NIH director says wearing masks is not 'optional' to curb pandemic's spread

[Nevilledog]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/nih-director-says-wearing-masks-not-optional-curb-pandemic-s-n1234308


WASHINGTON — Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, called the political divide over wearing masks to curb the spread of the coronavirus “bizarre” in an interview on "Meet the Press" Sunday, adding that he does not believe facial coverings are “optional for people who want to protect themselves and people around them."

Asked about President Donald Trump's statements about masks — the president told Fox News that he wants “people to have a certain freedom” and also that “masks cause problems too” and “I think masks are good” — Collins said that an alien coming down to Earth would be “astounded, puzzled, amazed” by the political divide over masks.

“It is bizarre that we have turned mask-wearing into something political,” he said. “How could it be that something as basic as a public health action that we have very strong evidence can help seems to attach to people’s political party? For starters, can we just walk away from that?”

Twenty-eight states, and the District of Columbia, now require masks outside the home to slow the virus’ spread.

Gov. Jared Polis, D-Colo., told “Meet the Press” that he issued his mask order last week because data showed that areas with local mask requirements had “less spread of the virus.”

*snip*

[Ms. Toad]

1. My level of distrust is pretty high . . .

I read the caption as "not optimal."

[nsd]

2. Collins, like Fauci, is a serious and well-respected scientist.

He's not a political appointee. Those guys are straight-shooters. They're not going to lie for this administration.

[Ms. Toad]

5. Unfortunately, Fauci already has.

He has found his voice, again - but not until after doing damage by discouraging people from wearing masks by saying they were not effective.

We are still fighting the after-effects of that lie - it lends support to those who now insist that the government says what it wants, when it wants, regardless of the truth. I know why he said it - but because he is such a respected scientist, when he said it people believed it, even though there was ample evidence at the time to dispute it. Once lost, even for good reasons, trust based on integrity is hard to regain.

As to Collins - I don't know off the top of my head who the NIH is (and I don't know Collins, specificalyl, or his reputation). I misread a single word read that another government health entity was suggesting that mask wearing was "not optimal," which seemed par for the course.

[marybourg]

7. He's a really big deal, as is the NIH.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Collins

[Cha]

3. Thank you for this, Nd.. 😷

Hello!..

Gov. Jared Polis, D-Colo., told “Meet the Press” that he issued his mask order last week because data showed that areas with local mask requirements had “less spread of the virus.”

[Nevilledog]

4. ...

[Cha]

6. Mask Riders for Freedom!😷

From COVID & those trying to Kill us OFF

[Cairycat]

8. Mask wearing being a political issue

makes about as much sense as hand washing being a political issue. Although, there probably are dummies against that.