Idaho has been in a declared state of emergency by the Governor since March 13 – just one week shy of five months. During this time, a number of our statutes have been altered or suspended by the Governor’s proclamation while appropriation of significant funds has been completely undertaken by the executive branch of state government. The Constitution says this responsibility is reserved for the legislature.
However, the Idaho Constitution has been aborted during this lengthy “emergency”.
During these five months, 246 Idahoans have allegedly died of a particular disease.
Each day the news reports that hospitals are overrun by patients and they are on the brink of having to ration care. (This comes after a three-month complete shut-down of everything including important surgeries and diagnostic procedures to help the hospitals prepare for an influx of ICU patients.)
The hospital admissions for COVID don’t EVER reflect the dire emergency that ‘killed the constitution’.
Currently the hospitals show their admissions like this:
St Alphonsus Hospital Admissions from their website (red are admissions labeled COVID) Notice when the extreme emergency was declared there is barely any hospital admissions!
Past death rates remain consistent throughout the past five year trending up steadily with our population growth. Even with a DECLARED PANDEMIC and EXTREME EMERGENCY the death rath for all Idahoans remains consistent.
Each year the numbers remain fairly consistent. Death rates for Idaho HAS NOT seen a drastic increase.
But the numbers – the facts – reveal a stark difference to the story they have been telling.
There is NOT a spike in deaths due to COVID-19. In fact, there are several dozen even fewer deaths this year than in previous years in Idaho.
Each month for the past five years, about 1,100 Idahoans die for a variety of causes. The biggest difference is our loved ones are dying alone – without human touch.
Death is a part of life.
Saying that is not callous.
What is callous are the doctors and nurses who use the excuse that “people are dying from a virus this year” to force their patients to die alone – without loving family and human touch – surrounded by strangers and machines. Families are saying goodbye to loved ones through an iPad screen.
Families are left to mourn the passing of their loved ones without the comfort of gatherings or funerals because the Governor and the hospitals prefer the federal funds received from the “rolling” state of emergency.
Its been quite a week for the Southwest Public Health District. They attempted to hold a public meeting, without the public. Canceling meetings twice due to the turn out of individuals who wanted to attend, the Health District settled on hosting their public meeting at the courthouse to allow space for the people. They also provided public access with a live-streamed video and recorded the event for those in surrounding areas who were unable to attend in person.
Several weeks ago, neighboring Ada county’s health district implemented a mask mandate. Concerned local citizens of Canyon, Gem and Owyee realized that it was likely this would be on the agenda for Southwest Health District.
Several organizations reached out to their members to contact the county commissioners who sit on the health district board.
There were 1500 comments received by District Health more than half were against a mask mandate.
Thankfully the Commissioners voted AGAINST a mask mandate for Canyon, Payette, Owyee, Gem, Washington and Adams Counties.
This means that private business owners will not be burdened with enforcing a mask mandate under the threat of license removal. The police and city council in other counties have stated that A MASK MANDATE IS UNENFORCEABLE.
The evidence for masks (as explained below) cited by health authorities (supposedly our nation’s “experts”) is inadequate and does not justify forcing what could be considered a medical intervention on millions of healthy people. In even considering a sweeping mandate the burden of proof is on health and government officials to provide sufficient and conclusive (not anecdotal) evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, that there are NO negative health effects (physical, mental, or emotional) associated with the implementation of mask policies. Please review all the citations given on the governor’s website from the CDC and Idaho Health & Welfare (https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/idaho-resources/) used to justify face coverings? Here is our summary.
CDC Citations –
The CDC provides a list of 19 citations. Citations 1-12 only discuss asymptomatic transmission and are not actually mask studies.
Citations 13 – 15 are the only studies that address cloth masks (see below). If the government is not going to provide a constant supply of surgical masks to the entire population, most people will opt for cloth masks due to affordability and availability. CDC encourages the general public to use cloth/home-made masks to preserve the surgical mask supply for healthcare workers. These 3 studies show some potential benefit to masks, but efficacy depends on proper use and fit (no gaps), the number of layers and type of fabric, and other measures used to reduce infection. A mandate will not be able to control these factors. Study #14 shows that filter efficiency was significantly reduced by gaps – this problem alone makes universal masking unrealistic and unsupported as a mandate. The general public is not fit-tested or trained on mask-wearing, they do not seal or tape masks to their skin, and do not live in a clinically controlled environment. Many of the materials in these studies were sealed around a tube, not tested on real people. Look around – you will rarely see a lay-person with a mask that does not have any gaps (not to mention those people who pull their mask down to sneeze!).
