neilargyleDec 31, 2022
Dr. Brad Rosenheim has moved!
Took a stadium tour of #Arsenal (soccer/football club in London) today with my kids and nieces. Upon entering, as a group of six masked people, the older gentleman letting us through suggested that #COVID really isn't so dangerous to be forcing our kids to wear masks in a hot (really? We're from Florida, bruh.) stadium. His words:
Dec 29, 2022 at 10:53pmWeb
Show threadDr. Brad Rosenheim has moved!Dec 29, 2022

"I don't know where you are from, but masks are not obligatory here. It is really quite hot inside and the kids look awful uncomfortable. You can have them take off those masks for the tour as #COVID really is of no concern anymore around here."

I trust his words about concern - we are an odd group in London right now. But I don't take advice on public health or personal health from non-experts. I wanted to lecture him, but caught a definitive glance from my partner...

Show threadDr. Brad Rosenheim has moved!Dec 29, 2022
What did I want to say? I wanted to voice my frustration Tha this attitude and his suggestion were directly undermining a national treasure in the #NHS. Being USian, if I were to have a long term disability, I'd likely be bankrupt. But by giving and embodying his advice, he was perilously endangering an entire public health system (extrapolating his attitude to the #MasklessMasses we have seen around the city.
By the way, London is fantastic. I loved our self-guided wandering walking tour today.
Show threadDr. Brad Rosenheim has moved!Jan 5, 2023

To add to this, I was not even paying close attention to the #stats. Evidently the week we were in #London was one of the deadliest #COVID weeks of the #pandemic, and yet someone with no #PublicHealth training or knowledge was suggesting we take the #masks off the kids.

https://mastodon.green/@EnnisBlue/109637663471752000

Phil Ewing (@[email protected])

The week before Christmas had the highest number of deaths not involving Covid of any week of the pandemic. 14,530 deaths were registered in England and Wales in the week ending 23 December 2022 (Week 51). This was 20.7% above the five-year average (2,493 excess deaths). https://twitter.com/ONS/status/1610958612611956737

Mastodon.green
Show threadsue_twin2Dec 30, 2022

@Brad_Rosenheim
Being clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 I appreciate your family's stance on wearing masks despite being encouraged not to do so.

Sadly I fear the present government are determined to destroy the NHS so acting as though the pandemic is over has been normalised and is hastening the destruction.

I share your fears about its impact on both individuals and healthcare systems.

Glad you liked London - I enjoyed a trip to Florida being filmed for a documentary!