Positive *Informative* Covid News

[agrabes]

So what causes the spread of this virus? There's evidence that masks help prevent droplets from shooting out very far from your mouth and nose, but maybe it isn't spread through droplets?

I'm not sure how else it would spread though?

My guess is this analysis is not capturing the effect of masks. It's measuring likelihood of wearing masks vs. cases and deaths. Another interpretation of the results could be that as number of cases and deaths rise, people are more likely to start wearing masks.

In other words, cases and deaths may cause mask usage rather than mask usage causing cases and deaths.

 

[kcbob79clone]

As a golf fan/player, I like seeing this

The golf business is booming during the pandemic: Morning Brief

Top news and what to watch in the markets on Thursday, August 27, 2020.

finance.yahoo.com

I practiced social distancing with my golf shots that never ended up where I wanted them to be, huge social distancing in fact

 

[isutrevman]

In Texas the mask mandate went into effect in early July. Cases peaked about 2 weeks later and have been on a downward trend since then. Only other change was to re-close bars and scale back indoor dining back to 50% capacity. Hospitalization rates also back down to 50% of peak.

The problem is, it's easy to find evidence that supports, or doesn't support mask wearing. The data and timeline of the mask mandate looks like masks worked in Texas. However, in Iowa, we've never had a mandate. Deaths rose, then fell, and now have risen to about half of what they were in May. Lockdowns ended for most of the state on May 1st, and the rest of the state May 14th. Deaths continued to fall for about 2 months after lockdowns ended, before starting to rise again slowly.



I haven't really heard a good explanation for the over 2 month fall in deaths (and hospitalizations) in Iowa, other than a seasonality effect.

Georgia never issued a mask mandate, although I believe Atlanta did in mid to late July. Georgia ended lockdowns at the end of April. Deaths decreased slowly for 2.5 months, despite no lockdowns and no mask mandates. Then deaths increased and appear to (maybe) have leveled off the last couple weeks. Why?



California has had arguably the most strict, and longest lockdowns, and mask mandates but their trend in deaths looks very similar to Georgia. Why? Deaths leveled off and decreased slightly for about 2 months, then started increasing again in July, despite masks and lockdowns in major cities.



I was a huge proponent of mask wearing up until recently. Logically, they make sense as they provide a barrier to droplets when you cough, sneeze or even just breath. Even if they are not perfect, it's still something. I still wear one when I'm in indoor public places, because I think it MIGHT help, but I no longer believe that for sure. I think they probably can help a little, but are not the main driver behind deaths decreasing in places. I used to get a little angry when I saw people without masks in the grocery store. I no longer care. For every state or country that you can point to as proof that masks work, I can find an example showing that they don't work.

 

[Acylum]

So what causes the spread of this virus? There's evidence that masks help prevent droplets from shooting out very far from your mouth and nose, but maybe it isn't spread through droplets?

I'm not sure how else it would spread though?

I think a large part of the problem is people were only told to wear masks, not told how to wear them effectively.

 

[boone7247]

So what causes the spread of this virus? There's evidence that masks help prevent droplets from shooting out very far from your mouth and nose, but maybe it isn't spread through droplets?

I'm not sure how else it would spread though?

I am not sure what it, I have wondered if masks provide false safety so social distancing isn't followed as much? It is just interesting. There are a ton of articles and graphs and information on both sides of the mask argument. Is it hard to wear a mask, no it isn't. Do they help, I don't know.

And let's be honest the virus is spread at home, no one is wearing a mask in their house full time. I think I have seen 60-80% of the spread has been in the home. So if we aren't wearing masks at home, maybe we aren't being effective.

 

[isutrevman]

I am not sure what it, I have wondered if masks provide false safety so social distancing isn't followed as much? It is just interesting. There are a ton of articles and graphs and information on both sides of the mask argument. Is it hard to wear a mask, no it isn't. Do they help, I don't know.

