Hunker Down

[idrivejunk]

My folks got stuck today too.

[WZ JUNK]

Well it has been nearly 48 hours since I had my second shot.  So far I have not had any reaction at all other than I was a little sluggish yesterday.  So far so good.  Independence Day is next Tuesday.

[Bruce Dorsi]

I have questions which have so far been unanswered.

If you believe your mask is protecting you, why do I have to wear one?
If your mask IS protecting you, why do I have to wear one?
If your mask is protecting you, why do I have to stay 6' away?

Since people have been wearing masks for 8-10 months by now, why are covid numbers still increasing?
Why do some people who wear a mask conscientiously still contract covid?  
....I believe most of the masks in use do not protect the wearer.

We were told seasonal flu was almost non-existent because people were wearing masks.  ...However, at the same time, covid cases were increasing.  ....To me that says masks (other than N95) do not prevent contracting covid.

How does wearing a mask while driving alone protect the wearer?
How does wearing a mask while walking alone outdoors protect the wearer?

If you received the vaccine, why do you care if I don't wear a mask, especially since you're still wearing yours?  

You are now wearing a double mask as recommended, aren't you? ...If one mask was effective, why the current recommendation of wearing a double mask?  ....Maybe there are a lot of un-sold masks in inventory?  

Please note that I am NOT saying the virus does not exist. ....I just don't believe the virus is hanging in the air waiting to jump on me, or that the masks commonly used are going to protect me. .....The masks I see for sale are marked "NOT for medical use."

I strongly believe that individuals who are high-risk, or those in fear of contracting covid, should take whatever precautions they can. ....Stay home and limit exposure to other people as much as possible.

Many people are quite comfortable being around others without anyone wearing a mask. .....That is a chance we are willing to take.   ...No, I don't want to get it, but I am not going to live my life in fear.

The virus is considered to be highly contagious, yet often only one spouse may get it, or one member of a family living together.  ....Yet, we are supposed to fear walking past someone (5-10 secs duration) less than 6' away who is not wearing a mask? ....The "science" says 5-15 minutes exposure is necessary.

A majority of people testing covid positive are asymptomatic.  ....Imagine something so severe that you have to take a test to know if you have it.   ...Covid tests have many false positives and false negatives.  ...If you have symptoms, then you probably have it.

Remember when shopping carts and conveyor belts were disinfected between customers at the supermarkets and other stores?  ....Remember when wearing gloves was recommended?  ....Those practices are no longer in use in my area of NJ.

Much has been learned about the virus since we learned of it in February 2020.  ....Several effective medications have been proven.  ....Survival rate is approx 98% (compare that to cancer, heart attacks, etc).  ....Many quarantine periods have been shortened.

I respect your choice to wear a mask and/or get the vaccine.  ...Please respect my choice to live my life as I choose!

[WZ JUNK]

Bruce, I have studied the mask question and thought about it some.  The studies I have paid the most attention to show how the mask acts as a diffuser and limits the spray of droplets.  The disease is primarly spread through the droplets from an infected persons breath and the mask limits the spray pattern of the infected droplets.  So the mask mostly protects the other people you are in contact with should you become infected.

I hate wearing a mask, but the way I understand it is that everyone gets the virus from someone else.  Most of the 500,000 + people that have died got the virus by close contact from someone else.  So it is a good chance that someone they know gave them the virus that killed them.  I do not want to be the one responsible for the death or sickness of anyone, and particularly someone I know.

Next Tuesday I am coming out of about 12 months of isolation, but I will still limit my exposure.  I will wear a mask when I am in a public place.  When I taught school, one of the principles that I tried to maintain was that I would set an example and not ask any of my students to do something that I would not do myself.  Even though I agree with you that most mask do little to protect the wearer, and I am vaccinated, I still plan to wear a mask in public.

Those are my personal thoughts.  We are still the land of the free and I respect the thoughts and beliefs of others.

John

[Crosley.In.AZ]

We have a new case of the covid at work.. Company tried to keep it quiet.  Did not go that way since the whole shop knows now.  The guy and at least 3 others from the shop went on a Las Vegas trip together.  So, We wait to see if others become ill.

Update on the Mexican National that had covid last year and spent weeks in a Mexican Hospital.  He had a kidney removed yesterday. I am told  the kidney was damaged by the covid.

Mask  debate:  I do not like the masks.  I wear them if a business requires them to enter.  I am not going to argue with someone at the door over a mask or not.  It is not fair to the business to make them the enforcer of rules the Gov put in place.

I figure most here have seen the videos of ppl arguing with store employees and being arrested if the LEO deem that necessary. Sorry , it makes no sense to get into a battle over a mask , no mask deal at a private owned business.

At work:  I am one of the few that wear a mask or face cover when I leave my dept work area.  Does it make sense to wear it outside my work area and not in the area since the warehouse is wide open inside?  The air travels around  the shop freely. Answer:  No,  it does not make much sense.  I wear the face cover because my wife worries about the virus.

I came home today and she asked me if she needs to disinfect me before I enter the house ... I said : Probably, I am dirty from work.

Wear a mask in a car, while  Alone.  Nope.
 
Outside, I do not wear a mask.  I stay away from people.

I have purchased gasoline and had nasty looks from people at the next pump as i do not wear a mask to pump gasoline.