Citations 16 – 19 only address surgical mask material with no gaps, or a patient was instructed on proper use. It should be noted that not all viral RNA droplets/aerosols actually contained virus, and infectivity was not confirmed.
Citation 13 (author Davies): “…the homemade mask did not significantly reduce the number of particles emitted… In contrast, the surgical mask did have a significant effect.” “Although any material may provide a physical barrier to an infection, if as a mask it does not fit well around the nose and mouth, or the material freely allows infectious aerosols to pass through it, then it will be of no benefit.” “An improvised face mask should be viewed as the last possible alternative if a supply of commercial face masks is not available, irrespective of the disease against which it may be required for protection. Improvised homemade face masks may be used to help protect those who could potentially, for example, be at occupational risk from close or frequent contact with symptomatic patients. However, these masks would provide the wearers little protection from microorganisms from other persons who are infected with respiratory diseases. As a result, we would not recommend the use of homemade face masks as a method of reducing transmission of infection from aerosols.”
Citation 14 (author Konda): This is the only study that tested mask materials with and without gaps. Surgical masks and multi-layered fabrics had some filter efficiency, however, “Whereas the surgical mask provides moderate (>60%) and excellent (close to 100%) particle exclusion below and above 300 nm, respectively, the tests carried out with the 1% opening surprisingly resulted in significant drops in the mask efficiencies across the entire size range (60% drop in the >300 nm range).” For example, the 1 layer 80 TPI quilter’s cotton (which is stated as often used in DIY masks) as shown on Table 1 only has a 9% filter efficiency, even without a gap. A surgical mask with any gap only has a 50% filter efficiency. “Our findings indicate that leakages around the mask area can degrade efficiencies by ∼50% or more, pointing out the importance of “fit”. “It is critically important that cloth mask designs also take into account the quality of this “fit” to minimize leakage of air between the mask and the contours of the face, while still allowing the exhaled air to be vented effectively.”
Citation 15 (author Aydin): This study showed some benefit to cloth masks (1-layer T-shirt had a 43.3% blocking efficiency) but tested only droplet dissemination (not aerosolized particles), and only tested the materials without any gaps.
Idaho Department of H&W Citations –
Reference numbers 3 – 7 and 9 are duplicate citations from the CDC list. Reference #8 is the CDC article that provides the link to their mask references. Reference #10 is a short article with no mask information.
Reference #1 is an article written by doctors that actually questions the benefits of masks and has no mask data. “We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection…. Public health authorities define a significant exposure to Covid-19 as face-to-face contact within 6 feet with a patient with symptomatic Covid-19 that is sustained for at least a few minutes (and some say more than 10 minutes or even 30 minutes). The chance of catching Covid-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefore minimal. In many cases, the desire for widespread masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic.” “What is clear, however, is that universal masking alone is not a panacea. A mask will not protect providers caring for a patient with active Covid-19 if it’s not accompanied by meticulous hand hygiene, eye protection, gloves, and a gown. A mask alone will not prevent health care workers with early Covid-19 from contaminating their hands and spreading the virus to patients and colleagues. Focusing on universal masking alone may, paradoxically, lead to more transmission of Covid-19 if it diverts attention from implementing more fundamental infection control measures.” “One might argue that fear and anxiety are better countered with data and education than with a marginally beneficial mask, particularly in light of the worldwide mask shortage, but it is difficult to get clinicians to hear this message in the heat of the current crisis.”
Reference #2 concluded that “Results obtained in the study show that common fabric materials may provide marginal protection against nanoparticles including those in the size ranges of virus-containing particles in exhaled breath.” “…fabric materials show only marginal filtration performance against virus-size particles when sealed around the edges. Face seal leakage will further decrease the respiratory protection offered by fabric materials.” This study did not measure face seal leakage.
