MSNBC Doc Says Mid-Flight Mask Announcements May Have Endangered Lives

MSNBC just can’t quit the pandemic. On Wednesday’s Hallie Jackson ReportsMedical contributor Dr. Kavita Paltel stated that even masks can be used. More necessary today than they were in the past and that pilots who made in-flight announcements on the striking down of the mask mandate put people’s lives at risk.

Guest host Garrett Haake wondered about the timing of the ruling, “You’ve cases having a bit of an uptick especially in the northeast. Obviously the decision to get rid of the mandate was a legal one made by a federal judge. From a public health standpoint, do you think it’s an appropriate time to make that decision?”

Patel responded by declaring “it’s not an appropriate time to — especially abruptly as it was done in mid-flight for some of these people, to take away masks.”

This was despite the fact that she admitted there is no crisis, “And here’s why. The transmission is going up. Hospitalizations and deaths have not gone up. That can be a bit of a lagging indicator. Sometimes it can take many weeks. But so far signs of severe illness are good.”

If we should be forced to wear masks because of raising cases, Patel argued we should be forced to wear them because of low case numbers, “But Garrett, honestly, all of those things, everything we’ve had up until now has been with these mask requirements in place. So even though cases are rising and deaths and hospitalizations are not, it’s the worst time to take away these protections.”

Patel did not provide the time, which is surprising considering her head I win/tails that you lose logic.

Still, even with low cases, widespread vaccine availability, and high quality air filtration on planes, Patel still argued masks are needed more than ever, “I think the administration is in a bind, though. We’re dealing with the politics of masks over the last two years, but Omicron, the virus itself does not care about the politics and it’s actually changed the equation of what we need to do to stay safe. The masks make a lot more sense even than they did a year ago, Garrett, when we had less contagious variants.” 

Mask mandates have been repealed across the country and by Patel’s own admission, things haven’t spiraled out of control. But, one mandate could be removed and it would mean the end of everything. Although it may not seem obvious, this is the best MSNBC has to offer.

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The transcript of the show’s April 20 broadcast is available here:

MSNBC Hallie Jackson Reports

4/20/2022

3:29 PM ET

GARRETT HAAKE:  So Dr. Patel, Gary mentioned it there. You’ve cases having a bit of an uptick especially in the northeast. Obviously the decision to get rid of the mandate was a legal one made by a federal judge. From a public health standpoint, do you think it’s an appropriate time to make that decision? 

KAVITA PATEL:  Yeah, Garrett, it’s not an appropriate time to — especially abruptly as it was done in mid-flight for some of these people, to take away masks. Here’s the reason. Transmission is on the rise. Hospitalizations and deaths have not gone up. That can be a bit of a lagging indicator. This can sometimes take up to several weeks. But so far signs of severe illness are good. But Garrett, honestly, all of those things, everything we’ve had up until now has been with these mask requirements in place. So even though cases are rising and deaths and hospitalizations are not, it’s the worst time to take away these protections. I think the administration is in a bind, though. We’re dealing with the politics of masks over the last two years, but Omicron, the virus itself does not care about the politics and it’s actually changed the equation of what we need to do to stay safe. The masks make a lot more sense even than they did a year ago, Garrett, when we had less contagious variants.