[OutsiderFan]

I don't know how many of you have been paying attention, but the Czech Republic has pretty well ended its Covid-19 outbreak, or at least gotten it to a manageable level. How, is an object lesson in the power of the people. 

The citizens, on their own, started a campaign to get everyone to wear even homemade masks.  Look at their results:
https://www.worldometers.info/coronaviru...-republic/

We could save a hell of a lot more lives and money if everyone just wears a damn facemark whenever out.  Russia is in the process of making mask wearing a legal requirement in Moscow, as it is in China, but we don't need laws to do the right thing.

If everyone wears a mask when out, we can ease distancing measures. People who can work from home should still do that. Hell, campuses could even open for students if everyone wears a mask.  If airlines require everyone flying to wear a mask, then more people will fly and travel.  I don't know about movie theaters and arenas, but I do know masks are as much a key to returning to less restrictive conditions as testing capacity is.

[OutsiderFan]

I don't know how many of you have been paying attention, but the Czech Republic has pretty well ended its Covid-19 outbreak, or at least gotten it to a manageable level. How, is an object lesson in the power of the people. 

The citizens, on their own, started a campaign to get everyone to wear even homemade masks.  Look at their results:
https://www.worldometers.info/coronaviru...-republic/

We could save a hell of a lot more lives and money if everyone just wears a damn facemark whenever out.  Russia is in the process of making mask wearing a legal requirement in Moscow, as it is in China, but we don't need laws to do the right thing.

If everyone wears a mask when out, we can ease distancing measures. People who can work from home should still do that. Hell, campuses could even open for students if everyone wears a mask.  If airlines require everyone flying to wear a mask, then more people will fly and travel.  I don't know about movie theaters and arenas, but I do know masks are as much a key to returning to less restrictive conditions as testing capacity is.

[stupac2]

I was under the impression that cloth-type face masks are only really useful against casual spread in brief encounters, and that it would do close to nothing in a setting like an hour-long lecture or restaurant dinner, to say nothing of an airplane. This may be incorrect, though.

[stupac2]

I was under the impression that cloth-type face masks are only really useful against casual spread in brief encounters, and that it would do close to nothing in a setting like an hour-long lecture or restaurant dinner, to say nothing of an airplane. This may be incorrect, though.

[BostonCard]

I was under the impression that cloth-type face masks are only really useful against casual spread in brief encounters, and that it would do close to nothing in a setting like an hour-long lecture or restaurant dinner, to say nothing of an airplane. This may be incorrect, though.

It's also hard to eat dinner with a mask on.

BC

[BostonCard]

I was under the impression that cloth-type face masks are only really useful against casual spread in brief encounters, and that it would do close to nothing in a setting like an hour-long lecture or restaurant dinner, to say nothing of an airplane. This may be incorrect, though.

It's also hard to eat dinner with a mask on.

BC

[Snorlax94]

I support masks.

If you can’t eat out while wearing a mask, that’s a pretty small percent of what should reopen vs. mass transit and shops. And maybe indoor dine-in shouldn’t re-open.

The worst-made masks can be made better and better. 40% effectiveness may be unacceptable ppe for a hospital setting, but it could be a game-changer if it moved an Ro from 1.2 to .72

And, people keep bringing up the low quality of masks and people not fitting them properly or touching their faces to adjust them — then let’s learn to make better homemade masks and learn to use them properly. I have seen garment firms claim to design and test very well-made masks that will not reduce the supply of n95 masks one bit that they claim block 80-90%+ of small particles. Why not encourage this trend and keep improving?

I don’t think it’ll mean we can lift the SIP now, but it may help us get to the point where we can. Also, I am not convinced yet that the lowest-quality homemade masks are a net positive, but I believe we can get to the point of making effective masks that are not n95 masks.

(The czech stats outsiderfan referred to)

[Snorlax94]

I support masks.

If you can’t eat out while wearing a mask, that’s a pretty small percent of what should reopen vs. mass transit and shops. And maybe indoor dine-in shouldn’t re-open.