Other studies and citations questioning masks:
“We do not recommend requiring the general public who do not have symptoms of COVID-19-like illness to routinely wear cloth or surgical masks because: There is no scientific evidence they are effective in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission… Sweeping mask recommendations—as many have proposed—will not reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission, as evidenced by the widespread practice of wearing such masks in Hubei province, China, before and during its mass COVID-19 transmission experience earlier this year. Our review of relevant studies indicates that cloth masks will be ineffective at preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission, whether worn as source control or as PPE.” “In sum, given the paucity of information about their performance as source control in real-world settings, along with the extremely low efficiency of cloth masks as filters and their poor fit, there is no evidence to support their use by the public or healthcare workers to control the emission of particles from the wearer.” COMMENTARY: Masks-for-all for COVID-19 not based on sound data, https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/04/commentary-masks-all-covid-19-not-based-sound-data
“Laboratory tests showed the penetration of particles through the cloth masks to be very high (97%) compared with the medical masks (44%).” “We have provided the first clinical efficacy data of cloth masks, which suggest HCWs should not use cloth masks as protection against respiratory infection. Cloth masks resulted in significantly higher rates of infection than medical masks, and also performed worse than the control arm”. “A cluster randomized trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers”, https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/5/4/e006577.full.pdf
“None of the studies established a conclusive relationship between mask/respirator use and protection against influenza infection. Some evidence suggests that mask use is best undertaken as part of a package of personal protection especially hand hygiene.” (bin-Reza F et al. The use of mask and respirators to prevent transmission of influenza: A systematic review of the scientific evidence. Resp Viruses 2012;6(4):257-67. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5779801/)
“….homemade masks are not considered PPE, since their capability to protect HCP is unknown. Caution should be exercised when considering this option. Homemade masks should ideally be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front (that extends to the chin or below) and sides of the face.” https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/face-masks.html
Potential health risks voiced by doctors and other professionals:
Possible increased risk of infection (inhaling trapped virus, bacteria, and other toxins you would normally be exhaling?): “The rates of all infection outcomes were highest in the cloth mask arm, with the rate of ILI (influenza-like illness) significantly higher in the cloth mask arm compared with the medical mask arm.” (the cloth masks were 2-layer cotton) “Adverse events associated with facemask use were reported in 40.4% of HCWs in the medical mask arm and 42.6% in the cloth mask arm. General discomfort and breathing problems were the most frequently reported adverse events.” “The physical properties of a cloth mask, reuse, the frequency and effectiveness of cleaning, and increased moisture retention, may potentially increase the infection risk for HCWs. The virus may survive on the surface of the facemasks, and modelling studies have quantified the contamination levels of masks. Self-contamination through repeated use and improper doffing is possible….Observations during SARS suggested double-masking and other practices increased the risk of infection because of moisture, liquid diffusion and pathogen retention. These effects may be associated with cloth masks.”
Hypoxia and immune system impairment (hypoxia can cause heart attacks, strokes, seizures, death and more. Low oxygen levels stress the body resulting in increased cortisol. Cortisol suppresses the immune system rendering people MORE susceptible to illness).
Shehade H et al. Cutting edge: Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 negatively regulates Th1 function. J Immunol 2015;195:1372-1376.
Westendorf AM et al. Hypoxia enhances immunosuppression by inhibiting CD4+ effector T cell function and promoting Treg activity. Cell Physiol Biochem 2017;41:1271-84.
Sceneay J et al. Hypoxia-driven immunosuppression contributes to the pre-metastatic niche. Oncoimmunology 2013;2:1 e22355.
Have you considered these questions/potential problems should you implement a mask mandate?
What about people who cannot breathe well in the masks, including those who do not have a respiratory medical condition (i.e. anxiety symptoms caused by oxygen deprivation)? Would they require a “doctor’s note”? How would you regulate this? Businesses (i.e. grocery stores) in California are refusing service to un-masked patrons even if they have a doctor’s note. Is this illegal discrimination? Does this violate HIPPA regulations?
Will you be providing a mask supply to businesses? (many of which are already struggling financially). What about the stress caused to employees who must face potential violence from angry citizens who disagree with a mask mandate? Can police services handle these extra calls and are you willing to place this burden on law enforcement agencies? Are you prepared to fine or jail citizens and businesses, already stressed and financially burdened by consequences of the lockdown? Is a universal mask mandate based on flimsy scientific evidence worth the trouble that it may cause? Could it exacerbate the economic depression?
What about potential infection via the eyes? Lack of eye protection eliminates any benefit a mask would provide.
Please recall that as of just recently the CDC, WHO, and US Surgeon General did NOT recommend masks for the general public (healthy people) outside of healthcare facilities.
In addition, the American Medical Association states that “Face masks should be used only by individuals who have symptoms of respiratory infection such as coughing, sneezing, or, in some cases, fever. Face masks should also be worn by health care workers, by individuals who are taking care of or are in close contact with people who have respiratory infections, or otherwise as directed by a doctor. Face masks should not be worn by healthy individuals to protect themselves from acquiring respiratory infection because there is no evidence to suggest that face masks worn by healthy individuals are effective in preventing people from becoming ill. Face masks should be reserved for those who need them because masks can be in short supply during periods of widespread respiratory infection. Because N95 respirators require special fit testing, they are not recommended for use by the general public.” https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2762694
Have you found studies that measure the long-term health risks of masks for both adults and children? Could the intervention be worse than the illness itself? Is it legal and ethical to mandate an intervention for children that could potentially affect their health, where the child’s parents or legal guardians alone have the right to make these decisions for them?
