Debanking, Mask claims that MIT studies suggest a 6-foot rule, is not worth mitigating COVID-19 infection

Cleveland, Ohio – This week, co-authors of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology study dealing with indoor coronavirus infections unveiled efforts to portray his findings as evidence of social distance and wearing masks is not worth it.

By exchanging emails with cleveland.com Professor John Bush of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology emphasized that research denies the importance of maintaining social distance and wearing masks, as speculated “strange and insensitive”. ..

“Both inferences are very unfounded, dangerous, and directly countered by our research,” he writes.

Which study is this?

This study was conducted by Bush and Martin Basant, professors of chemical engineering and applied mathematics at MIT, and how small micron-scale aerosols released during breathing remain in the air and flow around the room. I checked if it was “uniformly mixed”. Endanger everyone.

Bush and Bazant announced their findings in a report entitled “Guidelines for Limiting Indoor Airborne Propagation of COVID-19”.Report earlier this week pnas.org, Proceedings of the United States Academy of Sciences website.

“Currently, there is overwhelming evidence that indoor aerial propagation associated with relatively small micron-scale aerosol droplets plays a dominant role in the spread of COVID-19,” the report said. Occurs indoors. “

This study cites “insufficient 6-foot rules to mitigate the transmission of indoor airborne infections.” However, Bush said, “The pathogen concentration in such exhaled breath decreases with distance.”

Regarding masks: “Our study shows that efficient use of masks limits COVID-19 indoor transmission in that masks reduce both short-range and long-range aerial transmission from respiratory flow. Emphasizes the fact that it provides an effective means of doing so, “he wrote.

Where are the misleading reports displayed?

Mainly on social media.

“Oh … MIT researchers have discovered that social distance and masks can’t keep you safe from COVID. I want to hear the politicians ordering the blockade explain themselves. “Tweet conservative political commentator Liz Wheeler. cnbc.com Talk about the report.

With the addition of Peter Navarro, who advised Donald Trump during his presidency, he made a derogatory remark about the president’s chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony S. Forch.

“Everything St. Fauci tells us is wrong. Add a 6-foot social distance to the list,” he tweeted with a link to the study.

Are others trying to blame such a statement?

Okay.

A misleading reaction to the story about research is Bruce Y. Lee, forbes.com, I will publish a long explanation.

“What happened to this PNAS publication on social media is yet another example of how some people can do research and twist their discoveries from context, like balloon animals,” Lee said. Is writing. “Listening to science does not mean choosing a piece of research to fit the story you wanted to tell.”

Dr. Amy Edwards, an infectious disease specialist at a university hospital, said the report confirms that health professionals already know that masks and well-ventilated rooms reduce the risk of infection. It was.

“6 feet is safe, but it’s not a guarantee,” she said.

Edwards said the main source of infection found “on the ground” was in close contact with infected individuals. However, ensuring that the building is properly ventilated needs to be part of a future solution.

What else does the research say?

This study does more than just identify the limits of the 6-foot rule in indoor environments. Calculate guidelines to mitigate risk by setting limits on what is called “cumulative exposure time.”

The study is based on various parameters such as room occupants, ventilation and filtration rates, room activity, and whether masks are worn.

In a room where the air is well-mixed and everyone “breathes the same air effectively,” everyone has the same risk of airborne transmission, “Bush writes. cleveland.com And the Plain Dealer. In such cases, the social distance indoors is “not enough and can give a false sense of security.”

But according to Bush, the 6-foot rule still has that place. It prevents the explosion caused by large droplets caused by coughing and sneezing, and also protects from the full power of the “breathing jet” generated by normal breathing.