Kolek planning to go pro
Maybe I've been misreading it all this time ... but isn't the main purpose of a mask to catch one's own "droplets," and thereby not affect others? Theoretically, there are millions and millions and millions of carriers who don't know they are carriers. For this purpose, even home-made "masks" theoretically are better than none, right? Because I can't believe anybody with any medical or science knowledge believes that a bandana or a coffee filter or a t-shirt is going to protect the wearer of that jury-rigged "mask."
I think a COVID "colony" approach is a sound idea from a disease management approach, but I'm not sure Americans are gonna want to get tested if they know a positive result would get them locked up for several weeks. Especially since we have been telling them for weeks that those with mild symptoms could treat themselves in the comfort of their own home. Many are going to see this as a more restrictive approach, just as people are clamoring for fewer restrictions as they see the curve flattening.I totally get the rationale and agree with the approach. But converting that to large-scale public buy-in could be difficult.
Here is a piece that dives into this — plus the cultural aspects. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/world/europe/virus-mask-wearing.html
I like the picture of the guy wearing a mask...but going to a f-ing ATM without gloves or anything else. Perfect.My concern with the general public is more faced with the option of staying home and keeping the economy "closed" for extended periods of time, aka through the summer, lots of people will prefer to take their chances, in some fashion, than face more certain economic hardship. Cause call me a cynic, but going through the PPP process as a business principle and also seeing the lags/snags/etc... in the stimulus payments, I have a REALLY hard time trusting that the government will do anything near necessary to keep people and businesses financially sound while also asking them to continue putting their lives on hold. Especially knowing there will be a wave of business closures/failures in late summer with extended shutdowns, regardless of what payroll the government says they will cover in the meantime.
This is a really grim article but It shows a universal problem of understanding the breadth of the pandemic when it hits an area hard. There were similar stories in other western hot spots like Italy. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/10/nyregion/new-york-coronavirus-death-count.html
In the first five days of April, 1,125 people were pronounced dead in their homes or on the street in New York City, more than eight times the deaths recorded during the same period in 2019, according to the Fire Department.
Some people complain about anything. Conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers who come up with inane reasons to not get vaccinated will reap what they sow.
There is a legal precedent from the Smallpox vaccine days which will likely be used for a COVID vaccine. Essentially, entities will be able to ban individuals who are not vaccinated, essentially legally compelling them to get the vaccine.
These home-made masks don't catch droplets effectively either. Between not tight fits, non existant sealing, and the ability for the virus to go right through the material, the homemade masks are like stopping a laceration with a band aid. They are being used to quell fear in the public. Not unlike blackout laws in Illinois or metal drives during WW2.
Unfortunately essentially useless for close contact. I wont even go into the sealing portion of it (nonexistent) but even ineffective as a droplet catcher.
I'm gonna call you out here, because of how dismissive you're acting. For protecting yourself, these masks are useless, for protecting others, they're at least 50% more effective than no face covering (I have no scientific numbers...it's probably higher than that).As a (part-time?) healthcare worker you should probably just appreciate any steps the general public is doing to keep everyone else healthy, no?
I'm in the same boat here. With summer coming up, no entertainment being produced, theaters are closed, no sports are on. Are people really going to be staying home? How much of the population says "to hell with this" and go about their lives?
Where exactly would they do this? If theaters, parks, sporting venues, malls and such are still closed, is everyone just gonna hold big block parties?
From NYT: "Coronavirus Live Updates: U.S. Projects Summer Spike in Infections if Stay-At-Home Orders Are Lifted"https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/10/us/coronavirus-updates-usa.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20200410&instance_id=0&nl=breaking-news&ref=headline®i_id=88591053&segment_id=24678&user_id=a4394b6a5672354a123af665691a6f2d#link-cfe0b1a"The government’s conclusions are sobering. Without any mitigation, such as school closings, shelter-in-place orders, telework and socially distancing, the death toll from coronavirus could have reached 300,000. But if the administration lifts the 30-day stay-at-home orders, the death total is estimated to reach 200,000, even if schools remain closed until summer, 25 percent of the country continues to work from home and some social distancing continues.If nothing was done, infection rates would top out at 195 million Americans, and 965,000 people would require hospitalization in an intensive care unit, according to the projections’ “best guess.” But with a 30-day shelter in place and other measures, infections would still reach 160 million and 740,000 would need intensive care."Yikes!
Bumping this - because it wasn't discussed, and the first paragraph of the article essentially proves COVID-19 death counts are wrong...I mean - 8x - and these people aren't being counted against COVID-19. So models, experts, idiots, etc. Nobody knows the extent of this yet (and maybe never will)
Cases peaking 6 months from the start of stay at home? So basically stay in lockdown till a vaccine is created. Perfect. Half the country would be unemployed, but at least we were cautious and not selfish!"Hey everyone thats encouraged by progress, here's a reason to not be enthused at all. its actually just as bad, maybe worse!"
Wags, what is your suggestion for starting to open the economy back up? I ask thiis because you have a bigger stake than most of us. I also won’t hold you to whatever answer you give as things change quickly and I’m sure your thoughts may change as data changes.
Actually, the numbers say it's not as bad as expected, as long as we follow the guidelines. But if we don't keep following them, well, then we will go from bad to worse in a big hurry.