Why are so many people wearing masks now?

[Anonymous]

I have allergies. When my meds wear off, I have a cough. Masks protect me from allergens and the people around me from my cough. Both protections are limited but better than not having them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of flu-like viruses circulating in the pediatric population right now. This is anecdotal, but I don't recall this many respiratory viruses circulating this late in the spring in years past. I am on day 6 of a particularly gnarly one and I dug out an N-95 to run errands today, just out of consideration for others. My kids and I are sicker with this virus than we were with the flu in February, but I finally had to leave my house.

Being considerate is staying home. You can order everything delivered.

I stayed home 6 days, crazy. Nobody is catching something from a masked person running in somewhere and staying clear of others. We have to take precautions and live our lives. I don't expect people with post-viral coughs to isolate for 2-3 weeks, do you?

NP

While I agree that the best thing to do when you’re really sick is to stay home (which you did), I recognize that it isn’t feasible to do indefinitely. Given that, wearing a mask to limit the exposure to others is thoughtful, especially since masks are most effective for preventing infection when the source wears them (as opposed to the individual trying not to be infected). I do wear a mask when in public, but I greatly appreciate you wearing one as well. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Horrible flu is going around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of flu-like viruses circulating in the pediatric population right now. This is anecdotal, but I don't recall this many respiratory viruses circulating this late in the spring in years past. I am on day 6 of a particularly gnarly one and I dug out an N-95 to run errands today, just out of consideration for others. My kids and I are sicker with this virus than we were with the flu in February, but I finally had to leave my house.

Being considerate is staying home. You can order everything delivered.

I stayed home 6 days, crazy. Nobody is catching something from a masked person running in somewhere and staying clear of others. We have to take precautions and live our lives. I don't expect people with post-viral coughs to isolate for 2-3 weeks, do you?

You realize colds and other viruses are surface-based, so if you are sick its not just the mask. I just went to a doctor who was masking and sai he was sick. I am so careful and rarely go out and was so pissed even though I waited months for the appointment I wish he would have canceled as now I'm sick and it will be weeks before I'm better due to health conditions. I expect people to isolate when they are sick. You have no idea the impact a simple cold has on someone like me. And as a bonus, someone made my kid sick at school with something different.

[Anonymous]

My experience has been that masks do really work and I don’t have a problem with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of flu-like viruses circulating in the pediatric population right now. This is anecdotal, but I don't recall this many respiratory viruses circulating this late in the spring in years past. I am on day 6 of a particularly gnarly one and I dug out an N-95 to run errands today, just out of consideration for others. My kids and I are sicker with this virus than we were with the flu in February, but I finally had to leave my house.

Being considerate is staying home. You can order everything delivered.

I stayed home 6 days, crazy. Nobody is catching something from a masked person running in somewhere and staying clear of others. We have to take precautions and live our lives. I don't expect people with post-viral coughs to isolate for 2-3 weeks, do you?

You realize colds and other viruses are surface-based, so if you are sick its not just the mask. I just went to a doctor who was masking and sai he was sick. I am so careful and rarely go out and was so pissed even though I waited months for the appointment I wish he would have canceled as now I'm sick and it will be weeks before I'm better due to health conditions. I expect people to isolate when they are sick. You have no idea the impact a simple cold has on someone like me. And as a bonus, someone made my kid sick at school with something different.

Different poster than you’re responding to


I’m sorry you and your child are sick. I understand your point about how germs can linger on surfaces, but if the doctor was wearing a mask, it seems less likely that he was the source that infected the surfaces, rather than one of his patients or staff. If you are concerned about diseases (which I totally sympathize with - I have similar struggles), then I think the best way to avoid surface contamination is to wash your hands and use sanitizer liberally. I wish you a speedy recovery.

[Anonymous]

pollen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of flu-like viruses circulating in the pediatric population right now. This is anecdotal, but I don't recall this many respiratory viruses circulating this late in the spring in years past. I am on day 6 of a particularly gnarly one and I dug out an N-95 to run errands today, just out of consideration for others. My kids and I are sicker with this virus than we were with the flu in February, but I finally had to leave my house.

Being considerate is staying home. You can order everything delivered.

I stayed home 6 days, crazy. Nobody is catching something from a masked person running in somewhere and staying clear of others. We have to take precautions and live our lives. I don't expect people with post-viral coughs to isolate for 2-3 weeks, do you?

