11 questions every American should be asking Dr. Fauci, Dr. Birx and Governors making public policy before our economy suffers irreparable harm. We need answers now!
Many who read this post will question my qualifications for asking these questions, given I am not a scientist or doctor. I am not, but being a business owner who is trying to save 25,000 jobs and the catastrophic collapse of our economy, I do have the right to ask questions, as does every American when the public policies are not taking into account the latest science and make no rational sense.
Each day we are discovering new scientific based information about COVID-19. We now know more about who is at-risk, how fast it spreads, how many are actually infected etc. It does not appear that our public policy is adjusting to the latest information we have and in many ways are making the situation worse. I have prepared 11 questions for those making these decisions that are affecting our lives so we can all know why they are clinging to policies that contradict the actual scientific data.
1) Most importantly, why have we not been given the daily demographic information, underlying health issues, age, and other determinant factors we know regarding those who are the very most at-risk so we can better protect our most vulnerable?
2) Why have you not been more specific and detailed in telling the American people exactly how to protect those most at-risk given that we now know how the virus is spread?
3) Why, in your current three step reopening plan, are there no specific recommendations to better protect those with underlying health conditions in general and those in nursing homes? Data shows that almost 50% of the deaths were in nursing homes. Clearly there are opportunities to provide greater guidance to these vulnerable citizens.
4) Why are you not calming fears and reassuring the public by providing infection mortality rates by category? If we had the data, an app could easily be created which would allow each American the opportunity to assess their own risks and that of their loved ones by using their individual information.
5) Why are you downplaying, as Dr. Birx did last week when asked about the California studies, the importance of doing nationwide random sample serological testing to determine a more accurate denominator and death rate? This will allow us to make more scientific data-driven decisions about the actual hospital capacity needs and how quickly the restrictions can be lifted.
6) Why are you still adopting policies that try to contain a virus that is not possible to contain? When we open our states and quadruple our testing, does anyone actually believe that the number of infected will keep falling until it spikes in the fall? Please explain. This virus is so contagious that it spread around the world and through every state in the U.S. in a matter of weeks. The nation’s economy is shut down and our most vulnerable are still dying. What you are saying makes no sense.
7) What is the plan to do contact tracing if 20 or 30 million Americans are already infected; and of those yet to be infected, 95% will experience mild symptoms or will be completely asymptomatic? Doesn’t it make more sense to study the ~60,000 Americans who have tragically died to determine the characteristics that made them vulnerable, rather than tens of thousands of contact tracers trying to track an untraceable disease, wouldn’t it make more sense to employ case workers who can educate and protect those most at-risk with items such as a medical grade mask?
8) Why are some of the nation’s governors saying they won’t lift the lockdowns until millions upon millions of people per day are tested using a PCR test? PCR tests are only 80% accurate, take 24 hours to produce a result, and have no ability to identify antibodies. Once again, it makes no sense.
9) Wouldn’t it make more sense to put 100% of our focus and effort finding, educating and protecting those most at-risk than doing a poor job of trying to also focus on those who have an insignificant statistical risk of dying and thereby causing more deaths of those at-risk?
10) Why are beaches, parks and other outdoor venues closed when there is no scientific evidence that if social distancing practices are followed, there is no transmission of the virus outdoors? Makes no sense.
11) Wouldn’t it be better and more sensible to use the newest scientific facts and data to identify people who fall into one of three categories along with recommendations for protecting our most vulnerable? We know from CDC data that 90% of all hospitalizations, and from New York that 98% of all the deaths had one or more underlying health issues. Instead of your current policy that creates enormous uncertainty; fear and doubt keeps the economy in a downward spiral in hopes that we may someday have a vaccine or drug therapies that may never come to fruition.
