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Many Epidemiologists Want Social Distancing and Masks Forever—Even After the Vaccine
Reason ^ | December 4, 2020 | Robby Soave

Posted on 12/04/2020 3:16:32 PM PST by karpov

The New York Times asked 700 epidemiologists to describe their COVID-19 habits, how their thinking has changed since the pandemic began, and when they think it will be safe for normal life to resume. Dismayingly, several answered that last question with a resounding never.

"I expect that wearing a mask will become part of my daily life, moving forward, even after a vaccine is deployed," Amy Hobbs, a research associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told The Times.

Marilyn Tseng, an assistant professor at California Polytechnic State University, said life would never revert to the way it was, though the preventative measures currently practiced—masks and social distancing—will feel "normal" in time. Similarly, Vasily Vlassov, a professor at HSE University in Moscow, said life was perfectly normal now because this is the new normal.

Others disagreed. Michael Webster-Clark of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said he expected "further relaxation of most precautions by mid-to-late summer 2021" following widespread availability of the vaccine. Some epidemiologists said their own risk aversion would decrease after they were vaccinated, but many said they would remain just as cautious until "80 percent or more" of the entire population had received the vaccine.

On the whole, the epidemiologists were less wary of touching surfaces than they were at the start of the pandemic, and some thought young children could go back to school. But just 26 percent said they either had or would have allowed their children to return to the classroom, or even attend an outdoor play date with friends. Only 29 percent were willing to get a haircut, even though the most infamous case involving two hairstylists who had COVID-19 resulted in not a single infection among their 139 clients.

(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: covid; epidemiologists; lockdown; masks
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To: karpov

“Only 29 percent were willing to get a haircut,”

Doesnt bother me. I have long hair and barber shops are infested with bacteria anyway.


21 posted on 12/04/2020 3:35:43 PM PST by max americana (fired liberal employees at every election since 2008 because I enjoy seeing them cry )
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To: karpov

Funny nobody ever talks about what a threat to the republic the Medical Industrial Complex has become...


22 posted on 12/04/2020 3:36:42 PM PST by mewzilla (Break out the mustard seeds. )
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To: Gay State Conservative

yea wait till they need their roof replaced or they need that window repaired lol


23 posted on 12/04/2020 3:39:10 PM PST by rstark56
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To: Gay State Conservative

“Only 29 percent were willing to get a haircut,”

I’ve been in Japan probably 3 times the past 2 years. My Stanford frat mate teaches English there at a local gakuen’ (high school) and he’s probably the only white dude in the area. He also translates for the US Embassy on occasion.

Tells me people who wear masks are the ones who HAVE a fever, and Japanese practice is to cover up as a COURTESY to others.


24 posted on 12/04/2020 3:39:13 PM PST by max americana (fired liberal employees at every election since 2008 because I enjoy seeing them cry )
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To: karpov

” Oh, the places you’ll go! ...So wear yer maks!”


25 posted on 12/04/2020 3:39:53 PM PST by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: karpov

The world needs to rid itself of totalitarian vermin. Whatever it takes. Imagine a house before cockroaches and a house after they have been eliminated.


26 posted on 12/04/2020 3:41:43 PM PST by dforest (RATS are criminals and frauds. Hide anything that belongs to you. They will steal it.)
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To: Honorary Serb

I can’t wear a mask more than 5 or 10 minutes. It’s not only uncomfortable, it itches like hell and I get extreme acne on my nose - so bad it bleeds.

Same places where I was treated for skin cancer last year. Nose can’t take the mechanical friction, and I’ve tried different types of masks to no avail.

Not to mention the feeling of dizziness, overheating and the fogging of my glasses (10x worse with the now mandatory face shield)


27 posted on 12/04/2020 3:42:03 PM PST by Starcitizen (Thank you to the Senate for passing S.386, turning the US into the third-world shithole of India. )
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To: karpov

These people need to be removed from our society.


28 posted on 12/04/2020 3:43:36 PM PST by dljordan
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To: karpov

True.

My opinion is that those who wish to wear masks are free to do so, and the rest of us can not if we don’t want to.

If someone wears a mask, socially distances, and gets the vaccine, then they are in no danger of catching the virus (yeah, right) so they don’t have to worry if I don’t do any of those things.


29 posted on 12/04/2020 3:44:39 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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To: karpov

30 posted on 12/04/2020 3:44:42 PM PST by Seruzawa (TANSTAAFL!)
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To: karpov

Wait until “they” decide too many are dying in vehicle accidents and everyone must travel via public transportation.

It’s coming.


31 posted on 12/04/2020 3:45:27 PM PST by Bratch
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To: Sacajaweau
"I expect that wearing a mask will become part of my daily life, moving forward, even after a vaccine is deployed,"

Only we won't be calling them masks. We will be calling them hijabs. This was an exercise in psychological conditioning. Remember, demographics are everything.
32 posted on 12/04/2020 3:45:39 PM PST by softengine
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To: Honorary Serb

Keep your *widespread vaccination*.

Count me out.

Vaccination is not a condition for me to return to normal.


33 posted on 12/04/2020 3:46:07 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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To: max americana

That makes sense...my limited knowledge of Japan suggests,among other things,that it’s a very courteous,polite,society.


34 posted on 12/04/2020 3:46:41 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (BLM Stands For "Bidens Loot Millions"!)
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To: max americana
Tells me people who wear masks are the ones who HAVE a fever, and Japanese practice is to cover up as a COURTESY to others.

If you're sick, especially if you have a fever, STAY HOME!!!!!

THAT one bit of courtesy would do more to slow the spread of disease than anything else.

35 posted on 12/04/2020 3:48:20 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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To: karpov

Good luck with finding police still willing to do your bidding.


36 posted on 12/04/2020 3:48:57 PM PST by Huskrrrr
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To: Secret Agent Man

Lol! Lead!


37 posted on 12/04/2020 3:51:47 PM PST by DarthVader (Not by speeches & majority decisions will the great issues th the day be decided but by Blood & Iron)
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To: karpov

If the virus is controlled, we will have little need for these epidemiologist. They can sink into oblivion. I’m sure they will miss the limelight.


38 posted on 12/04/2020 3:52:04 PM PST by griswold3 (Democratic Socialism is Slavery by Mob Rule)
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To: karpov

Germaphobia is in itself a sickness. It is closely related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which will require therapy where you discuss how your mother spanked you for wetting the bed.


39 posted on 12/04/2020 3:54:05 PM PST by jonrick46 (Cultural Marxism is the cult of the Left waiting for the Mothership.)
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To: metmom

“If you’re sick, especially if you have a fever, STAY HOME!!!!!”

Japan has a WORKAHOLIC culture. It’s a sign of weakness if you stay home when you have work to do. That’s how they roll there..Unlike some mampy pamby Americans who call in sick from a stupid flu for DAYS. I found out at an early age that my body requires rest for less than 24 hours and I’m good. Never took a cough or cold medicine in 30 years. Just vitamins and rest.


40 posted on 12/04/2020 3:59:54 PM PST by max americana (fired liberal employees at every election since 2008 because I enjoy seeing them cry )
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