UPDATED SEP 9 AT 22:00
September 9, 2020
Dear Colleagues,
As infectious diseases physicians and researchers, microbiologist and immunologists,
epidemiologists and health policy leaders, we stand united in efforts to develop and promote
science-based solutions that advance human health and prevent suffering from the coronavirus
pandemic. In this pursuit, we share a commitment to a basic principle derived from the
Hippocratic Oath: Primum Non Nocere (First, Do No Harm).
To prevent harm to the public’s health, we also have both a moral and an ethical responsibility to
call attention to the falsehoods and misrepresentations of science recently fostered by Dr. Scott
Atlas, a former Stanford Medical School colleague and current senior fellow at the Hoover
Institute at Stanford University. Many of his opinions and statements run counter to established
science and, by doing so, undermine public-health authorities and the credible science that
guides effective public health policy. The preponderance of data, accrued from around the
world, currently supports each of the following statements:
● The use of face masks, social distancing, handwashing and hygiene have been shown to
substantially reduce the spread of Covid-19. Crowded indoor spaces are settings that
significantly increase the risk of community spread of SARS-CoV-2.
● Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 frequently occurs from asymptomatic people, including
children and young adults, to family members and others. Therefore, testing
asymptomatic individuals, especially those with probable Covid-19 exposure is important
to break the chain of ongoing transmission.
● Children of all ages can be infected with SARS-CoV-2. While infection is less common
in children than in adults, serious short-term and long-term consequences of Covid-19 are
increasingly described in children and young people.
● The pandemic will be controlled when a large proportion of a population has developed
immunity (referred to as herd immunity) and that the safest path to herd immunity is
through deployment of rigorously evaluated, effective vaccines that have been approved
by regulatory agencies.
● In contrast, encouraging herd immunity through unchecked community transmission is
not a safe public health strategy. In fact, this approach would do the opposite, causing a
significant increase in preventable cases, suffering and deaths, especially among
vulnerable populations, such as older individuals and essential workers.
Commitment to science-based decision-making is a fundamental obligation of public
health policy. The rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the US, with consequent morbidity
and mortality, are among the highest in the world. The policy response to this pandemic
must reinforce the science, including that evidence-based prevention and the safe
development, testing and delivery of efficacious therapies and preventive measures,
including vaccines, represent the safest path forward. Failure to follow the science -- or
deliberately misrepresenting the science - will lead to immense avoidable harm.
We believe that social and economic activity can reopen safely, if we follow policies that
are consistent with science. In fact, the countries that have reopened businesses and
schools safely are those that have implemented the science-based strategies outlined
above.
As Stanford faculty with expertise in infectious diseases, epidemiology and health policy,
our signatures support this statement with the hope that our voices affirm scientific,
medical and public health approaches that promote the safety of our communities and
nation.
Philip A. Pizzo, MD
Upi Singh, MD
Bonnie Maldonado, MD
Professor of Pediatrics
Professor of Medicine
Professor of Pediatrics
(Infectious Diseases) and of
(Infectious Disease and
(Infectious Diseases) and of
Microbiology and
Geographic Medicine) and of
Epidemiology and
Immunology and Former
Microbiology and
Population Health Chief,
Dean, Stanford School of
Immunology and Chief,
Division of Pediatric
Medicine and Founding
Division of Infectious
Infectious Diseases and
Director, Stanford
Diseases
Senior Associate Dean for
Distinguished Careers
