[Lekooks] Why I mask & vaccinate

Sun Apr 3 22:49:04 CDT 2022

Interestingly, given that our vaccines were developed for the initial form of COVID circulating 2 years ago, it’s possible that a person who got a recent form of COVID (delta or omicron) could be better protected (and less likely to infect someone) than a person who’s been vaccinated. I don’t know of any studies looking at that, however.  

I don’t know the statistics on masks preventing spread of COVID, probably because it would be virtually impossible to design an ethical study to measure that. 

It’s probably unrealistic in most cases to assume that people around you at this time would be wearing masks, particularly given the CDC guidelines.  As a result, my focus now is on how an individual would protect themselves. 

So, if you’re extremely concerned, avoid indoor contact with others. 
If you’re highly concerned, wear an N-95 when indoor with others. 
If you’re significantly concerned, wear a surgical mask for prolonged indoor contact with others. 
If you’re mildly concerned, wear a surgical mask in high-risk indoor situations with extensive close exposure to others (a check-out clerk at a store, or in bars, nightclubs, situations where people are shouting, coughing, etc.).
Personally, I’m no longer wearing a mask except at crowded indoor venues (MKE Public Market, for example), where I wear a surgical mask. And I have 3 conditions putting me at high risk. 

Hope this helps,
Mike

Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 3, 2022, at 7:52 PM, Erin Jay via Lekooks <lekooks at lekook.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Thanks Mike
> 
> I understand there are variance now to the omnicron.  Are you saying that herd immunity has been established?
> 
> I'm curious because since I originally started this post I now have nine friends in the UK who have covid. All of them have been vaxed and boosted so I'm guessing it is the variants.  Three of them were at the same gathering the rest got it in different places.  One of them got extremely ill, but she has underlying health issues like me and that concerns me.
> 
> I don't think that any of them were wearing masks based on what they were talking about.
> 
> So my thing with the mask is that if I wear a mask I'm minimally protected from somebody who could be infected asymptomatic and I'm just holding a conversation with them not realizing.
> 
> However if they're asymptomatic and they have a mask on,  the chances for the other person catching it are significantly lower.
> 
> I'm looking for actual statistics on this but only finding charts with photos.
> 
> I have attached one.  Since you seem to have more knowledge on this than I do, I would love to hear what you might know on this
> 
> Thankyou
> 
> Erin
> 
>> On Sun, Apr 3, 2022, 2:01 PM Michael McNett <michael.mcnett at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>> The amount of protection varies by the type of mask.
>> 
>> Cotton masks offer mild protection, on the order of 30%, due to the many gaps between the mask and face and due to the porosity of the cloth.  This is particularly bad if they don't have a wire at the top to allow them to be pinched down around the nose.
>> 
>> Surgical masks offer much better protection, varying from ~60-80%, since they're designed to fit tighter to the face and have electrostatic charges added to the filter.
>> 
>> N-95 masks offer 95% or better protection, which is how they got their name.  There are a lot of variants, such as KN-95, N-94, etc.  I would never use these, since they're unregulated, and you never know how effective they are.  For the greatest benefit, be sure you get a NIOSH-certified N95 mask and that it's tight enough around your face that there's noticeable resistance to air movement when you take a deep breath, which establishes that there aren't any major gaps between it and your face. 
>> 
>> BTW you can reuse it almost indefinitely (as long as it doesn't get wet, which ruins the electrostatic charge) by using a UV-C wand light to sterilize it.  These are available on Amazon for ~$30.
>> 
>> Also, it's important to keep in mind that the number of people who got Omicron was VASTLY underestimated.  This is one of the most infectious viruses ever seen - similar to measles - so virtually everyone who was unvaccinated or unmasked got it, whether or not they were aware of it.  Many had an asymptomatic infection, and many of those who were symptomatic didn't get PCR testing but did home testing, which by then was widely available.  None of those people were counted in the statistics.  For all practical purposes, everyone who was unvaccinated and/or unmasked during Omicron can be assumed to have been infected and are now at least moderately immune.
>> 
>> As a result, it's entirely reasonable to assume that herd immunity has been established.  Very few people to whom you would come in contact would now be infectious, and this would be expected to be the case for at least the next six months.
>> 
>> Hope this helps,
>> Mike
>> 
>> Nehru to Gandhi, on his deathbed: "Mahatma, in your lifetime, you have turned the world utterly upside down. How must that feel??"
>> 
>> Gandhi: "Yes, I turned the world upside down. I stood on my head."
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Sunday, April 3, 2022, 09:11:14 AM CDT, Betsy Foss-Campbell via Lekooks <lekooks at lekook.org> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Hi, Erin and all,
>> 
