I always get my science advice from an orthopedic surgeon.
I grew up listening to Dr. Joe on the radio.
He is a smart man.
The smart man tells me this lady is a fucking kook.
Dr. Merritt buys into all these conspiracy theories and the various pseudoscientific treatments. Masks are useless, she says, and meetings with friends should be encouraged. Along with her Frontline Doctor colleagues, she demonstrates an ignorance of science and the scientific method, and her rebuke of COVID vaccines puts people who follow her advice at risk. She does, however, get one thing right. In the video, she mentions that a low blood level of vitamin D is a risk factor for COVID-19 and correctly suggests that supplements may be useful, especially in northern climates where sun exposure in the winter may be minimal. As for the rest of the garbled word salad in this painful thirty-minute long video, let’s be kind and just say “ummm, there is no evidence.”
https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19-critical-thinking-pseudoscience/back-away-americas-frontline-doctors
The vitamin D is good info, in my opinion. Zinc and magnesium are also important. Masks have been around longer than I worked with them daily for 37 years. What they do and don't do is known. Surgeons work with them all the time as well, I have no problem hearing info from a doctor who is a surgeon.
What I have seen recommended does not match what I know.
I won't say things never change, they do. I saw times where one could not step foot into the OR without booties over the shoes. And then that went away. I saw lots of time when it was fine to walk around the OR suite in scrubs and a hat. Then it became important to wear a jack and be all covered except for hands and face. And then that went away too. What has been consistent all the years was what mask had to be worn where and under what circumstances. The the existence of conflicting studies have also always been around.
It has to be difficult and confusing for people, plus they are frightened.
I've also seen articles stating how harmful masks are. Unless they are purchased from some substandard manufacturer in this bizarre time that cannot be the case in my opinion.
Anyway, in my opinion people should wear them if they want.
