868/039/140/138/177/original/15724b68ad7ad86d.mp4

2024-07-28 22:30:34

Political leaders keep saying that “COVID no longer disrupts our lives,” but this isn’t at all credible when they have to withdraw from important events because they keep getting COVID over and over.

2024-07-27 22:09:49

Despite the harmful politicization of masks, recent studies show that:
1️⃣ Stricter mask and vaccine requirements would have saved hundreds of thousands more lives in the US
2️⃣ 70% of people in the US supported mask requirements
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/860/732/464/619/356/original/a82c3f36fe3f492c.png
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2024-07-26 22:00:33

Celine Dion has a rare autoimmune neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness called stiff person syndrome. There is no treatment and she has not performed in 4 years. She just opened the Olympics with this stunning performance. Magnifique.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/855/033/917/559/855/original/cff8732737d389ce.mp4

2024-07-26 18:50:20

Extremely symbolic seeing the Refugee Olympic Team enter the Games in a boat
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/854/290/278/035/725/original/de45f04698ed856b.png

2024-07-24 20:13:37

"Face masks are not required inside the Olympic Village, but hand sanitizer is available in its clinics and restaurants."
The stubborn refusal to learn what basic public health protections are needed to prevent the spread of an airborne virus is why we remain in the bad place.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/2024-paris-olympics-covid-cases-organizers-seem-unfazed-outbreak-risk/
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/843/290/782/110/973/original/23f914cea72b4d96.jpeg

2024-07-24 19:06:57

Letter: "We are Volunteers for Paris 2024 and we resign due to the lack of Covid-19 measures"
https://blogs.mediapart.fr/volontaires-inquiets-paris-2024/blog/150724/we-are-volunteers-paris-2024-and-we-resign-due-lack-covid-19-measures
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/843/023/884/826/538/original/29f02a5e4b40f949.png

2024-07-24 18:36:56

Great to see that the Australian Olympic team are wearing high quality masks around the Olympic village. We are starting to hear about COVID outbreaks at the Games, so this is a smart thing to do.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/842/912/879/167/038/original/f82e95d6568dedfd.jpg

2024-07-23 21:13:28

A new drug described as “the closest we have ever been to an HIV vaccine” could be sold for $40 a year and still make 30% profit, but is currently being sold by pharma companies for $42,250. Absolutely criminal.
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/jul/23/hiv-aids-prevention-vaccine-lenacapavir-sunlenca-pharmaceuticals-gilead-generic-licensing

2024-07-19 21:06:11

One of the reasons people work when sick is the lack of adequate paid sick leave.
Despite this, places like NY are taking away sick leave, partly because the reduced CDC COVID isolation guidelines gives them an excuse to do so.
This is why accurate CDC guidelines are important.
https://www.crainsnewyork.com/health-pulse/gov-kathy-hochul-ends-paid-sick-leave-state-employees

2024-07-18 16:44:15

With many people getting COVID from the summer surge, a reminder that the CDC's isolation guidelines are inadequate.
CDC shortened their isolation guidelines, not because of a change in the science, but in response to political pressure to keep people working even if they are sick.
Science shows most people are infectious for 10+ days; it's best to isolate until you test negative on multiple tests. If you can't stay home the whole time, wear an N95 mask to stop the virus spreading to others.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/808/491/517/519/198/original/18094661b65f9b6e.png

2024-07-18 15:53:18

- reply

UPDATE: It appears President Biden didn't wear a mask on the plane either.
(This is footage of the President arriving in Delaware where he will isolate at home)
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/808/295/742/664/578/original/f52c74634854b7c1.mp4

2024-07-17 23:37:25

President Biden is testing positive for COVID, so why is he not wearing a mask? This will put others around him at risk.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/804/456/416/783/739/original/0cfbbd820fe8f6ce.mp4