Based on the latest scientific data, wouldn’t the following guidelines make more sense?
a) Those who have chronic underlying heath issues or multiple morbidities regardless of age. This category must remain sheltered in place, supported, educated and an absolute maximum effort be made to ensure they never come in contact with infected aerosol droplets from an unsuspecting, asymptomatic carrier. They should always wear a medical grade mask when within 10 feet of anyone.
b) Those who, regardless of age have an underlying health issue deemed by the data to be significantly more at-risk and those with no underlying heath issue and 65 or older. This category should take precautions to protect themselves by always wearing a mask while in public indoor areas and always carry hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
c) Those under the age of 65 with none of the underlying conditions that increase the risk of dying from COVID-19. This group should be free to return to work and school but are required to stay at least 10 feet away from anyone wearing a mask and should also adhere to other social distancing guidelines.
Below is my full article including the scientific data as to why these eleven questions must be answered.
From the very beginning, three world renowned doctors at Stanford University, Drs. Ioannidis, Bhattacharya and Bendavid believed that COVID-19 arrived in the US earlier than we thought and therefore had already spread for weeks prior to the first confirmed case. Earlier this month the Stanford Doctors released results from two counties in California using antibody tests that determined the actual number of those infected is 30 to 80 times higher than what is being officially reported. The critics have taken action to dispute their findings, attacking their studies in favor of keeping us all in our homes and away from our jobs. Recently it was also learned that Drs. Ioannidis, Bhattacharya and Bendavid and their research were indeed right, confirming that COVID-19 was in the United States at least three weeks prior to an earlier cited report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These doctors are not alone in their findings. Additional studies released in Boston, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Germany and many other locations support this thesis. Last week, Governor Cuomo announced the results of a serological survey, as of today it’s estimated 24.7% of all those in New York City tested positive for the antibodies.
Bottom line is this: THE ACTUAL DENOMINATOR OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INFECTED IS MUCH LARGER THAN WE HAVE BEEN TOLD. Why is that important? With the denominator being 10, 20 or even 30 times higher than the confirmed PCR testing number, the disease is much less deadly than originally modeled. We also know from many other studies that the reason the virus spread to probably tens of millions of Americans already, is that up to 80% of the transmission is through asymptomatic carriers. While there is no disputing that this virus is deadly, it is critical that we look at this problem holistically, with all the data, so we can determine appropriate solutions. Continuing on the current path will lead to greater socioeconomic turmoil by clouding decision-makers judgement to take the necessary steps in protecting those most vulnerable as well as protecting our future.
People are still dying in great numbers which is tragic and must be dealt with. 50% of all the deaths in Europe and 25% of the deaths in New York were in nursing homes, but because we were never told, specifically, who was most at-risk, nor given instructions on how to protect them, we very likely caused more people to die. Moreover, we have indirectly caused even more deaths unrelated to COVID-19 by keeping those who have other illnesses away from hospitals, all while continuing to destroy our economy.
So, with that background, please distribute and send to Dr. Fauci, Dr. Birx and your local politicians. These doctors, and those responsible for public policy must be held accountable to answer these eleven questions now:
1) Most importantly, why have we not been given the daily demographic information, underlying health issues, age, and other determinant factors we know regarding those who are the very most at-risk so we can better protect our most vulnerable?
2) Why have you not been more specific and detailed in telling the American people exactly how to protect those most at-risk given that we now know how the virus is spread?
3) Why, in your current three step reopening plan, are there no specific recommendations to better protect those with underlying health conditions in general and those in nursing homes? Data shows that almost 50% of the deaths were in nursing homes. Clearly there are opportunities to provide greater guidance to these vulnerable citizens.
4) Why are you not calming fears and reassuring the public by providing infection mortality rates by category. If we had the data, an app could easily be created which would allow each American the opportunity to assess their own risks and that of their loved ones by using their individual information.
5) Why are you downplaying, as Dr. Birx did last week when asked about the California studies, the importance of doing nationwide random sample serological testing to determine a more accurate denominator and death rate? This will allow us to make more scientific data-driven decisions about the actual hospital capacity needs and how quickly the restrictions can be lifted.
