Question on APE (or other APS related groups)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masking isn't really the slam dunk some people seem to think it is. We have incredibly high masking rates in Arlington, including in schools. Somehow, our Omicron curve looks exactly like everyone else's.

Schools were closed during most of that curve. It was the result of unmasked holiday gatherings.

Anyone with a social circle right now can probably list a dozen instances of people catching covid in the last month from an unmasked social gathering. It's rampant and unlike any other period during the pandemic. At the same time, we haven't heard of whole classes catching omicron last week at school. I think that would immediately change if kids unmasked and most parents know it. (Some may be okay with that under the everyone-is-going-to-catch-it theory, but most aren't.)

"Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There's no place for them in light of Omicron," said CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen

Except in schools, where they are magical. Cases were shooting up before break started and kids are wearing cloth masks or poorly fitted surgical masks, for the most part. Somehow it has all been fine.

I don't get the logic in eliminating masks just because cloth and cheap masks improperly worn or ill-fitted aren't highly effective. Why not instead support ensuring everyone wears the recommended high quality masks and that they wear them properly?

Because that is too logical. There is no logic to angry dad bro tantrums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masking isn't really the slam dunk some people seem to think it is. We have incredibly high masking rates in Arlington, including in schools. Somehow, our Omicron curve looks exactly like everyone else's.

Schools were closed during most of that curve. It was the result of unmasked holiday gatherings.

Anyone with a social circle right now can probably list a dozen instances of people catching covid in the last month from an unmasked social gathering. It's rampant and unlike any other period during the pandemic. At the same time, we haven't heard of whole classes catching omicron last week at school. I think that would immediately change if kids unmasked and most parents know it. (Some may be okay with that under the everyone-is-going-to-catch-it theory, but most aren't.)

"Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There's no place for them in light of Omicron," said CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen

Except in schools, where they are magical. Cases were shooting up before break started and kids are wearing cloth masks or poorly fitted surgical masks, for the most part. Somehow it has all been fine.

I don't get the logic in eliminating masks just because cloth and cheap masks improperly worn or ill-fitted aren't highly effective. Why not instead support ensuring everyone wears the recommended high quality masks and that they wear them properly?

Because the "high-quality" masks only work if you have the discipline of a person entering an OR. The masks need to be fit-tested beforehand, form a perfect seal, not get removed for every nose itch or chin scratch, and people with thick beards need to shave daily. If you don't do these things these masks are no better than cloth masks. If you think that's practical for a kindergarten classroom, good luck, but don't inflict that on everybody else's kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masking isn't really the slam dunk some people seem to think it is. We have incredibly high masking rates in Arlington, including in schools. Somehow, our Omicron curve looks exactly like everyone else's.

Schools were closed during most of that curve. It was the result of unmasked holiday gatherings.

Anyone with a social circle right now can probably list a dozen instances of people catching covid in the last month from an unmasked social gathering. It's rampant and unlike any other period during the pandemic. At the same time, we haven't heard of whole classes catching omicron last week at school. I think that would immediately change if kids unmasked and most parents know it. (Some may be okay with that under the everyone-is-going-to-catch-it theory, but most aren't.)

"Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There's no place for them in light of Omicron," said CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen

Except in schools, where they are magical. Cases were shooting up before break started and kids are wearing cloth masks or poorly fitted surgical masks, for the most part. Somehow it has all been fine.

I don't get the logic in eliminating masks just because cloth and cheap masks improperly worn or ill-fitted aren't highly effective. Why not instead support ensuring everyone wears the recommended high quality masks and that they wear them properly?

There have not been widespread outbreaks with kids wearing ineffective masks. What is the logic in putting them in more uncomfortable masks when there haven't been issues while they are wearing crappy ones? You're preventing something that's already not happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masking isn't really the slam dunk some people seem to think it is. We have incredibly high masking rates in Arlington, including in schools. Somehow, our Omicron curve looks exactly like everyone else's.

Schools were closed during most of that curve. It was the result of unmasked holiday gatherings.

