When are you going to stop wearing masks indoors (stores, etc)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does it bother you so much if I wear a mask in the Safeway? I will continue to do so until community spread is super low, as someone stated above. Honestly, you people who are pushing others to drop the mask are so weird.

Because I sincerely don't understand why people continue to wear masks indoors in these circumstances. I'll just ask - why then?

Because cases are not low, OP. People are still dying in large numbers. The USA has the highest Covid mortality of ALL wealthy nations, because its people are emotionally immature, refuse delayed gratification, are bad at math and are somewhat lacking in moral fiber.

You can choose to reject all these things, and never experience anyone in your circle dying from Covid. You may never catch Covid. You may have had a very mild case and believe that all cases are mild.

I don't care. I will do the right thing. You will do the wrong thing, persuaded you're not a bad person. We will agree to disagree.

+10000 thank you. Well said.

[Anonymous]

NEVER

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When the community transmission rate where I live falls below 10 cases per 100,000 population. I think there should be some metrics around this decision; it shouldn’t just be based on feelings. My family is vaxxed/boosted. No one in my house has had it yet (knock wood). We go to stores, school events, work, travel some, and basically live our lives, but wear masks. When omicron surged we upgrade to better masks and suspended indoor dining.

I know there is nothing magical per se about the 10/100000 but it keeps me from making exceptions based on emotion and is an easy bright line rule for me and m family. If I’d already had omicron I would have a different threshold.

Isn't it possible we will never be below 10 / 100,000?

That seems highly likely. Look at endemic seasonal flu rates- they’re well above the 10/100,000 metric. Why would we expect covid to be so much less common?

Right. We've been below 10/100000 before and I expect we will be again, but the numbers will fluctuate. When it's above a certain number ("substantial" spread), is it going to be mask time again?

Of course. I was perfectly comfortable without a mask indoors when the numbers were low and I was vaccinated, and then when Delta hit I put it back on. Then with omicron I upgraded to a better mask because it was more easily transmissible. It’s seems perfectly logical to take greater precautions when the risk is greater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes perfect sense to still avoid Covid. You idiots are trying to normalize the belief that Covid is like the flu. It isn't. I'll wear a mask as long as I want to.

You're right. Covid wasn't nearly as bad as the flu when I had it in December as it did not prevent me from working working or doing vigorous exercise. Last time I had the flu I was asleep for a day.

Your anecdote is not data but you are too ignorant to understand this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes perfect sense to still avoid Covid. You idiots are trying to normalize the belief that Covid is like the flu. It isn't. I'll wear a mask as long as I want to.

You're right. Covid wasn't nearly as bad as the flu when I had it in December as it did not prevent me from working working or doing vigorous exercise. Last time I had the flu I was asleep for a day.

Your anecdote is not data but you are too ignorant to understand this.

lol. this lame retort against lived experience is always the last refuge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes perfect sense to still avoid Covid. You idiots are trying to normalize the belief that Covid is like the flu. It isn't. I'll wear a mask as long as I want to.

You're right. Covid wasn't nearly as bad as the flu when I had it in December as it did not prevent me from working working or doing vigorous exercise. Last time I had the flu I was asleep for a day.

Your anecdote is not data but you are too ignorant to understand this.

lol. this lame retort against lived experience is always the last refuge.

That's great it was no big deal for them, but it has been a big deal for many.

[Anonymous]

Never! I’ve witnessed too many people coughing and sneezing without covering up for too long! This mask prevents me from the full effect of peoples germs…haven’t had as much as a sniffle in over 2 years! I don’t pay attention to who is wearing mask and who isn’t so I’m definitely not shooting daggers at anybody who isn’t wearing one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes perfect sense to still avoid Covid. You idiots are trying to normalize the belief that Covid is like the flu. It isn't. I'll wear a mask as long as I want to.

You're right. Covid wasn't nearly as bad as the flu when I had it in December as it did not prevent me from working working or doing vigorous exercise. Last time I had the flu I was asleep for a day.

Your anecdote is not data but you are too ignorant to understand this.

Actually, this anecdote mirrors the data we have for omicron-- and in fact, even the original variant caused flu-like illness or less in many. (Its potential to be mild or asymptomatic is what helped it spread so easily.)