Could you consider a less intrusive mandate based on more on conclusive scientific evidence, i.e. face mask mandate in public only for those who are sick/vulnerable, or requiring hand sanitizing at business entrances.
We agree with common sense science-based measures encouraged for any type of viral illness i.e. handwashing and staying home when sick, but it seems much of the nation is reacting based on hysteria, emotion, and fear. For this virus, the focus should not be on the number of cases sensationalized in the media (since many people are asymptomatic and most recover without medical intervention, there are problems with testing i.e. false positives, and there is evidence of data fraud) but on COVID-caused hospitalization and death rates.
The world population has been living with several types of coronaviruses (and millions of other kinds of viruses and bacteria) for decades, and current science is still making discoveries about the complex and amazing nature of our God-given immune system. Our society will adjust to this new virus as the population achieves natural herd immunity.
We are certainly not going to support authoritarian rule and the destruction of the economy, community, and our personal freedoms, based on a current 0.26% CDC estimated COVID mortality rate. Mandating face masks and lockdowns (never enacted before in recent history for any other virus) is an over-reaction unwarranted for this virus. Illness is part of life. Instead of fear-based reactions, public health efforts should focus on protecting vulnerable populations (i.e. nursing homes) and educating medical practitioners and the general public on COVID treatment remedies and how to strengthen and support the immune system.
Representative Christy Zito and Representative Heather Scott share insight into today’s historic event trying to return Idaho to a representative republic. This was published on Facebook live, downloaded, and reshared on Youtube.
Hi everybody. I’m Representative Christy Zito and I’m here at the Capitol on the house floor with Representative Heather Scott. We just wanted to take a minute and talk about what see happening here today. Representative Barbieri , Idaho District 2 has crafted a beautiful proclamation stating how we feel, how we feel the people of our state feel, and how the people want to be represented. And it’s our plan to sign that today. We need to do something to draw attention to what is happening across our state.
We are still a free society and, and that being said, you can’t just have one person barked out edicts and everybody fall in line and follow. And what we have going on in our, in our city right now is not a Republic form of government. And that’s what we’re hoping to draw attention to and get citizens to wake up and push back on some of the injustices that are happening, right?
And we want it to be from a citizen’s perspective. We’re not here to recall the governor. That’s your job, right? And you’re taking that responsibility and you’re doing a good job with that.
We’re not here to compete. We’re not here to do anything like that at all. We’re here to represent your voice, get that proclamation signed, get it out there so that the world knows no for one person to arbitrarily say, this job is essential. That job’s not essential. You have to wear a mask. This is the United States of America.
This isn’t some third world foreign country where we have someone telling us… sorry, I didn’t get off on this. I apologize.
You know, we’re not a free state in Idaho. Our country’s gone. If we can’t do this in Idaho, well, what are we even doing exactly the last strong hope. We’ve just been too complacent for too long and we really have to get back engaged in our government and maybe try to save what we have left because we are going to do everything we can every day.
And I’m so grateful for all of you that are watching. I’m grateful for the people that showed up here today. Let me do that thing at the gallery here. There are a lot of people outside, a lot of logs gathered here today.
So, you know, this is history-making and, and I’m not because it seems to be making it, but we are part of history, history, and you’re part of history and this video and the people here and everything was taking place. This is historical. Like God bless you. And thank you. Thank you. And you know, let’s, let’s remember, what’s really happening today.
When you hear the headlines of what you may see, that the media will distort today. And we want to make a strong statement and a strong proclamation from the house members that showed up today that worked for the citizens and not the executive branch, not the establishment, not leadership. We are here today because we work for you, the citizens.
And I hope you know that exactly. That’s exactly it.
When, when this first came up a couple of months ago about the legislature showing up, um, we said, we’d be here whatever capacity it was on this day that we would be here to be your voice and represent you. Because like Heather said, I work for you. Don’t work for the state. I’m not looking for chairmanship or you’re accredited to represent you. And a lot of people are looking for appointments. They’re looking for jobs down the road. They’re looking for retirements. We’re here to represent the people and that’s what we’re going to do today. So thanks for watching.
Thank you. We appreciate it. Thank you. God bless you.
The proclamation will be shared here once published for public review.
As we begin an unprecedented week in Idaho history, I feel that I should remind all that we have certain unalienable, God-given human rights and certain Constitutional protections. One of those is the right to a representative Republic form of government. God, please be with the people of Idaho this week as we attempt to restore ourselves to that condition and return to the respect for liberty.
