03-26-2020, 04:12 AM
One of the most “forest through trees” solutions for stopping spread is requiring everyone to wear a mask. The tweet 2006alum posted showing the efficacy of masks and other face coverings was quite instructive.
We have been fixated on lack of surveillance testing, and rightfully so, but we’ve also assumed Asian country numbers have been small because they have done better testing, contact tracing and isolation. What is left unsaid is how everyone in such countries has no problem donning masks.
Not only do Americans feel socially awkward wearing masks and face coverings because it’s something we haven’t done before, we’ve also been told they won’t stop virus spread and we shouldn’t wear them. This was flat out propaganda government officials put out in an effort to prevent Americans hoarding masks so they would be available to healthcare workers.
Yes, it is true masks don’t 100% stop spread, but they do mitigate it and most importantly, reduce the viral load that can infect others, allowing those immune systems a better chance to stave off the virus if mask allows in some virus particles.
Everyone should be wearing a mask, but not a single U.S. health official has said to wear one, and neither has any government press conference I’ve seen shown anybody wearing a mask. It would be smart for all participants at any state or federal press event to wear a mask. Even members of Congress should be appearing doing their TV interviews wearing them. And they should be imploring people to make their own masks at home. There are several YouTube channels with how to make mask videos.
Mask wearing is the most effective thing everyone can do to slow spread of Covid-19. I was lucky enough to have a nurse friend who works in infection control give us 4 surgical masks six weeks ago, but we also have a sewing machine and can make more, and start handing them out to people in the neighborhood.
We have been fixated on lack of surveillance testing, and rightfully so, but we’ve also assumed Asian country numbers have been small because they have done better testing, contact tracing and isolation. What is left unsaid is how everyone in such countries has no problem donning masks.
Not only do Americans feel socially awkward wearing masks and face coverings because it’s something we haven’t done before, we’ve also been told they won’t stop virus spread and we shouldn’t wear them. This was flat out propaganda government officials put out in an effort to prevent Americans hoarding masks so they would be available to healthcare workers.
Yes, it is true masks don’t 100% stop spread, but they do mitigate it and most importantly, reduce the viral load that can infect others, allowing those immune systems a better chance to stave off the virus if mask allows in some virus particles.
Everyone should be wearing a mask, but not a single U.S. health official has said to wear one, and neither has any government press conference I’ve seen shown anybody wearing a mask. It would be smart for all participants at any state or federal press event to wear a mask. Even members of Congress should be appearing doing their TV interviews wearing them. And they should be imploring people to make their own masks at home. There are several YouTube channels with how to make mask videos.
Mask wearing is the most effective thing everyone can do to slow spread of Covid-19. I was lucky enough to have a nurse friend who works in infection control give us 4 surgical masks six weeks ago, but we also have a sewing machine and can make more, and start handing them out to people in the neighborhood.