The anecdotes are actually what helped obscure sensible risk assessment when it came to covid. The stories about healthy, young, fit people hospitalized and struggling for their lives sold papers and made a huge impression on all of us. It's not that these anecdotes aren't tragic and important, but perhaps many of us are too ignorant to understand that they were stand-out stories and that covid is not an equal-opportunity killer. In some cases it is not well understood why a particular individual was vulnerable, but there are very obvious trends that tell us who is vulnerable.

There are a bunch of conspiracy theories floating around about why the CDC hasn't been transparent about the raw numbers of people in the U.S. hospitalized for covid who are vaccinated vs. unvaccinated, but the ultimate reason why is likely because the vaccines were not able to change the "vulnerable" cohort as much as we would have wanted-- and this group still weighs down the others enough to make vaccines appear substantially less effective, since these were the populations at greatest risk of hospitalization and death in the first place. If you are above 80, your risk of being hospitalized for covid is many times the risk of a 40 year old, even if you're boosted and the 40 year old is unvaccinated. The CDC likely doesn't trust us with that data, but I think they likely could have made it clearer-- it might have helped us focus our restrictions on those who need it most and even saved some lives.

So, if you look at the covid data by age it is clear that, in part, anecdotes-- not data-- have shaped our attitudes and policies when it comes to this virus. But don't just trust me, look at it and make your decisions from a place of empowered information, not fearfulness OR reactive imprudence:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2918-0" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2918-0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes perfect sense to still avoid Covid. You idiots are trying to normalize the belief that Covid is like the flu. It isn't. I'll wear a mask as long as I want to.

You're right. Covid wasn't nearly as bad as the flu when I had it in December as it did not prevent me from working working or doing vigorous exercise. Last time I had the flu I was asleep for a day.

Your anecdote is not data but you are too ignorant to understand this.

Actually, this anecdote mirrors the data we have for omicron-- and in fact, even the original variant caused flu-like illness or less in many. (Its potential to be mild or asymptomatic is what helped it spread so easily.)

The anecdotes are actually what helped obscure sensible risk assessment when it came to covid. The stories about healthy, young, fit people hospitalized and struggling for their lives sold papers and made a huge impression on all of us. It's not that these anecdotes aren't tragic and important, but perhaps many of us are too ignorant to understand that they were stand-out stories and that covid is not an equal-opportunity killer. In some cases it is not well understood why a particular individual was vulnerable, but there are very obvious trends that tell us who is vulnerable.

There are a bunch of conspiracy theories floating around about why the CDC hasn't been transparent about the raw numbers of people in the U.S. hospitalized for covid who are vaccinated vs. unvaccinated, but the ultimate reason why is likely because the vaccines were not able to change the "vulnerable" cohort as much as we would have wanted-- and this group still weighs down the others enough to make vaccines appear substantially less effective, since these were the populations at greatest risk of hospitalization and death in the first place. If you are above 80, your risk of being hospitalized for covid is many times the risk of a 40 year old, even if you're boosted and the 40 year old is unvaccinated. The CDC likely doesn't trust us with that data, but I think they likely could have made it clearer-- it might have helped us focus our restrictions on those who need it most and even saved some lives.

So, if you look at the covid data by age it is clear that, in part, anecdotes-- not data-- have shaped our attitudes and policies when it comes to this virus. But don't just trust me, look at it and make your decisions from a place of empowered information, not fearfulness OR reactive imprudence:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2918-0" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2918-0

Well said, thank you. One of the most intelligent posts on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes perfect sense to still avoid Covid. You idiots are trying to normalize the belief that Covid is like the flu. It isn't. I'll wear a mask as long as I want to.

You're right. Covid wasn't nearly as bad as the flu when I had it in December as it did not prevent me from working working or doing vigorous exercise. Last time I had the flu I was asleep for a day.

Your anecdote is not data but you are too ignorant to understand this.

Actually, this anecdote mirrors the data we have for omicron-- and in fact, even the original variant caused flu-like illness or less in many. (Its potential to be mild or asymptomatic is what helped it spread so easily.)

