NH Mask Mandates

[ApS]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

NPR just had an interview with an epidemiologist who said that because of new variants and vaccine unwillingness, the US is unlikely to ever achieve herd immunity. Next week, 12+ aged people will have access to the vaccine, which is readily available to most anyone interested.

Two questions:

1. If you've been vaccinated, are you comfortable living life without a mask right now, including indoor public spaces?

2. When do we decide it's time to "let things fall where they may" given the availability of a choice to vaccinate?

Statement from WHO:

"To be sure, as the agency noted, there there are psychological and social benefits to mask wearing. For instance, in some countries, mask wearing helped to prevent stigmatizing the infected.

"Still, mask wearing by the general public is not among the WHO’s recommendations. “We don’t generally recommend the wearing of masks in public by otherwise [healthy] individuals because it has not up to now been associated with any particular benefit,” said Ryan."

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by ApS

Statement from WHO:

That statement is from March of last year, before the pandemic really got started. Did you know that and were deliberately misleading or did you fall for confirmation bias like so many others?

Please let me know if I'm wrong, and I'll gladly edit, but here's the current (as of their website on 5/12) WHO recommendations:

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[ApS]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

That statement is from March of last year, before the pandemic really got started. Did you know that and were deliberately misleading or did you fall for confirmation bias like so many others? Please let me know if I'm wrong, and I'll gladly edit, but here's the current (as of their website on 5/12) WHO recommendations...

I shelved my TV set in my Dad's attic maybe 20 years ago, so my own confirmation bias comes from the same research that today's so-called "Journalists" were supposed to be doing.

In March of 2020, both Dr. Fauci and WHO were lying to us.

But—from researching British, Australian, and Dubai news-sources—I understood why.

[trfour]

The latest; https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...dance-n1268000

[gravy boat]

We will see if there a sudden spike nationwide in 2 weeks.
I don't think we will.

COVID, like other viruses, is here for while -- viruses mutate. So the best you can do is get vaccinated and protect yourself however you see fit.

Remember before COVID how so many with compromised immune systems (COPD, lung cancer and other ailments) wore those same white/blue surgical masks in public as they were recommended by docs to prevent being exposed to germs/viruses? So why does wearing those same masks no longer prevent you being exposed to germs/viruses, but will prevent someone wearing a mask from infecting you? Isn't there a barrier inside the mask? If there is a barrier then it logically blocks going BOTH ways.

I've wondered this for a year -- it makes no sense.

GB

[gillygirl]

Originally Posted by gravy boat

We will see if there a sudden spike nationwide in 2 weeks.
I don't think we will.

COVID, like other viruses, is here for while -- viruses mutate. So the best you can do is get vaccinated and protect yourself however you see fit.

Remember before COVID how so many with compromised immune systems (COPD, lung cancer and other ailments) wore those same white/blue surgical masks in public as they were recommended by docs to prevent being exposed to germs/viruses? So why does wearing those same masks no longer prevent you being exposed to germs/viruses, but will prevent someone wearing a mask from infecting you? Isn't there a barrier inside the mask? If there is a barrier then it logically blocks going BOTH ways.

I've wondered this for a year -- it makes no sense.

GB

I don’t know why you think masks no longer prevent the wearer from being exposed.

Quote from the CDC:

Source Control to Block Exhaled Virus
Multi-layer cloth masks block release of exhaled respiratory particles into the environment,3-6 along with the microorganisms these particles carry.7,8 Cloth masks not only effectively block most large droplets (i.e., 20-30 microns and larger)9 but they can also block the exhalation of fine droplets and particles (also often referred to as aerosols) smaller than 10 microns ;3,5 which increase in number with the volume of speech10-12 and specific types of phonation.13 Multi-layer cloth masks can both block up to 50-70% of these fine droplets and particles3,14 and limit the forward spread of those that are not captured.5,6,15,16 Upwards of 80% blockage has been achieved in human experiments that have measured blocking of all respiratory droplets,4 with cloth masks in some studies performing on par with surgical masks as barriers for source control.3,9,14

Filtration for Wearer Protection
Studies demonstrate that cloth mask materials can also reduce wearers’ exposure to infectious droplets through filtration, including filtration of fine droplets and particles less than 10 microns. The relative filtration effectiveness of various masks has varied widely across studies, in large part due to variation in experimental design and particle sizes analyzed. Multiple layers of cloth with higher thread counts have demonstrated superior performance compared to single layers of cloth with lower thread counts, in some cases filtering nearly 50% of fine particles less than 1 micron .14,17-29 Some materials (e.g., polypropylene) may enhance filtering effectiveness by generating triboelectric charge (a form of static electricity) that enhances capture of charged particles18,30 while others (e.g., silk) may help repel moist droplets31 and reduce fabric wetting and thus maintain breathability and comfort. In addition to the number of layers and choice of materials, other techniques can improve wearer protection by improving fit and thereby filtration capacity. Examples include but are not limited to mask fitters, knotting-and-tucking the ear loops of medical procedures masks, using a cloth mask placed over a medical procedure mask, and nylon hosiery sleeves.


