Americans at high risk advised to wear masks as new Covid variant detected

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing to me that there are so many people who are only immunocompromised when it comes to the covid virus.

especially since many of the supposed “immunocompromised” are not actually at higher risk of covid. https://jitc.bmj.com/content/9/6/e002630

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing to me that there are so many people who are only immunocompromised when it comes to the covid virus.

There hasn't been many studies about SARS and the immunocompromised pre-covid so no one knows what can happen to those people thus they are told to be safe, wear a mask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huge spike?

it’s honestly like these people get excited from contemplating a “huge” spike

There is a difference between giving a warning and getting "excited."

If you don't already have long covid, and don't want to mask, fine. Go for it.

We don't want mandates coming back because of those who want to mask and, most importantly, can't wait to force everyone to mask again. In some places mandates already restarted. The idea that we will continue living like this with masking and possibly lockdown waves every now and then and all the division and friction among people doesn't make me happy. If it makes you happy, you are a sociopath. We know that this virus isn't going away, it's a merry-go-round thing. Masking and lockdowns didn't stop it even in places implementing most draconian measures. And it's not about personal protection, this has been always available to everyone who wanted. Some continued wearing masks and never stopped, they were not unicorns.
and nobody really cared about this until the usual "recommendations" that lead to mandates in some places first (already started) and then spread like cancer all over, into every classroom, office, store, public transit, etc.

It doesn’t make us “happy” to acknowledge that this is in fact what is happening. It is reality. There will be waves. They are disproportionately dangerous for some in our society and not to others. The question is: how do we respond to those facts?

Your preference is we all act like it’s not happening and some degree of eugenic selection occurs and in fact may even be celebrated (as it has been in this very thread).

My preference is a society that values inclusion of disabled people, and in a society like the one I want there will be some masking required—especially in places where personal presence is not optional.

For those of us who cannot take the chance of repeated COVID infection, those mask rules make us more free to move around the world with the same freedom you claim to so prize for yourself and in general.

We can each repeat ourselves about this forever. The bottom line is you are highly ideologically motivated to act like masks do not matter and I am highly motivated by a desire to keep living as normally as possible, and without additional disability, to act like they do. Don’t confuse that with whether I am “happy” about it or not.

But if the mask protects the wearer, why do you need others to wear the mask?

because they are in love with the slogan “my mask protects you and your mask protects me.” I have a very sweet friend who would get upset about this because she truly believed that as long as anyone else believed that her masking would help them, she should do it. she didn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable. she wasn’t open to discussing the actual science or acknowledging that some people really dislike masking (or are prejudiced by it) because it upset her to feel like people were being “mean” about it.

Ah, no. That is not the answer to the question the PP asked me. I’m pretty confident in my own N95 (which has been fit-tested)

Masks reduce transmission. The science is clear. But as that science also demonstrates, masking as a practice is imperfect—not everyone wears or can wear them correctly, has access to high-filtration masks that fit, etc.

When the variants are highly contagious, reducing the total amount of virus circulating, especially in spaces people are required to be in, improves everyone’s chances of avoiding illness. That reduction happens by masking and it also happens by filtration and ventilation.

All of that has a disproportionate positive impact on people who are experiencing disproportionate negative impacts in trying to be present and participating in our shared society most of the rest of the time.

My view on this has nothing to do with making anyone comfortable or uncomfortable. Comfortable or not, mean or not—it’s irrelevant to this view. The question is: are we doing all we can to keep people in my community—who are also in the disabled community—alive and as healthy as possible, or not?

My answer is we should be. Yours is that we shouldn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huge spike?

it’s honestly like these people get excited from contemplating a “huge” spike

There is a difference between giving a warning and getting "excited."

If you don't already have long covid, and don't want to mask, fine. Go for it.

