Covid Public Comment from Annie BukacekCOVID 19 TESTIMONY Kalispell City Council Meeting 8/3/2020 Annie Bukacek MD
physician in Kalispell_Mayor Johnson, Members of the City Council
COVID 19 data does not warrant mask mandates nor shutting down
the fair. Even taking the data at face value it does not warrant any version of
shut down. When we look at the data please understand there is substantial
reason to question the validity of the COVID 19 testing and death numbers. Ultra -
brief summary of information referenced in handout:, If you consider that no
specific COVID 19 virus has been identified, that means we don't know what we
are testing for. The CDC admits with the IgM, IgG testing that a positive test could
be for any corona virus. That includes the corona virus that can cause the
common cold.
Before reviewing the COVID data, some definitions are in order. On the
handout, I define what it means to be a COVID 19 "case" and list last night's
government sources of COVID numbers. Understand this fact: a "confirmed case"
means a COVID 19 (+) test. An "active case" means a person with a COVID 19 (+)
case has been quarantined. A COVID 19 (+) test is often in an asymptomatic or
minimally symptomatic person say with sniffles. Understand also that the spikes
and hot spots of COVID (+) tests correlate with over a doubling in the testing done
in Montana ... from 1400 tests on June 23rd to over 3000 a day of tests in August. If
you test more people exposed to common viruses, you are going to get more (+)
tests.
Now, onto the data ... In Flathead County, the confirmed "cases" are .25% of
the population and with 2 deaths. So less than 1%, a quarter of one percent of
people in the Flathead have a COVID (+) test. The two Flathead County deaths
attributed to COVID 19 that go back to March or April, amount to .0018% of the
Flathead population.
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Definition of "confirmed case" —person with COVID (+) test
Definition of "active case" --person with COVID (+) test who is quarantined
In other words, a "case" does not mean the person is sick
Number of COVID 19 PCR tests done per day in Montana has more
than doubled in the last 6 weeks —a plausible explanation for "spikes"
in "cases"
June 23/2020: 1478 July 13 2079 July 14 2296 July 15 2477 July 17 2604
July 25: 2685 July 27: 2802 July 30: 3200 Aug 2: 3140
Montana "cases" Updated Aug 2 at 9:59 PM local site: covidusa.net
montana Montana population 1,068,000
Confirmed 4,193 Deaths 61 Recovered 2,466
Deaths .0057% of MT population .39% of MT population tested
positive
Flathead County 263 confirmed "cases" and 2 Deaths 131 Recovered
Flathead population 106,134
Flathead CO has had 2 deaths for several months... that's .0018% of
the Flathead population
COVID 19 positive tests are .25% of the Flathead population
https:Hwww.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/COVID19/index.htm
PCR TESTING —in the case of COVID 19 what are we testing for?
6 minute critique by Dr. Andrew Kaufman may be seen on my public facebook page Dr. Annie
Bukacek
Dr. Kaufman's longer version explanation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYvNRno-
JB8&fbclid=lwAR3e iXs2-ozyVsKCOtZQ-ZhhZxHOwmcwGTAoAymgFlDPg1Cd5FZ61kAPIE
Dr. Kaufman's credentials
https://www.andrewkaufmanmd.com/bio-
credentials/?fbclid=lwAR3g2BAW7hCS3ZvEmi7UhgMJimOQnWahQ1pa36YnrsuKZF6ndF-
gcyMe3UA
COVID 19 listed as cause of death based on the death certificates... Is it
accurate?... my video presentation on my public Facebook page
RT- PCR testing (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction; RT for COVID
19 because it is RNA amplification/replication, not DNA)
RT-PCR testing is what is being used to screen for and diagnose COVID 19. In
Montana, about 2000 COVID 19 PCR tests being done per day.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a method widely used to rapidly make millions
to billions of copies of a specific DNA sample, allowing scientists to take a very
small sample of DNA or RNA and amplify it to a large enough amount to study in
detail. You Choose a genetic sequence and amplify it. If you go beyond a number
of cycles, you get a lot of noise. Since you amplify the sequence exponentially, the
slightest error in measurement can lead to errors of tremendous magnitude such
as many false positives
Problems with using PCR Testing for COVID 19With PCR testing for COVID 19, we
are relying on a test whose inventor disagreed strongly with using PCR for
diagnosing infectious disease, said it was misleading Biochemist Kary Mullis
invented PCR testing in 1984 got the Nobel prize for it in 1993.
