oldmanfan

You can't say masks are a tool for the spread of the virus but not a solution. Those don't match, and do not agree with both observational studies as well as many lab studies indicating that masks can help control spread of droplets and aerosols, the vectors by which the virus is transmitted. I would encourage you to look at the Duke study on masks, it shows that different masks are more effective at controlling droplet spread. One of the issues with designing really good research is to avoid bias up front. That is the biggest issue with studies I have reviewed and rejected for publication; they have a preformed conclusion and try to set up experiments to support it. It might be mask studies reflect that a bit, depending on the specific study you review. But the bigger issue with observational studies, especially with masks, is you depend on the study participants to independently do what you ask in the way you instruct them, or they falsely report what they're doing. For masks, I suspect there is some of that going on, either not wearing them correctly or saying they wear them and don't. I know you live there and see a lot of mask wearing, but you don't know what's going on behind the scenes. I could theorize on other unknown variables that could be affecting rates. Perhaps the spread in very small aerosol droplets is increasing, which would be an argument for all to wear surgical or N95 masks (see the Duke study which would concur), and that would then be an issue for government to be able to supply these. Perhaps virus lasts longer on surfaces than currently believed. But just knowing something about viral infection in general, I can't think of other independent variables that would affect things, Respiratory viruses spread by either contact or inhalation. Covid seems to be highly infectious, which means that strenuous use of mitigating factors is needed to slow things down. Again, slow things down and not completely prevent. You can't let great be the enemy of good. The mitigating strategies, on their own are good things (really the only things) we can do right now while waiting for vaccines to be widely distributed. Vaccines will be great, masks and hand washing and such a re good. They are not mutually exclusive.

No, not at all. You talk about science; I am a clinical lab director and researcher for 40 years, so I am a scientist. And science generally is not an all or none phenomenon. The mitigating factors I described are just that, mitigating factors. When used correctly they will greatly diminish the spread of the virus. They are not cures. If used correctly they deprive the virus of hosts for infection We will have vaccines now, and the early data is they seem to be very effective. But to have them to work, or to have things like masks and such work, it requires a team effort. This is a public health crisis and requires public unity to fight it. That is why these silly arguments about masks need to stop, and why people need to get vaccinated.

I suspect your estimation of either the number of people properly wearing masks, number of people really doing distancing, or number of people properly hand washing may be off. This is an extremely contagious virus so it has to be all hands on deck continuously and correctly. Unfortunately that isn't being done as well as it could be. We all need to remember these are mitigating strategies designed to limit spread, they don’t completely eliminate.

Good point

Indeed. I’m comfortable in that regard. And you?

The protestors should have distanced more. They were outside and the ones I watched the participants were masked. So not perfect to be sure. Better than inside with no masks. Data means something. Guesses don’t.

Show me data. That's what science believes in. If you are so sure of this (an I have already said that if protestors were out there unmasked it was dumb and should not have been done), then go look at infection rates before and after in the communities where there were protests. Either prove your point or don't.

As a scientist I believe in data. I haven't seen data that shows an uptick in Covid infection rates in cities where protests took place. Doesn't mean the data isn't there, just that I haven't seen it. So I would suggest if you want to make your point, find data to do so. Simply saying it must have caused an uptick is not science. Logically one would think so, but data proves it. Show me data. There is data on a pretty significant positive infection rate at the White House including you know who. Oh, and you mentioned lockdown. Outside of I think California in certain areas, at present I am not aware of any quarantines or absolute lock downs. Again, if that is in error feel free to correct me. At the initiation of the pandemic lockdowns were put in place, primarily to protect hospitals from being overrun. If infection rates continue to increase, states and communities will have to look critically at ICU space, bed availability and such. But right now the emphasis is on the mitigation strategies.

Couldn’t agree more

Oh, the fake Internet tough guy is back. I think I hear your Mommy calling. Perhaps it's nap time? As for the video, we don't nee this kind of crap in this country. We don't need a civil war sparked by the narcissistic impulses and overblown ego of the man-child that leaves office next month.

The difference between the protests and the Trump rallies were that, from the footage I saw, protestors were masked and Trump rallies weren’t. Both were outside, at least many of the Trump rallies, which helps. Of course, you had the Trump rally inside in Tulsa that appears to have triggered infection, and the meetings, etc. at the White House that caused infection.The protests were not as safe as desired, I heard commentators discuss that. I don’t know if there is data on the infection rates in communities with protests and if they increased post-protest. If you have data on that I’d be happy to review it. And I would not write off anyone to any reason where stupidity caused a higher risk to Covid than needed. I understand why people protested but from the perspective of Covid it was dumb and they should have found other ways to do so.

Because everyone should get vaccinated, otherwise they put themselves at jeopardy.

Not racist. Stupid, but not racist.

Well stated

Remind me - who hired Daboll?

I wanted the other Josh. Thank God I’m not Beane. The young man has the goods and should only get better with more experience.

Great call. But I hope Feliciano is OK.

None of this happened according to the people in charge. Enough is enough of these conspiracy theories.

The 2016 election was not rigged. The Democrats ran a significantly flawed candidate and she got beat.

No it doesn't lend itself to question. The people in charge of elections looked into it, and it was nothing. Let me repeat, nothing. The votes in Georgia have been counted three times now. My suggestion to you is to have faith in the electoral process, and quit looking down rabbit holes just because the man-child in the White House can't accept he lost?

A spokesperson for the Gwinnett County Government explained to Reuters via email what the video actually shows: “This is a Dominion technician producing a data report on the server and saving the report to a Dominion USB thumb drive and then using a laptop to filter requested information. The Dominion servers are not equipped with Excel and counties are not authorized to install any hardware or software on these systems.” This is yet another desperate attempt by the Trump people to claim something out of nothing. The tech for the company was transferring a report from one computer to another, had absolutely nothing to do with votes. The people in Georgia responsible for elections have completely debunked this, yet the guy apparently is getting death threats. Why are so many people beholden to a con man? What has happened to the ability to think?

Oh, you're a real tough guy. It'sclose to noon, better come out of your room and have Mommy make your lunch for you.

Ok boys, let’s matriculate the ball down the field!

So now we should ignore the words of the president. Did you do so with Obama? Will you do so with Biden?

So you knew Trump would abdicate responsibility then. Good for you to acknowledge that.