– Sarah Clendenon, Health Freedom Idaho
Convening in a special session
Unconstitutional Action or Legislative Duty?
Several legal opinions have been written on the matter of the Legislature ‘calling itself into session’ to do the work of the people. Many Senators have responded to citizen’s requests claiming that they have to await the Governor’s request in order to convene which is traditionally in January. What if our Governor, doesn’t call the legislators back into session in January? Under this ‘perpetual’ state of emergency, he could very well say we have to wait until sometime later next year.
There is a serious issue as of RIGHT NOW our state is not operating as a representative government as guaranteed by our United State Constitution.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Article IV Section 4
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence
“If ever the time should come, when vain & aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced Patriots to prevent its Ruin.” -Sam Adams Letter to James Warren October 24, 1780
We the People have called for the Legislature to convene to call for an end of the ’emergency’ that allows Governor Little unilateral power over our state.
Join us at the People’s rally as we support our legislators.
*The Governor illegally seized the power of the legislative branch by suspending and amending sections of the code and Allocating funds. *The legislature must convene to fulfill its constitutional obligations regarding code and allocating funds. *The legislature has the duty to ensure the continuity of state and local government pursuant to article 3 section 27 of the Idaho Constitution. JUNE 23, 2020 Our Legislature needs to reconvene! We demand that they TERMINATE the state of emergency pursuant to I.C. 46-1008.
Our state has been placed under a ‘state of emergency’ going on 90 days June 23, 2020. The people of Idaho have requested that our Legislators convene a special session to handle the situation representing their constituents whose rights and freedoms have been violated numerous times by our Governor. There are three obvious reasons why legislators could convene at the Idaho Capitol on June 23, 2020.
1. ONLY THE LEGISLATURE CAN APPROPRIATE MONEY
The US Treasury has deposited $1.25 billion into the Idaho treasury pursuant to H.R. 748, known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act. Article VII, Section 13 of the Idaho State Constitution says “MONEY –HOW DRAWN FROM TREASURY. No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in pursuance of appropriations made by law.”
The Governor’s use of a financial advisory committee to distribute the CARES funds violates the intent of the Idaho Constitution. The Governor usurps legislative authority by appropriating this sum of money — over $1 billion — and treating it as if it is “non-cognizable funds.” Typically, treating money as non-cognizable funds is the statutory provision for spending small sums of federal grant money made available after a legislative session.
2. THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT INFERIOR TO THE GOVERNOR – AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION BY THE GOVERNOR CAN’T BE USED TO CREATE AN INDEFINITE SHIFT IN THE BALANCE OF POWER IN FAVOR OF THE GOVERNOR
On March 13, 2020, Governor Little issued a proclamation, citing Idaho Code 46-1008, declaring a disaster emergency. The code section that describes the length of the emergency reads as follows: “the governor shall terminate the state of disaster emergency by executive order or proclamation; provided, however, that no state of disaster emergency may continue for longer than thirty (30) days unless the governor finds that it should be continued for another thirty (30) days or any part thereof. The Legislature by concurrent resolution may terminate a state of disaster emergency at any time. Thereupon, the governor shall issue an executive order or proclamation ending the state of disaster emergency.”
The Governor has maintained this disaster emergency (which ran concurrently with the Extreme Emergency declaration, which began on March 25 and ended on June 11) since March 13, and on June 11 issued another proclamation maintaining the disaster emergency. Therefore, the Governor has signaled he is not bound to the 60 day limit and may continue to govern Idaho by executive action without input from the Legislative branch.
It is unconstitutional to claim that the Governor can operate the state under a disaster emergency indefinitely, yet maintain that the Legislature must be in session to “terminate a state of emergency at any time.” The words “at any time” are clear. Acceding that the Governor can usurp full power, to change laws and appropriate money, without any power on the part of the Legislature to act as check is to accept the notion that the Executive and Legislative branches are not equal branches of government. Was the Idaho Constitution written to make the Legislature the inferior branch, by allowing only the governor to call a special session? This allows the same governor to effectively serve as two branches of government, and to prevent a Legislative check on this action, except for the period of roughly January through March?
3. EXECUTIVE ACTIONS BY THE GOVERNOR HAVE BEEN ARBITRARY AND IN CONTRAVENTION TO AMERICA’S FOUNDING PRINCIPLES
Much has been made of the decision by the Governor to allow state liquor stores to remain open, for which there is no constitutional protection, but to restrict constitutionally-protected religious worship.