The anecdotes are actually what helped obscure sensible risk assessment when it came to covid. The stories about healthy, young, fit people hospitalized and struggling for their lives sold papers and made a huge impression on all of us. It's not that these anecdotes aren't tragic and important, but perhaps many of us are too ignorant to understand that they were stand-out stories and that covid is not an equal-opportunity killer. In some cases it is not well understood why a particular individual was vulnerable, but there are very obvious trends that tell us who is vulnerable.

There are a bunch of conspiracy theories floating around about why the CDC hasn't been transparent about the raw numbers of people in the U.S. hospitalized for covid who are vaccinated vs. unvaccinated, but the ultimate reason why is likely because the vaccines were not able to change the "vulnerable" cohort as much as we would have wanted-- and this group still weighs down the others enough to make vaccines appear substantially less effective, since these were the populations at greatest risk of hospitalization and death in the first place. If you are above 80, your risk of being hospitalized for covid is many times the risk of a 40 year old, even if you're boosted and the 40 year old is unvaccinated. The CDC likely doesn't trust us with that data, but I think they likely could have made it clearer-- it might have helped us focus our restrictions on those who need it most and even saved some lives.

So, if you look at the covid data by age it is clear that, in part, anecdotes-- not data-- have shaped our attitudes and policies when it comes to this virus. But don't just trust me, look at it and make your decisions from a place of empowered information, not fearfulness OR reactive imprudence:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2918-0" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2918-0

When there is high community spread, everyone, regardless of their personal risk level, should wear a mask because asymptomatic people can spread the virus.

In addition, your "empowered information" does not take into account the long-term effects of Covid, which for a not-insignificant percentage of people of ALL AGES, are a real thing. We don't understand the mechanism behind "Long Covid" but it seems to indicate that the virus, like many other viruses, hides out somewhere in your body even after the acute symptoms have passed. What will that mean for your future health?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes perfect sense to still avoid Covid. You idiots are trying to normalize the belief that Covid is like the flu. It isn't. I'll wear a mask as long as I want to.

You're right. Covid wasn't nearly as bad as the flu when I had it in December as it did not prevent me from working working or doing vigorous exercise. Last time I had the flu I was asleep for a day.

Your anecdote is not data but you are too ignorant to understand this.

Actually, this anecdote mirrors the data we have for omicron-- and in fact, even the original variant caused flu-like illness or less in many. (Its potential to be mild or asymptomatic is what helped it spread so easily.)

The anecdotes are actually what helped obscure sensible risk assessment when it came to covid. The stories about healthy, young, fit people hospitalized and struggling for their lives sold papers and made a huge impression on all of us. It's not that these anecdotes aren't tragic and important, but perhaps many of us are too ignorant to understand that they were stand-out stories and that covid is not an equal-opportunity killer. In some cases it is not well understood why a particular individual was vulnerable, but there are very obvious trends that tell us who is vulnerable.

There are a bunch of conspiracy theories floating around about why the CDC hasn't been transparent about the raw numbers of people in the U.S. hospitalized for covid who are vaccinated vs. unvaccinated, but the ultimate reason why is likely because the vaccines were not able to change the "vulnerable" cohort as much as we would have wanted-- and this group still weighs down the others enough to make vaccines appear substantially less effective, since these were the populations at greatest risk of hospitalization and death in the first place. If you are above 80, your risk of being hospitalized for covid is many times the risk of a 40 year old, even if you're boosted and the 40 year old is unvaccinated. The CDC likely doesn't trust us with that data, but I think they likely could have made it clearer-- it might have helped us focus our restrictions on those who need it most and even saved some lives.

So, if you look at the covid data by age it is clear that, in part, anecdotes-- not data-- have shaped our attitudes and policies when it comes to this virus. But don't just trust me, look at it and make your decisions from a place of empowered information, not fearfulness OR reactive imprudence:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2918-0" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2918-0

When there is high community spread, everyone, regardless of their personal risk level, should wear a mask because asymptomatic people can spread the virus.

In addition, your "empowered information" does not take into account the long-term effects of Covid, which for a not-insignificant percentage of people of ALL AGES, are a real thing. We don't understand the mechanism behind "Long Covid" but it seems to indicate that the virus, like many other viruses, hides out somewhere in your body even after the acute symptoms have passed. What will that mean for your future health?