And let's be honest the virus is spread at home, no one is wearing a mask in their house full time. I think I have seen 60-80% of the spread has been in the home. So if we aren't wearing masks at home, maybe we aren't being effective.

That's pretty much where I am at. I don't really mind wearing one, so I'll continue to do so.

 

[reignofthetiger]

The problem is, it's easy to find evidence that supports, or doesn't support mask wearing. The data and timeline of the mask mandate looks like masks worked in Texas. However, in Iowa, we've never had a mandate. Deaths rose, then fell, and now have risen to about half of what they were in May. Lockdowns ended for most of the state on May 1st, and the rest of the state May 14th. Deaths continued to fall for about 2 months after lockdowns ended, before starting to rise again slowly.

View attachment 74771

I haven't really heard a good explanation for the over 2 month fall in deaths (and hospitalizations) in Iowa, other than a seasonality effect.

Georgia never issued a mask mandate, although I believe Atlanta did in mid to late July. Georgia ended lockdowns at the end of April. Deaths decreased slowly for 2.5 months, despite no lockdowns and no mask mandates. Then deaths increased and appear to (maybe) have leveled off the last couple weeks. Why?

View attachment 74772

California has had arguably the most strict, and longest lockdowns, and mask mandates but their trend in deaths looks very similar to Georgia. Why? Deaths leveled off and decreased slightly for about 2 months, then started increasing again in July, despite masks and lockdowns in major cities.

View attachment 74773

I was a huge proponent of mask wearing up until recently. Logically, they make sense as they provide a barrier to droplets when you cough, sneeze or even just breath. Even if they are not perfect, it's still something. I still wear one when I'm in indoor public places, because I think it MIGHT help, but I no longer believe that for sure. I think they probably can help a little, but are not the main driver behind deaths decreasing in places. I used to get a little angry when I saw people without masks in the grocery store. I no longer care. For every state or country that you can point to as proof that masks work, I can find an example showing that they don't work.

It's an obvious answer for those general trends (aka. initial peak, followed by decrease, followed by another increase seemingly independent of mask mandates) - Americans (regardless of lockdowns or mandates or whatever) were doing a dang good job of socially distancing for a couple months there. Then everyone got cabin fever and started going back out into the world with decreasing abandon - hence the increases across the board regardless of other factors.

Furthermore, there is no way to draw conclusive evidence on specifically the efficacy of mask usage by looking purely at death rates - there are a ton of complex factors involved and I'd argue that mask wearing likely heavily tempered the later upward curves observed in the graphs you depict.

Wear your mask and feel confident it is the correct action - nothing in those data indicate otherwise.

EDIT: I'd also say masks are probably the reason we've seen that second "peak" then slight decrease in many places - people still haven't gone back to full-on socially distancing like they were in April but mask usage increased and it's working. SO EVERYONE WEAR YOUR MASK

 

[BCClone]

So what causes the spread of this virus? There's evidence that masks help prevent droplets from shooting out very far from your mouth and nose, but maybe it isn't spread through droplets?

I'm not sure how else it would spread though?

The one way that mask wearing actually causes more of (and I'm not an anit-masker, I wear it when I am in close quarters inside businesses) and that is face touching. Many people touch their face without knowing and you should see how often people adjust their mask without even knowing most likely. I watched at a school board meeting, where there was room for social distancing and my wife and I were a good 10 foot from anybody else. There were a couple that couldn't keep their hands off their faces and masks, and when they talked (one was a physicians assistant) they would take their masks off to talk, then put it back on. Off and on non stop. They did more damage than good because they then would touch the tables and chairs they were at. Would touch the door to open it (I always push it open with my sleeved arm or lean into with my shoulder if short sleeves). Face touching and then fondling everything in sight does not help the situation.