Similarly, the notion that one person can arbitrarily determine which businesses are “essential” and can operate and which businesses are “non-essential” and can’t operate flies in the face of the very notion (contained in the Declaration of Independence) that all … “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
*Thank you Fred Birnbaum Vice President of Idaho Freedom Foundation and Idaho Freedom Action for sharing these points.
Convening in a special session
Unconstitutional Action or Legislative Duty?
Several legal opinions have been written on the matter of the Legislature ‘calling itself into session’ to do the work of the people. Many Senators have responded to citizen’s requests claiming that they have to await the Governor’s request in order to convene which is traditionally in January. What if our Governor, doesn’t call the legislators back into session in January? Under this ‘perpetual’ state of emergency, he could very well say we have to wait until sometime later next year.
There is a serious issue as of RIGHT NOW our state is not operating as a representative government.
In this video lawyer, Colton Boyles discusses with Miste Karlfeldt and Sarah Clendenon of Health Freedom Idaho the opposing legal opinions.
“Of course you must wear a mask…all the time if possible. How else do you expect to avoid the disease; it’s airborne, y’know. All the experts agree, from Dr. Fauci to the CDC and the WHO and anybody who’s anybody. Even our political leaders – except for Trump and the Surgeon General and a few of their friends – and these leaders have so much more information than we do.”
All this is part of the creed of scientism – as opposed to science. Scientism is a religious faith that says we should obey so-called experts because they are experts. Demonstrations of expertise are for the doubters; we obey Dr. Fauci’s exhortation to wear the mask because he is Dr. Fauci. Most governors and mayors obey him – and the CDC guidelines – for the same reason. Actual science tells a different story.
There are essentially four ways to contract a virus according to Scott Alexander in the Slate Star Codex, March 23, 2020. They are contact, touching an infected person; droplet, contacting liquefied particles through sneezing, spitting, talking, or coughing; airborne, transiting particles lingering in air before dropping to the ground; and fomite, touching contaminated objects. A fifth way is called aerosol, is a combination of contact with airborne or droplet particles.
All contacts are not equal; particles must penetrate the body in sufficient numbers to attain a critical mass for infection. This varies depending on the immune system of the contaminated person. The issue, however, is whether the acolytes of scientism are correct to demand the public wear masks as a protective measure. In fact, they are wrong…dead wrong.
Alexander reviewed the literature and concluded – as did the Centers for Disease Control and Dr. Fauci himself as recently as March – any masks below the grade of the N-95 respirator were essentially useless for protecting wearers from COVID-19.
This was essentially due to the fact masks do not create a seal around facial entry points, although CDC and Fauci believed they did protect others from the wearer’s own discharges. (Masks do not even cover the eyes.) The article asserts the N-95 is effective for two-way protection against airborne and aerosol contamination but specifies only when worn by trained professionals. It overlooks or underplays factors that negate even these modest claims.
For example, the studies Alexander reviewed claim masks reduce – without eliminating – particle penetration. However, there were numerous admitted “confounders” in the studies – factors that invalidate results because they ignore variables over which researchers had no control. This is the same issue cited by Fauci and company to challenge hydroxychloroquine with the exception HCQ is currently in clinical trials that account for confounding factors.
Drs. Karlfeldt and Couchman, practicing in Idaho’s Treasure Valley, addressed these issues in a recent YouTube video. Couchman was a paramedic before med school; he was specially trained – and forbidden to wear an N-95 – until certified in its use. He logged many failures before getting that certification – this is typical – and noted that without proper use there is nothing but a false sense of security from wearing the respirator. He and Karlfeldt agreed anyone lacking such training would receive no benefit from the N-95. Surgical quality masks – with three layers of protection – were addressed in multiple studies demonstrating they too offer false security.
Couchman and Karlfeldt assert proper use of the N-95 over long periods forces the wearer to re-breathe his own carbon dioxide – not good for the immune system and compromising for blood oxygenation. Meanwhile, laboratory tests of several grades of masks found exhaled COVID particles, which are small enough to pass through molecular gaps in mask fabric, reached the outside of the mask in large quantities.
The triple-layer masks were found to have more COVID particles on the outermost than on the innermost layer according to Seongman Bae MD, et al in The Annals of Internal Medicine, April 6, 2020. Bae’s South Korean study found the masks created a petri dish-like effect because they provide a pathogen-friendly environment of warmth, moisture, and darkness after usage that actually increases risk to both user and contacts. They retain a pathogen rich moisture from the forced re-breathing of one’s own air supply, inhalation of carbon dioxide, and reduction of oxygen intake. Although N-95s were not part of the study, it stands to reason the better seal of the respirator would further compromise oxygen intake and aggravate rebreathing issues over mere masks.