2024-07-17 22:55:54

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Eric Adams are bragging about crime being down on the subway, yet are also trying to justify crime as a reason to push through a subway mask ban. Ridiculous.
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-and-mayor-adams-celebrate-new-subway-safety-milestones-massive-decreases

2024-07-17 22:17:49

President Biden has tested positive for COVID.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/804/143/969/419/999/original/88277b83a91b4bcc.jpeg

2024-07-17 03:00:26

Farmers are getting infected with bird flu because they are working in 104 degree heat without masks and other PPE.
This illustrates how climate and pandemics are connected, how ignoring both only makes the impact of these crises much worse, and why labor justice is a key part of the solution.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-rates-are-rising-again-why-does-sars-cov-2-spread-so-well-in-the/
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/799/587/288/544/824/original/a2d27317b4685ea6.jpeg

2024-07-14 23:32:06

It's damning of the state of healthcare that they are reinstating mask mandates at cycle races before they reinstate them in hospitals.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-reintroduces-mask-mandate-amid-covid-19-concerns/

2024-07-14 21:09:50

COVID testing should still be free.

2024-07-14 18:12:15

Tour de France and Olympic athletes are wearing masks because they understand that catching COVID could undo years of hard work and sacrifices.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/786/192/646/539/962/original/45c50c5a9ae82e0e.mp4

2024-07-13 19:25:53

UPDATE: Here's the language of the proposed mask ban bill in Nassau County, NY. It's bad!
While health is mentioned, the ban would apply to public places and some private properties, and gives police power to ask anyone to remove their mask.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/780/815/091/227/077/original/d6bdd08444240c2e.jpg
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/780/815/879/421/242/original/51e1763fe34ecf25.jpg

2024-07-13 03:06:35

ACTION: For those in Nassau County who want to push back against the mask ban, you can speak in person on Mon, July 15 at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building in Mineola.
You can also email written testimony before then to LegPublicComment@nassaucountyny.gov
Source: https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/3530/Public-Notice-Index
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/776/968/593/606/666/original/a83764a966225d69.jpeg
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/776/968/592/191/934/original/d2ab81ace4564a5f.png

2024-07-12 19:37:05

How police will enforce a mask ban with a "health exception"
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/775/200/646/207/246/original/e5c38090fa98d27b.jpg

2024-07-12 17:37:00

It should never be left in the hands of police to decide who is allowed to protect their health. That only leads to increased profiling of marginalized groups. Everyone has the right to wear a mask to protect their health without being questioned by anyone.

2024-07-12 04:41:33

This is really worrying. There's a bill in Nassau County, Long Island, New York, that has a good chance of passing due to GOP majority, that would fine people $1,000 for wearing a mask. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/long-island-bill-jail-time-fines-face-masks-nassau-county/5588110/

2024-07-11 02:30:17

Thanks to Violet Affleck’s public comment, pretty much every media outlet of note in the world is now writing about masks and Long COVID… even the New York Times!
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/10/style/violet-affleck-mask-ben-jennifer-garner-daughter.html?unlocked_article_code=1.6U0.xy7u.POjVgL80W1TE&smid=url-share

2024-07-10 18:40:57

I am so incredibly inspired by Gen Z's bravery in speaking up and taking action about the COVID and climate crises. But at the same time it's heartbreaking that they feel required to go above and beyond because elders are completely failing them.

2024-07-10 16:17:20

Violet Affleck's public comment on masks and Long COVID is all over the news. THIS is how you leverage your privilege! Imagine if other celebs did the same.
Sources:
https://cnn.com/2024/07/10/entertainment/violet-affleck-masks-post-viral-condition/index.html
https://people.com/violet-affleck-impassioned-speech-against-mask-bans-los-angeles-8675711
https://etonline.com/violet-affleck-reveals-she-contracted-a-post-viral-condition-in-2019-during-rare-public-appearance
https://usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/violet-affleck-reveals-she-was-diagnosed-with-post-viral-condition/
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/763/085/655/568/956/original/78ce9c62d275b091.png
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/763/085/673/794/843/original/fa9e6d4cd9963c23.png
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2024-07-10 02:53:54

