Daily US Times: President Donald Trump’s science adviser, who was skeptical of measures to control the coronavirus outbreak, is leaving his White House post. A White House official confirmed that Dr. Scott Atlas, the Stanford University neuroradiologist, who had no formal experience in infectious diseases or public health, resigned at the end of his temporary government assignment. Atlas confirmed the news in a tweet on Monday.
Scott Atlas joined the White House this summer, where he clashed with top government scientists, including Dr. Deborah Birx and Dr. Anthony Fauci, as he resisted stronger efforts to contain the Covid pandemic that has killed more than 267,000 Americans.
Dr. Scott Atlas has broken with government experts and the overwhelming consensus of the scientific community to criticize efforts to encourage facemasks to slow the spread of the virus. Just weeks ago on Twitter he responded to Michigan’s latest Covid-19 restrictions by encouraging people to “rise up” against the state’s policies.
His views also prompted Stanford University to issue a statement distancing itself from the faculty member, saying Mr Atlas “has expressed views that are inconsistent with the university’s approach in response to the pandemic.”
On November 16, the university said: “We support using masks, social distancing, and conducting surveillance and diagnostic testing.”
“We also believe in the importance of strictly following the guidance of local and state health authorities,” the university added in its statement.
In his resignation letter, Atlas defended his role saying, “I cannot think of a time where safeguarding science and the scientific debate is more urgent.”
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