Trump Coronavirus Adviser Scott Atlas Undermines Importance of Masks As Cases Spike

[appalachiablue]

Last edited Sun Oct 18, 2020, 09:36 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNN

(CNN) White House coronavirus task force member Dr. Scott Atlas sought to undermine the importance of face masks on Saturday as coronavirus cases spike across the US.

Atlas wrote in a tweet, "Masks work? NO" followed by a series of misrepresentations about the science behind the effectiveness of masks in combating the pandemic. The tweet links to an article in the American Institute for Economic Research that argues against the effectiveness of masks, among other things.

The message pushed by the controversial neuroradiologist goes against guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends people wear masks in public settings and when around people who don't live in their household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

Earlier guidance from US officials didn't recommend widespread masking, but in April, the CDC recommended face coverings for the general public given that people without symptoms could unknowingly transmit the virus.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/17/politics/scott-atlas-face-masks-coronavirus/index.html

---

Last month CNN was told by a federal official that CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield is concerned that Atlas is providing Trump with misleading information about Covid-19.

Unlike govt. medical experts who advised Trump in the pandemic's early months, Atlas' public stance on the virus is much closer to the President's -- including decrying the idea that schools cannot reopen this fall as "hysteria" and pushing for the resumption of college sports.

Trump said in August, "He's working with us and will be working with us on the coronavirus." "And he has many great ideas. And he thinks what we've done is really good, and now we'll take it to a new level."
_______________________

- 'Scott Atlas Downplays Coronavirus and Rails Against Masks,' Mother Jones, Oct. 17, 2020,
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/10/scott-atlas-downplays-coronavirus-and-rails-against-masks/

.."The overwhelming majority of people who get this infection are not at high risk," Dr. Atlas told the New York Times. "And when you start seeking out and testing asymptomatic people, you are destroying the workforce."

He also said a federal test-and-isolate program would infringe on civil liberties, and he falsely claimed that "herd immunity" can be achieved once 20 to 40 percent of Americans are infected. On Saturday morning, he continued to spew debunked science, claiming that masks aren't effective.



- Fox News TV doctor and neuroradiologist Scott Atlas.

[Evolve Dammit]

1. I thought the pillow guy was the latest pandemic expert?? or Dr. Nick (Simpson's)??

[SunSeeker]

2. Atlas should have his medical license yanked.

His quack opinions will get people killed.

[JCMach1]

3. The anger I have for these people whose policies nearly got me killed

[olegramps]

4. It really frightens me when the medical professional don't take action to remove his license.

How can those who claim to be in charge of protecting us against charlatans allow this quack to continue to misled people resulting in deadly harm? He might just as well take a gun to people over 65, 62% of whom have been sacrificed. This does not included those who could have significant damage even through they are young but could pay the price in the long run. It known that the virus attacks ACE2 cells which are part of numerous organs from the heart to the intestinal tissue. Just because you recover and don't exhibit serious symptoms you could have damage. It seems to me that he should be held accountable.

[appalachiablue]

5. Great post, I agree his license should be revoked, maybe more.

His colleagues at Stanford wrote a scathing letter about him, below.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/09/12/stanford-doctors-take-aim-at-former-colleague-scott-atlas-trumps-new-adviser-on-the-covid-19-pandemic/

What he's advocating, 'herd immunity' has been repudiated by leading health experts including the head of the WHO.

It's genocide, and we'd better know where elders, the vulnerable, poor, disabled and monorities stand with extremists.

'Sacrifice the weak' was the official slogan of the Nazi T4 euthanasia program; a sign with this phrase was seen at a US rally in the past year. It's madness.

Since the 1970s, many conservatives and Republicans adopted far right Libertarian ideology on economics (Milton Friedman) and society's vulnerables who they regard as essentially unfit, in line with aspects of eugenics policy.

The loss of so many seniors from Covid is shocking and should be condemned by our govenment officials, not accepted.

In the last year the media has done a decent job covering the serious damage done to bodily organs and the lingering effects of Covid, for those who follow reputable news sources.

Before it's too late, this country has to have new leaders, enact universal health care and other policies to head in a better direction for the sake of our health and the earth's survivial. The situation is dire, and the deterioration far worse than I've ever seen in my lifetime.