Why some Americans don't wear masks

[Placid]

According to David Abrams, a professor of social and behavioral sciences at NYU School of Global Public Health, humans tend to long for a sense of belonging in uncertain times—and that applies to people on both sides of the political spectrum. People who don't wear masks may see it as a sign of solidarity, as if they are together making a stand against authority, while those who do wear masks likely see it "as an act of altruism and a way of helping each other out," Abrams said.

The same dynamic applies to people who have lost a loved one to Covid-19, Abrams said. They are more likely to wear a mask in part because "[t]hinking about real people and personalizing coronavirus gets at that emotion of altruism and nurturance," he said, adding, "You side with the tribe that wears masks and you go, 'Oh, I want to be part of that.'"

To get a man-on-the-street perspective of these decisions, Steve Lopez, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, walked through downtown Glendora, California, at lunchtime on Tuesday to ask people about their thoughts on wearing masks in public. Lopez estimated that he saw "one-third with [masks], two-thirds without."

One of the people Lopez spoke with—a 77-year-old man who was not wearing a mask—said people wearing masks were "probably driven by political scare tactics," adding that he didn't know anyone who had contracted the new coronavirus. The man said he believed that if case counts of the virus are increasing, it's likely due to more diagnostic testing rather than a surge in the novel coronavirus' spread.

Lopez also came across a woman named Robin who, alongside her daughter Natasha, were not wearing masks. Robin said she prefers to breathe in fresh air on a nice day, and she and Natasha wear masks when they're in stores.

However, neither Natasha nor her daughter were fully convinced on the efficacy of wearing masks, Lopez reported, with Natasha saying CDC had contradicted itself on the practice.

Separately, a man named Jon who spoke with Lopez said he goes to a bar every night and no one in the bar wears a mask. Jon, who told Lopez that he lost his job because of America's coronavirus epidemic, said he doesn't have a problem with people at the bar going without masks. While Jon acknowledged that the virus can be deadly, he wondered why Los Angeles County was more focused on newly confirmed cases of the virus, as opposed to how many people had recovered from infection

What the evidence says on face masks
For their part, public health experts say that—while there remains uncertainty about just how effectively face masks or coverings can prevent coronavirus transmission—the evidence overall indicates they can play an important role in limiting the epidemic's spread.

For example, a review of 172 observational studies published earlier this month in The Lancet concluded that wearing face masks or coverings can help curb the risk of coronavirus infection and transmission. Holger Schünemann, a co-author of the review and an epidemiologist and physician at McMaster University, said the review indicated that "[i]n multiple ways … the use of masks is highly protective in health care and community settings."

Jeffrey Shaman, an epidemiologist at Columbia University, said, "Anecdotally, it appears that face-mask use is an important control against multiple modes of [new coronavirus] transmission." He added, "[S]tudies support this anecdotal observation and provide some quantification of the effects of face masks" (Buchwald, MarketWatch, 6/16; Edwards-Levy, HuffPost, 5/20; Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 6/17; CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 6/12; Capraro/Barcelo, PsyArXiv Preprints, 5/16; HuffPost/YouGov poll, accessed 6/17).



<><><>Advisory Board - Stay Up to Date on Covid 19 (https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2020/06/19/mask-wearing)<><><>

[lost in melb.]

Politicization and poor top-down leadership.

I confess though, I haven't worn a mask yet :oops:

[KevinD]

As I've said before, ad nauseam....I dont wear a damnd mask because I'm NOT SICK. It's that simple.

A mask does NOT protect YOU from getting sick. If you are sick, a mask HELPS prevent YOU from spreading the sickness.
What part of that do you not understand???

[Pony]

A mask does NOT protect YOU from getting sick.

You're more likely to get sick wearing a face covering that's not an N95 mask. The fabric holds germs and everyone is out running around touching surfaces then constantly fiddling with their mask and touching their faces.