The worst-made masks can be made better and better. 40% effectiveness may be unacceptable ppe for a hospital setting, but it could be a game-changer if it moved an Ro from 1.2 to .72

And, people keep bringing up the low quality of masks and people not fitting them properly or touching their faces to adjust them — then let’s learn to make better homemade masks and learn to use them properly. I have seen garment firms claim to design and test very well-made masks that will not reduce the supply of n95 masks one bit that they claim block 80-90%+ of small particles. Why not encourage this trend and keep improving?

I don’t think it’ll mean we can lift the SIP now, but it may help us get to the point where we can. Also, I am not convinced yet that the lowest-quality homemade masks are a net positive, but I believe we can get to the point of making effective masks that are not n95 masks.

(The czech stats outsiderfan referred to)

[BostonCard]

Another country that has done well is New Zealand.  They never had a very big caseload but the number of daily cases have declined from 90 - 100 daily at the beginning of April to single digits over the last week.  Active cases have dropped form a peak 929 on April 6 to 309 yesterday.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronaviru...w-zealand/

Total deaths are under 20.

New Zealand is going to start opening up shortly.

BC

[BostonCard]

Another country that has done well is New Zealand.  They never had a very big caseload but the number of daily cases have declined from 90 - 100 daily at the beginning of April to single digits over the last week.  Active cases have dropped form a peak 929 on April 6 to 309 yesterday.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronaviru...w-zealand/

Total deaths are under 20.

New Zealand is going to start opening up shortly.

BC

[OutsiderFan]

Cover it, or pay $300!
https://www.lowellsun.com/2020/04/27/som...o-enforce/

[OutsiderFan]

Cover it, or pay $300!
https://www.lowellsun.com/2020/04/27/som...o-enforce/

[Snorlax94]

Utahans are being like Czechs (who in turn are being like Taiwanese and Koreans...) This program reminds me of the one in Korea, which enables every citizen to buy two masks a week for less than $1.50 each.

Good for Utah! Masks and jobs!


https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/us-coro...index.html
Utah to provide free masks for residents
From CNN's Shawn Nottingham

Gov. Gary Herbert wears a mask as a plane filled with personal protective equipment arrives at the Delta Hanger on April 15, at the Salt Lake International Airport. Rick Bowmer/AP

A new program would provide masks to as many Utah residents as possible, the state's Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox said at a news conference today.
The “mask for every Utahan” program will allow residents to request a mask from the state free of charge.
The masks will be manufactured by Utah-based businesses, according to Cox. He said in addition to providing masks for residents, the program will save at least 200 jobs in the state.
Cox said that once the initial mask order is placed, it could take up to three weeks to have them delivered.

[Snorlax94]

Utahans are being like Czechs (who in turn are being like Taiwanese and Koreans...) This program reminds me of the one in Korea, which enables every citizen to buy two masks a week for less than $1.50 each.

Good for Utah! Masks and jobs!


https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/us-coro...index.html
Utah to provide free masks for residents
From CNN's Shawn Nottingham

Gov. Gary Herbert wears a mask as a plane filled with personal protective equipment arrives at the Delta Hanger on April 15, at the Salt Lake International Airport. Rick Bowmer/AP

A new program would provide masks to as many Utah residents as possible, the state's Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox said at a news conference today.
The “mask for every Utahan” program will allow residents to request a mask from the state free of charge.
The masks will be manufactured by Utah-based businesses, according to Cox. He said in addition to providing masks for residents, the program will save at least 200 jobs in the state.
Cox said that once the initial mask order is placed, it could take up to three weeks to have them delivered.

[OutsiderFan]

Hopefully whenever people put in for their mask from Utah they can also make a donation. Great to see this leadership!

We just ordered 5 washable masks, so I'll have 5 different face coverings to wear soon, and I'm probably going to be getting more. Masks are going to be what saves us, but only if everyone wears them whenever going outside where other people can be encountered!

[OutsiderFan]

Hopefully whenever people put in for their mask from Utah they can also make a donation. Great to see this leadership!

We just ordered 5 washable masks, so I'll have 5 different face coverings to wear soon, and I'm probably going to be getting more. Masks are going to be what saves us, but only if everyone wears them whenever going outside where other people can be encountered!

[Mick]

I was under the impression that cloth-type face masks are only really useful against casual spread in brief encounters, and that it would do close to nothing in a setting like an hour-long lecture or restaurant dinner, to say nothing of an airplane. This may be incorrect, though.