Faculty Development and
Institute
Diversity
Lucy Shapiro, PhD
Melissa Bondy, PhD
Michele Barry, MD
Professor of Developmental
Professor and Chair of
Professor of Medicine and
Biology and Director,
Epidemiology and Population
Senior Associate Dean for
Beckman Center for
Health and Co-Director of the
Global Health and Director,
Molecular and Genetic
Stanford Center for
Center for Innovation in
Medicine
Population Health Sciences
Global Health and Senior
Fellow, Woods Institute and
the Freeman Spogli Institute
for International Studies
Charles Prober, MD
Julie Parsonnet, MD
Steve Goodman, MD,
MHS, PhD
Professor of Pediatrics and of
Professor of Medicine
Microbiology and
(Infectious Diseases and
Professor of Epidemiology
Immunology and Senior
Geographic Medicine) and of
and Population Health and
Associate Vice Provost for
Epidemiology and Population
Associate Dean of Clinical
Health Education
Health
and Translational Research
David Relman, MD
Lee M. Sanders, MD, MPH
Steve Luby, MD
Professor of Medicine
Associate Professor of
Professor of Medicine
(Infectious Diseases) and of
Pediatrics and of Health
(Infectious Diseases)
Microbiology and
Research and Policy
and of Epidemiology
Immunology and Senior
(Epidemiology) and Chief,
and Population Health
Fellow, Freeman Spogli
Division of General Pediatrics
and Senior Fellow,
Institute for International
Freeman Spogli
Studies
Institute
Harry Greenberg, MD
Ann Arvin, MD
Edward S Mocarski,
Jr, PhD
Professor of Medicine and of
Professor of Pediatrics
Microbiology and
(Infectious Diseases) and of
Professor of
Immunology and Associate
Microbiology and
Microbiology and
Dean for Research
Immunology and Former Vice
Immunology,
Provost and Dean of Research
Emeritus
John Boothroyd, PhD
John Carette, PhD
Dylan Dodd, MD,
PhD
Professor of Microbiology
Associate Professor of
and Immunology
Microbiology and
Assistant Professor of
Immunology
Pathology and of
Microbiology and
Immunology
Jason Andrews, MD, SM,
David Studdert, LLB, MPH,
Michelle Mello, JD,
DTM&H
ScD
PhD
Associate Professor of
Professor of Law and
Professor of Medicine
Medicine (Infectious
Medicine, Stanford Health
(Health Policy) and
Diseases) and of
Policy, Stanford Law School
Professor of Law
Epidemiology and Health
Policy
Joshua Salomon, PhD
Manuel Ricardo Amieva,
Lorene Nelson, PhD,
MD, PhD
MA
Professor of Medicine
(Primary Care and Outcomes
Professor of Pediatrics
Associate Professor of
Research) and Senior Fellow,
(Infectious Diseases) and of
Epidemiology and Public
Freeman Spogli Institute for
Microbiology and
Health and Faculty
International Studies
Immunology
Director of the Stanford
Center for Population
Health Sciences
Abraham Verghese MD,
Aruna Subramanian, MD
Dean L. Winslow, MD,
MACP, FRCP(Edin)
FACP, FIDSA, FPIDS
Clinical Professor of
Professor, Vice Chair for the
Medicine, Chief,
Professor of Medicine -
Theory and Practice of
Immunocompromised Host
Infectious Diseases
Medicine
Infectious Diseases Division
of Infectious Diseases and
Geographic Medicine
Stephen J Galli, MD
Helen M Blau, PhD
Jason Wang, MD, PhD
Professor of Pathology and
Professor of Microbiology and
Associate Professor of
of Microbiology and
Immunology and Director,
Pediatrics and Medicine and
Immunology and Former
Baxter Laboratory for Stem
of Health Research and Policy
Chair, Department of
Cell Biology
and Director, Center for
Pathology
Policy, Outcomes and
Prevention
Ann Hsing, PhD, MPH
Steve Asch, MD, MPH
Esther John, PhD, MSPH
Professor of Medicine
Professor of Medicine,
Professor, Department of
(Stanford Prevention
Primary Care and Population
Epidemiology and Population
Research Center/Cancer
Health
Health and Co-leader,
Institute) and Epidemiology
Population Sciences Program,
and Population Health
Stanford Cancer Institute
Thomas C Merigan, MD
David A. Stevens, M.D.,
Gary K. Schoolnik, MD
F.A.C.P., F.A.A.M.,
Professor of Medicine,
Professor of Medicine -
F.I.D.S.A.
Emeritus Former Division
Infectious Diseases, Emeritus
Chief Director, Center for
Professor of Medicine -
Aids Research, Emeritus
Infectious Diseases, Emeritus
and President, California
Institute for Medical
Research, Infectious Diseases
Research Laboratory, Calif.
Inst. for Med. Res.
