Coronavirus in the United States - news and thoughts

One of the things that I think covid has taught me is that many Americans aren't about freedom but incredible levels of selfishness. Many of these folks aren't dumb but their ignorance of science and rational thinking is deliberate, deriving from motivated reasoning.

 

Using your criteria, seat belts don't work either.

 

Your links are articles from 2016 and focused on the transmission of influenza. This is from 2021 and focuses on Covid-19.
Effectiveness of Mask Wearing to Control Community Spread of SARS-CoV-2

Community mask wearing substantially reduces transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2 ways. First, masks prevent infected persons from exposing others to SARS-CoV-2 by blocking exhalation of virus-containing droplets into the air (termed source control). This aspect of mask wearing is especially important because it is estimated that at least 50% or more of transmissions are from persons who never develop symptoms or those who are in the presymptomatic phase of COVID-19 illness.1 In recent laboratory experiments, multilayer cloth masks were more effective than single-layer masks, blocking as much as 50% to 70% of exhaled small droplets and particles.2,3 In some cases, cloth masks have performed similar to surgical or procedure masks for source control. Second, masks protect uninfected wearers. Masks form a barrier to large respiratory droplets that could land on exposed mucous membranes of the eye, nose, and mouth. Masks can also partially filter out small droplets and particles from inhaled air. Multiple layers of fabric and fabrics with higher thread counts improve filtration. However, the observed effectiveness of cloth masks to protect the wearer is lower than their effectiveness for source control,3 and the filtration capacity of cloth masks can be highly dependent on design, fit, and materials used. Standards for cloth masks are needed to help consumers select marketed products.​

 

The tests aren’t perfect. Could have hit spots that didn’t have virus. I am glad you got the vaccine. This variant is running wild now. Prayers for your family to be well

 

Hope your BIL's condition improves quickly.

I haven't heard of it. My wife is ill, checks off many of the symptoms, but is vaxxed and tested negative for a third time yesterday. Felt strange to get a third negative. The odds of three false negs has to be extremely low.

 

Pretty sure the early Duke study showed how much virus is trapped in the spit droplets. FTR it was a good amount. Blocking those droplets is a big help.

 

I read that entire piece. It was authored to discuss the effectiveness of masks at protecting the wearer from external pathogens. I did not think that was in question?? Not only is it my understanding from literature, but from watching the experiments conducted in my former department on masks and mask material on the distribution of projected droplets and aerosols, that the primary purpose of my mask is to limit my ability to infect someone else (note, not eliminate, but limit). Numerous papers have shown that those who are fully vaccinated can still asymptomatically transmit, so the fact that I wear a mask should lower the probability of me spreading disease to those around me. No where did I ever read that it was to protect me, unless I was wearing an N95 mask. Consequently if my dentist attempted to unmask, I would get up and walk out. Not for one second do I want their nostrils and open mouths dangling over me and my open mouth.

While the points about never being able to prove that masks do not lower the chance of infection during surgery are interesting, it is understandably difficult to disprove a negative. Even still, there was nothing in that entire piece that should "scare the mess" out of anyone. Some of what is concluded is likely overblown. I am sure that some of it is spot on as well. I am not sure what was supposed to be so terrifying other than people will use this to justify bad behavior and not concern themselves with trying to help protect others.....though that is pretty typical of Americans these days.

 

Again, I am not looking for 100%. People have the option of making this thing go away and they chose not to.

Hell, maybe we should let everyone drink and drive and the people that are concerned about being killed on the road should just stay home.

 

The data is out there.

https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00818

I love how people tell us that we need to be more respectful in dealing with people arguing against the data like you, and then you come back with this. I wonder if the people arguing for more respect in trying to convince people will give you that lecture. I somehow doubt it.

 

I've come full circle. I'm now in favor of vaccine passports or proof you already had Covid for any adult. As long as we also require ID to vote as well. Should be simple compromise. Let's get this done.

 

And the obvious bad faith is apparent.

 

I'm feeling better, thanks for asking. This really reminds me of Sinusitis, a really bad one. I'm down to the cough, with most of the sinus congestion gone. Maybe 2 more days? Tuesday and Wednesday were by far the worst days. I lost more fluids from blowing my nose than I could replace. Definitely tried very hard to not get dehydrated. My sister and her husband are doing better. He has a defib but he got his vaccine and she was in the middle of hers. He ended up faring a bit better than her. Her symptoms were far worse than mine. All I had was sinus congestion and the headaches that come with it and the cough. Oh yeah, I did lose my sense of smell and taste. They did too. I would say if people are on the fence with the vaccine, I think delta should force you to get it. I'm not saying you will die if you don't. What I'm saying is you wished you did if you get even the mild symptoms. 8 to 14 days of being sick sucks and from what I know from others, including the guy that gave this to me is you really want to die. 9 days of a red-hot poker in your skull with nothing to dull the pain. No sleep, no rest, and that doesn't include the chills, body aches, fever, loss of smell and taste, going 8 or 9 days without eating anything, and then that cough. My sister thinks she slipped a disk in her back because of all the coughing.

 

Along with ID, why not require proof of vaccination to vote, too?

 

Mississippi COVID-19 field hospital to open in UMMC parking garage

 

Actually political compromise just looks like bad faith because it is so rare.

 

Yeah, that isn't what political compromise looks like. They are completely unrelated issues with literally no cross-over. It be like if I said, okay I want completely open immigration but I will give you a tax cut. It makes no sense. There isn't going to be a "Voter ID and Vaccine Passport" bill. And, thus, the offer was in bad faith.

 

Where's the bad faith? I'm for passports for those who have recovered from covid and those who have been vaccinated. Since that's going on, lets also make voting require their ID to vote. Not hard at all. Let's make a deal. Simple.

 

Wow, sorry about all this. Really drives home the point...even when not hospitalized. I remember early on in the pandemic when Limeygator got covid, he was saying it was the worst thing he ever experienced (or something along those lines). Glad to hear your coming out of it. Hope your sis and her fam get better soon too.

 

Nope. Just because you don't like it doesn't make it so. On one hand, we want to require some type of PROOF that you are vaccinated. I think that's great. So lets require some type of PROOF that shows who you are to vote. Quite simple.

 

They should have tied those stimulus checks to vaccine requirements.