For months the Centers for Disease Control has been pressing social distancing guidelines on the nation to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The recommendations include standing at least 6 feet apart, wearing masks, and using hand sanitizer generously.
All of these rules were thrown out the window by Black Lives Matter protesters as they marched and demonstrated. Furthermore, pillagers and rioters were likely ignoring infection control measures as they tore down statues, burned buildings, and looted stores.
As a biosafety expert, I would like to stress: All. The. Rules. Were. Broken.
Now, after the demonstrators engaged in virus-spreading behavior (see the CDC’s own guidelines), there is a deluge of articles about the spikes in coronavirus cases across the country:
The United States reported a daily record of 63,247 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
It’s the second time this week the U.S. topped its record for new infections reported in a 24-hour period as outbreaks expand across a number of states, mostly across the American South and West. California, Florida and Texas reported more than 30,400 new cases collectively on Tuesday, according to data from Hopkins, accounting for nearly half all new cases in the U.S.
The U.S. has reported about 53,699 new cases on average over the past seven days, a record high seven-day average, up nearly 17.6% compared with a week ago, according to a CNBC analysis of data collected by Johns Hopkins. The U.S. seven-day average has hit a new record every day for more than two weeks, according to CNBC’s analysis.
There is so much to take issue with here. I hardly know where to start. Let me begin by reminding readers that the guidelines were put in place to “flatten the curve” and not overwhelm hospitals…not to hide away until someone discovered a vaccine.
Furthermore, anyone with common sense would expect more cases after reopening, in the absence of a vaccine. However, treatment options are available, the number of death is declining (from 21,000/week to just over 1,000/week), and the hospitals are not swamped. These facts are also not being featured.
Instead, our press has decided to protect the social justice narrative and push a new study thatabsolves the BLM protests of all contribution from the spike:
Black Lives Matter protests haven’t seen coronavirus cases surge in cities since the massive demonstrations began, a study says.
The new research, which was published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found no evidence that coronavirus cases jumped in 315 cities in the weeks following the first protests.
Researchers determined that protests may have been offset by an increase in social distancing among those who decided not to march.
Using cellphone data, the study determined that more people opted to stay home “perhaps due to fear of violence from police clashes or general unrest.”
“While it is almost certain that the protests caused a decrease in social distancing behavior among protest attendees, we demonstrate that effect of the protests on the social distancing behavior of the entire population residing in counties with large urban protests was positive,” the report reads.
There are many potential explanations for this result, including the possibility that protesters took the virus back home with them and infected more vulnerable family and friends. Those that skipped the protests now have COVID-cases that they wouldn’t have had otherwise.
A scan of today’s headlines reveal the press is pushing this narrative hard:
Screen shot of Google search
Perhaps the bureaucracy, academia, and “journalists” are teaming up to promote a study that had the desired outcome? They have had years of practice promoting climate change fear using the same technique.
Some analysis tends to confirm common-sense, albeit it hard to find:
However, let’s say that the BLM-protests are not responsible for the spike. I would argue, then, that the entire suite of social distancing guidelines is nothing more than this millennium’s equivalent of leeches and blood-letting.
The original “compact” that was made is that Americans would quarantine themselves to flatten the curve. Our medical system can now handle the cases, and the fatality infection rate is not as high as forecast, so the country should be reopened without the “spike” scare stories and the lies dressed up as “studies”.