It is the 38th week of our battle with the Wuhan modified “gain of function” Bat virus known as SARSCoV-2 and the cult of obedience it has spawned. Overall, in the United States, we are just coming out of our second peak of “cases” and hospitalizations. Deaths have also begun to fall. There are significant regional differences, however.

In Pennsylvania for instance, we are clearly past peak with daily “cases” roughly 2/3 of those seen in the third week of December. Hospitalizations have seen a similar decline. Deaths too are on the downslope but as always, are lagging the other indicators. This rise and fall of cases seems to be occurring independently of other factors. My sense is that there was little impact, for instance, from the tightening of restrictions over the holidays.  

Also notice that this outbreak is declining in the dead of winter. Last spring, when we assumed that the warming conditions were responsible for the reduction in cases but there’s no warming now. This further suggests that the virus is on its own schedule, not ours.

Still the current number of new “cases” is formidable, in most cases far higher than the spring. Thankfully there is generally far less hospital utilization.

I am disturbed by several developments. First is the sudden change of heart among governors and mayors who have had a miraculous epiphany and now realize that remaining in lockdown will destroy what’s left of their economies. Funny thing that with a new president inaugurated, that suddenly their positions have changed.

I am disturbed by this on multiple levels. With the possible exception of Illinois, where cases clearly have bottomed out, all of the involved states still have significant disease burdens. New York in particular has just probably rounded the curve. So, with numbers the same or worse than in late November and December but with the electors counted and accepted, now we can reopen our restaurants and businesses. Don’t get me wrong, I think this is the right decision. But it should absolutely destroy any remaining trust between our elected officials, and the citizens who have suffered under their capricious dictates.

Now let’s turn to the newest utterance from the venerable Anthony Fauci, who has essentially supported the wearing of two, yes count them, two masks. Asked by Savannah Guthrie on The Today Show as to the advisability of “doubling up” Dr. Fauci responded: “It likely does because this is a physical covering to prevent droplets and virus to get in. If you have a physical covering with one layer and you put another layer on it, it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective”.

 Not so fast.

First off, “America’s doctor” is up to now been a devout adherent to empiric data, first noted when he rejected case reports suggesting hydroxychloroquine might be useful for the virus (it is). Now we’re going with common sense? I could find no empirical data to support that two masks are better than one.

Secondly, I think, the good Doctor is unfamiliar with the dynamics of respiratory devices. The more you increase the resistance of air penetration through the masking material, the more likely the air will seek an alternate route. Most of the masks currently in use fit poorly to the face and thus tend to leak. With 2 masks, during inhalation one is more likely to “entrain” air from around the mask and then reverse the process when exhaling. Thus, you will be inhaling and exhaling more unfiltered air. How is this helpful?

By coincidence I had a gentleman enter my clinic office today with 2 masks on, one paper, and one cloth. I could watch the sides of the masks flare as he breathed. It looked like a fish’s gills.

There is also the issue that we refer to in pulmonary medicine as “work of breathing”. For people who have reduced pulmonary reserve, increasing the airflow resistance with a second mask would likely result in significant increases in shortness of breath. I know this because I do have respiratory problems, and wearing a single mask makes it difficult for me during any exertion. Two masks for some could be extremely uncomfortable.

It’s also worth remembering that this is the same Dr. Fauci who suppressed the use of masks in the initial phases of the pandemic, so to preserve the limited supply of the PPE’s. I hope we have lots of supply now because his words could double facemask consumption.

My final point will be an “I told you so”. Very quietly on January 20, the World Health Organization released new guidelines for Covid testing. They finally addressed what we have known all along: that the PCR test has been incorrectly used, which has inflated the number of cases. They now recommend, a decrease in the amplification cycles (sound familiar?) and the use of other confirmatory evidence such as actual symptoms and a second, different diagnostic study, such as an antigen test,

Just how many “cases” have been diagnosed incorrectly is anyone’s guess; but let me try. I’m thinking…a lot (between 60 and 90% according to the August 29th New York Times article).

I received an email today from the Feds on the topic of COVID-19 immunization. the email explains that the vaccine does not confer immunity, but the antibodies and immunity derived, merely help those who are vaccinated to fight off the virus (We knew this, though). It states that “guidelines for masking, social distancing all remain in place and should be adhered to regardless of vaccination or antibody status”.

In other words, there is no end in sight for this truncated, stilted lifestyle that we have all been forced to adopt. Even if 100% of people are vaccinated, there will likely always be vulnerable people that need to be protected. You know, the same way it has been with influenza over the years.

The pandemic was real. But it was shamefully manipulated by people in power for their own benefit. Yes, people have died from this virus much as people have been dying from respiratory virus infections for centuries. But the illogical, emotion-based restrictions placed upon us, are also causing financial, educational, and emotional devastation which may have very long-term effects.

It’s time to leave the cult, and return to life.

As always, I would be honored if you would share this post.


Header image: St William’s at Raquette Lake (Fujifilm XE2, XF 18-55mm f2.8-4)