Just checking in on Covid

[CF DolFan]

I know we don't see eye to eye on much political around here but I've seen major outlets reporting for a while now that masks make little to no difference in preventing Covid and that the CDC exaggerated their statistics to get people to mask up.  Here it is even in lefty Chicago Sun Times https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2023/2/8/23591132/cdc-exaggerated-evidence-supporting-mask-mandates-column-jacob-sullum

I'm sure there are plenty of more articles to support masking etc. Hell ... just today I found out I can prevent diabetes and have a better chance at winning the lottery if I take the vaccine.

Anyway ... I'm curious if anyone has changed their view or their own personal Covid policies in the last year?

[DenverFinFan]

I haven’t masked in ages, I still avoid crowds as much as possible, I got the latest booster a few weeks ago. My boss who was also fully vaxed just got it and he was really sick and still is feeling pretty bad. I don’t want to get it but I assume it’s inevitable at some point.

[dolphins4life]

The midterms really made my mind boggle on Covid.

On the pro-vaccine camp:

If what the Republicans said was true, there SHOULD have been a red wave, but there WAS NOT.  In fact, studies show the Republicans lost a lot more people to the virus than the Democrats did.  

It's odd that masks don't prevent Covid, but do prevent other respiratory diseases such as the flu.

Liberal youtuber Dusty Smith, who makes a living mocking Republicans who died of the virus, mocked a republican who criticized mask mandates for children, then died of Covid, by saying, "You know, we probably should have had the kids wear masks all along.  Masking wiped out this year's flu season."  

On the Anti-vaccine camp:

I'm still worried about getting another booster.  I got one.  I've had Covid once and it sucks, but it wasn't serious.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/belgian-goalkeeper-dies-after-reportedly-collapsing-on-field-following-penalty-save-151153685.html

This could be another vaccine-related death.



So on one side, you had unvaccinated people filling up the hospitals during the delta and omicron waves.  People were people turned away from receiving treatment in the height of the pandemic, even though the GOP said it was not serious.

On the other side, you have healthy people dropping dead in unprecedented numbers suddenly.

It's not inevitable to get it.  My parents have not gotten it yet.

[Spider-Dan]

I know we don't see eye to eye on much political around here but I've seen major outlets reporting for a while now that masks make little to no difference in preventing Covid and that the CDC exaggerated their statistics to get people to mask up.  Here it is even in lefty Chicago Sun Times https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2023/2/8/23591132/cdc-exaggerated-evidence-supporting-mask-mandates-column-jacob-sullum

I find it really amusing when people who have rejected the findings and advice of the greater medical & science community for nearly three years start citing studies back to me as if I'm supposed to take them (the people, not the studies) seriously.  You don't believe in those lying, corrupt "studies" anyway!

For example, the organization that produced the review you are citing - the Cochrane Library - also released another review 2 months ago confirming that COVID vaccines are effective.  But you don't believe that made-up BS, right?

The larger problem with your approach is that whatever the United States CDC said, there are many other similar government organizations in other countries all around the world; organizations in countries that had a MUCH more effective COVID response than the arguably-world's-worst response of the US.  So do you think we should ask those organizations what they think about masking?  Somehow, I doubt it.

[DenverFinFan]

Spider,

What was wrong with our GOVERNMENT's covid response?  All I ever hear people is that Trump "acted slowly"  They never specify any specific thing he SHOULD have done, that he didn't.

The COVID vaccines are EFFECTIVE if you survive them.  That's the key thing.  The spike in cardio deaths around the world is definitely something to consider.   

Show me conclusive proof that there’s been a spike in cardiac illness. Now even if you can you can’t say it’s solely the vaccines, because we know COVID itself wreaked havoc on the heart ( and so many other parts of the body )

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

If you read the study carefully you will see that the study confirmed what most of us already knew -- wearing a mask does little to protect the wearer.  But the value of wearing a mask is that it protects others if the mask wearer is sick. 

[CF DolFan]

LMAO ... Some of you guys really have a long winded way of saying nope ... I haven't changed a bit.

[Dave Gray]

My thoughts on things have stayed mainly the same.  There is nuance in understanding the science.  The reports vary based on how the virus mutates and all that.  We've been over it a bunch of times.

