Could this also be that people had not been going out like they were pre Covid or more people worked from home or social distancing? I don't think anyone can say this was all because of masks.Just some food for thought. Could have sworn I heard some folks talking about this here this weekend
If someone doesn't want to wear a mask, that's up to them, and I certainly won't oppose that position. However, let's not pretend masks offer no benefit at all.
The downside of ditching masks: the return of colds, flu - The Boston Globe
Since the state’s mask mandate was lifted, face coverings have started to come off — and stay off. But according to infectious diseases doctors, the return of facial freedom might come with some downsides, like a resurgence in cases of the common cold and the flu.www.bostonglobe.com
During the time of mask mandates and policies, I've heard plenty of people that sounded like they had a cold. Coughing, sneezing and/or sounding congested. It is a myth that there has been no other respiratory illness during COVID mitigations.Just some food for thought. Could have sworn I heard some folks talking about this here this weekend
If someone doesn't want to wear a mask, that's up to them, and I certainly won't oppose that position. However, let's not pretend masks offer no benefit at all.The downside of ditching masks: the return of colds, flu - The Boston Globe
Since the state’s mask mandate was lifted, face coverings have started to come off — and stay off. But according to infectious diseases doctors, the return of facial freedom might come with some downsides, like a resurgence in cases of the common cold and the flu.
Yeah.. no. When it drops to 3-6% of a usual year you have to look at the biggest reasons for it. It was virtually non existent this year. Again, doctors seem to disagree with you about the main reasons for that. Of course international travel helped in cases, but masks, social distancing and washing and sanitizing and kids not being in school, which is huge for flu transmissions were the main reasons.
www.hsph.harvard.edu
www.forbes.com
Agreed. It does seem that every article similar to this, and there are many, seem to focus so hard on the mask aspect, and it certainly has its merits. But social distancing, not going out to dinner at all, working from home, not traveling. Keeping to yourself is easily as attributable to not catching a cold or flu than just wearing a mask. No one can say for sure, but if the majority of the population wear masks but behave exactly as they did in 2019, you'd see cold and flu spread again. How much, unknown, but masks are/were just 1 important factor in the entire mitigation plan.
The happiest place on earth closed, as did every other theme park, bars, schools, concerts, plays, movie and television production, sports events in stadiums, beaches, weddings, restaurants, churches and other religious gatherings, much public transportation to work - for those that even went to work (many still haven't gone back) - came to a stop, and masking is given virtually all the credit for reductions in rate of spread.
Fine, I'll start a COVID Awards committee and we can give out awards to the masks, the social distancing, the staying home, the everything. I can't say Plexiglass is in the running but I'm sure voters will bend if pressed.
But what a derailment!
Did I not say it would ramp up in June?
Should we assume more than 50% of 12+ with both doses by end of July? It's about 15% as of today.
Also, up to 74% of 12+ with first dose now.