Jack Remington, MD
Cornelia L. Dekker, MD
Denise Monack, PhD
Professor of Medicine
Professor of Pediatrics
Professor of Microbiology
(Infectious Diseases) and
(Infectious Diseases), Emerita
and Immunology
Chief, Palo Alto Medical
Research Foundation
Stan Deresinski, MD,
Shirit Einav, MD
Robert Shafer, MD
FIDSA
Associate Professor Medicine
Professor of Medicine
Clinical Professor of
Infectious Diseases and
Division of Infectious
Medicine Infectious Diseases
Geographic Medicine and of
Diseases and Geographic
and Geographic Medicine
Microbiology and
Medicine
Immunology
Holden Terry Maecker,
Wah Chiu, PhD
Doug K Owens, MD, MS
PhD
Professor of Bioengineering
Professor of Medicine and
Professor of Microbiology
and of Microbiology and
Senior Fellow, Freeman
and Immunology
Immunology
Spogli Institute for
International Studies
Cybele A. Renault, MD,
Jake Scott, MD
Justin Sonnenburg, PhD
DTM&H
Clinical Assistant Professor of
Associate Professor of
Clinical Associate Professor
Medicine Infectious Diseases
Microbiology and
(Infectious Diseases)
and Geographic Medicine
Immunology and Co-
Program Lead for Global
Director, Center for Human
Health (Stanford Internal
Microbiome Studies
Medicine Residency
Program)
Hector Bonilla, MD
Dora Ho, MD, PhD
Marisa Holubar, MD MS
Clinical Associate Professor
Clinical Associate Professor
Clinical Associate Professor
of Medicine Infectious
of Medicine Infectious
of Medicine Infectious
Diseases and Geographic
Diseases and Geographic
Diseases and Geographic
Medicine
Medicine
Medicine and Associate
Director, Stanford
Antimicrobial Safety and
Sustainability Program
Sharon Chen, MD, MS
Roshni Matthew, MD
Elizabeth S. Egan, MD,
PhD
Clinical Associate Professor
Clinical Assistant Professor of
of Pediatrics (Infectious
Pediatrics (Infectious
Assistant Professor of
Diseases)
Diseases) and Associate
Pediatrics (Infectious
Medical Director, Infection
Diseases)
Prevention & Control
Jenny R. Aronson, MD
Catherine Blish, MD, PhD
Paul L. Bollyky, MD,
D.Phil
Clinical Assistant
Associate Professor of
Professor Division of
Medicine Infectious Diseases
Associate Professor Division
Infectious Diseases and
and Geographic Medicine and
of Infectious Diseases
Geographic Medicine
Immunology
Department of Medicine
Talal Seddick, MD
Clea Sarnquist, MD
Sruti Nadimpalli,
MD
Clinical Assistant of
Clinical Professor of
Professor of Pediatrics
Pediatrics (Infectious
Clinical Professor of
(Infectious Diseases)
Diseases)
Pediatrics (Infectious
Disease)
Tim Stearns, PhD
Kerwyn Casey Huang, PhD
Michael Fischbach, PhD
Professor of Biology and of
Professor of Bioengineering
Associate Professor of
Genetics and Senior
and of Microbiology and
Bioengineering and of
Associate Vice Provost for
Immunology
Microbiology and
Research
Immunology
Maya Adam, MD
Samantha Johnson, MD,
Philip M. Grant, MD
MPH
Clinical Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor of
of Pediatrics and Director of
Clinical Associate Professor
Medicine Infectious Diseases
Health Media Innovation
of Pediatrics (Infectious
and Geographic Medicine
Diseases)
Joanna Nelson, MD
A.C. Matin, PhD
Taia T. Wang, MD, PhD,
MSCI
Clinical Assistant Professor
Professor of Microbiology and
Department of Medicine -
Immunology
Assistant Professor of
Infectious Diseases
Medicine and of
Microbiology and
Immunology
Peter Sarnow, PhD
Hayley Gans
Michael Baiocchi,
PhD
Professor of Microbiology
Clinical Professor, Pediatrics -
and Immunology
Infectious Diseases
Assistant Professor,
Department of Epidemiology
and Population Health
Glenn M. Chertow, MD,
Paul Graham Fisher, MD
Lisa Goldman-Rosas, PhD,
MPH
MPH
Professor, Neurology and
Professor of Medicine, and
Pediatrics, and by courtesy,
Assistant Professor,
by courtesy Department of
Neurosurgery, Epidemiology
Department of Epidemiology
Epidemiology and
and Population Health, and
and Population Health,
Population Health
Human Biology, Chief,
Director, Office of
Division of Child Neurology,
Community Engagement
Vice Chair, Faculty Affairs,
Department of Neurology
Bonnie Halpern-Felsher,
Victor Henderson, MD
Tina Hernandez-Boussard,
PhD, FSAHM
PhD, MPH, MS
Professor, Department of
Associate Professor of
Professor of Pediatrics, and
Epidemiology and Population
Medicine, Biomedical Data
by courtesy Department
Health
Science, and Surgery, and
of Epidemiology and
by courtesy Department
Population Health, Director
of Epidemiology and Population
of Fellows’ Scholarship,
Health
Department of Pediatrics,
Director of Research,
Division of Adolescent
Medicine
Abby King, PhD
Allison W. Kurian, M.D.,
Lianne Kurina, PhD
M.Sc.
