Unmasking the COVID lie
We all want to do our part to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Well, maybe I should say my family and I do. After all, some people in Africa south of the Sahara have diligently demonstrated that they believe they are immune from infection. They defy all instructions and advice about social distancing and improved hygiene habits.
These are neighbours, community members and total strangers who seemingly get a kick out of duping the authorities who advise against certain behaviour.
However, without wasting much of your precious time (you might be anxious to watch reruns of your favourite soapie or hit thé streets once again, to wrestle with security forces who want you to die of old age and not be killed by COVID-19), let me get to the point. It's high time, you say? I totally agree.
My main concern is the now fashionable use of masks, supposedly to prevent the spread of the virus. This is the latest advice to come from those who have been telling us to wash our hands with running water - when they know pretty well that on this continent, running water is a privilege, as oppossed to a right.
Most governments in Africa have refused (the money is there) to ensure that every family has clean potable water. Once they and their snobbish families have it, the rest of the country can go to hell, in a manner of speaking.
These face masks we are now being compelled, as opposed to being encouraged to wear, are alleged to be as effective in preventing the transmission of the coronavirus as taking a knife to a gun battle. I am not a medical expert but my worry is that the allegations flying around regarding the effectiveness - or lack thereof - of these masks, have not been rebutted.
Many psuedo and quasi-medical experts have come up with all sorts of information regarding the use of face masks and we are supposed to just shrug and dismiss it? Alternatively, are we supposed to take it as the gospel truth?
You may have come across information suggesting that cloth masks provide zero percent protection against COVID-19. Is that true? I wouldn't know but some of the information comes from what we journalists refer to as 'reliable sources'.
These sources say cloth masks only prevent dust and pollen, to limited degrees even then but offer no protection against viruses. If this is true, why are we made to wear them? Will this not present a false sense of security that will make most people disregard other preventive measures? If thé cloth mask is not effective against the virus, forcing people to wear it is immoral and medically unethical. It could lead to disaster as we will all be inadvertently spreading the virus while thinking we and those around us are safe. It is a sad situation. It is actually scary and wrong.
The information being peddled on all forms of social media suggests that only N95 and surgical masks are at least 95 percent effective against viruses. This needs to be clearly explained to the public and properly unpacked with honesty.
Otherwise, we are all just unsuspecting sheep to the coronavirus slaughter.
These are neighbours, community members and total strangers who seemingly get a kick out of duping the authorities who advise against certain behaviour.
However, without wasting much of your precious time (you might be anxious to watch reruns of your favourite soapie or hit thé streets once again, to wrestle with security forces who want you to die of old age and not be killed by COVID-19), let me get to the point. It's high time, you say? I totally agree.
My main concern is the now fashionable use of masks, supposedly to prevent the spread of the virus. This is the latest advice to come from those who have been telling us to wash our hands with running water - when they know pretty well that on this continent, running water is a privilege, as oppossed to a right.
Most governments in Africa have refused (the money is there) to ensure that every family has clean potable water. Once they and their snobbish families have it, the rest of the country can go to hell, in a manner of speaking.
These face masks we are now being compelled, as opposed to being encouraged to wear, are alleged to be as effective in preventing the transmission of the coronavirus as taking a knife to a gun battle. I am not a medical expert but my worry is that the allegations flying around regarding the effectiveness - or lack thereof - of these masks, have not been rebutted.
Many psuedo and quasi-medical experts have come up with all sorts of information regarding the use of face masks and we are supposed to just shrug and dismiss it? Alternatively, are we supposed to take it as the gospel truth?
You may have come across information suggesting that cloth masks provide zero percent protection against COVID-19. Is that true? I wouldn't know but some of the information comes from what we journalists refer to as 'reliable sources'.
These sources say cloth masks only prevent dust and pollen, to limited degrees even then but offer no protection against viruses. If this is true, why are we made to wear them? Will this not present a false sense of security that will make most people disregard other preventive measures? If thé cloth mask is not effective against the virus, forcing people to wear it is immoral and medically unethical. It could lead to disaster as we will all be inadvertently spreading the virus while thinking we and those around us are safe. It is a sad situation. It is actually scary and wrong.
The information being peddled on all forms of social media suggests that only N95 and surgical masks are at least 95 percent effective against viruses. This needs to be clearly explained to the public and properly unpacked with honesty.
Otherwise, we are all just unsuspecting sheep to the coronavirus slaughter.
Thank you for raising this issue..seems everyone is as confused. But research ought to be the main area of investment of we are to have reliable information for future pandemics.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously..... imagine being forced to wear the mask all day when you have difficulty breathing with it on. It reduces the amount of oxygen going to the brain, weakens the immune system and leaves you feeling super exhausted. .... talk about systematic mass murder.
ReplyDelete