6) Why are you still adopting policies that try to contain a virus that is not possible to contain? When we open our states and quadruple our testing, does anyone actually believe that the number of infected will keep falling until it spikes in the fall? Please explain. This virus is so contagious that it spread around the world and through every state in the U.S. in a matter of weeks. The nation’s economy is shut down and our most vulnerable are still dying. What you are saying makes no sense.
7) What is the plan to do contact tracing if 20 or 30 million Americans are already infected and of those yet to be infected, 95% will experience mild symptoms or will be completely asymptomatic? Doesn’t it make more sense to study the ~60,000 Americans who have tragically died to determine the characteristics that made them vulnerable, rather than tens of thousands of contact tracers trying to track an untraceable disease? Wouldn’t it make more sense to employ case workers who can educate and protect those most at-risk with items such as a medical grade mask?
8) Why are some of the nation’s governors saying they won’t lift the lockdowns until millions upon millions of people per day are tested using a PCR test? PCR tests are only 80% accurate, take 24 hours to produce a result, and have no ability to identify antibodies. Once again, it makes no sense.
9) Wouldn’t it make more sense to put 100% of our focus and effort finding, educating and protecting those most at-risk than doing a poor job of trying to also focus on those who have an insignificant statistical risk of dying and thereby causing more deaths of those at risk?
10) Why are beaches, parks and other outdoor venues closed when there is no scientific evidence that if social distancing practices are followed, there is no transmission of the virus outdoors? Makes no sense.
11) Wouldn’t it be better and more sensible to use the newest scientific facts and data to identify people who fall into one of three categories along with recommendations for protecting our most vulnerable? We know from CDC data that 90% of all hospitalizations, and from New York that 98% of all the deaths had one or more underlying health issues. Instead of your current policy that creates enormous uncertainty; fear and doubt keeps the economy in a downward spiral in hopes that we may someday have a vaccine or drug therapies that may never come to fruition.
Based on the latest scientific data, wouldn’t the following guidelines make more sense?
a) Those who have chronic underlying heath issues or multiple morbidities regardless of age. This category must remain sheltered in place, supported, educated and an absolute maximum effort be made to ensure they never come in contact with infected aerosol droplets from an unsuspecting asymptomatic carrier. They should always wear a medical grade mask when within 10 feet of anyone.
b) Those who regardless of age have an underlying health issue deemed by the data to be significantly more at-risk and those with no underlying heath issue and 65 or older. This category should take precautions to protect themselves by always wearing a mask while in public indoor areas and always carry hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
c) Those under the age of 65 with none of the underlying conditions that increase the risk of dying from COVID-19. This group should be free to return to work and school but are required to stay at least 10 feet away from anyone wearing a mask and should also adhere to other social distancing guidelines.
When COVID-19 hit our shores and we had very little information on how deadly the virus would become, who was most at-risk and who wasn’t at-risk, how contagious it was and how much hospital capacity was needed, we had no choice but to do what was necessary to protect our health care workers.
Now is the time to leverage new, scientific data supporting how the virus is spread in a way to alter our approach to create a plan that truly address both immediate and long-term solutions to this global pandemic.
Now is the time to use this data to make informed decisions to protect our economy while supporting the health and wellbeing of the American workers so that they can provide financially for their families staving off another Great Depression which would ultimately lead to higher mortality rates based on famine and poor living conditions.
Now is the time to develop a plan based on identifying and protecting those who are most at-risk from this disease. Every American deserves to know their risk of dying if they contract this disease.
In this era of political correctness, too many have accepted the completely incorrect premise that this disease doesn’t discriminate, that we are all equally vulnerable to it. The facts, clearly, show otherwise. If the American people were provided the data on comorbidity factors of the almost 60,000 Americans who tragically have died from this disease, we could easily produce an app that we could use to determine the individual risk of dying from the virus. For most of us, currently locked in our homes, that risk is extremely low.
Please join me in asking these questions and demand the answers now. Together we can overcome the challenges that lie in front of us and protect our future.