The Bae study supported similar findings of Dr. Leonie Walker’s 2015 review of the literature; she found no evidence masks are of any serious benefit and strong suspicion they actually make wearers and contacts more susceptible to infection. She cited as just one example The New England Journal of Medicine publication during the H1N1 pandemic by Shine et al – November 5, 2009 – to this effect. Dr. Couchman referred to a study in The British Journal of Medicine indicating issues of moisture retention, re-use of masks, and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection. Dr. Karlfeldt stated – in light of the oxygenation and re-breathing issues already mentioned – “Prolonged mask wear will compromise your immune system.”
Physicians for Informed Consent recently posted on their Facebook pages, “…Facemasks may not significantly protect from pandemic influenza?
“The primary finding was that regular hand hygiene was significantly protective in protecting from pandemic influenza infection, while facemask use was not significantly protective. The significant protective effect of hand hygiene following contact with infected individuals or contaminated cases, which were found to be comparable to general hand hygiene practices; this supports the position that protective measures both during and immediately following viral exposure will drive intervention effectiveness. While this seems intuitively reasonable, an important implication is that the frequency of performing such maneuvers may need to increase in pandemic situations, where attack rates and viral loads are likely to be higher than during seasonal epidemics”. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28487207/
One has to wonder why – with all the caution-and-warnings available in scientific literature to which doctors and government officials are privy – these experts who warned against mask use two months ago are now threatening the wrath of God and government against people declining their use. One dares hope employers will rethink their policies about requiring employees to wear masks.
And one may echo the title of this post, “Keep wearing those face masks…if you dare.” Or we can ask the God we serve to resurrect common sense and respect for authentic science in the government and people of our land. My money is on the latter.
James A. Wilson is the author of Living As Ambassadors of Relationships, The Holy Spirit and the End Times, Kingdom in Pursuit, and his first novel, Generation – available at Barnes and Nobles, Amazon, or at praynorthstate@gmail.com
A new report out from the CDC shows the death rate from the virus is likely 0.2% -THAT’S 2 TENTHS OF A PERCENT- very similar to what many doctors and scientists have been saying all along. That’s very similar to a bad flu season. At the same time more research is showing the virus is more widespread than believed meaning tens of millions have been exposed and had very mild symptoms or no symptoms.
In addition, the CDC reverses its stance, no longer is the virus believed to stay on surfaces for extended periods of time.
Maybe we shouldn’t be so afraid?? The curve has been flattened. The hospitals were not overwhelmed like what we saw in Italy.
Mission accomplished. It’s time to re-open. Not according to Governor Little!
In fact, he announced May 22 a massive ramp-up of Testing. His power trip completely ignores the data, statistics, and recommendations have changed since the formation of the task force. Governor Little presses on using funds he allocated without legislative input to invade the privacy of the citizens.
1st COMES PRIVACY INVASION via TESTING
Idaho Press Reports;
The strategy, which a governor-appointed task force of both public- and private-sector experts has been formulating over the past month, calls for expanding Idaho’s testing capacity, now at roughly 18,000 to 23,000 tests per week, up to at least 150,000 tests per week.
“The testing demands of COVID-19 are unprecedented,” said Dr. Christopher Ball, director of the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories and co-chair of the testing task force.
Little, at an in-person but socially distanced press conference in the Capitol’s Lincoln Auditorium, said, “A strong economic rebound can only occur with a combination of efforts, and expanded and targeted testing is a big part of our strategy.”
“We have an impressive team of very capable local clinical and laboratory and research experts from across the state helping us navigate this crisis, and I sincerely appreciate their help,” the governor said.
The new strategy lays out five priority groups for testing, with the first two to be targeted right away. “An example of a Priority 1 is any symptomatic health care worker,” Ball said. Another example is residents of nursing homes, whether or not they show symptoms. “For this group, testing that provides a same-day result is ideal,” he said. Priority 1 testing alone is estimated to require about 17,000 tests per week.”
THEN COMES FORCED QUARANTINE THRU CONTACT TRACING
After testing, comes Contact Tracing. What does that involve? This individual took the training to become a certified Contact Tracer and reports on it.
A group of concerned citizens filed to petition for recall. Their filing was approved and they have until August 11, 2020 to return 183,523 signatures.
Those signatures must come from registered voters.
He has shown his inability to listen to the voice of the people by calling in the legislature, elected officials that speak on behalf of the citizens.
He has created martial law and extended it without any clear indication of crisis.
He has taken Idaho from a thriving economy to 100,000’s of individuals without work, closing down small businesses and putting families at risk.
Comments from those participating in the Recall of Governor Little
Not Convinced?
