Coronavirus

[oddoneout]

Just read the first paragraph from a Times story:

"Already, the Leave-Remain divide is apparent in how people see masks. When YouGov asked people a week ago if they would carry on wearing masks once they are no longer compulsory, 59 per cent of Remainers said they would, against only 27 per cent saying they would not. Among Leavers, the split was reversed; 46 per cent said they would ditch …" (sorry, couldn't read the rest).

But where an essential divide comes (and is one side right and the other wrong?) is whether you think wearing a mask is a protection (for yourself) or whether you think it is a duty (towards others)?

Studies have found that wearing a mask significantly reduces the risk of transmission of COVID-19. There are two main reasons to wear a mask: masks do offer some protection for the mask wearer, but the main reason to wear a mask is that they protect others from catching an infection or virus from the person wearing the mask. [NB UK = University of Kentucky]

And this I think is where the problem arises in today's increasingly "devolved responsibility" society. It is always now "someone else" who must deal with the irksome aspects of life that the individual thinks beneath him/her or just can't be a**** to engage with. Doing something, especially if inconvenient and of no direct/financial benefit, simply for the good of society as a whole, is seen as stupid by far too many, as shown everyday in the comments in the online version of the local rag.

[LMcD]

... abbreviations - dontcha love 'em

.

Not much risk of confusion in this case, as the only probable alternatives are Univerzita Karlova, Univerzita Komenskeho, University of Kerala, University of Khartoum and Universiteit de Kaapstad.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It does seem decidedly unwise for those in power to leave it up to the individual to effectively decide whether to indulge in antisocial behaviour or not. Are they going to make similar recommendations for drink-driving, or on which side of the road we should drive?

[french frank]

It does seem decidedly unwise for those in power to leave it up to the individual to effectively decide whether to indulge in antisocial behaviour or not. Are they going to make similar recommendations for drink-driving, or on which side of the road we should drive?

Chris Whitty very clear about the three situations when he would wear a mask:

1. indoors where there were others in close proximity
2. if asked to by someone with authority to do so
3. if anyone were uncomfortable unless he wore a mask (as a courtesy to them).

Boris blustered. Vallance agreed with Whitty.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Boris blustered.

What? Really?

[Petrushka]

It's all typical of the government divide and rule policy in almost everything they do. I await the supermarket punch-ups and stand up rows on the buses because someone is, or is not, wearing a mask. One group of people set against another. Job done.

[teamsaint]

It's all typical of the government divide and rule policy in almost everything they do. I await the supermarket punch-ups and stand up rows on the buses because someone is, or is not, wearing a mask. One group of people set against another. Job done.

Yes indeed. Tolerance and good sense all round is called for .

[french frank]

Very good piece by Chris Whitty this morning, lots of useful info:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/05/chris-whitty-keeping-covid-restrictions-will-only-delay-wave

I don't have a car and am not too sure about using buses which are back to full seating and no masks, though.

[Dave2002]

Whitty's views as expressed in the Guardian are indeed interesting. We went to see live opera last night - which we enjoyed - but we did wear masks. We're just hoping that the vaccines have kept us safe.

I'm not at all convinced about masks - other than if someone has a massive coughing fit they can spread virus if they have it for a radius of several metres - perhaps as far as 10 metres. Reminds me of Toscanini's comment at a concert "If it's a choice between dying and coughing, don't cough".

We are planning another trip to hear several operas later in the year, by which time the winter flu season might be starting to ramp up. If things seem bad at the time we'll abort.

If you don't see any posts from me in the next few weeks you might infer that things haven't worked out well!

[french frank]

Whitty's views as expressed in the Guardian are indeed interesting.

I'm not sure that what he says is encouraging; informative, very - and makes sense. But it sounds a bit like, "This is really the best course we can take in the circumstances, but …". '[H]e also admitted decisions were being made in a situation of uncertainty.'

[Dave2002]

I'm not sure that what he says is encouraging; informative, very - and makes sense. But it sounds a bit like, "This is really the best course we can take in the circumstances, but …". '[H]e also admitted decisions were being made in a situation of uncertainty.'

I didn't take his views to be encouraging at all, though not necessarily discouraging either. There are hints that he thinks there will be yet another wave, but that these might be manageable.

The comments about delaying constraint relaxations simply shifting when people fall ill or die are probably correct from a public health point of view. People who want to die later, rather than sooner, might therefore have to take their own steps to minimise risks.

I am not going to choose to die sooner simply in order to reduce a load on the health service!

[Bryn]

I didn't take his views to be encouraging at all, though not necessarily discouraging either. There are hints that he thinks there will be yet another wave, but that these might be manageable.

The comments about delaying constraint relaxations simply shifting when people fall ill or die are probably correct from a public health point of view. People who want to die later, rather than sooner, might therefore have to take their own steps to minimise risks.

I am not going to choose to die sooner simply in order to reduce a load on the health service!

So, not a team player in this case, eh?

[Serial_Apologist]

So, not a team player in this case, eh?

[Dave2002]

Quite by chance I landed up on page 2 of this thread just now. It's interesting to look back at the first few pages, and see how things have gone since then. Mention of "only one" fatality, for instance, plus "advice" about gargling.

Also mention of audio at A=432Hz and homeopathic audio from an interested commentator.

[Frances_iom]

...
I'm not at all convinced about masks...

There are some tight fitting surgical masks as used in hospital settings that give 100% protection to the wearer but it seems the fancy masks worn (often badly) by most offer some protection to others by reducing aerosol txm but considerably less protection to the wearer from aerosols in the air especially in crowded indoor settings where there is less ventilation to disperse the aerosol. Having got back to IoM less than 1% are wearing masks even on public transport (there is however border control letting in only those twice vaccinated + 2weeks - others need isolate + be tested.