Flying is very nerve wracking these days.  I left DC for the SFBA on March 13, when DC had just 30 cases.  I wore an N95 mask in an abundance of caution, and a passenger in 1st class jumped out to block my path, demanding to know whether I was sick.

The DC Metroplex has almost as many cases as California with 1/7th the people.  So I don't really want to get on a plane to head back there.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...us/611335/

[Mick]

I was under the impression that cloth-type face masks are only really useful against casual spread in brief encounters, and that it would do close to nothing in a setting like an hour-long lecture or restaurant dinner, to say nothing of an airplane. This may be incorrect, though.

Flying is very nerve wracking these days.  I left DC for the SFBA on March 13, when DC had just 30 cases.  I wore an N95 mask in an abundance of caution, and a passenger in 1st class jumped out to block my path, demanding to know whether I was sick.

The DC Metroplex has almost as many cases as California with 1/7th the people.  So I don't really want to get on a plane to head back there.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...us/611335/

[2006alum]

I was under the impression that cloth-type face masks are only really useful against casual spread in brief encounters, and that it would do close to nothing in a setting like an hour-long lecture or restaurant dinner, to say nothing of an airplane. This may be incorrect, though.

Flying is very nerve wracking these days.  I left DC for the SFBA on March 13, when DC had just 30 cases.  I wore an N95 mask in an abundance of caution, and a passenger in 1st class jumped out to block my path, demanding to know whether I was sick.

The DC Metroplex has almost as many cases as California with 1/7th the people.  So I don't really want to get on a plane to head back there.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...us/611335/

Enlightening article - thanks for sharing. And it really reinforced my skepticism about the assumption that as soon as governments allow for "reopening" of the economy things will go back to normal:

Flying has always been unpleasant, and rife with small indignities. It’s likely that I was more alert than usual to the agitation of those around me. But as America lurches awkwardly toward an economic “reopening” in the weeks ahead, my fraught travel experience highlighted an unwelcome truth: The glittering allure of “normalcy” that waits on the other end of these stay-at-home orders is a mirage.


The things we miss most about our pre-pandemic lives—dine-in restaurants and recreational travel, karaoke nights and baseball games—require more than government permission to be enjoyed. These activities are predicated not only on close human contact but mutual affection and good-natured patience, on our ability to put up with one another. Governors can lift restrictions and companies can implement public-health protocols. But until we stop reflexively seeing people as viral threats, those old small pleasures we crave are likely to remain elusive.

  

As long as we're detecting tens of thousands of new cases around the country every day, I don't see how we can really go back to "normal."

[2006alum]

I was under the impression that cloth-type face masks are only really useful against casual spread in brief encounters, and that it would do close to nothing in a setting like an hour-long lecture or restaurant dinner, to say nothing of an airplane. This may be incorrect, though.

Flying is very nerve wracking these days.  I left DC for the SFBA on March 13, when DC had just 30 cases.  I wore an N95 mask in an abundance of caution, and a passenger in 1st class jumped out to block my path, demanding to know whether I was sick.

The DC Metroplex has almost as many cases as California with 1/7th the people.  So I don't really want to get on a plane to head back there.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...us/611335/

Enlightening article - thanks for sharing. And it really reinforced my skepticism about the assumption that as soon as governments allow for "reopening" of the economy things will go back to normal:

Flying has always been unpleasant, and rife with small indignities. It’s likely that I was more alert than usual to the agitation of those around me. But as America lurches awkwardly toward an economic “reopening” in the weeks ahead, my fraught travel experience highlighted an unwelcome truth: The glittering allure of “normalcy” that waits on the other end of these stay-at-home orders is a mirage.


The things we miss most about our pre-pandemic lives—dine-in restaurants and recreational travel, karaoke nights and baseball games—require more than government permission to be enjoyed. These activities are predicated not only on close human contact but mutual affection and good-natured patience, on our ability to put up with one another. Governors can lift restrictions and companies can implement public-health protocols. But until we stop reflexively seeing people as viral threats, those old small pleasures we crave are likely to remain elusive.

  

As long as we're detecting tens of thousands of new cases around the country every day, I don't see how we can really go back to "normal."