Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 8, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses
Published on: November 10, 2023
Estimating the COVID-Related Deaths Attributable to President Trump's Early Pronouncements About Masks
1Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Abstract:
The goal of this analysis is to estimate the proportion of COVID-19 deaths attributable to President Donald Trump's early pronouncements about voluntary mask use and his intention not to use masks. Data from available research were used to estimate parameters for the calculation of population attributable risk for COVID-19 deaths reported to date. Assuming Trump's pronouncement to have caused 25%, 50%, and 75% of the non-use of masks, estimates of Trump-attributable COVID-19 deaths to date would be, respectively, 4,244, 8,356, or 12,202. The effects of presidential pronouncements on health-related matters may have large public health consequences. Pronouncements of national leaders should be based on the best available science.
Related Concept Videos
The Availability Heuristic
Relative Risk
Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Causality in Epidemiology
Actuarial Approach
Consider the example of a high-risk surgical procedure with significant early-stage mortality. A two-year clinical study is conducted,...
Confounding in Epidemiological Studies