Violet Affleck: "To confront the Long COVID crisis I demand mask availability, air filtration and far-UVC light in government facilities, including jails and detention centers and mask mandates in county medical facilities. We must expand availability of tests and treatment.
And most importantly, the county must oppose mask bans for any reason. They do not keep us safer. They make them vulnerable members of our community less safe and make everyone less able to participate in LA together." 🔥🔥🔥
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/759/927/508/729/544/original/ec8a2c247b4efdd1.mp4

2024-07-09 16:53:03

This picture from 2020 is still on point. Every damn summer, a simultaneous COVID surge and climate-fueled heatwave.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/757/566/452/705/213/original/98077456a85d6d76.png

2024-07-04 05:35:52

New study by Linsey Marr:
“We aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 & pulled it through masks. After 1hr we were able to recover infectious virus from fabric masks but not an N95 or surgical mask. When we pressed artificial skin against the masks we found viral RNA but no infectious virus on the skin.” #MasksWork
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c01581#

2024-06-21 20:25:06

Politicians say mask bans should come back as pre-COVID, they were law since 1845.
But scientists discovered viruses in the 1890s, discovered how they worked in the mid-1900s, and discovered SARS in the 2000s.
Mask bans are outdated, anti-science laws that belong in the past.

2024-06-21 19:06:33

New York City's libraries can't fix broken A/C during a heatwave, subways have halted making more stations accessible, but instead of trying to fix these critical problems, the Mayor is focused on a useless mask ban that doesn't improve safety, and in reality makes it worse.
https://gothamist.com/news/after-budget-cuts-nycs-libraries-cant-fix-broken-air-conditioners-amid-heat-wave

2024-06-19 20:44:04

"In the short term, living in a state of peak denial helps us cope. In the long run, it will be our undoing.
Truth tellers are the Achilles heel of collective denial.
And so those who wear masks are ridiculed, scientists reporting on COVID-19 risks are cast as fearmongers, and those with long COVID are dismissed as having anxiety disorders."
Fantastic piece on the tactics behind science denial, most notably on COVID, by sociologists in @npub1zah…m5um
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/weve-hit-peak-denial-heres-why-we-cant-turn-away-from-reality/

2024-06-19 19:50:24

Tips to beat the heat:
💧 Drink water
👕 Wear light and loose clothing
🏡 Stay indoors
✊ Dismantle the fossil fuel industry

2024-06-18 17:16:17

A mask ban makes our communities LESS safe.
It makes everyone more at risk of COVID and other health concerns.
It increases harassment of higher risk people, Asian people, and many others.
It increases profiling of Black and Brown communities.

2024-06-17 20:15:03

"I'm a strong supporter of the decision of stopping of masks on our subway system, masks in protest, and masks in other areas where it's not health related." - NYC Mayor Adams
But you can get COVID everywhere. EVERYWHERE is health-related. A mask ban doesn't make sense.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/633/792/675/401/878/original/1f0bff84e962cc7d.mp4

2024-06-15 20:15:05

A timeline of New York's destruction of public health.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/622/467/648/876/807/original/d5b39f623b5498fe.png

2024-06-15 01:12:04

As usual Asian people have been left out of the discussion about masks and hate. Asian people have been attacked throughout the pandemic for wearing a mask. A mask ban would further stigmatize mask wearing and encourage further harassment and violence against mask wearers.

2024-06-14 19:07:32

This is horrible. Reporting from Reuters revealed that the US military ran disinformation campaigns, including creating fake social media accounts, to sow doubt in the quality of COVID vaccines, masks, and tests produced by other countries.
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covid-propaganda/

2024-06-13 21:13:09

It says everything about the US attitude towards public health that they want to ban masks and abortions before they ban guns.

