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Dick Zoutman

@dickzoutman.bsky.social

7.1K followers 630 following 1.3K posts

Proud Grandpa, Hubby, Dad, Infectious Disease Doc & Medical Microbiologist, Emeritus Professor @Queensu School of Medicine, Past Chief of Staff of 2 large health systems. Director Canadian COVIDSociety.ca johnsnowproject.org/editorial-group/

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 5h

Plunking air purifiers in schools in random locations given the complexity of air movement in these complicated buildings with lots of human movement was never likely to do that much. Proper air cleaning requires expert analysis of air movements compared with human activities in the spaces.

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 5h

“In this secondary analysis, HEPA purifiers were not associated with a reduction in high viral exposure but were associated with a modest decrease in viral diversity. Multicomponent interventions may be needed to mitigate respiratory viral exposures in schools.”

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 5h

Air Purifier Intervention for Respiratory Viral Exposure in Elementary Schools url: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Air Purifier Intervention for Respiratory Viral Exposure in Elementary Schools

This secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial examines the association of HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters with respiratory viral exposure in elementary school classrooms.

jamanetwork.com

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 5h

So thanks to COVID being uncontrolled and still spreading and re-re-re- infecting people, we see a very large number of workers off sick or simply dropping out of the workforce.
COVID is bad for all workers.
Don’t get COVID.
Get vaccinated.
Wear an N95 respirator.
Clean the air we all breathe.

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 5h

“Labor force exits after a health-related absence also continued to be elevated, with 13.1% more exits in the postpandemic period compared with before the pandemic (13 500 monthly exits).”

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 5h

“Specifically, absences were 8.1% higher for workers in low work-from-home occupations and 12.5% higher for workers in high physical proximity occupations compared with prepandemic values.

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 5h

“Workers in occupations at greater risk of exposure and some demographic groups continued to experience elevated levels of absences in the postpandemic period.

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 5h

“Health-related absences from work continued to track COVID-19 circulation and were 12.9% higher in the postpandemic period compared with before the pandemic (140 000 monthly absences).

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 5h

“In this cohort study of employed workers in the US, the new year-round baseline for work absences appeared to be on par with the levels formerly confined to prepandemic influenza season conditions.“

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 6h

Enduring Outcomes of COVID-19 Work Absences on the US Labor Market url: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Enduring Outcomes of COVID-19 Work Absences on the US Labor Market

This cohort study examines the extent to which COVID-19 continues to generate work absences and decrease labor force participation beyond the pandemic period in the US.

jamanetwork.com

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 14h

“In 2024, more elections were held than ever before, but fewer and fewer are free and fair.”

Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 14h

“The Venezuelan regime’s rigid hold on power and its repression of the population are not unique in the world. We see the same trends globally: rule of law abused by those in control, free media silenced, critics imprisoned, and societies pushed towards authoritarian rule and militarisation.

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 14h

“Democracy is a precondition for lasting peace. However, we live in a world where democracy is in retreat, where more and more authoritarian regimes are challenging norms and resorting to violence.

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 14h

“She is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 14h

“The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 to Maria Corina Machado.

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 14h

www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace...

Nobel Peace Prize 2025

The Nobel Peace Prize 2025 was awarded to Maria Corina Machado "for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transi...

www.nobelprize.org

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 16h

substack.com/@poemz/note/...

Amy King (@poemz)

Dr. Jane Goodall recorded this interview in March 2025, with the understanding that it would be released only after her death. #drjanegoodall

substack.com

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Reposted by Dick Zoutman

The Vertlartnic @thev.bsky.social · Sep 2

Why Catching Covid Endlessly Is Better Than Not Catching It Enough, And Two Other Things We Tell Ourselves To Feel Better When We’re Sick Yet Again

Some people who are sick endlessly
Headline:
Why Catching Covid Endlessly Is Better Than Not Catching It Enough, And Two Other Things We Tell Ourselves To Feel Better When We’re Sick Yet Again
Story by Slant Gatherwool and Derek Pimhole

Photo from Adobe

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 3d

Given the deterioration of the US public health system it is necessary that Canada significantly up its capabilities and capacities in public health and pandemic/ epidemic preparedness. Including our capacity to develop and produce vaccines and new antiviral/ antibacterial drugs.

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 3d

6 past US Surgeons General wrote this open letter warning the American public of the hazardous position RFK,Jr has placed the nations’ health with his unscientific policies.
What a sad and frightening state of affairs!

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 3d

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Opinion | Six surgeons general: It’s our duty to warn the nation about RFK Jr.

We took an oath to declare dangers when we found them. We’re doing that again today.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 3d

The increased risk of PASC diagnosis was 2.05x after second episode of Omicron infection.
COVID is bad for kids.
Repeated episodes of COVID is even worse for kids.
Don’t get COVID.
Get vaccinated.
Wear an N95 respirator.
Clean the air our kids breathe.

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 3d

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Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 3d

“These findings add to previous evidence linking paediatric long COVID to multisystem effects and highlight the need to promote vaccination in younger populations and support ongoing research to better understand PASC, identify high-risk subgroups, and improve prevention and care strategies.”

Dick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 3d

“In summary, this study shows an increased risk of PASC (post acute sequelae of COVID) in children and adolescents after SARS-CoV-2 reinfection.

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