A couple of thoughts from COVIDlandia.
Zero COVID is not possible, Australia, Iceland, and Hong Kong have done us the favor of doing the experiment, which has conclusively failed.
All you “masks don’t work” people have to revise your opinion. Over a period of six to eighteen months, they absolutely do work to blunt or stop community transmission. They also obviously work for bedside COVID care - I and a lot of other people don’t have COVID even now.
They don’t “work” in the sense that, with multiple animal reservoirs, essential travel and the impossibility of perfect mask discipline, EVENTUALLY there will be breakouts in protected countries like Australia, AND with very low population immunity, it will spread like wildfire.
If you know anyone who still believes in zero COVID, ask them about outbreaks in the Faroe Islands and at Antarctic research stations.
But masks do “work” for some people under some circumstances. If you have a loved one with a solid organ or bone marrow transplant, for example, don’t be telling them masks don’t work, or masks are like a chain link fence blocking BBs, or whatever your preferred mask story is - because they work well enough for personal protection for those who need it most.
To get rid of COVID? No, they don’t work for that.
I’ll keep my freedom, and you can keep your mask. Is this an acceptable compromise?
But masks do “work” for some people under some circumstances. If you have a loved one with a solid organ or bone marrow transplant, for example, don’t be telling them masks don’t work, or masks are like a chain link fence blocking BBs, or whatever your preferred mask story is - because they work well enough for personal protection for those who need it.
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People who believe this should have no qualms about inviting anyone who has just had a bone marrow transplant to double mask and ride the subway into NYC.
Re: 4 - From the beginning, I’ve been pretty clear that masks can do several things, including:
1) Can impede ballistic droplets;
2) Can “train” people to not bring their hands to mouth or nose
but need to be donned/doffed properly.
They are but one tool in a toolbox for reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.