MORE ON THE CDC NUMBERS:
“…If you are under 65, in reasonably good health and do not have a vitamin D deficiency, you have only a tiny chance of dying from COVID-19.
And if you are younger than 34, your chances of dying from the virus are so small as to be almost statistically undetectable.
On the other hand, if you are 85 or older, are in a nursing home, have serious health problems and a vitamin D deficiency, you may be in real danger if you are exposed to the virus — but only a tiny portion of the population is in such a condition.”
The CDC just came out with a report that should be earth-shattering to the narrative of the political class, yet it will go into the thick pile of vital data and information about the virus that is not getting out to the public. For the first time, the CDC has attempted to offer a real estimate of the overall death rate for COVID-19, and under its most likely scenario, the number is 0.26%. Officials estimate a 0.4% fatality rate among those who are symptomatic and project a 35% rate of asymptomatic cases among those infected, which drops the overall infection fatality rate (IFR) to just 0.26% — almost exactly where Stanford researchers pegged ita month ago.
Until now, we have been ridiculed for thinking the death rate was that low, as opposed to the 3.4% estimate of the World Health Organization, which helped drive the panic and the lockdowns. Now the CDC is agreeing to the lower rate in plain ink.
Plus, ultimately we might find out that the IFR is even lower because numerous studies and hard counts of confined populations have shown a much higher percentage of asymptomatic cases. Simply adjusting for a 50% asymptomatic rate would drop their fatality rate to 0.2% – exactly the rate of fatality Dr. John Ionnidis of Stanford University projected.
Delayed surgeries and treatments for profound illnesses
Infringed upon countless important civil liberties
Placed 300 million Americans on house arrest
Not all is lost, the world’s 25 RICHEST individuals have gained $255 billion in the past 2 months
Our Governor has unbridled power is ignoring the Idaho Constitution, suspending almost 200 rules, messing with the election, allocating millions of dollars of funds to invade the privacy of the citizens while ruining the livelihoods of 1000’s
And the censorship keeps the masses naive and hostile
“All these doctors and nurses say COVID is dangerous but these people on Facebook who barely passed high school science say it safe” – troll commenting on a post regarding the CDC estimates
The doctors who have come out to question the narrative have been shut down and censored by the channels that could reach the masses.
Dr Judy Mikovits has a Ph.D. in molecular biology and biochemistry with over 30 years of experience. She has directed programs on HIV, cancer, epigenetics and neuroimmune disease with a focus on the development of novel drug and diagnostic technologies.
In 2011 when she made a horrifying discovery that was contaminating all vaccinations, she presented her data to government officials and was threatened and told to destroy all her data. When she did not, she was jailed, her career systematically destroyed, and a gag order put in place for four years threatening that if she spoke out she would be thrown back in jail.
The gag order has been lifted and now she’s talking. LISTEN TO THIS INTERVIEW WITH LOCAL NATUROPATH Dr. Michael Karlfeldt.
In this interview, she takes an hour sharing insight into:
The release of the coronavirus in China
The impact that this double strained RNA virus has on the body
Whether US citizens should be concerned about exposure
the ONE THING YOU SHOULDN’T DO out of fear of the virus
and many resources to help you create a confident immune system
Her newest release is a short video that exposes the DEPTH of the corruption in the government that is dictating the direction of our response to the current plandemic. It’s disconcerting to say the least.
Dr. Judy Mikovits was instrumental in our fight against HIV. She earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from George Washington University in 1992.
At National Cancer Institute she developed purification methods for Interferon alpha used in the first immune therapy treatment for hairy cell leukemia in 1986. In 1986-7 she developed production methods to insure biological materials manufactured using human blood products were free of contamination from HIV-1. Her Ph.D. thesis changed the paradigm for the therapeutic treatment of HIV.
Her pioneering work during a twenty-year career at the National Cancer Institute includes the discovery of the modulation of DNA Methylation machinery by human retroviral infection and the development of the concept of inflammatory cytokines and chemokine signatures of infection and disease. Therapies that are still standard of care twenty five years later and credited with saving millions of deaths from HIV/AIDS. In 2001, she moved back to the industry where she directed the Cancer Biology program of EpiGenX Pharmaceuticals. In 2009, Drs. Ruscetti and Mikovits’ labs isolated for the first time a new family of human retroviruses then identified as XMRV. In 2012 it was learned XMRV was a contaminant of the Silverman lab and the XMRVs isolated were a new human exogenous and transmissible retrovirus family, which are strongly associated with neuroimmune disease and cancer. Dr. Mikovits has co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters of the book “Plague”.
