'CDC's credibility is eroding' amid conflicting mask guidance, ex-Obama official says

[SouthBayDem]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: CNBC

Dr. Kavita Patel is slamming the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for not effectively updating its Covid mask guidance.

“I think the CDC’s credibility is eroding as quickly as the cases of coronavirus are eroding,” said Patel on CNBC’s “The News with Shepard Smith.” “That’s not good news, because, we do need workplace guidance, we need school guidance.”

“There are men and women working on the lines outside on telephone and electricity lines, and they’re still wearing masks because, in the absence of this guidance, we’re making it up,” Patel said. “That actually puts more of us at risk, so this is time to step up. These are the hard parts of government and public health communication, but we desperately need someone to do it.”

Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins has said her confidence in the agency is being undermined by conflicting CDC guidance.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/11/cdcs-credibility-is-eroding-amid-conflicting-mask-guidance-ex-obama-official-says.html

[Hoyt]

1. CDC needs to get its act together. They screwed up early CV19 testing.

I’m sure trump’s admin didn’t help, but we should expect more from CDC.

[Wingus Dingus]

2. They were initially reluctant to support mask wearing, now they're slow to tell

us that we don't have to wear it outside, or inside after we're vaccinated. Their credibility was already shaky. At some point most compliant/well-meaning people will just rely on common sense and do what they're comfortable with, whatever the official guidance. I've already been doing that.

[Deminpenn]

11. +1

Jmho, but while we are learning more about sars2 each day, there's still a lot unknown. Unfortunately, the CDC, Fauci and others seem very reluctant to say that some things just aren't known right now. Too often they speak with a certainty that isn't supported.

I think if these leaders just came out and said here are the facts we know for sure and asked Americans to use their common sense, it would be a lot more helpful in decision-making.

[agingdem]

4. Before you slam the CDC remember Trump intended to destroy the CDC..

lay the blame on Trump, Redfield, Birx, the two vile Trumpies Paul Alexander and Michael Caputo...Biden and Rochelle Walensky have to piece the Center back together and then move forward...

[Hoyt]

5. CDC needs to do its job. Hopefully, new folks will get it on track.

[abqtommy]

3. If I have any doubts whether to mask or not I'll continue to mask. It's served me well

for over a year and certainly does me no harm.

[George II]

6. More Biden administration bashing and trash. Dr. Kavita Patel is on Lawrence O'Donnell's show NOW...

...at this very moment, and she's not saying anything like that, she's very positive. The discussion is about vaccine "disinformation".

With everything going on and all the positive things coming out of the Biden White House and his administration, why must things like this repeatedly show up here on DU.

Shepard Smith and Susan Collins...really???????

[soothsayer]

7. This sounds like an ancient argument. Is there currently waffling happening?

Wear a mask, use your head. Wear a mask indoors (where strangers dwell) and when near others. Don’t wear one alone or at home, unless you want to.

Come on. We’ve had a year to figure this out. Stop playing dumb.

[CentralMass]

8. Wearing a mask harms no one. I would suggest that prematurely suggesting that people dont need to

wear them could.

This is bullshit politics.
It's like a carrot to get those who refuse to get a vaccine to change their minds.
At what cost/risk ?
I think it is just one more irresponsible message coming out of the CDC.

[mdbl]

9. Susan Collins didn't say anything while trump was maligning the CDC

She doesn't really have any room to speak now. At least she voted to convict in the 2nd impeachment trial but it was too little too late. All the repugs including her sat and watched trump destroy the CDC and said nothing about it.

[Raven123]

10. I'm more disappointed in the media for harping on the CDC

After over 500,000 deaths, I appreciate the cautious approach. My question for many of these talking heads is, how many people do they know who have been seriously ill, still recovering from, or have died from COVID-19? How many if them are caregivers for the very young, the elderly, or other vulnerable people?

The CDC is and will continue to follow the science in this administration. They will evaluate the data presented to them CRITICALLY, looking for shortcomings in study design or data analysis.

I sometimes wonder if these media personalities should step back and take a deep breath before attacking.

[Scrivener7]

12. The CDC's credibility has always been low. They were the ones who told us at the outset

that we should all just wash our hands and it would be fine. They gave terrible advice throughout, only changing their message when the WHO embarrassed them into it, on just about every pandemic issue.

And don't get me started on their yearly flu death "estimates." Those are just crap numbers thrown at a wall and have no relation to reality. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/comparing-covid-19-deaths-to-flu-deaths-is-like-comparing-apples-to-oranges/

I'll wear a mask when going out until the numbers of new cases in my region are in the double digits, meaning my likelihood of exposure is insignificant.

[womanofthehills]

16. Agree - and just a few weeks ago Walensky was on Rachel's show

Saying you could not get the virus if you have the vaccine and then the next day taking it back. What’s with that??? It gives me zero confidence with the CDC.

[LittleGirl]

13. I don't think so!

The public has been lied to for 5 years from the right that left is right and up is down!
The media isn’t the problem. It’s the lies!

I’ll wear a mask as long as I want to whether it’s required or not. Too many a**holes out there that refuse will force to wear one anyway.

[Miguelito Loveless]

14. What happened to the Department of Labor

mandate on masks that was supposed to come out in March?

[Marthe48]

15. Here's what I do

I know there is a pandemic. I check the numbers every day, just like I check the weather. If there are new cases, and new deaths, I wear a mask if I go out.

I am vaccinated. I heard good news that the Moderna vaccine allows growth of viral antibodies in your nose, which can prevent the damn thing from entering your body, and leaving your body to infect others. Even so, I will still wear a mask. I'm used to it. I might be dodging other virus and toxins.

The government is helpful in so many ways. Right now, CDC is learning, along with the rest of us, and their directives, advice and so on will remain fluid. I will do what I deem is best for me, what I can do that fits into my lifestyle, and what causes the least amount of harm to my country.

[Omaha Steve]

17. After a review by forum hosts....LOCKING

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