We don't want mandates coming back because of those who want to mask and, most importantly, can't wait to force everyone to mask again. In some places mandates already restarted. The idea that we will continue living like this with masking and possibly lockdown waves every now and then and all the division and friction among people doesn't make me happy. If it makes you happy, you are a sociopath. We know that this virus isn't going away, it's a merry-go-round thing. Masking and lockdowns didn't stop it even in places implementing most draconian measures. And it's not about personal protection, this has been always available to everyone who wanted. Some continued wearing masks and never stopped, they were not unicorns.
and nobody really cared about this until the usual "recommendations" that lead to mandates in some places first (already started) and then spread like cancer all over, into every classroom, office, store, public transit, etc.

Places like medical facilities and schools should be masking. Especially large schools here when this is highly contagious and there is no way to distance.

Precisely proving my point. As long as there is enough of sentiment that masks are for protecting others and we need to forever do this in some facilities, they may come back. In this case, PP will be overjoyed while majority of people frustrated and maybe even angry (especially when it comes to kids). Division will once again set it, and animosity will prevail public places. Great times ahead , especially since we already know it will not do a thing to stop this virus and it will be upon us again a few months later. And then it may open the doors again to booster mandates, more colleges starting these again, although luckily it's not a terribly popular approach.

Masks are not, and never have been “to protect others.” If that were the case, te people in charge of such things would have been routing the most effective masks to the most contagious people back when the disease was at its height. They didn’t do that. They diverted and hoarded the most effective protection for themselves and their cronies and left everybody else to fend for themselves with useless makeshift substitutes.

IKR? How selfish of those healthcare workers to want N95s when they were treating covid patients.

You’ve completely misread my post.

The point is not that health care workers got good masks (although the levels of inequity in the distribution of those were appalling), it is that if masks were to protect others, the infectious people would’ve gotten them.

Preferring health care workers exposed to possible infection demonstrates that the people in power knew all along that masks are to protect the wearer, not other people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing to me that there are so many people who are only immunocompromised when it comes to the covid virus.

No, we have issues with colds and flu as well. Sadly, you would know as those of us with serious issues mostly stay home and at this point I have to even limit things like medical care as my doctors don’t mask and see sick patients every morning. We don’t have doctor choice so I sometimes have to private pay but it’s not affordable to do it a few times a month which I need so I just go without the care I need. Last time I was at the doctor for my kid I picked up a bad cold. It took weeks and multiple rounds of antibiotics and steroids to get me through it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing to me that there are so many people who are only immunocompromised when it comes to the covid virus.

No, we have issues with colds and flu as well. Sadly, you would know as those of us with serious issues mostly stay home and at this point I have to even limit things like medical care as my doctors don’t mask and see sick patients every morning. We don’t have doctor choice so I sometimes have to private pay but it’s not affordable to do it a few times a month which I need so I just go without the care I need. Last time I was at the doctor for my kid I picked up a bad cold. It took weeks and multiple rounds of antibiotics and steroids to get me through it.

So, if you’re a person who is sensitive to many viruses and have always (before 2020) worn an N95 and limited contact with others, this isn’t directed at you.

But the fact remains that there is a whole segment of the population that freak out about Covid and want everyone restricted but, don’t care about any other virus.

[Anonymous]

To add, the original article in the OP says the very elderly should resume wearing masks. Why did they stop? If people need to mask to avoid getting Covid at this point, then they need to mask permanently to avoid all circulating viruses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing to me that there are so many people who are only immunocompromised when it comes to the covid virus.

No, we have issues with colds and flu as well. Sadly, you would know as those of us with serious issues mostly stay home and at this point I have to even limit things like medical care as my doctors don’t mask and see sick patients every morning. We don’t have doctor choice so I sometimes have to private pay but it’s not affordable to do it a few times a month which I need so I just go without the care I need. Last time I was at the doctor for my kid I picked up a bad cold. It took weeks and multiple rounds of antibiotics and steroids to get me through it.

When did doctors wear masks before covid and outside of surgery or special procedures? You didn't get it then, why do you insist it is done now if the issue for you is ANY virus, not just Covid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing to me that there are so many people who are only immunocompromised when it comes to the covid virus.

