I'd Rather Wear a Mask Than Be on a Ventilator!

Pop quiz: Would you rather wear a mask or wear a ventilator?

I know the World Health Organization said recently that asymptomatic shedding is not an efficient way to spread virus from person to person.

Over the years, I’ve made it a habit of NOT criticizing my colleagues presentations or views. I may disagree, but I avoid criticism, because I’ve bombed plenty of times myself. (I’ll talk about that another time.)

Based on the data, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove gave us conflicting information. She walked it back later in the day, so don’t throw your mask away yet.

In the early AIDS era, there was new information daily. It was often confusing and gave the impression that we didn’t know what we were talking about.

Contagion is highly nuanced and trying to make sense of it is confusing. And trying to explain it can be complicated.

The facts follow. Note the term “superspreader” in the last bullet.

• Most people shed huge amounts of virus (high viral load on the swab test) during early infection, even asymptomatic people.

• We are learning that some people with mild illness shed less virus and are PROBABLY less likely to spread virus to others.

• In other words, there are some people who don’t spread much virus.

• There are others who shed a lot—and spread virus to others, e.g., superspreaders.