What are we testing for?
Corona Viruses are ubiquitous. We have studied Corona Viruses since the early 1960s. There are 7 or 8
strains of corona virus that are thought to infect humans. The common cold is thought to be caused by
corona virus 25-35% of the time.
CDC admits a (+) COVID 19 serology test could be a cross reaction with other corona viruses...
The following is from the CDC: "What do your results mean? If you test positive
A positive test result shows you may have antibodies from an infection with the virus that
causes COVID-19. However, there is a chance a positive result means that you have antibodies
from an infection with a virus from the same family of viruses (called coronaviruses), such as the
one that causes the common cold.
Having antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 may provide protection from getting
infected with the virus again. If it does, we do not know how much protection the antibodies
may provide or how long this protection may last..."
htt s: www.cdc. ov coronavirus 2019-ncov testin serolo -overview.html
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Featured , Public Health June 1, 2020
Mask Facts
Share: f 0 G• C)
curated by Marilyn M. Singleton, M.D., J.D.
Transmission of SARS-CoV-2
Note: A COVID-19 (SARS-CoV 2) particle is 0.125 micrometers (pm); influenza virus size is 0.08 — 0.12
pm; a human hair is about 150 pm.
"1 nm = 0.001 micron; 1000 nm = 1 micron: Micrometer (pm) is the preferred name for micron (an older
term)
1 meter is = 1,000,000,000 nm or 1,000,000 microns
Droplets
• Virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes
or talks. Larger respiratory droplets (>5 pm) remain in the air for only a short time and travel only
short distances, generally <1 meter. They fall to the ground quickly.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/Pl IS2213-2600(20)30245-9/fulltext
• This idea guides the CDC's advice to maintain at least a 6-foot distance.
• Virus -laden small (<5 pm) aerosolized droplets can remain in the air for at least 3 hours and travel
long distances. https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMc2004973?art:cleTools=true
Air currents
• In air conditioned environment these large droplets may travel farther.
• However, ventilation — even the opening of an entrance door and a small window can dilute the
number of small droplets to one half after 30 seconds. (This study looked at droplets from uninfected
persons). This is clinically relevant because poorly ventilated and populated spaces, like public
transport and nursing homes, have high SARS-CoV 2 disease transmission despite physical
distancing. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/art;cle.'PIIS2213-2600(20)30245-9/fulltext
Objects and surfaces
• Person to person touching
• The CDC's most recent statement regarding contracting COVID-19 from touching surfaces: "Based
on data from lab studies on Covid-19 and what we know about similar respiratory diseases, it may
be possible that a person can get Covid-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it
and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes," the agency wrote. "But this isn't
thought to be the main way the virus spreads. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/s0522-cdc-
updates-covid-transmission.html.
• Chinese study with data taken from swabs on surfaces around the hospital
https://wwwne.cdc.gov/eid/article/2617/20-0885—article?deliveryName=USCDC-333-DM25707
• The surfaces where tested with the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, which greatly
amplifies the viral genetic material if it is present. That material is detectable when a person is
actively infected. This is thought to be the most reliable test.
