3 ms·

> CDC specifically states that transmission occurs with prolonged (15+ minutes) contact in close quarters (less than six feet). No, that's not correct at all.

> CDC specifically states that transmission occurs with prolonged (15+ minutes) contact in close quarters (less than six feet). No, that's not correct at all. But if I may take a guess at what you meant to write.. Those are guidelines based on estimated inflection points where more time or less distance increases the likelihood of transmission. They are presumed to be good-faith estimates, but they are based on difficult-to-collect data. It's probably reasonable to draw the conclusion that, if fully observed, the guidelines would drive R0 below 1.0 and the trendline would follow. But that doesn't mean that no transmission occurs in other situations. People sometimes sneeze unexpectedly. It takes a fraction of a second to put on the mask that prevents that event from becoming risky, or at least uncomfortable. Cheap insurance. It's also important to realize that "walking by someone while outside" can take many forms, so it's not clear that we're all talking about the same thing. Jogging on a narrow path is very different from strolling on a beach. Different measures are appropriate for different cases, but it's never harmful to use the mask, it's a reasonable habit to get into, and it makes people around you more comfortable. What's the trouble?

hnrodey 6y ago
Part of our current issue with covid is that you can find virtually anything to support whatever you want to believe. Myself included. So I guess it’s 15 minutes of cumulative exposure over the course of 24 hours. Indoors, sure wear a mask. I wear a mask where required indoors. But outdoors no thanks. What’s the trouble? A behavior devoid of reason is nothing more than a ritual. Furthermore, it sets the expectation that the behavior does actually provide tangible benefit leading to a false sense of security and lead to riskier behaviors than what would have otherwise occurred. Finally, masks are not created equal. How do I know the mask “you” are wearing is actually worth a damn? https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/10/26/cdc-revises-covid-19-guidance-on-close-contact/5991280002/ https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/10/26/cdc-re...
- quesera 6y ago
  > A behavior devoid of reason is nothing more than a ritual. Absolutely. But we're not in "devoid of reason" territory here, we're in "with complex and sometimes impossible to quantify reasons" territory. So here are two people: - Person A is an epidemiologist-statistician who has run the numbers rigorously for his part of his county, factored in the likelihood of inter-county travel, and concluded that there's no benefit for any party to be wearing a mask in the specific situation they expected to be in when they left the house this morning, and that that situation is perfectly aligned with the reality of the day. - Person B is an average underinformed conspiracy theorist who thinks COVID is all a scam perpetrated by the medical establishment for more funding and to undermine Dear Leader and that it would go away like magic in the summer, no the fall, no the winter if only the media would stop talking about it and 5G. Neither person is wearing a mask. Neither person is wearing a baseball cap. How can you (random sidewalk passerby) tell the difference between these two people? I wear a mask, no matter how smart I'm feeling that day. (Note that this is not a response to why one should wear a mask, just a light observation of a positive side effect! But there is value in signalling, even if it's just to normalize the behavior so that the reluctant just stop bothering to protest about such a simple thing, and thereby get a jump on any asymptomatic spread that occurs semi-randomly in populations.. :)
  - hnrodey 6y ago
    The amount of mental gymnastics in this comment is astounding. I logged my thoughts here https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1335634895826087938.html https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1335634895826087938.html

hnrodey 6y ago

Part of our current issue with covid is that you can find virtually anything to support whatever you want to believe. Myself included. So I guess it’s 15 minutes of cumulative exposure over the course of 24 hours. Indoors, sure wear a mask. I wear a mask where required indoors. But outdoors no thanks. What’s the trouble? A behavior devoid of reason is nothing more than a ritual. Furthermore, it sets the expectation that the behavior does actually provide tangible benefit leading to a false sense of security and lead to riskier behaviors than what would have otherwise occurred. Finally, masks are not created equal. How do I know the mask “you” are wearing is actually worth a damn? https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/10/26/cdc-revises-covid-19-guidance-on-close-contact/5991280002/ https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/10/26/cdc-re...

quesera 6y ago
> A behavior devoid of reason is nothing more than a ritual. Absolutely. But we're not in "devoid of reason" territory here, we're in "with complex and sometimes impossible to quantify reasons" territory. So here are two people: - Person A is an epidemiologist-statistician who has run the numbers rigorously for his part of his county, factored in the likelihood of inter-county travel, and concluded that there's no benefit for any party to be wearing a mask in the specific situation they expected to be in when they left the house this morning, and that that situation is perfectly aligned with the reality of the day. - Person B is an average underinformed conspiracy theorist who thinks COVID is all a scam perpetrated by the medical establishment for more funding and to undermine Dear Leader and that it would go away like magic in the summer, no the fall, no the winter if only the media would stop talking about it and 5G. Neither person is wearing a mask. Neither person is wearing a baseball cap. How can you (random sidewalk passerby) tell the difference between these two people? I wear a mask, no matter how smart I'm feeling that day. (Note that this is not a response to why one should wear a mask, just a light observation of a positive side effect! But there is value in signalling, even if it's just to normalize the behavior so that the reluctant just stop bothering to protest about such a simple thing, and thereby get a jump on any asymptomatic spread that occurs semi-randomly in populations.. :)
- hnrodey 6y ago
  The amount of mental gymnastics in this comment is astounding. I logged my thoughts here https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1335634895826087938.html https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1335634895826087938.html