You realize colds and other viruses are surface-based, so if you are sick its not just the mask. I just went to a doctor who was masking and sai he was sick. I am so careful and rarely go out and was so pissed even though I waited months for the appointment I wish he would have canceled as now I'm sick and it will be weeks before I'm better due to health conditions. I expect people to isolate when they are sick. You have no idea the impact a simple cold has on someone like me. And as a bonus, someone made my kid sick at school with something different.

Different poster than you’re responding to


I’m sorry you and your child are sick. I understand your point about how germs can linger on surfaces, but if the doctor was wearing a mask, it seems less likely that he was the source that infected the surfaces, rather than one of his patients or staff. If you are concerned about diseases (which I totally sympathize with - I have similar struggles), then I think the best way to avoid surface contamination is to wash your hands and use sanitizer liberally. I wish you a speedy recovery.

I rarely leave the house. I always mask. The doctor was sick, saying so and only used hand sanitizer, without wearing gloves, insisted on an exam. Doctors should give patients the option to reschedule, I'd rather wait another 6 months vs. risk a cold. Hand sanitizer isn't enough. It was especially annoying when I just needed some paperwork someone could have handed me to see the specialist I actually need but could not see without this appointment. You have no idea what its like to have a serious health issue and stuck at home for years because others who don't have to go out, do and infect others. For me, there is a likely chance I'll end up hospitalized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of flu-like viruses circulating in the pediatric population right now. This is anecdotal, but I don't recall this many respiratory viruses circulating this late in the spring in years past. I am on day 6 of a particularly gnarly one and I dug out an N-95 to run errands today, just out of consideration for others. My kids and I are sicker with this virus than we were with the flu in February, but I finally had to leave my house.

Being considerate is staying home. You can order everything delivered.

I stayed home 6 days, crazy. Nobody is catching something from a masked person running in somewhere and staying clear of others. We have to take precautions and live our lives. I don't expect people with post-viral coughs to isolate for 2-3 weeks, do you?

You realize colds and other viruses are surface-based, so if you are sick its not just the mask. I just went to a doctor who was masking and sai he was sick. I am so careful and rarely go out and was so pissed even though I waited months for the appointment I wish he would have canceled as now I'm sick and it will be weeks before I'm better due to health conditions. I expect people to isolate when they are sick. You have no idea the impact a simple cold has on someone like me. And as a bonus, someone made my kid sick at school with something different.

I am truly sorry for your situation. Some people (like me) isolate when they are most symptomatic. At a certain point, people have to leave the house. None of my errands were deliery based (I wasn't shopping) but these things did need to be done after 6 days. I understand gerns spread on surfaces, I wasn't touching my face. I think having a child at school puts you more at risk than a stranger wearing a mask who is nowhere near you. I know of no medical advice that would have required me to isolate longer. People can shed viruses up to 4 weeks, longer if immunocompromised? How long do you think people should stay home? Masks exist for a reason, and I used one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of flu-like viruses circulating in the pediatric population right now. This is anecdotal, but I don't recall this many respiratory viruses circulating this late in the spring in years past. I am on day 6 of a particularly gnarly one and I dug out an N-95 to run errands today, just out of consideration for others. My kids and I are sicker with this virus than we were with the flu in February, but I finally had to leave my house.

Being considerate is staying home. You can order everything delivered.

I stayed home 6 days, crazy. Nobody is catching something from a masked person running in somewhere and staying clear of others. We have to take precautions and live our lives. I don't expect people with post-viral coughs to isolate for 2-3 weeks, do you?

NP

While I agree that the best thing to do when you’re really sick is to stay home (which you did), I recognize that it isn’t feasible to do indefinitely. Given that, wearing a mask to limit the exposure to others is thoughtful, especially since masks are most effective for preventing infection when the source wears them (as opposed to the individual trying not to be infected). I do wear a mask when in public, but I greatly appreciate you wearing one as well. Thank you.

Thank you for writing this post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of flu-like viruses circulating in the pediatric population right now. This is anecdotal, but I don't recall this many respiratory viruses circulating this late in the spring in years past. I am on day 6 of a particularly gnarly one and I dug out an N-95 to run errands today, just out of consideration for others. My kids and I are sicker with this virus than we were with the flu in February, but I finally had to leave my house.

Being considerate is staying home. You can order everything delivered.