 

[carvers4math]

The one way that mask wearing actually causes more of (and I'm not an anit-masker, I wear it when I am in close quarters inside businesses) and that is face touching. Many people touch their face without knowing and you should see how often people adjust their mask without even knowing most likely. I watched at a school board meeting, where there was room for social distancing and my wife and I were a good 10 foot from anybody else. There were a couple that couldn't keep their hands off their faces and masks, and when they talked (one was a physicians assistant) they would take their masks off to talk, then put it back on. Off and on non stop. They did more damage than good because they then would touch the tables and chairs they were at. Would touch the door to open it (I always push it open with my sleeved arm or lean into with my shoulder if short sleeves). Face touching and then fondling everything in sight does not help the situation.

Without the mask, the virus just winds up inhaled or on their face, so touching their face does the same thing as touching their mask.

 

[madguy30]

The one way that mask wearing actually causes more of (and I'm not an anit-masker, I wear it when I am in close quarters inside businesses) and that is face touching. Many people touch their face without knowing and you should see how often people adjust their mask without even knowing most likely. I watched at a school board meeting, where there was room for social distancing and my wife and I were a good 10 foot from anybody else. There were a couple that couldn't keep their hands off their faces and masks, and when they talked (one was a physicians assistant) they would take their masks off to talk, then put it back on. Off and on non stop. They did more damage than good because they then would touch the tables and chairs they were at. Would touch the door to open it (I always push it open with my sleeved arm or lean into with my shoulder if short sleeves). Face touching and then fondling everything in sight does not help the situation.

First bold: Thought this was going another direction.

Second bold: Nailed it.

Seriously and repeating but I can't believe pocket hand sanitizer isn't more normal to avoid this.

 

[madguy30]

Now CDC updating testing guidelines verbally to say anyone with exposure 'may be advised' to get tested...apparently didn't change the site's wording.

 

[cycloneG]

Now CDC updating testing guidelines verbally to say anyone with exposure 'may be advised' to get tested...apparently didn't change the site's wording.

 

[kcbob79clone]

More details on Abbott Labs 15 minutes: cost is $5, starts shipping in 2 weeks

Abbott Labs cleared for fast $5 COVID test that avoids lab delay

BinaxNOW uses a nasal swab and a small reactive card, and it can be administered by a range of health-care workers, including pharmacists, at almost any location.

www.chicagobusiness.com

In time before conference season begins.

 

[kcbob79clone]

For week ending August 25th 7 day average of cases drops 14.5%

Really like the interactive map in the article

Coronavirus cases fell by 15% this week — a big improvement

But testing is down, too.

www.axios.com

 

[madguy30]

For week ending August 25th 7 day average of cases drops 14.5%

Really like the interactive map in the article

Coronavirus cases fell by 15% this week — a big improvement

But testing is down, too.

www.axios.com

Delaware leading the way!

 

[larrysarmy]

 

[madguy30]

Who knows how much clout this has but it would not surprise me at all if people have low levels of B vitamins due to diet.

Vitamin B could help prevent the 'worst outcomes' in COVID-19 cases, experts say

In the wake of experts saying vitamins C and D may help the immune system fight off COVID-19, a new study suggests that vitamin B could be even more critical to recovery.

www.yahoo.com

 

[BCClone]

Who knows how much clout this has but it would not surprise me at all if people have low levels of B vitamins due to diet.

Vitamin B could help prevent the 'worst outcomes' in COVID-19 cases, experts say

In the wake of experts saying vitamins C and D may help the immune system fight off COVID-19, a new study suggests that vitamin B could be even more critical to recovery.

www.yahoo.com

@JM4CY this one involves digestion. it may answer your thread.

 

[kcbob79clone]

Zero (0) MLB players tested positive during latest round of testing. Proving sports without a bubble can succeed if the players are careful.

 

[Acylum]

Who knows how much clout this has but it would not surprise me at all if people have low levels of B vitamins due to diet.

Vitamin B could help prevent the 'worst outcomes' in COVID-19 cases, experts say

In the wake of experts saying vitamins C and D may help the immune system fight off COVID-19, a new study suggests that vitamin B could be even more critical to recovery.

www.yahoo.com

Vitamin B is the new vitamin D.