No, we have issues with colds and flu as well. Sadly, you would know as those of us with serious issues mostly stay home and at this point I have to even limit things like medical care as my doctors don’t mask and see sick patients every morning. We don’t have doctor choice so I sometimes have to private pay but it’s not affordable to do it a few times a month which I need so I just go without the care I need. Last time I was at the doctor for my kid I picked up a bad cold. It took weeks and multiple rounds of antibiotics and steroids to get me through it.

When did doctors wear masks before covid and outside of surgery or special procedures? You didn't get it then, why do you insist it is done now if the issue for you is ANY virus, not just Covid?

Covid was new, caused neurological damage and clotting in some people - unlike colds. My friend has permanent vision damage and facial disfigurement and I had a heart attack young. Though it seems to be getting more mild, it’s still more important to protect from Covid because we’re still learning about it.

And pediatricians have separate well/sick waiting rooms and exam rooms to reduce spread of everything. Because it has always mattered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huge spike?

it’s honestly like these people get excited from contemplating a “huge” spike

There is a difference between giving a warning and getting "excited."

If you don't already have long covid, and don't want to mask, fine. Go for it.

We don't want mandates coming back because of those who want to mask and, most importantly, can't wait to force everyone to mask again. In some places mandates already restarted. The idea that we will continue living like this with masking and possibly lockdown waves every now and then and all the division and friction among people doesn't make me happy. If it makes you happy, you are a sociopath. We know that this virus isn't going away, it's a merry-go-round thing. Masking and lockdowns didn't stop it even in places implementing most draconian measures. And it's not about personal protection, this has been always available to everyone who wanted. Some continued wearing masks and never stopped, they were not unicorns.
and nobody really cared about this until the usual "recommendations" that lead to mandates in some places first (already started) and then spread like cancer all over, into every classroom, office, store, public transit, etc.

It doesn’t make us “happy” to acknowledge that this is in fact what is happening. It is reality. There will be waves. They are disproportionately dangerous for some in our society and not to others. The question is: how do we respond to those facts?

Your preference is we all act like it’s not happening and some degree of eugenic selection occurs and in fact may even be celebrated (as it has been in this very thread).

My preference is a society that values inclusion of disabled people, and in a society like the one I want there will be some masking required—especially in places where personal presence is not optional.

For those of us who cannot take the chance of repeated COVID infection, those mask rules make us more free to move around the world with the same freedom you claim to so prize for yourself and in general.

We can each repeat ourselves about this forever. The bottom line is you are highly ideologically motivated to act like masks do not matter and I am highly motivated by a desire to keep living as normally as possible, and without additional disability, to act like they do. Don’t confuse that with whether I am “happy” about it or not.

But if the mask protects the wearer, why do you need others to wear the mask?

because they are in love with the slogan “my mask protects you and your mask protects me.” I have a very sweet friend who would get upset about this because she truly believed that as long as anyone else believed that her masking would help them, she should do it. she didn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable. she wasn’t open to discussing the actual science or acknowledging that some people really dislike masking (or are prejudiced by it) because it upset her to feel like people were being “mean” about it.

Ah, no. That is not the answer to the question the PP asked me. I’m pretty confident in my own N95 (which has been fit-tested)

Masks reduce transmission. The science is clear. But as that science also demonstrates, masking as a practice is imperfect—not everyone wears or can wear them correctly, has access to high-filtration masks that fit, etc.

When the variants are highly contagious, reducing the total amount of virus circulating, especially in spaces people are required to be in, improves everyone’s chances of avoiding illness. That reduction happens by masking and it also happens by filtration and ventilation.

All of that has a disproportionate positive impact on people who are experiencing disproportionate negative impacts in trying to be present and participating in our shared society most of the rest of the time.

My view on this has nothing to do with making anyone comfortable or uncomfortable. Comfortable or not, mean or not—it’s irrelevant to this view. The question is: are we doing all we can to keep people in my community—who are also in the disabled community—alive and as healthy as possible, or not?

