Delta variant reignites U.S. mask debate

Just try and step away from politicking for two seconds America and you may find a bit of mindfulness. Go to the data for answers, it’s all there. Also it may help to try not to think “the other side” is stupid or evil, cause by doing so you ALL end up just looking daft, easy manipulated and programmable. You’re better than this guys.

When the vaccinations started the "experts" said that it would help get rid of the masks, now they're back.

If you read the article you would understand why. It may be surprising for people used to blindly believe religiously some messiah's sayings as if they were dogma, but in science new knowledge drive the recommendations, masks were not necessary before delta as long as people keep getting vaccinated, the US got double punched by vaccine hesitancy and the delta variant, so mask became necessary again.

The example of Sweden is the opposite of what you want ot make from it, mandates are less necessary when people actually distance when asked by the government, and even so they still did worse than the closest countries in comparison.

The Americans' learning curve seems to be a bit on the high side.

It ain't rocket science. Try to remember the lessons learned from last year.

I could never move back to America. There are just so many things wrong. Especially when people scream it is my constitutional right not to wear a mask. Hmmm, what amendment is that? I guess I missed something in my readings and studies.

Scientific evidence on masks is mixed at best.

There is no debate where I live. Most people wear a mask when in public, as they should.

Americans need to stand up for their freedoms and refuse to wear a mask. The ones who die will be remembered as the true freedom fighters.

Taki MataToday  09:00 am JST

If you underestimate America's willful acceptance of a constant, steady stream of death in the pursuit of hyper-individual "freedom", you really haven't been paying attention to the gun debate.

Or the automobile debate.

Scientific evidence on masks is mixed at best.

Mixed between really useful and extraordinarily useful, no realistic doubt on their value as a measure to prevent dissemination remains at this point.

There should be no debate, if you want to wear one, do it. If you don't, then don't wear it. Why is it so hard for people to mind their own business?

Burning Bush:

It's funny how I can still breath fine when I'm cycling or using the treadmill in the gym. Either stop this obesity pandemic in USA or realize that with freedom comes responsibility to not kill others.

But hey, if it slims down the GQP numbers via the Darwin method, then be my guest. Tee hee hee

The mask debate is evidence that US has lost its way and is overwhelmed by politics and irrational people. Look, when you have 52 million people with an IQ of 85 or less (16.7% - one standard deviation of 98 median IQ) who are easily conned by political hucksters. I think the US has passed the tipping point. Sanity and rational conversation is gone forever. It's only going to get worse, and that's scary.

It's funny how I can still breath fine when I'm cycling or using the treadmill in the gym.

Well, that's you, not everyone can breathe through a mask and workout, I workout hard and for me, it proved to be difficult, so I ditch the mask. Everyone is different.

Either stop this obesity pandemic in USA or realize that with freedom comes responsibility to not kill others.

But it seems now a lot of vaccinated people are killing others as well.

Unbelievable! The appalling lack of understanding of basic science in the US population leaves me gobsmacked! Their education system has let them down badly leaving them open to manipulation by conspiracy theorists and hucksters.

At least in america you can have a debate

Personally, I am not against those masks and wear them if necessary. But of course, they are by far no solution to any problems. It’s just only about addition of own and surrounding virus loads. No masks, then more virus loads are surrounding you and you breath them out to others or into yourself. With masks, the surrounding is a bit cleaner, but you keep your virus loads inside your body and they multiply there. Difficult to calculate or simulate, because it is dependent on the situation, but in general I would say, there is no decisive advantage of both behaviors, with mask or without a mask. The sum or amount of the virus loads inside plus outside of present bodies is about similar at a certain point of time.

From what I've been seeing on the news overseas the Delta variant seems to be more infectious and deadly than initially thought.

Personally, I think the issue is more about us changing how we live- More working from home- More online meetings as well as online studying. If dining out, the Japanese style of Koshitsu 個室 (private room) makes it safer. Booths should be completely enclosed with strict guidelines on ventilation and so forth. Measures such as these plus vaccinations will play an even bigger role than just masks.

I personally think we need to come to the realization that society will have to change to adapt to this virus. We will have to do more things from home- such as working and studying.

Even before the Delta variant came on the scene, a doctor on the radio explained the value of masks in a way that was very useful.

Simply put, masks are to Covid-19, what condoms are to HIV.

Easy to understand, and pretty accurate.

As for those who think the epidemic is not real, that vaccines are more dangerous than the disease, and that masks are an infringement on their personal freedoms.......sorry, but they really are the dumbest of the dumb. Or, like the doctor in Florida who has made over 100 million US dollars peddling false information, they are intentionally and willfully lying.

virusrexAug. 13  07:39 am JST

When the vaccinations started the "experts" said that it would help get rid of the masks, now they're back.

If you read the article you would understand why. It may be surprising for people used to blindly believe religiously some messiah's sayings as if they were dogma, but in science new knowledge drive the recommendations, masks were not necessary before delta as long as people keep getting vaccinated, the US got double punched by vaccine hesitancy and the delta variant, so mask became necessary again.

The example of Sweden is the opposite of what you want ot make from it, mandates are less necessary when people actually distance when asked by the government, and even so they still did worse than the closest countries in comparison.

It's because they did follow a false messiah, an antichrist who denied that CoVid-19 even existed. The one who screamed for his sheep to 'LIBERATE!' state houses and commit racist terrorist strife. The loser who could accept defeat in an election. The traitor who inspired a coup attempt in January.

> SpeedAug. 13  08:35 am JST

The Americans' learning curve seems to be a bit on the high side.

It ain't rocket science. Try to remember the lessons learned from last year.

It's common sence. Now that TrumpChump is out of power and Joe gave his special presidential address on TV, the responsibility goes down to the governors, mayors, me and you. Us as individuals. Some states like California are tightening down and others like Ohio and Florida have neglegent idiot governors and other states like Alabama and Texas are being socked by the delta variation big time. We have a real Federal government again, we have a vaccine now. I got mine, we all need to and we all need to do our part.

If you have trouble breathing with a mask, that means your lungs are already pretty weak, and therefore are most at risk of catching a severe or fatal version of covid. Meaning... You definitely should wear that mask.

It's simple: wear two masks, get three shots, wait two years to flatten the curve.

@Wakarimasen Scientific evidence on masks is mixed at best.

I'm not sure where you're getting your information, but there are plenty of studies that disagree. For example: "Model experiments and case reports suggest that masks covering the mouth and nose afford considerable protection against transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other airborne diseases by reducing release of and exposure to potentially infectious droplets; in addition, infections that do occur take a milder course." 

Hemmer, C. J., Hufert, F., Siewert, S., & Reisinger, E. (2021). Protection From COVID-19. Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 118(5), 59–65. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.m2021.0119