2024-06-13 19:57:00

Mask bans will not stop crime. Mask bans will not stop protests. What mask bans will do is put people's health at greater risk, and make society less accessible.

2024-06-13 18:56:57

Banning masks and halting congestion pricing puts the health of all New Yorkers at risk.
Kathy Hochul is an anti-public health, pro-fossil fuel Governor.

2024-06-13 17:07:48

- reply

ACTION ALERT: Contact Governor Kathy Hochul & say that you are against banning masks in NY, & she should issue a statement retracting her comments on CNN supporting a mask ban.
Call: 518-474-8390 (press 1 to leave a message, press 2 to speak to a person)
Write: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form

2024-06-13 16:38:22

- reply

Pre-pandemic laws banning masks from group events were always harmful. We should have learned from the pandemic that we need to do more to normalize public health tools like masks. After seeing so much death and harm that is continuing, it makes no sense to roll back mask laws.

2024-06-13 16:37:19

UPDATE: NY Governor Kathy Hochul said on CNN last night that she is considering a ban on masks.
This is absolutely shameful! New York has suffered so much from COVID, and COVID is not over. We should be normalizing and depoliticizing masks, not banning them.
Source: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/icymi-audio-rush-transcript-governor-hochul-guest-cnn-laura-coates
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/610/287/635/218/485/original/ca87a73710df5cba.png

2024-06-13 14:19:39

COVID is not over. Scientists are worried about bird flu. We need to be ready for the next pandemic. Right now we need to depoliticize and normalize mask-wearing. North Carolina’s anti-mask bill recklessly does the exact opposite.

2024-06-12 21:05:02

"Black and Hispanic adults were twice as likely than their White peers to be unable to renew their Medicaid enrollment after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency"
The end of the public health emergency was a disaster for health equity.
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/black-hispanic-adults-double-risk-losing-medicaid-after-covid-emergency-ended-study-finds

2024-06-11 21:59:54

"But, on private properties, like at grocery stores or at a workplace, people can be required to remove masks if requested."
This part of North Carolina's anti-mask bill is particularly horrible. It will increase harassment of people wearing masks, and puts public health at risk.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/06/north-carolina-house-passes-revised-mask-ban/
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2024-06-11 20:51:37

North Carolina's anti-mask bill just passed the House. It will now go to the Governor.
This is a horrible bill that narrows the health exemption for wearing a mask, and makes it easier for cops and anti-maskers to harass people into taking off their mask.
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article289178384.html

2024-06-10 20:57:45

LAST REMINDER: Comment on the rule that would reinstate hospital reporting requirements for COVID and other respiratory viruses.
Deadline is TODAY at 11:59 pm EDT.
Comment here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/02/2024-07567/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-and-the-childrens-health-insurance-program-hospital-inpatient#open-comment

2024-06-09 19:21:09

When you see protestors wearing masks, a big reason is COVID.
The right lies that it's only to hide identities, so they can ban masks and make protesting illegal.
Leftists need to stop repeating right-wing talking points. Always point out mask wearing is also due to COVID!

2024-06-09 03:00:39

This is how to protest when you understand that all our struggles are connected ✊
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2024-06-08 17:11:47

It’s unethical that COVID is frequently left out of conversations about public transport accessibility. Many disabled and higher risk people haven’t been able to access public transport for years due to the lack of masks and clean air. This is a huge equity issue.