Professor, Epidemiology
Associate Professor, Primary
and Population Health, and
Associate Professor of
Care and Population Health,
Medicine (Stanford
Medicine (Oncology) and of
Bing Director of the Program
Prevention Research Center)
Epidemiology and Population
in Human Biology
Director, Healthy Aging
Health
Research & Technology
Associate Chief for Academic
Solutions (HARTS)
Affairs, Division of Oncology
Laboratory
Director, Women’s Clinical
Faculty Director, Our Voice
Cancer Genetics Program, Co-
Global Citizen Science
leader, Population Sciences
Initiative
Program, Stanford Cancer
Past President, Society of
Institute
Behavioral Medicine
Mitchell R. Lunn, MD,
Kari Nadeau, MD, PhD
Lorene Nelson, PhD, MS
MAS, FACP, FASN
Professor of Pediatric Food
Associate Professor,
Assistant Professor of
Allergy, Immunology and
Department of Epidemiology
Medicine, and by courtesy,
Asthma, Professor of
and Population Health Faculty
Department of Epidemiology
Pediatrics and Professor by
Director of Research,
and Population Health
Courtesy of Otolaryngology
Stanford Center for
Head & Neck Surgery at
Population Health Sciences
LPCH and Department of
Epidemiology and Population
Health
Mindie H. Nguyen, MD,
Michelle C. Odden, PhD
Juno Obedin-Maliver, MD,
MAS, AGAF, FAASLD
MPH, MAS
Associate Professor,
Professor, Department of
Department of Epidemiology
Assistant Professor,
Medicine, and by courtesy
and Population Health
Department of Obstetrics and
Department of Epidemiology
Gynecology and, by courtesy,
and Population Health
Department of Epidemiology
and Population Health
Latha Palaniappan, MD,
Lesley S. Park, PhD, MPH
Rita A. Popat, PhD
MS, FAHA, FACC, FACP
Instructor, Department of
Clinical Associate Professor,
Professor of Medicine,
Epidemiology and Population
Department of Epidemiology
Department of Medicine
Health, Associate Director,
and Population Health
(Primary Care and
Stanford Center for
Population Health) and, by
Population Health Sciences
courtesy, Department of
Epidemiology and
Population Health
David H Rehkopf, ScD,
Thomas N. Robinson, MD,
Kristin Sainani, PhD
MPH
MPH
Associate Professor,
Associate Professor,
Professor of Pediatrics and of
Department of Epidemiology
Departments of
Medicine and, by courtesy,
and Population Health
Epidemiology and
Department of Epidemiology
Population Health,
and Population Health
Department of Medicine,
(Primary Care and
Population Health), Co-
director, Stanford Center for
Population Health Sciences
Gary M. Shaw, DrPH
Julia F Simard, ScD
Marcia L. Stefanick, PhD
Professor of Pediatrics,
Associate Professor,
Professor of Medicine
Associate Chair Dept of
Department of Epidemiology
(Stanford Prevention
Pediatrics, Department of
& Population Health
Research Center), Professor
Pediatrics and, by courtesy,
of Obstetrics & Gynecology,
Department of Epidemiology
and by courtesy Professor of
and Population Health
Epidemiology and Population
Health, Director, Stanford
Women’s Health and Sex
Differences in Medicine
(WHSDM) Center
Holly Tabor, PhD
Alice S. Whittemore, Ph.D.
A. Desiree LaBeaud, MD,
MS
Associate Professor,
Professor (Emerita) of
Department of Medicine and
Epidemiology
Professor of Pediatrics
by courtesy, Department of
and Biostatistics
(Infectious Diseases)
Epidemiology and
Departments of Epidemiology
and Epidemiology
Population Health) and
and Population Health
and Population Health
Associate Director, Stanford
and of Biomedical Data
Center for Biomedical Ethics
Science
Robert Siegel
Sara Singer, MBA PhD
David Schneider, PhD
Professor (Teaching) of
Professor of Medicine
Professor of Microbiology
Microbiology and
(Primary Care and Population
and Immunology
Immunology
Health), and by courtesy
Graduate School of Business
Matthew Bogyo, PhD
Lucy S Tompkins, MD PhD
Ami S. Bhatt, MD, PhD
Professor of Pathology, and
Professor of Medicine
Assistant Professor of
of Microbiology &
(Infectious Diseases and
Medicine (Hematology;
Immunology
Geographic Medicine)
Blood & Marrow
Professor of Microbiology and
Transplantation) and of
Immunology
Genetics
Hospital Epidemiologist and
Medical Director
Dept Infection Prevention and
Control Stanford Hospital and
Clinics