My answer is we should be. Yours is that we shouldn’t.

You are just putting evolutionary pressure on the virus to benefit more infectious strains. BTW, that's exactly what happened. COVID strains became more contagious to get around mitigations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing to me that there are so many people who are only immunocompromised when it comes to the covid virus.

No, we have issues with colds and flu as well. Sadly, you would know as those of us with serious issues mostly stay home and at this point I have to even limit things like medical care as my doctors don’t mask and see sick patients every morning. We don’t have doctor choice so I sometimes have to private pay but it’s not affordable to do it a few times a month which I need so I just go without the care I need. Last time I was at the doctor for my kid I picked up a bad cold. It took weeks and multiple rounds of antibiotics and steroids to get me through it.

So, if you’re a person who is sensitive to many viruses and have always (before 2020) worn an N95 and limited contact with others, this isn’t directed at you.

But the fact remains that there is a whole segment of the population that freak out about Covid and want everyone restricted but, don’t care about any other virus.

No one is restricting anything. People would like others to be decent and stay home when sick. How is that unreasonable? So, because you cannot do something as simple as that, my life sucks and I basically rarely can leave home because I cannot risk someone like you sharing what ever the current illness is with me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing to me that there are so many people who are only immunocompromised when it comes to the covid virus.

No, we have issues with colds and flu as well. Sadly, you would know as those of us with serious issues mostly stay home and at this point I have to even limit things like medical care as my doctors don’t mask and see sick patients every morning. We don’t have doctor choice so I sometimes have to private pay but it’s not affordable to do it a few times a month which I need so I just go without the care I need. Last time I was at the doctor for my kid I picked up a bad cold. It took weeks and multiple rounds of antibiotics and steroids to get me through it.

When did doctors wear masks before covid and outside of surgery or special procedures? You didn't get it then, why do you insist it is done now if the issue for you is ANY virus, not just Covid?

Covid was new, caused neurological damage and clotting in some people - unlike colds. My friend has permanent vision damage and facial disfigurement and I had a heart attack young. Though it seems to be getting more mild, it’s still more important to protect from Covid because we’re still learning about it.

And pediatricians have separate well/sick waiting rooms and exam rooms to reduce spread of everything. Because it has always mattered.

Our separate sick area is a joke as it's some cubical wall that have huge opening for the door and not very high. They do sick calls in the AM if you can actually get an appointment and the doctors are not masking. Often we are just sent to the ER.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huge spike?

it’s honestly like these people get excited from contemplating a “huge” spike

There is a difference between giving a warning and getting "excited."

If you don't already have long covid, and don't want to mask, fine. Go for it.

We don't want mandates coming back because of those who want to mask and, most importantly, can't wait to force everyone to mask again. In some places mandates already restarted. The idea that we will continue living like this with masking and possibly lockdown waves every now and then and all the division and friction among people doesn't make me happy. If it makes you happy, you are a sociopath. We know that this virus isn't going away, it's a merry-go-round thing. Masking and lockdowns didn't stop it even in places implementing most draconian measures. And it's not about personal protection, this has been always available to everyone who wanted. Some continued wearing masks and never stopped, they were not unicorns.
and nobody really cared about this until the usual "recommendations" that lead to mandates in some places first (already started) and then spread like cancer all over, into every classroom, office, store, public transit, etc.

It doesn’t make us “happy” to acknowledge that this is in fact what is happening. It is reality. There will be waves. They are disproportionately dangerous for some in our society and not to others. The question is: how do we respond to those facts?

Your preference is we all act like it’s not happening and some degree of eugenic selection occurs and in fact may even be celebrated (as it has been in this very thread).

My preference is a society that values inclusion of disabled people, and in a society like the one I want there will be some masking required—especially in places where personal presence is not optional.

For those of us who cannot take the chance of repeated COVID infection, those mask rules make us more free to move around the world with the same freedom you claim to so prize for yourself and in general.

