Here here!!!

Wear a mask when near others, that is true. Be cautious and careful. But let's not get crazy with reports of higher infection rates. They are a result of more testing. The key is hospitalizations and the most important comparison is the death rate. For example, New York's death rate is almost eleven times that of Florida. When the media compares infection rates in one state to death rates in another, that is meaningless. The comparison ought to be death rate vs death rate. We cannot quarantine everyone forever. The most vulnerable must be protected, but the younger one is the less likely to have an issue. Let's not punish younger folks. Those with underlying conditions are more apt to get sick and / or die. Let's not punish everyone. Over 80% of the deaths are those 65 and over, so why quarantine everyone? 43% of the nationwide deaths are from the .6% of the population in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Less than 2.5% of the deaths are those 44 and younger. Let's be smart and prt of that is to not follow bad advice by those calling for massive quarantines.

Thanks Fred. I am amazed and troubled when I see people who should be, and are not, wearing masks.

Thank you, Fred. Apparently, sadly, there will always be non-believers. That it doesn't count unless one is dead. Maybe they will think differently once unable to breathe or in need of a ventilator.
But ~ it is our societal responsibility to wear a mask in public. Stay safe, and stay alive and well.

I still don't see the downside of wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance if it means slowing or stopping the spread of this virus. We know that one asymptomatic person can infect someone who then infects another person who might get sick and die. I don't need any more evidence than what I saw here in NYC. We stopped the spread. It was and remains challenging to keep each other safe but we do it. Just think if every major City, if every State followed our lead in the beginning. It would be over! Thank you Fred, for the repeat.

Something so simple has become a political lightening rod. Don’t be a Typhoid Mary WEAR A F****ING MASK !!!’n

As to the claim that face masks are necessary only when near others, a cough travels up to 12 feet. https://www.livescience.com/face-mask-visualization-droplets-covid-19.html?jwsource=cl You cannot maintain a 12' distance or even a 6' distance in a public space.

As to the "it's less deadly" claim, if 125,000 dead headed to 200,000-250,000 AFTER extreme measures to contain it isn't enough to be deadly, I can't imagine what would be.

Finally, as to the "the numbers are going up because we're testing more" claim, the numbers of positive rates is only half of the story. What you want to look at is the percentage of positive results. I'm quoting a Johns Hopkins epidemeologist: "Across the entire country, positivity is currently running at just under 5 percent, down from a peak of 21 percent in early April. That’s a good sign, in general. However, more than 20 states — most of them in the South and Midwest — still have positivity rates higher than 5 percent. These include Arizona, at 17 percent; Alabama, at 12 percent; Florida, at 10 percent; Texas, at 9 percent; and Georgia, at 8 percent." Testing isn't raising their numbers; the number of sick people is raising their numbers.

When someone refuses to wear a mask they put everyone around them at risk. They put health care workers at risk. It's bad science and it's selfish not to wear one.

Being out in public without wearing a mask is simply a person’s way of saying I don’t care about you or your family.

That’s why we’re trying to hunker down!

Thank you Janet for your input and visiting!

My wife busted my chops the other day because I started a mask collection. I'm now have 10 different ones.

She must think you’re good lookin’

Marilyn and Judy and others said it so well.
People who refuse to wear masks in public are the ultimate narcissists.

When I was young I never heard that N word and now that’s all I hear...

Go to this link and skip the ad. All about masks

https://youtu.be/6kOesPt7iBY

My family just came back from Florida, Cocoa Beach in Brevard County. I can tell you it was quite a shock to see many shop owners and restaurants where employees did not wear. Suffice to say, we did not go to those establishments "knowingly". That was the rub. You get greeted by a mask wearing person. The waitress also wearing a mask takes our order and proceeds to bring out the food, wearing a mask, so you think. Get up and go to the restroom later on, only to find most employees congregating, face to face, with masks hanging from their neck. No joke. You already ate the food, and now you worry, could this be a problem in 2-14 days? This is a real concern and one I made very vocal in my daily CityData.com blogs on the Brevard County forum. I quickly learned where to look and check out a place before sitting down for a table (use bathroom 1st is the easy way to assess). We did find several establishments that went above and beyond, clearly notating the use of single use paper menus or scan bar codes to app for menu, disposable masks handed to customers that did not have one if dining inside and disposable gloves that were frequently changed. But overall, since it is not mandated in this county, people just don't wear them consistently. Most retail stores had employees wearing which was good, but not all customers did, I would say about 85% compliant. Most consistent chain store in employees wearing were Target, TJ Maxx and Ace Hardware. Dairy Queen in Merritt Island had zero mask wearing employees, all looking about 20 years old and younger. Quite an eye opening trip. The Brevard Zoo was great in having staggered timed entry where you had to pre-purchase tickets on line for, no cash accepted inside, just plastic, sanitizing stations all around and signs marked at specific exhibits requiring the mask to be worn. To be fair, when outside in 98 degree humid weather, it can be difficult to wear for too long, but there were plenty of places to take a break away from others and cool down with it off.
From what I am hearing, at least in that county, those that catch Covid, rarely go to a hospital and just get better at home in about a week or so. The strain seems weaker compared to what we had here. Not sure if weather or some other factor is in effect, but the hospitals are not anywhere near capacity as of now in Brevard County. This may have to led to more relaxed wearing, even as the Cocoa Beach Golf course closed and as well several popular restaurants due to Covid cases found by employees on premises.

Stop playing the numbers game and the location lottery and wear a damn mask . This applies to North Dakota and the idiots that inhabit the beaches of Florida. Consistency is non existent in the country . Too many know it all free thinkers with all kinds of reasons to ignore protocol. The species at its worst . You can’t tell me what to do . I’m the asshole in these parts . I’ll do what I please. My mentality is so flawed I can’t face it . Go out and buy a few masks and WEAR them . All at the same time if you have to . You losers out there . PAY ATTENTION. THIS APPLIES ESPECIALLY TO YOU . Nobody looks at you as an effen hero By the way . Check your flaccid ego at the door and put on a mask .


Hollander Sends

"Using those overstated estimates is a recipe for panic, bad public policy — and continued lockdowns that may delay to ­return to normality.

Let’s hope that isn’t the reason people in the media are using them." https://nypost.com/2020/06/25/getting-realistic-about-the-coronavirus-death-rate/

I love Neil's comment, just check your ego at the door and wear a mask. Neil and I are never on the same political page. This just shows that this should not a political issue. It's a health issue, just wear the mask.

In messaging repetition makes sense. So in matters of public health...

"While the development has gotten scandalously little news coverage, the daily numbers of deaths with/of Covid has been declining with remarkable consistency for well over two months now.

On April 21, the 7-day rolling average for deaths with/of Covid was 2,225, according to the Worldomoters tracker. As of this writing, it is now down to 511, which, in a country of almost 330 million people, is statistically extremely small (for perspective, this time of year about 1,400 people die in nursing homes every single day)."

"In rational world, for a portion of these people, getting tested as positive can actually be fantastic news. Not only do they now know to be extra careful in staying away from more vulnerable people (which people like them did not know months ago when testing was scarce), but they also presumably have at least some level of immunity going forward."

https://nypost.com/2020/07/06/media-is-obsessed-with-covid-cases-but-death-rate-is-what-is-important/