Me: Hey, check this out. The CDC is reporting: “Update as of December 3, 2020: The model used to generate influenza in-season preliminary burden estimates uses current season flu hospitalization data. Reported flu hospitalizations are too low at this time to generate an estimate.” 

Anti-Science Masking Advocate: Yea, so what?

Me: This time last year, the CDC reported “A total of 1,139 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations.” Isn’t it obvious? The flu hasn’t just magically disappeared. Everyone in the hospital with flu-like symptoms is being reported as a COVID case. 

Anti-Science Masking Advocate: No, they’re being reported as a COVID case because they tested positive.

Me: Even the NY Times admits that 90% of positive test results are false, which explains why, as the CDC Director, Dr. Redfield estimated, asymptomatic positives outweigh those with symptoms 10-

Anti-Science Masking Advocate: Whatever, the flu hasn’t just magically disappeared; masking and social distancing are keeping it at bay! See? It works! 

Me: Lemme make sure I got this right… So, you believe that face masks and social distancing have effectively eliminated the flu, but the COVIDS is raging out of control in spite of all the masking and social distancing? 

Anti-Science Masking Advocate: Well, the people getting COVID are the rednecks that aren’t following CDC guidelines! 

Me: Actually, the CDC is reporting that “In the 14 days before [COVID] illness onset, 71% of case-patients and 74% of control- participants reported always using cloth face coverings or other mask types when in public.” Even so, why aren’t all those unmasked rednecks getting the flu? 

Anti-Science Masking Advocate: Well, because, ummmm… 

Me: Did you know that the CDC as recently as May evaluated nearly a dozen Randomized Control Trials – what actual science considers the gold standard for testing medical treatments – on the effectiveness of masking and reported “we found no significant reduction in influenza transmission with the use of face masks”? I mean, you do believe in science, don’t you? 

Anti-Science Masking Advocate: I’ll tell you what I believe! I believe that masks and social distancing work and you can’t make me stop!   

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