The glove debate and touching things....  I agree.  What happened to that requirement? It quietly disappeared?

Can bad things transfer via surfaces?  Yes..  6 or 7 years ago my wife developed a red spot on her calf muscle , back side. Looked like a pimple, but very painful to touch. She went to a local Care place. It was a nasty bacterial infection and the RN gave my wife some strong antibiotics. The nurse speculated a wet spot on a toilet transferred the bacteria to my wifes leg.

the nurse gal called my wife a few times checking up on her and my wife was getting po'd a bit.  I told my wife to be * glad the RN gave a chit and checked up on her to see if the spot was clearing up.

:!:

[idrivejunk]

If you use a fast food drive through without a mask, you are treated completely different not in a good way. Can't enter the grocery store without mask. Other than that, mask free and only see family or two friends same as the precoronian world. If others are pumping gas nearby, I wear.

Theres a masked lady I pass going to work. Jogs with elbow on white line, 50 mph hwy with super nice sidewalk a couple yards away. Park next to a truck at work that has fast food trash up to the passenger window. People stop at empty roundabouts. Scooters that top out at 35 won't budge on the highway. I don't know what those people are doing, I only do what is expected of me or less. But have avoided people altogether more than a decade and have remained sensible about handwashing all the while. I'm a slob but not a sick one. Somehow.

[jaybee]

Does wearing a mask keep me safe, or does it keep others safe? Both, actually. People who work in operating rooms have been wearing cloth masks for about 3 generations now because they help keep the patients from getting a nasty infection. If we all keep each other safer we're all safer.

The data says it keeps us safer too. This stuff can ride on pretty small droplets which have some power to float on the air for a while. Cloth masks help with that.

I wear a two layer mask when I'm going to be in a public space, period. While I'm at home? No. While I'm driving in the car? No. There's no one else around, so there's no point in it. I do wear one when I'm likely to come face to face with someone not from my home. I still have to stop into the office at times, and I mask when I go in. I wear one when I pick up food at the drive through or Sonic.

I practice defensive driving because I don't trust the other guy. This is no different.

[enjenjo]

I see it as the same as "no shirt, no shoes, no service" in stores. Around here if a LEO comes in the store, and you don't have a mask, and refuse to mask up when asked. you leave with the officer.  You aren't arrested, but you have to leave the store. If you want to argue, then you get arrested.

I don't wear a mask when driving, unless I just left one store, and going to another in a block or so. I'm just too lazy to take it off and then put it back on. Here in Ohio, a full face shield is a suitable replacement for a mask, so if you have a full face helmet on, you are golden.

SWMBO is having a lot of Dr. visits since she was sick, sometimes four in a week. When I take her for these appointments we both wear a mask. But we don't wear one at home. Last week we saw our great-grand kids for the first time in nearly three months. As far as immunizations the county says "maybe next week" the same thing they said a month ago.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Quick note and apology.  My wife's leg deal I mentioned was a bacterial infection.  Not a virus.  I woke up about 2:30am thinking I had used the incorrect words.  I did edit my post.

What Enjenjo says about a mask and businesses match my thoughts  and actions when we are out and about.  

I stop at a Jack in the Box fast food place on my path to work if I am on the Goldwing (motorcycle).. the doors open at 6am. I wear my helmet inside and I have on a balaclava head sock for warmth that covers my mouth.  No other fast food place has front doors open at that time and they also will not service motorcycles in the drive thru. At least Whataburger will not, I tried twice.

Last April in 2020 after my wifes surgery on her knee...  I took her to therapy.  I went up to the 2nd floor with her. She was using a walker and moved slowly.  We were told then a new policy was in place. They did not even want people in the building cept for the patients.  I had to drop her off at the front entrance and pick her up there.

[kb426]

Tony, the lack of service for cycle riders surprised me. I wonder what their logic is??

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Tony, the lack of service for cycle riders surprised me. I wonder what their logic is??

Bad logic.

Couple weeks ago a Harley rider was in drive thru line 2 vehicles ahead of me.. he pulled to the talk box.. no answer to him as I had experienced. I know they have cameras on the drive thru, I have seen the monitors inside the building..  The rider pulled to the drive thru window.  He had placed an online order for pickup.  He paid and rode off.

[enjenjo]

They did not even want people in the building cept for the patients. I had to drop her off at the front entrance and pick her up there.

Some of the clinics my wife uses have a similar policy.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

Arizona has changed the age on vaccine appointments to 55 & higher.  The state runs low of doses received, appointments are limited still

Also:  My wife was able to sign us both up for the 1st vaccine dose.  This is scheduled for friday afternoon.

It is a location about 4 miles west of us. It was a County operated site , Arizona took the site over.  Dont quote me, I think there were 2,000 appointments available at this site. I read they filled up in 1.5 hours

[WZ JUNK]

Today is Independence Day for me.  We got our second shot a week ago.  I have a list of things to do today that I have not felt like I could safely do prior to being vaccinated.  I do not plan to go crazy though and I will still wear a mask, stay away from others, and wash my hands often.  I understand that even though I have been vaccinated, I can still get the bug, but it should not be life threatening if I get it now.  

[Ohio Blue Tip]

At last, get my first shot today.