UC Berkeley drops ‘follow the science’ and extends the indoor mask mandate on campus

And — POOF! — follow the science is gone:

Apparently it's absolutely essential to "follow the science" when "the science" is calling for stricter rules, but when it points toward loosening restrictions, well then, "science can only help so much." pic.twitter.com/xNarr9vE8I

— Leighton Woodhouse (@lwoodhouse) February 18, 2022

In reality, these college campuses should, based on the risk profile of the students, be some of the most open places in America:

It makes me sad that college campuses––the places where people SHOULD be constantly sucking face & taking bong hits & struggling to keep their hands to themselves––remain so hypercautious & fear-driven https://t.co/1T8lQk0exf

— Liz Wolfe (@lizzywol) February 18, 2022

And, yes, it’s about making people who aren’t ready for the pandemic to be over to feel safe:

If you're wondering if this is in response to Gen Z safetyism and woke social justice norms — yes. Yes it appears to be. pic.twitter.com/FmSMwZV9Vo

— Leighton Woodhouse (@lwoodhouse) February 18, 2022

It’s now “follow our values”:

At UCB at least, "follow the science" is morphing into follow "our values," now that science is failing the narrative.

Which I guess is something of an improvement since it was really always about values to begin with. At least we're being honest now. pic.twitter.com/JQXtFDPjx2

— Leighton Woodhouse (@lwoodhouse) February 18, 2022

Now we wait to see if they really let the mandate end in a few weeks or will it be extended again:

What, exactly, are these colleges' "values" and how are they decided? Why do they value extreme safetyism that's divorced from logic & reasonable risk calculations? Why do they value teaching students to be hermits in pursuit of ascetic joy-deprivation?https://t.co/tNIWcpNu1t

— Liz Wolfe (@lizzywol) February 18, 2022

Maybe one day it will return to normal, just not today:

The goody two-shoes hermit children make me very worried for our future, they should all stop fetishizing Bubble Boy life & go make out with each other!

— Liz Wolfe (@lizzywol) February 18, 2022

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