Coronavirus Outbreak

[Ken]

Regarding masks, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota did a comprehensive study of different mask types worn by both the infected person and the person getting infected. Here is the original study from last fall: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspec ... protection

This graphic from the study more or less summarizes the results. Infection times are for the original Alpha variant So the infection times should probably be shortened for the more infectious Omicron. Cloth masks don't do all that much. They reduce infections (or lengthen exposure time by about 25%. Surgical masks reduce infection by about 50% (double the exposure time). But the gold standard are the N95 masks.

[Soloist]

Regarding masks, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota did a comprehensive study of different mask types worn by both the infected person and the person getting infected. Here is the original study from last fall: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspec ... protection

This graphic from the study more or less summarizes the results. Infection times are for the original Alpha variant So the infection times should probably be shortened for the more infectious Omicron. Cloth masks don't do all that much. They reduce infections (or lengthen exposure time by about 25%. Surgical masks reduce infection by about 50% (double the exposure time). But the gold standard are the N95 masks.

This is what I was saying near the beginning based on common sense medical practice for diseases. Also I referenced the WHO study on fabric masks that basically said similar findings. This isn't controversial prior to covid and was well understood. Specific masks for specific things... specific TB masks get used, specific laser masks... None of these is rocket science and a fabric mask does not provide protection, especially when you are wearing it all day at work. Is it better then nothing? I agree it is, but too often people promoted it as a highly effective way to protect others.

[Valerie]

I think I have evidence that it was still useful for Delta in some cases and you think you have evidence that it was not.

Delta is a airborne virus the same as Omicron. Cloth masks do nothing for airborne virus infections. Only N95 masks will reduce viral spread for airborne, aerosolized virii. All variants of Covid are aerosolized virus infections. UV kills the virus, this is why outside one is quite safe in daylight hours.

This is what I heard a doctor say on the news the other night. It doesn't seem to be widely known and as I work in a very busy store I constantly see people wearing the cloth masks. This gives the false impression that they are safe. It's extremely rare I see someone with an N95. It seems the media is just not that good about educating people about how to protect themselves and the treatments available. It seems to me with all this testing going on that there should be the fantastic opportunity to pass out information to people to educate and inform them. The three times that we got tested all they told us was to take Tylenol. No more helpful information there is no reason in the world there shouldn't have been something published by now that's in the form of a leaflet or something that could educate the public.

[Robert]

No more helpful information there is no reason in the world there shouldn't have been something published by now that's in the form of a leaflet or something that could educate the public.

Try this.

https://forum.mennonet.com/download/Cov ... tGuide.pdf

[Valerie]

No more helpful information there is no reason in the world there shouldn't have been something published by now that's in the form of a leaflet or something that could educate the public.

Try this.

https://forum.mennonet.com/download/Cov ... tGuide.pdf

Thank you, i personally had obtained from a health store in Holmes County a very detailed protocol. It was several pages! But I mean something where when you are tested positive they hand it to you automatically not just tell you to take Tylenol.

[mike]

I had a sore throat and cold in the past week, and it would not surprise me, based on what I'm hearing, that it was Covid. A lot of my employees have been sick as well with minor colds. Nobody is getting tested and nobody is quarantining other than a few people taking a day off work here and there. It's as though we are back to a normal cold & flu season.

[Dan Z]

Ken - you find the best stuff. This is a very helpful graphic..

[Ernie]

Ken - you find the best stuff. This is a very helpful graphic..

But Ken and Dan, the conclusion is that this chart is no longer helpful with Omicron, correct?

[Josh]

Masking and social distancing 6 feet do nothing with an airborne virus. I have been saying this for over 6 months. Ernie, you list is outdated and will be ineffective.

I started the discussion by saying that my list is now outdated. You are agreeing. What we don't agree on was whether it was outdated for Delta. I think I have evidence that it was still useful for Delta in some cases and you think you have evidence that it was not. Now that Delta is no longer the major concern, we can let the debate die a natural death.

Not sure why you think it's no longer a concern - the delta variant (and indeed the alpha variant and the original SARS-nCoV-2 strain) all still exist. Both delta variant and omicorn variant are simultaneously spreading.

If the measures don't need to be taken now, they didn't need to be taken in the past either. Of course there is nothing wrong with admitting you were wrong (or that I was wrong). I advocated for social distancing, masks, and not attending church back in March/April. Looking back, I was wrong, and such things were unnecessary. There is no shame in admitting that. But I do have to be upfront that I was completely wrong back then.

[Josh]

Regarding masks, the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota did a comprehensive study of different mask types worn by both the infected person and the person getting infected. Here is the original study from last fall: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspec ... protection

This graphic from the study more or less summarizes the results. Infection times are for the original Alpha variant So the infection times should probably be shortened for the more infectious Omicron. Cloth masks don't do all that much. They reduce infections (or lengthen exposure time by about 25%. Surgical masks reduce infection by about 50% (double the exposure time). But the gold standard are the N95 masks.

Good chart; the gold standard, however, is N100 or something similar like Soloist wears at work. Very, very few people are actually wearing N95 masks properly.

For example, I saw a family with a child wearing an N95 mask at a state park in Tennessee. It is safe to say it was not "fit tested". She also touched it and adjusted it a few times (a no-no), and then when hiking up and down the hills she just took it off. Taking off and putting back on a mask greatly reduces its later effectiveness. Prior to 2020, you were supposed to treat a facemask like hazardous waste and throw it away as soon as you took it off, and only put on a fresh one.

Doing that with high quality N95 masks is, obviously, not feasible - the average person would go through several per day and would basically have to eat and drink by themselves in a sealed room.

Conclusion: widespread masking isn't feasible. You can do it for a few hours in specialised occupations, like being a surgeon, or like what I wear if mowing the lawn or doing field work to avoid aggravating allergies.