Posted on 08/19/2023 5:28:55 AM PDT by DoodleBob
There is a new COVID-19 variant in our midst, and it seems to be spreading across the globe at a rapid rate. But is it time once again to "mask up?" And did masks actually work the first time round?
The new strain of COVID-19 is called EG.5, or "Eris." The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a variant of interest, meaning it is being closely monitored. Eris—which is a subvariant of the variant Omicron—is now the most common in the U.S, making up 17 percent of all cases. As of August 8, it has also been detected in more than 50 countries.
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The choice of whether to wear one is now optional, but as Eris continues its rapid spread, scientists are once again noting how effective they are in preventing high infection.
"Yes they do [work]. There are many lines of evidence that show they do, from clinical to population and laboratory studies," epidemiologist Raina MacIntyre, a professor of global biosecurity at the Kirby Institute at University of New South Wales, Australia, told Newsweek.
"But what we refer to as masks can vary from a cloth mask to a surgical mask to an N95 respirator. A cloth mask provides the least protection and an N95 the most. But even a cloth mask is better than nothing against SARS-CoV-2 as shown in a large U.S. study."
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However, some studies had previously been interpreted as casting doubt on the efficacy of masks.
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Trisha Greenhalgh, a professor of primary health care at Oxford University in the U.K., said in a tweet …"My various science WhatsApp groups are buzzing. Genetic lineage clips and diagrams flying back and forth. I understand little of the detail but it looks like it's once again time to MASK UP, "
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
Oh more of the “Trust the Science” crap. No thanks.
Even if the masks were marginally effective, the way they were being worn made them a farce. I saw many wearing masks with their nose exposed…comparable to wearing a condom on your scrotum. Makeshift cloth masks were often not washed or made of even more porous material. Masking rules were a joke…for example restaurant patrons were required to wear masks to enter the restaurant, but could remove them while at table and were being served by masked serving staff. Wearing masks while alone outdoors or alone while driving.. total farce. There are no serious studies that the masks were effective in protecting against or particularly at stopping the spread of COVID.
cyclotic wrote: “And you’re making the leftist capitulator argument that we should be forced to use something shown to be 0% effective.”
More incorrect anti-vaxxer rhetoric.
EEGator wrote: “You’re a virus of FR. Named after a biolab FFS…”
As I’ve stated numerous times, I had a great dane named Duke when I worked at Dugway. I left Dugway in 1996. I was there a little over a year.
Bounced2X wrote: “There’s numerous examples of vaccines being pulled after a fraction of the adverse effects the COVOID vax appears to be responsible for. You want it, get it. I don’t even take the flu vaxes, never seem to get the flu or anything like it.”
The vaccines have saved millions of lives. Those adverse effects include such reactions as sore arms, mild fevers, etc. Very few truly severe reactions.
I’m glad I live in Florida.
Mask up, yew Grandma killuuurrrrrrrr!
I’ll just get a COVID test kit. Maybe that’ll make them happy, as I can just stay home awhile if I test positive.
Who am I kidding? It won’t.
It might be effective with some folks, but I’m still not taking the RNA-scramblers. I took the first two and — what a coincidence — I had 2 to 3 months of heart palpitations. With my family’s heart history, not gonna do it again.
Dream on.
The problem with COVID is that a person is most contagious the day before they show symptoms. They are shedding a lot of virus just through their breath. So coughing or lack thereof is no indicator of how risky it is to be in close contact with anyone.
Face masks probably reduce somewhat the spread to others by catching viruses and bacteria that are being carried by moisture (breathe), but then allow you to breath them back in again.
I was around my husband and daughter before they had Covid. I was on a road trip with my daughter, and she tested positive a few hours after we got home. I kissed my husband and spent the day with him, the day before he tested positive. Now if us were wearing masks.
I did not get Covid from them.
I got it after going to dinner at a crowded restaurant with some friends. I spent about 1 1/2 hours with them, and didn’t kiss any of them.
I’m certainly not willing to wear a mask if I’m not sick and I’m not around anyone that doesn’t know they are sick.
If I’m sick or around someone who I know is actively sick, I might where a mask then.
At home, we just stay in separate rooms when someone is sick. I’m not going to wear a mask.
If you do the math, it's comparable to placing a yellow post every five miles to block cars from coming onto your property.
Fat chance of me complying with that. I just won’t go to doctor or dentist appointments anymore, and I won’t wear them in a grocery store, or anywhere else.
They’ll have to physically remove this 76 year old woman from their premises if they reinstate this crap.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2493952/pdf/annrcse01509-0009.pdf
“Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (I98I) vol. 63
Is a mask necessary in the operating theatre?
Neil W M1 Orr MD Mchir FRCS
Consultant Surgeon, Severalls Surgical Unit, Colchester.
Key words: MASKS; WOUND INFECTION
Summary
No masks were worn in one operating theatre for 6 months. There was no increase in the incidence of wound infection.
No, they did not. The size of the covid virion is ORDERS of MAGNITUDE smaller than that which these face diapers can filter. About all they’re good for is keeping some dipwad from blowing nose snot all over you when he sneezes in your face.
I don’t think a mask would really make much of a difference anyway if you are around a sick person for more than a few minutes. There is a lot of unknowns about COVID and your example is not unique. More than once I have heard of people being around sick family members and not getting COVID but then getting it somewhere else. It is counterintuitive but it happens. There is a school of though that people can be more susceptible to viruses at different times and almost immune other times.
Like masks work? Why do those people in labs wear those suits if only a mask would be safe enough? Even those N95 masks have that warning that they don’t work for virus’
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