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[gravy boat]

Originally Posted by gillygirl

I don’t know why you think masks no longer prevent the wearer from being exposed.

Quote from the CDC:

Source Control to Block Exhaled Virus
Multi-layer cloth masks block release of exhaled respiratory particles into the environment,3-6 along with the microorganisms these particles carry.7,8 Cloth masks not only effectively block most large droplets (i.e., 20-30 microns and larger)9 but they can also block the exhalation of fine droplets and particles (also often referred to as aerosols) smaller than 10 microns ;3,5 which increase in number with the volume of speech10-12 and specific types of phonation.13 Multi-layer cloth masks can both block up to 50-70% of these fine droplets and particles3,14 and limit the forward spread of those that are not captured.5,6,15,16 Upwards of 80% blockage has been achieved in human experiments that have measured blocking of all respiratory droplets,4 with cloth masks in some studies performing on par with surgical masks as barriers for source control.3,9,14

Filtration for Wearer Protection
Studies demonstrate that cloth mask materials can also reduce wearers’ exposure to infectious droplets through filtration, including filtration of fine droplets and particles less than 10 microns. The relative filtration effectiveness of various masks has varied widely across studies, in large part due to variation in experimental design and particle sizes analyzed. Multiple layers of cloth with higher thread counts have demonstrated superior performance compared to single layers of cloth with lower thread counts, in some cases filtering nearly 50% of fine particles less than 1 micron .14,17-29 Some materials (e.g., polypropylene) may enhance filtering effectiveness by generating triboelectric charge (a form of static electricity) that enhances capture of charged particles18,30 while others (e.g., silk) may help repel moist droplets31 and reduce fabric wetting and thus maintain breathability and comfort. In addition to the number of layers and choice of materials, other techniques can improve wearer protection by improving fit and thereby filtration capacity. Examples include but are not limited to mask fitters, knotting-and-tucking the ear loops of medical procedures masks, using a cloth mask placed over a medical procedure mask, and nylon hosiery sleeves.


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Never said I don't believe they work. I was simply bringing up a question about the messaging throughout to wear masks to protect OTHERS vs told to wear them to protect OURSELVES. Am I saying I don't believe masks work? Nope. I've worn one throughout when required.

Since masks protect you both ways, the vaccinated should not have to wear them any longer...anywhere. Yes, there will be private business that will still require them and I'll wear them if I really need to get something inside. Because masks work both ways then those who still fear being near others should wear the mask and be confident they are protecting themselves.

[gillygirl]

Originally Posted by gravy boat

Never said I don't believe they work. I was simply bringing up a question about the messaging throughout to wear masks to protect OTHERS vs told to wear them to protect OURSELVES. Am I saying I don't believe masks work? Nope. I've worn one throughout when required.

Since masks protect you both ways, the vaccinated should not have to wear them any longer...anywhere. Yes, there will be private business that will still require them and I'll wear them if I really need to get something inside. Because masks work both ways then those who still fear being near others should wear the mask and be confident they are protecting themselves.

Sorry, I guess I misunderstood your question/confusion. Masks don’t work equally in both directions. Masks are more effective at preventing transmission than preventing infection. Wish I could find the article I read early on in the mask debate explaining why, but I can’t at the moment, and my pea brain has shoved that info out.

Recommendations are going to change as we get deeper into the time since vaccines became available and more data becomes available.


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[Lakegeezer]

At a visit to the M'boro Dollar General today, a sign on the door said masks were not required for those that have been vaccinated and recommended for those that aren't. Most inside were wearing masks. I went without and it felt good, safe for others and weird at the same time. Keeping masks at customer's discretion seems like a good next step as long as variants aren't breaking through, but the approach is not without risk.

I believe, as does Gillygirl, that masks are better at protecting others than yourself, since they absorb potentially virus laden moisture. Unfortunately, those that choose to identify as vaccinated or otherwise immune will include a few that are contagious. Those not immune may catch a dose but it is unlikely at this point that an outbreak will overwhelm the medical system.