The ‘End’ of COVID Is Still Far Worse Than We Imagined

I don't understand why more people aren't wearing masks, but am glad to live in an area where one doesn't get harassed for doing so. Far too many people on their second or third cases of it.

Interesting articles, both. Thanks for posting.

"People's CDC" seem to me to do well at summarizing things for the U.S. (and somewhat internationally) in an easy-to-follow way with their "weather reports."

https://peoplescdc.org/2022/09/19/peopl ... -report-6/

I have had all my shots, including three boosters.
A week ago, we started leaving our masks in the car when shopping.
I do not plan to ever return to a theater or any crowded event.
I still see a few mask wearers--and all medical facilities require them.

Physician here and actively involved in the "science" of Covid-19... I wish politics had no role in this viral illness. I happen to be a relatively conservative Republican voter, but I have actually had more Moderna shots than any CDC authorization would have allowed me to do including the recently available bivalent booster. Although I consider my wife and I to still have our "covidginity" intact, I realize that in all probability, I have had an asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic case somewhere along the way. As many as 90% of people who swear they never had a case of the virus will actually test positive for antibodies that could have only come from a natural infection and not from vaccination. And since as many as 10% of people who have had thoroughly documented infections with Covid-19 will actually lose those detectable nucleocapsid antibodies within a year, that probably signifies that many of that small group of people who do not have clear antibodies only achievable through natural infection may have had those antibodies at one time!

I wear a mask in stores and on airplanes. But we eat in restaurants rather frequently, and we often have collections of 30 somethings (our adult children and their friends) over to our lakeside home. Are the precaustions I take worth a lick with the newer variants? Who knows? What bad science =gave us the origoinal guidelines (6 foot social distancing, 15 minutes close contact etc etc.) were all developed for the original variant. Maybe it is only 15 seconds on an elevator to catch the newer vaiants. Nobody knows!

Honestly outside of places where they are required, I have been done with masks pretty much all of 2022. No one in my area really wears a mask anymore. I've received one booster and with the strength of original covid and delta behind us, I just don't care all that much anymore. Still have never tested positive to this day. Will still use common sense such as avoid sick people, etc, and I don't go out all that much anyway.

Wearing a mask is like using a chain link fence for mosquito netting, the virus can go right thru those mask.

squid13 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:08 pm

Wearing a mask is like using a chain link fence for mosquito netting, the virus can go right thru those mask.

But the droplets that may be carrying the virus can't.

RobertS975 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 23, 2022 12:29 pm

Physician here

At every medical appointment I've had in the last two years, I've made it a point to say: "Thank you for being willing to work as a public-facing medical professional during a pandemic."

When I said that at the end of an appointment a few weeks ago, the neurologist became emotional, saying: "That is a first; no one has thanked me for that. The hardest thing has been all the death."

Didn't hug the doc. But the urge was there.

RobertS975 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 23, 2022 12:29 pm

Nobody knows!

I'm still weighing attending some outdoor gatherings in the coming weeks where I am supposed to perform as a singer-guitarist. I usually don't worry much about crowds outdoors several feet away, but these latest variants have me reconsidering . . .

squid13 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:08 pm

Wearing a mask is like using a chain link fence for mosquito netting, the virus can go right thru those mask.

May depend on the type of mask and how it is worn.

https://peoplescdc.org/2022/09/12/masking/

squid13 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:08 pm

Wearing a mask is like using a chain link fence for mosquito netting, the virus can go right thru those mask.

Remember to tell your surgeon not to bother wearing a mask next time you have surgery since they are so useless.

The one thing they didn't require you to wear was goggles.The virus can enter thru your eyes down your tear ducts into your nasal passage. The eyes was one of the places listed as point wear it could enter the body along with the nose and mouth.

squid13 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:51 pm

The one thing they didn't require you to wear was goggles.The virus can enter thru your eyes down your tear ducts into your nasal passage. The eyes was one of the places listed as point wear it could enter the body along with the nose and mouth.

Yes, but masks aren't just about protecting the mask wearer, the mask reduces the chances of the wearer transmitting the virus.

Surgical teams don't wear masks to (soley) protect themselves from the patient.

Dog Slobber wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:55 pm

squid13 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:51 pm

The one thing they didn't require you to wear was goggles.The virus can enter thru your eyes down your tear ducts into your nasal passage. The eyes was one of the places listed as point wear it could enter the body along with the nose and mouth.

Yes, but masks aren't just about protecting the mask wearer, the mask reduces the chances of the wearer transmitting the virus.

Surgical teams don't wear masks to (soley) protect themselves from the patient.

Yes, all that stuff is to avoid conferring infection to the patient, now, they may wear eye shields to protect themselves from spurting blood.