For me:
I don't wear a mask anywhere day to day.  I do wear a mask if I am sick and have to do something (like go to the grocery to pick up my medicine).   I do wear a mask if I am escorting my kid to the doctor where I have reason to believe others will be sick and I will be in their direct contact.


I think that masking also has a secondary effect, aside from the efficacy of viral reduction.  It keeps you from touching your face and it signals to others to keep distance.

[dolphins4life]

I work in healthcare and the grocery store.  I wear a mask there.  I do not wear one in my everyday life.

[masterfins]

I haven't worn a mask in almost a year.  I don't have a problem wearing one if I'm going to be around someone that really wants me to wear one.  Probably less than 1% of the population that I come into contact with wears a mask.  I do try to wash my hands more if I've been in public.

[dolphins4life]

Covid has 99% survival rate.

What survival rate would a respiratory disease have to have for you to take precautions?

90%

80%

70%

Discuss.

I'm at the 99% range, but that's because Covid precautions benefit me because I have a big nose.

[DenverFinFan]

99% which I did as best I could for a long time.  I should mask again on the bus and in stores tbh.

1% may seem low and it is, but not when it’s your life. More concerning for me than death is the multitude of potentially disabling side effects of which we are still only beginning to understand.

We got lucky all things considered. If this was say a 10 percent mortality rate, it would have been catastrophic beyond the comprehension of most.

[Spider-Dan]

CF, had you posted this thread and simply asked:

Anyway ... I'm curious if anyone has changed their view or their own personal Covid policies in the last year?

...then it's possible you might have gotten some sincere and maybe even insightful commentary on how COVID mindsets have evolved.

But instead, you chose to post the same-old COVID denialist "Hey, did you guys see this article that says horse dewormer prevents COVID masks don't actually work?  Oh well, I guess vaccines make me more likely to win the lottery now lolol" nonsense.  So accordingly, you get the predictable (and appropriate) response.

If you want more thoughtful engagement, don't post troll content.

[dolphins4life]

CF, had you posted this thread and simply asked:
...then it's possible you might have gotten some sincere and maybe even insightful commentary on how COVID mindsets have evolved.

But instead, you chose to post the same-old COVID denialist "Hey, did you guys see this article that says horse dewormer prevents COVID masks don't actually work?  Oh well, I guess vaccines make me more likely to win the lottery now lolol" nonsense.  So accordingly, you get the predictable (and appropriate) response.

If you want more thoughtful engagement, don't post troll content.

He posted an article that cited a study from a well-respected and renowned scientific body. 

Hardly troll commentary to me. 

[CF DolFan]

CF, had you posted this thread and simply asked:
...then it's possible you might have gotten some sincere and maybe even insightful commentary on how COVID mindsets have evolved.

But instead, you chose to post the same-old COVID denialist "Hey, did you guys see this article that says horse dewormer prevents COVID masks don't actually work?  Oh well, I guess vaccines make me more likely to win the lottery now lolol" nonsense.  So accordingly, you get the predictable (and appropriate) response.

If you want more thoughtful engagement, don't post troll content.

I posted an article but my question was about your personal exerience. You chose to attack the article as if it matters. It's a predictable respone from you, Hoodie, or Stroke but most everyone else understood the assignment. You nor I are going to change each others minds and it isn''t like we are just figuring that out.

My thoughts on things have stayed mainly the same.  There is nuance in understanding the science.  The reports vary based on how the virus mutates and all that.  We've been over it a bunch of times.

For me:
I don't wear a mask anywhere day to day.  I do wear a mask if I am sick and have to do something (like go to the grocery to pick up my medicine).   I do wear a mask if I am escorting my kid to the doctor where I have reason to believe others will be sick and I will be in their direct contact.


I think that masking also has a secondary effect, aside from the efficacy of viral reduction.  It keeps you from touching your face and it signals to others to keep distance.

I wear one when requested like in a doctors office and would wear one if sick.  I have to admit there have been times I was thinking I might should have one on like Christmas crowds in a Walmart or something, but I wasn't wearing one. I just try to remind myself not to touch my face and to wash my hands as soon a I get out of the store. I keep a hand sanitizer in my truck but I was doing that years before Covid as I tend to shake a lot of hands.  I don't think any of this is a change from where I have been but the more I see things debunking the effectiveness the less I stress either way.