I am empowered by the information that true Long Covid is much rarer than you think, especially in kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes perfect sense to still avoid Covid. You idiots are trying to normalize the belief that Covid is like the flu. It isn't. I'll wear a mask as long as I want to.

You're right. Covid wasn't nearly as bad as the flu when I had it in December as it did not prevent me from working working or doing vigorous exercise. Last time I had the flu I was asleep for a day.

Your anecdote is not data but you are too ignorant to understand this.

lol. this lame retort against lived experience is always the last refuge.

That's great it was no big deal for them, but it has been a big deal for many.

Correct. Over 2700 Americans died of Covid yesterday….I guess it was a big deal for those folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes perfect sense to still avoid Covid. You idiots are trying to normalize the belief that Covid is like the flu. It isn't. I'll wear a mask as long as I want to.

You're right. Covid wasn't nearly as bad as the flu when I had it in December as it did not prevent me from working working or doing vigorous exercise. Last time I had the flu I was asleep for a day.

Your anecdote is not data but you are too ignorant to understand this.

lol. this lame retort against lived experience is always the last refuge.

That's great it was no big deal for them, but it has been a big deal for many.

Correct. Over 2700 Americans died of Covid yesterday….I guess it was a big deal for those folks.

As we have said many times, honey, no one cares if you wear 20 masks. You do you. And I'll do me - mask free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes perfect sense to still avoid Covid. You idiots are trying to normalize the belief that Covid is like the flu. It isn't. I'll wear a mask as long as I want to.

You're right. Covid wasn't nearly as bad as the flu when I had it in December as it did not prevent me from working working or doing vigorous exercise. Last time I had the flu I was asleep for a day.

Your anecdote is not data but you are too ignorant to understand this.

Actually, this anecdote mirrors the data we have for omicron-- and in fact, even the original variant caused flu-like illness or less in many. (Its potential to be mild or asymptomatic is what helped it spread so easily.)

The anecdotes are actually what helped obscure sensible risk assessment when it came to covid. The stories about healthy, young, fit people hospitalized and struggling for their lives sold papers and made a huge impression on all of us. It's not that these anecdotes aren't tragic and important, but perhaps many of us are too ignorant to understand that they were stand-out stories and that covid is not an equal-opportunity killer. In some cases it is not well understood why a particular individual was vulnerable, but there are very obvious trends that tell us who is vulnerable.

There are a bunch of conspiracy theories floating around about why the CDC hasn't been transparent about the raw numbers of people in the U.S. hospitalized for covid who are vaccinated vs. unvaccinated, but the ultimate reason why is likely because the vaccines were not able to change the "vulnerable" cohort as much as we would have wanted-- and this group still weighs down the others enough to make vaccines appear substantially less effective, since these were the populations at greatest risk of hospitalization and death in the first place. If you are above 80, your risk of being hospitalized for covid is many times the risk of a 40 year old, even if you're boosted and the 40 year old is unvaccinated. The CDC likely doesn't trust us with that data, but I think they likely could have made it clearer-- it might have helped us focus our restrictions on those who need it most and even saved some lives.

So, if you look at the covid data by age it is clear that, in part, anecdotes-- not data-- have shaped our attitudes and policies when it comes to this virus. But don't just trust me, look at it and make your decisions from a place of empowered information, not fearfulness OR reactive imprudence:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2918-0" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2918-0

When there is high community spread, everyone, regardless of their personal risk level, should wear a mask because asymptomatic people can spread the virus.

In addition, your "empowered information" does not take into account the long-term effects of Covid, which for a not-insignificant percentage of people of ALL AGES, are a real thing. We don't understand the mechanism behind "Long Covid" but it seems to indicate that the virus, like many other viruses, hides out somewhere in your body even after the acute symptoms have passed. What will that mean for your future health?

I am empowered by the information that true Long Covid is much rarer than you think, especially in kids.

So are lightning strikes, but I don't stand in the middle of a field during a thunderstorm holding up a metal spike, either.

[Anonymous]

Why are people still hooked on case rates? Hasn't everyone seen all of the commentary that they are generally meaningless in a post-vaccination-availability time?