[Pony]

Random person: “Wear your damn mask”
Me: The viral particles are much smaller than the pores of the mask, so the mask is ineffective at filtering them. Right?
R: No, they travel on droplets and the masks keep the droplets out. Or they keep them in if you’re sick.
M: So wait, how is the virus transmitted?
R: Through droplets. Wear the mask.
M: Droplets?
R: Yes, like droplets spewed through a cough or sneeze.
M: So through people who are showing symptoms?
R: Yes
M: So why do healthy people need to wear masks?
R: Because of asymptomatic spread. Listen to the experts.
M: I am listening to the experts. Many studies show, and even the WHO announced, that asymptomatic transmission is exceedingly rare. Did you read that?
R: WHO walked that back to clarify that its presymptomatic spread that’s concerning.
M: Presymptomatic?
R: Yes, like they are infected but showing no symptoms.
M: Symptoms like coughing or sneezing?
R: Yes.
M: So how is the virus spread again?
R: Just wear the mask.
M: Are you going to answer the question?
R: It’s like pants.
M: Pants?
R: If a person pees in public without pants on, you have a greater chance of getting pee on you. Your risk is reduced further if you are wearing pants too.
M: First of all, people don’t pee in public. Second, if they did pee in public, the only way someone’s stream of urine would hit me is if they were directly aiming for me and standing close enough to hit me. And third, I don’t care if you wear pants. How does this relate?
R: If someone coughs on you in public you’ll care.
M: People don’t just cough on each other. The last time someone coughed directly in my face was when I had toddlers and they didn’t understand common courtesy and germ transmission. The only way someone would cough directly on me in public is if they were aiming. Anyway pants don’t keep the pee in, it’s still going to get everywhere. Pants just change the direction of the flow. Same with masks.
R: Common courtesy?! You don’t have common courtesy if you’re refusing to do something as simple as wearing a mask!
M: How is it courteous to ask me to do something I disagree with (based on research) especially when I’m not sick or showing any symptoms when the virus is spread through the droplets of people who are showing symptoms?
R: You’ll think differently if you get sick.
M: If I get sick, I’ll stay home. But if I must go out I will be happy to not cough on people. But just to clarify, would you stand near me in public if I were wearing a mask and coughing?
R: No, I mean, if you get sick, you could die.
M: The virus has a 99.9 something percent survival rate.
R: It’s not about you, it’s about protecting the vulnerable.
M: If I am not sick or showing symptoms how am I further protecting the vulnerable by wearing a mask? Studies also show these masks put the wearer at increased risk of illness.
R: You can’t listen to those studies, you need to listen to professionals in the fields of medicine and science.
M: These studies ARE from professionals in the fields of medicine and science.
R: They are obviously flawed.
M: How so?
R: It wouldn’t be a mandate if it weren’t important.
M: Why is it a mandate now that the death rate has plummeted when it wasn’t a mandate during the peak?
R: Because of new studies on masks.
M: So masks have never been studied before, in the entire history of medicine?
R: It’s a new virus.
M: A new virus that is transmitted in the same way as other viruses. How is it transmitted again? Through droplets of people showing symptoms? So, if I’m not sick or showing symptoms and I have no fever and I’m not coughing, how would my wearing a mask further prevent transmission?
R: Stop being an asshole and wear the mask.
M: So, you’re asking that I stop thinking critically, accept a fascist mandate, join the herd, and walk blindly into a dangerous abyss of ever increasing control over my self sovereignty, all while signaling my virtue?
R: I’ll report you if you don’t.
M: What country am I in again?

Copied from Facebook

[lost in melb.]

How do you think the disease is being spread? By people knowingly sick going out and coughing on people?

[KevinD]

Surface contact. People that are sick going in public. Same as any other virus.

[Placid]

Politicization and poor top-down leadership.

I confess though, I haven't worn a mask yet :oops:

In WA we don't need them but we're not going to let you Melburnians in... :lol:

[Placid]

Some of you really do need to get over yourselves...... selfish attitudes is what is assisting the spread of the virus. That and the inability to understand science may just pip what you believe are your rights.


https://i.imgur.com/fZizeAy.jpg


Highest ever number of new cases yesterday (world wide) and also in USA.

If this virus is not controlled, the world will end up blaming America most likely !!

but who knows.... maybe it's nature's way of adding more chlorine to the gene pool.

[lost in melb.]

In WA we don't need them but we're not going to let you Melburnians in... :lol:

We blew it. Might be all over...

[Placid]

We blew it. Might be all over...

Make sure you have your mask with you .... and don't bring any American friends.. they just don't seem to un derstand... :lol:

[lost in melb.]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7264937/




Comparing no protection (baseline) for 20-min and 30-s exposures, it was predicted that the mean risk of infection was reduced by 24–94% and 44–99% depending on the mask. Risk reductions decreased as exposure durations increased. The greatest reduction in estimated mean risk of infection was for FFP3 masks, which reduced baseline mean risks by 94% and 99% for 20-min and 30-s exposures, respectively (Figure 1 ). Of non-traditional materials, the vacuum cleaner bag resulted in the greatest reduction in mean risk of infection (20-min exposure 58%, 30-s exposure 83%), while scarves offered the lowest reduction (20-min exposure 24%, 30-s exposure 44%) (Figure 1). However, large variability in filtration, such as for silk or the tea towel, should be considered when comparing non-traditional mask materials (Figure 1).