2024-06-07 23:29:49

Last month the requirement for US hospitals to report key COVID data to the federal government ended.
This is reckless! But there's a rule that would reinstate hospital reporting requirements outside of public health emergencies.
Comments close Jun 10! ➡️http://bit.ly/covidhospitaldata
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2024-06-06 19:32:06

New poll from Data for Progress finds that 71% of US voters are against mask bans.
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2024-06-06 15:35:36

Update on the North Carolina anti-mask bill: The committee has come to an agreement on a compromise bill.
BUT the compromise bill contains problematic language, saying you can wear a mask to "prevent the spread of contagious disease."
This sounds like you can wear a mask if you already have COVID, but not to prevent yourself from getting it.
Masks are a key prevention tool. People should have the right to wear them to protect their own health.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/570/407/842/768/811/original/6713a4f982079e3a.jpeg

2024-06-05 19:49:23

“Months of extreme hunger have already killed many Palestinians in Gaza and caused permanent damage to children through malnutrition.
Two UN organisations said more than 1 million people were “expected to face death and starvation” by mid-July.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/05/starvation-already-causing-mass-death-and-lasting-harm-in-gaza-agencies-say

2024-06-05 04:37:37

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As this review explains, a common myth is that ‘if it is short range, it cannot be airborne.’
In reality, "delivery of the infectious agent can occur over any distance, but it is more likely to occur at close range because aerosols are more concentrated nearer the source."
https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701(21)00007-4/fulltext

2024-06-05 04:36:58

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COVID is airborne, but that doesn't mean distance doesn't matter. Misunderstanding this led people to wrongly think you can't catch COVID outdoors, or you don't ever need masks if you have clean indoor air. If you are in close contact for long periods, you can still be at risk.

2024-06-05 04:36:42

Many of us heard that COVID moves like cigarette smoke. That's a great analogy. And like smoke, while it's true that you can still be affected at longer distances, especially if you are in rooms with poor ventilation, it's going to be much worse the closer you are to the source.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/562/154/585/008/679/original/1d57cbaf9472b62c.jpg

2024-06-05 01:23:00

4+ years into COVID and many still missing the nuances:
Often 6ft isn't enough, but increasing physical distance reduces risk
N95s are much better, but surgical masks do help
Outdoors is safer, but you can still catch it
Vaccines reduce transmission, but don't eliminate it

2024-06-04 05:13:30

This article is misleading and emboldens pandemic deniers and minimizers.
It's incorrect to say there was no science to support distancing rules.
The science absolutely shows us that increasing physical distance is associated with decreasing risk.
The nuance that is dangerously not conveyed here is that while distancing helps, 6-feet *alone* often isn't enough because COVID is airborne, so we need layered measures like masks and clean air too.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/06/02/six-foot-rule-covid-no-science/

2024-05-31 14:05:54

Hospitals in South Australia have paused elective surgeries and declared an internal emergency due to staff being sick with COVID. The pandemic is not over. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-30/sa-public-hospitals-in-internal-emergency/103915690

2024-05-28 19:46:37

We are living in an age of denial. Denial of a genocide. Denial of an ongoing pandemic. Denial of a climate crisis.
Acknowledging reality is an act of rebellion.

2024-05-22 20:54:44

North Carolina's House has rejected the anti-mask bill! The bill will now go through a compromise process, which could include re-adding a health exemption.
More work needs to be done, but this shows that advocacy is making a difference. Keep going!
https://www.cbs17.com/news/north-carolina-news/nc-house-votes-not-to-concur-with-bill-reinstating-mask-restrictions/

2024-05-22 16:00:07

A new gold standard review of 100 studies finds:
- masks are effective in reducing transmission of respiratory diseases
- N95 respirators are significantly more effective than medical or cloth masks
- mask mandates are effective in reducing community transmission
https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/cmr.00124-23
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2024-05-18 16:58:51

News: Biobot is sunsetting its COVID-19 wastewater public data visualization platform.
While Biobot will continue to publish their contextualized weekly respiratory risk reports, this represents another decrease in data transparency, and a step in the wrong direction.
Source: https://biobot.io/from-raw-data-to-actionable-insights-biobots-evolution-of-public-data-sharing/
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2024-05-17 19:34:00

The US government keeps telling us that COVID is fine now because “we have the tools.”
Well, they stopped requiring the reporting of COVID hospitalization data and they have ended programs for free tests, free masks, and now free vaccines.
We absolutely DO NOT have the tools.