• Computer mouse (ICU 6/8, 75%; General ward (GW) 1/5, 20%)
• Trash cans (ICU 3/5, 60%; GW 0/8)
• Sickbed handrails (ICU 6/14, 42.9%; GW 0/12)
• Doorknobs (GW 1/12, 8.3%)
• 81.3% of the miscellaneous personal items were positive:
• Exercise equipment
• Medical equipment (spirometer, pulse oximeter, nasal cannula)
• PC and iPads
• Reading glasses
• Cellular phones (83.3% positive for viral RNA)
• Remote controls for in -room TVs (64.7% percent positive)
• Toilets (81.0% positive)
• Room surfaces (80.4% of all sampled)
• Bedside tables and bed rails (75.0%)
• Window ledges (81.8%)
• Plastic: up to 2-3 days
• Stainless Steel: up to 2-3 days
• Cardboard: up to 1 day
• Copper: up to 4 hours
• Floor — gravity causes droplets to fall to the floor. Half of ICU workers all had virus on the
bottoms of their shoes
Filter Efficiency and Fit
*Data from a University of Illinois at Chicago review
https://www. cidrap. umn.edu/news-perspective/202O/O4/commentary-masks-all-covid-1 9-not-based-
sound-data
• HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters — 99.97 — 100% efficient. HEPA filters are tested with
particles that are 0.125 pm.
• Masks and respirators work by collecting particles through several physical mechanisms, including
diffusion (small particles) and interception and impaction (large particles)
• N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) are constructed from electret (a dielectric material that has
a quasi -permanent electric charge. An electret generates internal and external electric fields so the
filter material has electrostatic attraction for additional collection of all particle sizes. As flow
increases, particles will be collected less efficiently.
• N95 —A properly fitted N95 will block 95% of tiny air particles down to 0.3 pm from reaching the
wearer's face. https://www.honeywel1.com/en-us/newsroom/news/2020/03/n95-masks-explained.
• But even these have problems: many have exhalation valve for easier breathing and less
moisture inside the mask.
• Surgical masks are designed to protect patients from a surgeon's respiratory droplets, aren't
effective at blocking particles smaller than 100 pm.
hftps://webeache-googieusercontent.com/search?
q=cache:VLXWeZB117YJ:https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/9577300/resp� rators-and-
surgical-masks-contrast-technical-bulletin. pdf+&cd= 1 3&hl=en&ct=c!nk&gl=us
• Filter efficiency was measured across a wide range of small particle sizes (0.02 to 1 um) at 33
and 99 Umin.
• N95 respirators had efficiencies greater than 95% (as expected).
• T-shirts had 10% efficiency,
• Scarves 10% to 20%,
• Cloth masks 10% to 30%,
• Sweatshirts 20% to 40%, and
• Towels 40%.
• All of the cloth masks and materials had near zero efficiency at 0.3 pm, a particle size that
easily penetrates into the lungs.
• Another study evaluated 44 masks, respirators, and other materials with similar methods and
small aerosols (0.08 and 0.22 pm).
• N95 FFR filter efficiency was greater than 95%.
• Medical masks — 55% efficiency
• General masks — 38% and
• Handkerchiefs — 2% (one layer) to 13% (four layers) efficiency.
• Conclusion: Wearing masks will not reduce SARS-CoV-2.
• N95 masks protect health care workers, but are not recommended for source control
transmission.
• Surgical masks are better than cloth but not very efficient at preventing emissions from
infected patients.
• Cloth masks will be ineffective at preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission, whether worn as
source control or as personal protective equipment (PPE).
"Masks may confuse that message and give people a false sense of security. If masks had been the
solution in Asia, shouldn't they have stopped the pandemic before it spread elsewhere?"
*The first randomized controlled trial of cloth masks. https //bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/4/e006577
• Penetration of cloth masks by particles was 97% and medical masks 44%, 3M Vflex 9105 N95
(0.1 %), 3M 9320 N95 (<O.01 %).
• Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of
infection.
• The virus may survive on the surface of the face- masks
• Self -contamination through repeated use and improper doffing is possible. A contaminated cloth
mask may transfer pathogen from the mask to the bare hands of the wearer.
• Cloth masks should not be recommended for health care workers, particularly in high -risk
situations, and guidelines need to be updated.