[lost in melb.]

The Best And Worst Face Masks For COVID-19, Ranked by Their Level of Protection (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sciencealert.com/some-masks-are-better-than-others-here-they-are-ranked-best-to-worst/amp)

[lost in melb.]

This has all come about from my research on what I'm going to wear from Wednesday onwards - when they are compulsory. I'll probably go for a half dozen 'decent' cloth ones and wash them. Can't stand the thought of wearing an intrusive N95 or N99 surgical mask (yet)

[Placid]

Good for you.....


The figures of new infections worldwide would decrease if more people could understand the benefits of a mask and make use of one....

[RBP]

I wear one in public and at work. But I also raise an eyebrow when, months into a pandemic, the news reports still say, "there is some evidence that masks might slow the spread". Some evidence that it might. One more time. Some evidence that it might.

[RBP]

Good for you.....


The figures of new infections worldwide would decrease if more people could understand the benefits of a mask and make use of one....

Again, were they lying before or are they lying now? Are we "preventing infections" or "flattening the [inevitable] curve"?

[DemonGeminiX]

I wear one in public and at work. But I also raise an eyebrow when, months into a pandemic, the news reports still say, "there is some evidence that masks might slow the spread". Some evidence that it might. One more time. Some evidence that it might.

By that rationale, there's some evidence that I might be able to turn lead into gold. And to make every beautiful woman on this Earth instantly strip naked and jump my bones with one spoken word.

[Pony]

Well don't you know that you throw out 150 years of in depth studies, tests and experiments on viruses because one doc coughed on a petri dish in his living room?

That's not the way "science" works. You don't throw together incomplete data at the last minute and come up with a definitive result that disproves all prior work done before.

[lost in melb.]

If you guys are going to be obstinate, might as well film it and provide us with some entertainment :tup:

https://twitter.com/a_fly_guy/status/1284134963785465858

[lost in melb.]

Okay, serious offer here.


I'll pay 10 bucks per 6 seconds of footage. If you locate a hysterical gay store owner 100 bucks. Arrested by the police = clean 200. If you take your shirt off and let moobs hang I'll set you up a GoFundMe account :fu:

[KevinD]

Y'all wanna combine this with the other thread?

[KevinD]

From the OP link:


While various materials are effective for filtering large droplets, aerosols generated from sneezing, coughing and aerosol-generating procedures may pass more readily through materials or leakage*points [4]. Few data exist on the efficacy of filtration, and no quantitative modelling of efficacies to reduce the risk of infection is currently available.


So, that right there tells me all the rest is made up of guesswork.

[lost in melb.]

Y'all wanna combine this with the other thread?

Sorry mate...my bad.

[KevinD]

No worries.

[Placid]

Again, were they lying before or are they lying now? Are we "preventing infections" or "flattening the [inevitable] curve"?

The mask assists with both.

[Placid]

I just cannot fathom that so many Americans are happy to not only risk their own lives but also the lives of those around them over a simple thing as a mask. Many people have been shown to have mild cases of the corona virus and are not even aware it exists within them. However, by not wearing a mask, they could transmit it to another who could have a violent reaction and even death. Would that make you responsible for their death?

I also cannot fathom that so many Americans have just conspiracy theories over medical evidence.


The evidence is conclusive that wearing a mask works in both directions.... Even that moron at the top is now wearing a mask.


Someone's right to do something is understandable but that right should not impinge on the rights of others. Americans may have the right to go around armed with a gun but it doesn't give them the right to shoot someone else as that impinges on their right to live. Americans will argue that just having a gun doesn't mean they are going to shoot someone - yes, agreed! But wearing a mask is exactly the same. By not wearing a mask, you are in fact firing your "bullets" (germs) indiscriminately and impinging on anothers right to be protected from you.


Trump is right:
Trump stuck to what he had said back in February — that the virus is “going to disappear.” On Fox, he said, “I'll be right eventually.” = eventually? Sure, but when is "eventually"? It could be years away..... the Spanish Flu eventually faded (maybe 50 million deaths) as did the black plague....(25 million deaths)


For a country that is supposedly the world's leader in so many things, it is utterly disgraceful that they are leading the world in both ignorance and disease spreading.

