I listened to a regular update from the Maine CDC today. Very frustrating!!

[LAS14]

Three times a week the Maine CDC presents an update on Corona in that state and takes media questions. Today the presenter spoke frequently and eloquently about the need for people to wear masks, but not once did he suggest that they might protect the wearer to some degree too. It sounded like he knew this was true because when he was asked what advice he would give people attending Trump’s rally in NH this weekend, he pleaded that the elderly and immune compromised or those living with the elderly or immune compromised especially wear masks and keep distance.

Well, if wearing masks doesn’t protect the wearer, why is it especially important for that group?

Never mind science, plain common sense tells you that if a mask stops droplets from going from you to others, can also (maybe to a lesser extent) stop droplets going from them to you!

Appealing to pure altruism, as he did throughout the presentation, is not the best way to persuade the kinds of people who are now refusing to wear masks.

Why is the message skewed this way?

Tia
las

[jpak]

1. Only a N95 mask protects you from others

Other masks protect our fellow citizens from asymptomatic positive you.

Etc.

That's the way I look at it.

[LAS14]

3. Don't get me started on why our government hasn't poured resources...

... into getting everyone an N95 mask. Clearly way better than any other kind.

But what is your response to this, from my OP?

Never mind science, plain common sense tells you that if a mask stops droplets from going from you to others, can also (maybe to a lesser extent) stop droplets going from them to you!

[Ms. Toad]

5. Not accurate. Protection is not binar (off/on)

It is a matter of degree. Masks offer the best protection to fellow citizens, but they also offer some protection to the wearer.

It's like analog TV v. digital TV. I don't get to watch TV, since we are digital. It is either there - or not there. There is no in-between. Prior to the digital mandate, we had analog TV - so I could always hear the dialog, but I couldn't always see it - or see it clearly.

The protection that masks offer is analog. It offers the best protection (or the best picture) to those closest to the transmitting station (to those not wearing a mask) - but the rest of us (the mask wearers when no one else is wearing them) are not left out in the cold - we get a fuzzy protetion (a fuzzy view - but it's often still worth watching).

You are treating it as binary - there is no (personal) point in wearing it since it is either on or off - and since it's mostly off why bother.

[bottomofthehill]

2. Any mask protects you and protects others

N95 mask creates a seal this is safer but any mask beats no mask and any mask when worn properly gives you some level of protection. From a bandana to a respirator, they all create some level of protection. Some greater than others.

[LAS14]

4. So why doesn't the Maine CDC tell us this? Have Fauci et. al. mentioned this? nt

[Ms. Toad]

6. As to why Maine CDC doesn't tell you - no idea.

Unfortuantely, I have to view Fauci as compromised by his desire to remain in his position.

But here are references:

https://www.cleveland.com/coronavirus/2020/06/masks-may-protect-the-wearer-from-the-coronavirus-more-than-originally-thought-new-research-suggests.html

https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/86750
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/06/21/880832213/yes-wearing-masks-helps-heres-why

[bottomofthehill]

7. I wish they would. It would cut down the transmission

Help to protect people and it is a simple and somewhat inexpensive solution to cut down transmission. Every little bit helps to cut down the multiplier affect. We need to start someplace and this is the easiest and and best bang for the buck if we could only get some of the selfish bastards to do it.

I am all in favor of a national mask requirement ( I am not king of the world or even the US so no one cares what I think) to be imposed at any indoor gathering place that the owners choose. If you don’t want to wear one, go someplace that will let you in with out one. Republicans love to let the markets speak.

It would be interesting to see what would happen if Giant Foods required Face masks and Safeway Did not, people could choose to shop where they wanted. I would bet that there would be a lot of people shopping in the safety of the local Giant vrs the unsafe Safeway.