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Even if Omicron is 10x more contagious and not serious enough to require 1/10th hospitalizations than previous variants, the load on healthcare system doesn’t b
by akg_67 5y ago
Even if Omicron is 10x more contagious and not serious enough to require 1/10th hospitalizations than previous variants, the load on healthcare system doesn’t become lower than previous variants. Use of Masks slow down the rate of infections enough so that healthcare system doesn’t get overloaded again and cause more deaths and sufferings of both Covid and non Covid patients alike due to system load and failure.
When I read comments like yours, I am very glad that I decided to stay in Japan at the start of COVID-19 instead of returning to US. Here majority of people wear masks, irrespective of type and fit, when they leave home and take off only after returning home. Only taking off mask when absolutely needed such as eating or drinking.
Wearing mask is all about reducing viral load rather than preventing infection completely.
I hope for better critical thinking and logical reasoning and discourse on forums like HN. But I guess I have become too old and jaded.
- colechristensen 5y agoThe outcome we’re looking for and seem to have found right about now with a peak is the the virus sweeping though the population, literally exposing everyone, and running out of new people to infect. The peak happens when a high enough proportion of people have already been exposed it had it that the virus runs out of new people to infect. Because the growth rate for this variant is so fast, the post peak drop will be very quick. Population dynamics with exponential growth are like that. It seems like the only thing left to do is chase the impossible or just accept the situation and move on.
- nradov 5y agoWastewater monitoring data shows that the peak was probably a few days ago in the SF Bay Area. Other areas may lead or lag by a few days. https://covid19.sccgov.org/dashboard-wastewater https://covid19.sccgov.org/dashboard-wastewater