[KevinD]

Well, you pulled that fallacy right out of your ass. I was going to try to respond nicely, but, you repeatedly call some of us idiots, dumb, etc (perhaps not in those words, but implied). So, enjoy your socialist society and the next time yall need a hand down there, bugger off.

[PorkChopSandwiches]

Here is exactly why we dont believe the media/numbers


Coronavirus update: Florida labs not reporting negative test results, report says
Fox 35 News ran an investigation of the figures, contacting local locations listed in the state's report
By Kayla Rivas | Fox News



Florida Rep. Mast on investigation finding state labs inaccurately reporting high COVID-19 positivity rates
An investigation into state-issued daily COVID-19 testing shows errors in Florida's positivity rates.

Incomplete reporting from some Florida laboratories resulted in errors on the state’s report on virus positivity rates, according to a Fox 35 News report.

“Countless labs have reported a 100 percent positivity rate, which means every single person tested was positive,” Fox 35 News reported Tuesday. “Other labs had very high positivity rates.”

Orlando Health, for example, reported a 98 percent positivity rate. Lee Memorial Hospital Lab, PanCare of Florida, Inc and Advance Medical of Naples all reported 100 percent positivity rates; no negative results were included.

That rate implies every person tested had a positive result.

Fox 35 News said it investigated the numbers by contacting every local location listed in the report. Orlando Health confirmed to Fox News that the 98 percent figure is incorrect and the positivity rate is actually 9.4 percent.

"Orlando Health understands this is confusing," a spokeswoman for Orlando Health said, in an emailed statement sent to Fox News Tuesday. "As you look through the entire Department of Health 'testing by laboratory' site, you will see multiple Orlando Health hospitals listed."

It is not clear how the discrepancy between the two numbers emerged. An Orlando Health spokeswoman told the Orlando Sentinel that the organization is looking into how the 98 percent figure was reported.

Lori Ann Martell, practice administrator at Advance Medical of Naples, wrote an e-mail statement to Fox News saying, "we report daily total tests done (positive and negative) along with the required information on positive reporting. Both pieces of information are sent together."

However, the state report did not have any data on negative virus tests for Advance Medical of Naples.

A VA spokesperson told Fox 35 News that the Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s positivity rate is actually 6 percent, not 76 percent as seen on the report. Fox News has reached out to the Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center with a request for comment on this story.

The Florida Department of Health confirmed to Fox 35 News on Tuesday that though private and public laboratories are required to immediately report both positive and negative cases, “some have not.”

“Specifically, they said that some smaller, private labs were not reporting negative test result data to the state,” Fox 35 News reported.

Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., in a Fox News interview, said county commissioners, schools and governors are among those making "real-time decisions" based off the numbers.

"...So if you have some of these labs not reporting the negatives, only reporting the positives, skewing these numbers...they’re messing with the truth," Mast said. "They’re not allowing information that allows Americans to manage their own risk, manage their own health and make the decisions that they need to make..."

"The Department immediately began working with those labs to ensure that all results were being reported in order to provide comprehensive and transparent data," a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Health told Fox 35 News. "As the state continues to receive results from various labs, the Department will continue educating these labs on proper protocol for reporting COVID-19 test results."


Florida recently set new national records for the largest daily increases in cases. On Sunday, the state reported 15,300 new cases, and on Monday, officials announced the second-highest statewide increase at 12,624.

In a Tuesday update, the state health department reported a total of 291,629 cases with 4,409 related deaths.

[Griffin]

Here is exactly why we dont believe the media/numbers...



Not to mention that the hospitals were telling doctors to list covid as COD if they have a positive test because the feds paid the hospital more money. Kept people in ICU that didn't need to be there because the feds were paying the bill.

And before the naysayers call BS, I personally know a woman whose daughter died from injuries due to a car accident but since the hospital listed COVID as COD the insurance won't pay on the accidental death policy.

[Placid]

Funny isn't it how you believe the news that you want and call fake on news you don't like.


And Kevin, what exactly is the fallacy other than maybe your own disagreement? Please enlighten me on that .

[Griffin]

Funny isn't it how you believe the news that you want and call fake on news you don't like.

what ever

[KevinD]

The fallacy of comparing guns to masks. For my thoughts on masks, seemy previous posts.