Anyone with a social circle right now can probably list a dozen instances of people catching covid in the last month from an unmasked social gathering. It's rampant and unlike any other period during the pandemic. At the same time, we haven't heard of whole classes catching omicron last week at school. I think that would immediately change if kids unmasked and most parents know it. (Some may be okay with that under the everyone-is-going-to-catch-it theory, but most aren't.)

"Cloth masks are little more than facial decorations. There's no place for them in light of Omicron," said CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen

Except in schools, where they are magical. Cases were shooting up before break started and kids are wearing cloth masks or poorly fitted surgical masks, for the most part. Somehow it has all been fine.

I don't get the logic in eliminating masks just because cloth and cheap masks improperly worn or ill-fitted aren't highly effective. Why not instead support ensuring everyone wears the recommended high quality masks and that they wear them properly?

There have not been widespread outbreaks with kids wearing ineffective masks. What is the logic in putting them in more uncomfortable masks when there haven't been issues while they are wearing crappy ones? You're preventing something that's already not happening.

Actually, DC schools did see widespread outbreaks right before the holidays. (APS had already closed.) Omicron is a new ballgame. I also don't find a KN95 any less comfortable than many cloth masks.

[Anonymous]

Because the "high-quality" masks only work if you have the discipline of a person entering an OR. The masks need to be fit-tested beforehand, form a perfect seal, not get removed for every nose itch or chin scratch, and people with thick beards need to shave daily. If you don't do these things these masks are no better than cloth masks. If you think that's practical for a kindergarten classroom, good luck, but don't inflict that on everybody else's kids.

This isn't true. Even a mask only worn properly only part of the time reduces exposure.

Maybe they won't scratch their chin when they're seated in art next to contractions kid, so the mask will be effective for the time period that matters. Or they will scratch their chin briefly, but will wear the mask properly the rest of the time so they get a smaller dose and either never test positive or have an asymptomatic case. Whereas, if they weren't wearing a good mask they would get a large covid dose and could be home sick with flu like symptoms for 10 days and pass it on to their whole family.

[Anonymous]

*contagious kid. Autocorrect fail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Because the "high-quality" masks only work if you have the discipline of a person entering an OR. The masks need to be fit-tested beforehand, form a perfect seal, not get removed for every nose itch or chin scratch, and people with thick beards need to shave daily. If you don't do these things these masks are no better than cloth masks. If you think that's practical for a kindergarten classroom, good luck, but don't inflict that on everybody else's kids.

This isn't true. Even a mask only worn properly only part of the time reduces exposure.

Maybe they won't scratch their chin when they're seated in art next to contractions kid, so the mask will be effective for the time period that matters. Or they will scratch their chin briefly, but will wear the mask properly the rest of the time so they get a smaller dose and either never test positive or have an asymptomatic case. Whereas, if they weren't wearing a good mask they would get a large covid dose and could be home sick with flu like symptoms for 10 days and pass it on to their whole family.

Except Omicron is so highly infectious that open-air transmission can occur in less than a minute, depending on distance and ventilation. Hope you didn't plan to let those kids eat lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because the "high-quality" masks only work if you have the discipline of a person entering an OR. The masks need to be fit-tested beforehand, form a perfect seal, not get removed for every nose itch or chin scratch, and people with thick beards need to shave daily. If you don't do these things these masks are no better than cloth masks. If you think that's practical for a kindergarten classroom, good luck, but don't inflict that on everybody else's kids.

This isn't true. Even a mask only worn properly only part of the time reduces exposure.

Maybe they won't scratch their chin when they're seated in art next to contractions kid, so the mask will be effective for the time period that matters. Or they will scratch their chin briefly, but will wear the mask properly the rest of the time so they get a smaller dose and either never test positive or have an asymptomatic case. Whereas, if they weren't wearing a good mask they would get a large covid dose and could be home sick with flu like symptoms for 10 days and pass it on to their whole family.

Except Omicron is so highly infectious that open-air transmission can occur in less than a minute, depending on distance and ventilation. Hope you didn't plan to let those kids eat lunch.

I still don't get why it has to be 100% preventative to be justified by people who think like you. Minimizing as much as possible, or even just reducing, the chances of catching it and the number of people who get it still makes the less-than-perfect worthwhile and better than nothing.