*A study of 4 patients in South Korea
https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/l 0.7326/M20-1342
Known patients infected with SARS-CoV 2 wore masks and coughed into a Petrie dish. "Both surgical
and cotton masks seem to be ineffective in preventing the dissemination of SARS—CoV 2 from the
coughs of patients with COVID-19 to the environment and external mask surface."
*Singapore Study — Few people used mask correctly
https://www. medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/publichealth/86601
Overall, data were collected from 714 men and women. About half the sample were women and all
adult ages were represented. Only 90 participants (12.6%, 95% Cl 10.3%-15.3%) passed the visual
mask fit test. About three-quarters performed strap placement incorrectly, 61 % left a "visible gap
between the mask and skin," and about 60% didn't tighten the nose -clip.
*A 2011 randomized Australian clinical trial of standard medical/surgical masks
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdfl10.1111 /j.1750-2659.2011.00198.x?
fbclid=lwAR3kRYVYDKb0aR-su9 me9 vY6a8KVR4HZ17J2A 80f fXUABRQdhQlc8Wo
Medical masks offered no protection at all from influenza.
Conclusions from Organizations
The World Health Organization (WHO):
hftps://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/l 0665/331693/WHO-2019-nCov-I PC—Masks-2020.3-eng. pdf?
sequence=1 &isAllowed=y
"Advice to decision makers on the use of masks for healthy people in community settings
As described above, the wide use of masks by healthy people in the community setting is not supported
by current evidence and carries uncertainties and critical risks."
"Medical masks should be reserved for health care workers. The use of medical masks in the
community may create a false sense of security, with neglect of other essential measures, such as
hand hygiene practices and physical distancing, and may lead to touching the face under the masks
and under the eyes, result in unnecessary costs, and taKe masks away from those in health care who
need them most, especially when masks are in short supply."
"Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand -cleaning with alcohol -based
hand rub or soap and water."
WHO acknowledges that most people do not use masks properly.
Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the Center for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory
Diseases:
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/tOl 31-2019-novel-coronavirus. html
"We don't routinely recommend the use of face masks by the public to prevent respiratory illness," said
on January 31. "And we certainly are not recommending that at this time for this new virus."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/maskguidance.`itm
In March 5, 2019 regarding the flu: "Masks are not usually recommended in non -healthcare settings;
however, this guidance provides other strategies for limiting the spread of influenza viruses in the
community:
• cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing,
• use tissues to contain respiratory secretions and, after use, to dispose of them in the nearest waste
receptacle, and
perform hand hygiene (e.g., handwashing with non -antimicrobial soap and water, and alcohol -based
hand rub if soap and water are not available) after having contact with respiratory secretions and
contaminated objects/materials.
From the New England Journal of Medicine
hftps://www.nejm-org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2OO6372
"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."
Final Thoughts
• Surgical masks — loose fitting. They are designed to protect the patient from the doctors' respiratory
droplets. The wearer is not protected from others airborne particles
• People do not wear masks properly. Most people have the mask under the nose. The wearer does
not have glasses on and the eyes are a portal of entry.
• The designer masks and scarves offer minimal protection — they give a false sense of security to
both the wearer and those around the wearer.
"'Not to mention they add a perverse lightheartedness to the situation.
• If you are walking alone, no mask — avoid folks — that is common sense.
• Remember — children under 2 should not wear masks — accidental suffocation and difficulty
breathing in some
• If wearing a mask makes people go out and get Vitamin D — go for it. In the 1918 flu pandemic
people who went outside did better. Early reports are showing people with COVID-19 with low
Vitamin D do worse than those with normal levels. Perhaps that is why shut-ins do so poorly.
hftps://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.08.20058578v4
If you are sick, stay home!
Additional Resource: Healthy People Wearing Masks, Should They or Shouldn't They? This ER nurse
with over two decades of experience took a deep dive into the science to find out:
https://jennifermargulis.net/healthy-people-wearing-masks-during-covidl9/
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