By Charles Stampul
Ridgewood NJ, This is a crystallization of points made by front-line medical professionals critical of media coverage of and government response to Covid 19 including Dr. Dan Erickson, Dr. Artin Massih, Dr. Simone Gold and Dr. Drew Pinsky.
Myth 1: It’s binary. If you come into contact with the virus you will get it, if you don’t you are safe. This myth has people wearing masks when they walk in a park on a nice day. The reality is that getting sick depends on the degree of exposure. Limited exposure can act like an inoculation helping one build antibodies to fight more direct exposure.
Myth 2: It’s possible to keep the virus from spreading. We are already seeing that keeping such a highly contagious virus from spreading is next to impossible. It’s questionable if spread can even be slowed. There is no evidence that social distancing and muzzling have any efficacy in holding back the spread of Covid-19.
Myth 3: We have to try to limit transmission until there is a vaccine. There is not likely to be an effective vaccine for Covid-19 because there has never been an effective vaccine for a corona virus. By the time a vaccine is on the market, the virus will have likely already mutated into different strains. Some studies estimate the effectiveness of the flu vaccine is as low as 12%. There is no reason to expect a Covid-19 vaccine to be any better.
Myth 4: What the governor says is law and must be followed. Executive orders are not law and the state can only get away with enforcing them if enough people follow them. We as American citizens have not just the right, but also the responsibility to resist irrational and unconstitutional edicts. A governor who believes that the First Amendment is “above his pay grade”, should be impeached. The NJ Supreme Court should have taken up a challenge to Governor Murphy’s emergency declaration.
Due in part to the Governor’s response to Covid-19, New Jersey, which already has the highest property taxes in the nation, faces an unprecedented tax shortfall. “Yes, Governor, another U-haul truck has passed the limo.”
Great stuff Charles! We agree.
Your myths are myths themselves (arguably the “front-line medical professionals” you cite are also quite mythically professional. Truly amazing stuff. Anyway.
Myth 1: you can believe that the non-“Dr. Drew Pinsky”s of the world state that virus contraction is binary, but it isn’t. Any measures are meant to mitigate not defeat.
Myth 2: Same as myth 2.
Myth 3: why is it not a sensible goal to minimize spreading until a vaccine is available. Again, it is not about outright eradication. Just wear a mask.
Myth 4: I don’t know NJ law well enough to say whether an executive order must be followed as law or not. But I sure hope you remember this “myth” when teachers rightfully strike because they are being forced to teach during a pandemic.