Quote:
Originally Posted by ishoot308
You do realize a “mask” offers no protection to keep you from getting infected correct?...a mask only keeps you from possibly spreading the virus if you have it...
Dan
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I felt same way as you when this virus first broke out in January in Hong Kong where I live. After all, that is what the American medical establishment was saying despite the fact that top Hong Kong medical experts and virologists were all advising that everybody wear masks when out and about in the vicinity of other people. All Hongkongers were wearing masks and were not happy that foreign expatriates like myself weren’t following their medical experts’ recommendations on mask wearing. After seeing how this has played out here and in other places my thinking has evolved. I wish I had not listened to the American medical community which was telling all of us to only wear a mask if you were sick.
In my opinion it defies logic that a mask provides zero additional protection from taking in airborne droplets that transmit the virus. Also, I see value in wearing a mask since one could have virus and not know it. It can help protect others. Finally, I’m a guest here so I feel better doing my part.
Eventually all the expats fell into line and now wear masks when at the store, on a bus, walking down the street, etc.
Hong Kong had zero cases today. Hong Kong has had several zero case days in the last couple of weeks and only 4 people have died in four months of the virus. The tiny number of new cases now are of people that recently flew into HK from Europe or the U.S.
Masks are just one tool in this fight but based on my experience in Hong Kong I have zero doubt that the heavy use of masks has helped at least a little bit in keeping COVID-19 under control.
I agree though that wearing a mask inside one’s home or car doesn’t make sense.
It is tragic seeing how this virus has devastated the U.S. 50,000 deaths already and it’s only April. And that’s with all the extreme measures that have been put into place. It didn’t have to be this way. We Americans could have and should have done much better collectively in controlling the the outbreak in the U.S.
Stay safe all. I’m still holding out hope I can get back to my home at the Lake this summer.