Does empirical science still matter during a pandemic?
A few months back, the World Health Organization has acknowledged that asymptomatic transmission “does not occur” in Covid-19 cases.
For a fleeting moment, all was right with the world; but suddenly, it was revised to “very rare.” Around mid-March, we were all told to wear face masks. Later, experts have pointed out that the virus could enter through the eyes. On Aug. 20, we were all told to wear face shields.
Better purchase earmuffs now they might become the next mandatory trend (even though it is unlikely viruses can enter through the ears). To date, there is no documented case of asymptomatic transmission.
The policies are indeed confusing science.
Dining in a restaurant? Wear your face mask and shield and write your details and walk to your table.
Purchasing at 7/11? Despite not staying inside for more than five minutes, you still need to write down your contact details. Remember that “close contact” is defined as being with someone for more than 15 minutes.
Walking along Session Road? There are now police enforcers dictating whether you walk up or down, while at the same time, the narrower and more traversed Maharlika overpass does not receive the attention it more likely deserves.
I urge all of us to become scientists and study empirical evidence – the information received by means of the senses, particularly by observation and documentation of patterns and behavior through experimentation. This will let us know if policies that are being done have been effective.
For instance, we were told that face shields can block 90 percent of transmission. But, did the number of cases go down after Aug 20? We can also learn from data from other countries. Why does Argentina have a lot of cases despite having the strictest lockdown and mandatory mask policy?
However, “bad science” seems to exist. Some people say: “But if we didn’t implement these draconian measures, there would be much more cases and deaths.”
Take note that in some countries like Sweden their death toll is 1/15th of what the imperial college model projected – with no lockdown, no mandatory face mask or face shield.
The imperial college also predicted a huge death toll for the SARS outbreak but it never happened.
For a disease with a 98.3 percent case survival rate, science and logic must prevail against fear. — HONORARY PROF. CHATNOIR, Baguio City