The New York Times still won't cover covid honestly

Something is seriously wrong in the health section. The paper no longer speaks to America, but rather an isolated pocket of OCD people in liberal, coastal enclaves.

This week the CDC did what most Americans (and I) did 3+ years ago, acknowledge that COVID19 is just another annual virus we have to live with. If you feel too sick to function, stay home, and if you feel ok, get your ass to work or school. That’s essentially the CDC guidance. And yet, the NYTimes still can’t cover this fairly. Take a look

In this article, by, of course, Apoorva Mandavilli, there are gratuitous and unsupported claims.

Here she repeats a false statement by the CDC director

There is no randomized data that vaccination lowers long COVID, and obviously using observational data will be confounded. People who choose to get vaccinated will report their brain fog and other ailments differently than those who do not get vaccinated. They have different socioeconomics and medical status. The FDA specifically does not allow the company to make this marketing claim.

Here is another distortion.

COVID19 is no longer a threat. It is no longer a pandemic, and if you have a cold or flu like illness, it is irrelevant if it is COVID19. Even testing in the hospital is now dubious because all the therapeutics (dex, toci, etc), need new randomized trials.

More distortions

#1. Improving air quality did not stop COVID19 in Kindergartens. Literally, no one has ever proven that improving air quality reduces seasonal respiratory viruses in a well done study, and more importantly that this is cost effective

#2 Masking makes no sense in 2024 and no one is doing it.

Making maskings affordable? Have you lost your marbles: Literally no one in America cannot afford a shitty spun plastic Chinese mask. The problem is no one wants it, and we have wasted enough money on masks. They are like 6 bucks on amazon primse. I would never advise these in school. btw.

Overall, the New York Times, continues to refuse to cover COVID from a balanced perspective. Here is my sensible advice

#1. You will get many respiratory viruses in your life. Better to live life, accept this risk, than avoid socialization

#2. A healthy person should never wear a mask in community settings.

#3. If you are sick with a cold, rest, and eat chicken noodle soup. No need to test.

#4 If your kid is sick, try to minimize the time at home. Getting them back to school as soon as possible is best for them.

#5 Sometimes in life, we have to work when we don’t feel 100%. That’s ok. It builds character.

#6 Break every COVID19 test in your house.

#7 Never get another COVID19 booster until FDA makes Pfizer run RCTs powered for severe disease. (Along those lines)

#8 Write to the NYTimes to provide balanced coverage of health care topics. Ms Mandavilli is not a good journalist. See more here