I stayed home 6 days, crazy. Nobody is catching something from a masked person running in somewhere and staying clear of others. We have to take precautions and live our lives. I don't expect people with post-viral coughs to isolate for 2-3 weeks, do you?

You realize colds and other viruses are surface-based, so if you are sick its not just the mask. I just went to a doctor who was masking and sai he was sick. I am so careful and rarely go out and was so pissed even though I waited months for the appointment I wish he would have canceled as now I'm sick and it will be weeks before I'm better due to health conditions. I expect people to isolate when they are sick. You have no idea the impact a simple cold has on someone like me. And as a bonus, someone made my kid sick at school with something different.

Different poster than you’re responding to


I’m sorry you and your child are sick. I understand your point about how germs can linger on surfaces, but if the doctor was wearing a mask, it seems less likely that he was the source that infected the surfaces, rather than one of his patients or staff. If you are concerned about diseases (which I totally sympathize with - I have similar struggles), then I think the best way to avoid surface contamination is to wash your hands and use sanitizer liberally. I wish you a speedy recovery.

+1. He was taking precautions. Even so, there is no way to know who gave you what in public. People can be most contagious before they know they are sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of flu-like viruses circulating in the pediatric population right now. This is anecdotal, but I don't recall this many respiratory viruses circulating this late in the spring in years past. I am on day 6 of a particularly gnarly one and I dug out an N-95 to run errands today, just out of consideration for others. My kids and I are sicker with this virus than we were with the flu in February, but I finally had to leave my house.

Being considerate is staying home. You can order everything delivered.

I stayed home 6 days, crazy. Nobody is catching something from a masked person running in somewhere and staying clear of others. We have to take precautions and live our lives. I don't expect people with post-viral coughs to isolate for 2-3 weeks, do you?

You realize colds and other viruses are surface-based, so if you are sick its not just the mask. I just went to a doctor who was masking and sai he was sick. I am so careful and rarely go out and was so pissed even though I waited months for the appointment I wish he would have canceled as now I'm sick and it will be weeks before I'm better due to health conditions. I expect people to isolate when they are sick. You have no idea the impact a simple cold has on someone like me. And as a bonus, someone made my kid sick at school with something different.

What kind of doctor was it? I had a doctor convert an appointment to virtual when she was sick. That was considerate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went to the grocery store yesterday and about a 1/2 dozen people were wearing masks. What is going around?

Socially acceptable now?
Cheaper than makeup?
Habit forming like a security blankie?
Wanting to show off and larp as a doctor for some reason?
Many reasons I suppose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went to the grocery store yesterday and about a 1/2 dozen people were wearing masks. What is going around?

New strains of the same old stuff. Smart people never stopped masking. It's never too late to learn!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of flu-like viruses circulating in the pediatric population right now. This is anecdotal, but I don't recall this many respiratory viruses circulating this late in the spring in years past. I am on day 6 of a particularly gnarly one and I dug out an N-95 to run errands today, just out of consideration for others. My kids and I are sicker with this virus than we were with the flu in February, but I finally had to leave my house.

Being considerate is staying home. You can order everything delivered.

I stayed home 6 days, crazy. Nobody is catching something from a masked person running in somewhere and staying clear of others. We have to take precautions and live our lives. I don't expect people with post-viral coughs to isolate for 2-3 weeks, do you?

You realize colds and other viruses are surface-based, so if you are sick its not just the mask. I just went to a doctor who was masking and sai he was sick. I am so careful and rarely go out and was so pissed even though I waited months for the appointment I wish he would have canceled as now I'm sick and it will be weeks before I'm better due to health conditions. I expect people to isolate when they are sick. You have no idea the impact a simple cold has on someone like me. And as a bonus, someone made my kid sick at school with something different.

Different poster than you’re responding to


I’m sorry you and your child are sick. I understand your point about how germs can linger on surfaces, but if the doctor was wearing a mask, it seems less likely that he was the source that infected the surfaces, rather than one of his patients or staff. If you are concerned about diseases (which I totally sympathize with - I have similar struggles), then I think the best way to avoid surface contamination is to wash your hands and use sanitizer liberally. I wish you a speedy recovery.

+1. He was taking precautions. Even so, there is no way to know who gave you what in public. People can be most contagious before they know they are sick.

Do you not get the impact on someone with health issues? A cold is no big deal to you. A cold lasts weeks for me and sometimes requires hospitalization. It was inconsiderate. You call the patient and give them the option to reschedule.