>> I agree with you on all. I empathize with you and others who don't feel safe going some places. That must be very hard. 
>> 
>> I'm don't know how much protection is added to an individual wearing a mask, for others in the room to also have them on. That would be good to know, since it may affect all our decisions.
>> 
>> Enjoy the museum! Betsy 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
>> 
>> 
>> -------- Original message --------
>> From: Erin Jay <healingrings7 at gmail.com>
>> Date: 4/3/22 1:52 AM (GMT-06:00)
>> To: bfosscamp at wi.rr.com
>> Cc: LCUUC GroupEmail <lekooks at lekook.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Lekooks] Why I mask & vaccinate
>> 
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> I'm trying to figure out how to answer Betsy's question.  
>> 
>>  The reason I shared about these four people getting covid is because I'm in a high-risk group , so hearing about people who have gone unmasked and attend gatherings where masking isntvrequired and got covid convinces me that I need to continue to protect myself because I am in high-risk group. 
>> 
>> It doesnt't matter (to me) if they got a a mild case because my underlying health could make it a worse case for me.
>> 
>> If someone is in a low-risk group and they are not wearing a mask that's their choice.
>> 
>> It's my choice to not go into nmasked public gatherings because people who might only get a mild case of covid could pass or they could have absolutely no symptoms but carry it and therefore pass it to me and it most likely wouldn't be mild for me with my immune system.
>> 
>> If my immune system wasn't compromised I would probably risk getting a mild case but I would probably still mask up because I know people who were vaccinated and got covid from other people who are vaccinated through grandchildren we're passing it around in school.
>> 
>> Having said all that I am going to the Milwaukee Art Museum which will be my first gathering with lots of people but the museum says everybody is required to wear a mask and now that I have the second booster I'm hoping that all will work out. If however the museum changes the requirement for wearing a mask I will get a refund on my tickets it's not worth the risk for me. And again I emphasize for me.
>> 
>> 
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>> 
>> On Wed, Mar 30, 2022, 6:40 PM <bfosscamp at wi.rr.com> wrote:
>> Did the four people who got COVID get severe cases? The vaccine is intended to prevent severe cases, which it’s doing pretty well at. I know not perfectly, though the death rates have gone down significantly.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> But it’s a risk/benefit assessment for individuals. I respect your decision, especially if you are in a higher risk category. I have not restricted my activity, except as mandated, throughout the entire pandemic, and I would also like for that decision to be respected. I am vaccinated, but I only mask if required.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Thank you all for hearing an alternative viewpoint. Betsy
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> From: Lekooks <lekooks-bounces at lekook.org> On Behalf Of Erin Jay via Lekooks
>> Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2022 3:34 PM
>> To: LCUUC GroupEmail <lekooks at lekook.org>
>> Subject: [Lekooks] Why I mask & vaccinate
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> I believe as mentioned earlier by somebody else in another post that it's safer now and less dangerous.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>  however I went to the library the other day and even though I was masked there was somebody sneezing and sniffling near me and that caused me 3 days of panic who knows?
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> If you're still reading this is the important part a friend of mine who lives on the east coast in a much more cautious Town than I'm experiencing who has been extremely cautious decided to have a gathering with her family to celebrate and engagement
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> 1--they all tested negative for covid on the home tests
>> 
>> 2--their son took a test in a doctor's office because he did have a sore throat and runny nose and headache....
>> 
>> 3--because everyone tested negative on the home test they went ahead with the gathering even though their son's result wasn't in
>> 
>> 4--their son's results came in and he was positive so they immediately went into isolation but it was too late because four of the six people got covid
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> As far as I can tell I'm not trying too much the y are experiencing milder cases because they were vaccinated, but I really don't want to take the risk because I'm in a higher immunocompromised situation...
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> I respect the choices that other people make I hope they respect mine when I don't hang out in large groups
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Although I visited Brynn and her goats...
>> 
>> .... But I think the goats were pretty safe
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Again thank you Fran because I was wondering when it was going to come up and yippee today...
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Erin
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>  
>> 
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