2024-05-16 23:10:57

"lf a person refused to (unmask), that right there should cause you some sense of alarm."
NYC Mayor Eric Adams continues to encourage businesses to request customers to unmask. This is ableist, puts people's health at risk, and is NOT required by law.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/453/291/062/469/487/original/fe821b2dc367f697.mp4

2024-05-16 19:54:09

"So this bill will protect the Ku Klux Klan to wear masks in public, but someone who's immunocompromised like myself cannot wear a mask?"
— North Carolina Senator Sydney Batch, who is a cancer survivor
Unbelievable.
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2024-05-16 19:08:36

An NPR reporter collected samples of raw milk from 4 farms in Texas, and asked a USDA-authorized lab to test for bird flu. The lab refused to do it, because the farms wouldn't give them permission to test, even though permission isn't required. Wow.
https://www.npr.org/2024/05/15/1251647612/a-bird-flu-outbreak-among-dairy-cows-sparks-new-warnings-about-unpasteurized-mil

2024-05-16 18:13:06

There is zero evidence that mask bans help prevent crime. The goal of mask bans is to scare people away from exercising their First Amendment rights to protest, and to give cops more power to target Black and Brown communities.

2024-05-16 03:54:12

Cops should never have the power to make health decisions on your behalf. But that will soon be reality in North Carolina, thanks to the anti-public health mask ban.

2024-05-16 03:05:42

It's ridiculous that most Democrats are just watching passively as Republicans are passing mask bans. In states where Democrats hold power, they should absolutely be passing laws that codify and protect people's rights to wear a mask.

2024-05-15 23:05:41

Republicans are trying to take away and criminalize the right to make decisions around our own health, whether that’s the right to wear a mask or the right to have an abortion. Unacceptable.
https://www.wral.com/amp/21433199/

2024-05-14 20:12:32

"The Raw Milk Institute called the warnings "clearly fearmongering." The institute's founder told the LATimes his customers are specifically requesting raw milk from H5N1-infected cows."
This is an example of how minimizing COVID is destructive to public health far beyond COVID.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/05/anti-pasteurization-crowd-reaffirms-love-of-raw-milk-despite-bird-flu-outbreak/
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/441/257/250/769/325/original/01d69659a32b4bd8.jpg
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2024-05-14 17:54:55

"Since March 25, when the bird flu virus was confirmed in U.S. cattle for the first time, weekly sales of raw cow’s milk have ticked up 21% to as much as 65% compared with the same periods a year ago."
This is why we can't have nice things.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/raw-milk-sales-spike-despite-cdcs-warnings-of-risk-associated-with-bird-flu
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2024-05-11 02:56:43

Aurora borealis starting to faintly show in New York as clouds part. Not yet easily visible by the naked eye.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/420/199/840/257/722/original/15d580712e0b8dc8.png

2024-05-10 21:01:48

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What is also ridiculous is that the North Carolina anti-mask bill would ban people from wearing a mask for health reasons, but allows mask wearing for holiday costumes, work, theatrical productions, and parades.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/418/808/615/598/492/original/1d693591c0225a92.png

2024-05-10 21:00:33

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Senator Buck Newton, who presented North Carolina's anti-mask bill that also penalizes protestors blocking traffic, says people "do not have the right to risk people’s health and safety." Shameless hypocrisy. Removing the right to wear a mask increases health risks for everyone.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/418/803/820/542/077/original/9486987759cf847c.png

2024-05-10 20:59:05

This North Carolina bill is ridiculous. It justifies punishing protestors for blocking emergency vehicles, yet bans wearing masks for health reasons. This bill is dangerously anti-public health and restricts people's ability to protest and exercise their First Amendment rights.
https://cdn.masto.host/medmastodoncom/media_attachments/files/112/418/793/609/197/309/original/a35db7e10638b101.png