Adventures in grocery shopping

[Yppej]

But it works on multiple levels, to restrict some of whatever the wearer may be exhaling (which is not limited to this coronavirus) on others or on surfaces like desks and shelves and turnstiles; to help the wearer not touch their face (another mode of transmission), and, honestly, to indicate a little respect for others (that their comfort level matters, at least a little bit).

All of it is better than nothing.

The issue is coronavirus. If we're worried about every microbe out there we'll all be wearing masks to the end of time after covid is long gone.

The idea that we can't touch our loved ones when they're dying to say goodbye is bad enough, but now we can't even touch our own bodies. I touch my face every day. I wash it, I put makeup on, I put in contact lenses and take them out. Maybe I should be fined or arrested?

To indicate respect - aka a placebo effect - what we're trying to get beyond with all the trials underway that are scientific not feel good in approach.

Is it really better than nothing? Is more even if it's feel good pablum always better than less if it is "for the public good"? That's seems like the hallmark of totalitarianism, and a way to distract the people from the real issues with things like testing. If it's restricting, it's hot, it causes the very people at greatest risk of the virus breathing difficulties, it fogs up glasses and impairs vision, it leads to littering in store parking lots of biohazard waste, it is an added expense when our economy is being gutted, and it has little to no benefit as we were all told before the government decided it had to make it look like it was doing more, it is counterproductive.

Here's an idea - if you're terrified of stores don't go shopping instead of trying to dictate what other shoppers do. Let someone in a lower risk group bring your food to you. Volunteers are doing this around the nation.

[ApatheticNoMore]

Well there are actual studies on mask effectiveness. I have never seen anywhere where store parking lots were littered with masks.

[Yppej]

I have seen both masks and gloves in store parking lots, and used gloves in carts.

[razz]

I am struggling to understand what exactly you are feeling so strongly about. If wearing a mask makes me feel better and more secure, so be it. If wearing a mask makes my neighbour feel that s/he is helping protect me and you, so be it.
There are major issues to be concerned about in the world today but people wanting to do and feel that they are doing whatever is best and helpful in dealing with the virus is not something to be concerned about, IMO anyway.

[Yppej]

Here is an article on masks as magical thinking.

https://www.infectioncontroltoday.co...ainst-covid-19

If people want to wear masks or bananas on their head or anything else go ahead, just don't tell me I have to.

[Teacher Terry]

It’s allergy season I am sneezing despite being on 3 medications. I sneezed twice in a store with my mask on and my arm in my sleeve. I kept my germs to myself. It’s considerate. I have asthma and can’t wear one for long periods of time.

[Gardnr]

Here is an article on masks as magical thinking.

https://www.infectioncontroltoday.co...ainst-covid-19

If people want to wear masks or bananas on their head or anything else go ahead, just don't tell me I have to.

Interesting how you cherry pick a single article against it. Did you read it? Did you notice this statement? "She recently cowrote an opinion piece"

That is not science. Your understanding of the principles of not passing germs around is interesting.....if not jaded. Just in case you might actually be interested in learning about preventing the spread, here are some articles:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...coverings.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...ace-cover.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...cover-faq.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...d-spreads.html

[SteveinMN]

The issue is coronavirus. If we're worried about every microbe out there we'll all be wearing masks to the end of time after covid is long gone.

The idea that we can't touch our loved ones when they're dying to say goodbye is bad enough, but now we can't even touch our own bodies. I touch my face every day. I wash it, I put makeup on, I put in contact lenses and take them out. Maybe I should be fined or arrested?

Is there no grey in that black-and-white world?

The common cold and even the annual outbreak of influenza very seldom leave people on ventilators. Those coronaviruses don’t take up to two weeks to infect their next victims and they rarely are asymptomatic for those who have them. This is a different beast. No one has a natural immunity to this virus until they've had it. Science isn't even sure at this point how much immunity is gained from living through it -- or how long that immunity remains. SARS-CoV-2 is more serious than anything humans have faced in about four years, and far less controlled in its spread. If you think it's being oversold after all the numbers in the news and videos of distraught families and watching Disneyland and Las Vegas shut down entirely, I do not know what else might convince you.

I agree that it's horrible that people dying of this virus typically die alone. But I don't know who is telling you that you can't touch your own body. Touch your arm. Touch your ankle. No biggie -- they're not so close to the tissues of the body (nose, mouth, eye) where the virus can start its work. Wash your hands properly and you can do anything you want with any part of your body. Do you wash your hands before you put in your contact lenses? Why bother, eh? While you may be in the presence of the virus, it's in your interest to not introduce it to your nose, mouth, or eye -- or to anyone else's.

Here's an idea - if you're terrified of stores don't go shopping instead of trying to dictate what other shoppers do. Let someone in a lower risk group bring your food to you. Volunteers are doing this around the nation.

Are you an anti-vaxxer, too?

I'm not sure what's eating you up about this but something certainly is. So a mask is inconvenient. Yes, it fogs up my glasses, too. I have to walk back into the house every time I leave to go somewhere because having a mask on me is not yet an automatic action; I have to go back and pick one up. But I wear one because it works. I have no trouble getting enough oxygen to breathe through a mask. I see lots of people wearing them; they're not all turning blue from being unable to oxygenate and I have little difficulty hearing what people say through them. And the masks are protecting people so we have fewer inadvertent carriers of the virus from reaching those with considerable risk factors.

Don't want to wear a mask? What's next? Shall we let people race down streets at whatever speed they want and ignore the stop signals? After all, that 30 mph stuff and all that stopping -- it's just wasting my time.

[Yppej]

I looked at your CDC links Steve. The very first one states that wearing of cloth face coverings should be voluntary. The articles state N-95 masks should be saved for healthcare providers. That's because they are the ones that actually protect against the size particles in Covid-19. Cloth masks don't.

The article I posted is by a scientist and professor with a doctorate. I doubt she is an anti-vaxxer and neither am I. Vaccines work. Cloth masks are a feel good measure that people are using to justify going out when they do not need to, which is the real risk. Go to Georgia and get a haircut, pedicure and tattoo and you'll be okay just wear a mask is the mindset.

[razz]

Sometimes, to give everyone peace of mind and sense of security, it pays to go along with the activity to protect public health as suggested. Besides, not doing so could negatively reflect on the business that employs you.