We can each repeat ourselves about this forever. The bottom line is you are highly ideologically motivated to act like masks do not matter and I am highly motivated by a desire to keep living as normally as possible, and without additional disability, to act like they do. Don’t confuse that with whether I am “happy” about it or not.

But if the mask protects the wearer, why do you need others to wear the mask?

because they are in love with the slogan “my mask protects you and your mask protects me.” I have a very sweet friend who would get upset about this because she truly believed that as long as anyone else believed that her masking would help them, she should do it. she didn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable. she wasn’t open to discussing the actual science or acknowledging that some people really dislike masking (or are prejudiced by it) because it upset her to feel like people were being “mean” about it.

My view on this has nothing to do with making anyone comfortable or uncomfortable. Comfortable or not, mean or not—it’s irrelevant to this view. The question is: are we doing all we can to keep people in my community—who are also in the disabled community—alive and as healthy as possible, or not?

My answer is we should be. Yours is that we shouldn’t.

The basic answer to this is of course we’re not. We’ve never gotten close. But if this was really your objective, you should be focusing your advocacy on universal healthcare and food/housing security, not mask-wearing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing to me that there are so many people who are only immunocompromised when it comes to the covid virus.

No, we have issues with colds and flu as well. Sadly, you would know as those of us with serious issues mostly stay home and at this point I have to even limit things like medical care as my doctors don’t mask and see sick patients every morning. We don’t have doctor choice so I sometimes have to private pay but it’s not affordable to do it a few times a month which I need so I just go without the care I need. Last time I was at the doctor for my kid I picked up a bad cold. It took weeks and multiple rounds of antibiotics and steroids to get me through it.

So, if you’re a person who is sensitive to many viruses and have always (before 2020) worn an N95 and limited contact with others, this isn’t directed at you.

But the fact remains that there is a whole segment of the population that freak out about Covid and want everyone restricted but, don’t care about any other virus.

No one is restricting anything. People would like others to be decent and stay home when sick. How is that unreasonable? So, because you cannot do something as simple as that, my life sucks and I basically rarely can leave home because I cannot risk someone like you sharing what ever the current illness is with me.

You’re not saying that. You’re saying you want people to stay home based on the mere chance that they might still be sick. And you want people to broadly wear masks— presumably everyone, due to the high rates of asymptomatic infections— apparently because you can’t be expected to wear PPE correctly.

I'm still very confused about how you lived before covid. Particularly during the winter. Logically you would have similarly locked yourself down, except then I don't think you'd be so fixated on this in the special case of covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s amazing to me that there are so many people who are only immunocompromised when it comes to the covid virus.

No, we have issues with colds and flu as well. Sadly, you would know as those of us with serious issues mostly stay home and at this point I have to even limit things like medical care as my doctors don’t mask and see sick patients every morning. We don’t have doctor choice so I sometimes have to private pay but it’s not affordable to do it a few times a month which I need so I just go without the care I need. Last time I was at the doctor for my kid I picked up a bad cold. It took weeks and multiple rounds of antibiotics and steroids to get me through it.

When did doctors wear masks before covid and outside of surgery or special procedures? You didn't get it then, why do you insist it is done now if the issue for you is ANY virus, not just Covid?

Covid was new, caused neurological damage and clotting in some people - unlike colds. My friend has permanent vision damage and facial disfigurement and I had a heart attack young. Though it seems to be getting more mild, it’s still more important to protect from Covid because we’re still learning about it.

And pediatricians have separate well/sick waiting rooms and exam rooms to reduce spread of everything. Because it has always mattered.

Our separate sick area is a joke as it's some cubical wall that have huge opening for the door and not very high. They do sick calls in the AM if you can actually get an appointment and the doctors are not masking. Often we are just sent to the ER.

Yeah, pediatric sick areas simply demonstrate the theatrics. Having everyone wait in the same line, and then directing them to different sides of one room isn’t a meaningful infection control measure.