And here all Americans thought you Canadians had a simpler way of life…
We do! We earn less, everything costs more, and we pay higher taxes.
Simple!
How has the coronavirus affected your personal life?
- Thread starter fishhead0103666
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We do! We earn less, everything costs more, and we pay higher taxes.
Simple!
I’m trying to figure out if your neighbor is one of the unclean or if he is just mocking them?
Clovis is nearly 100k people now, but not much more urbane in these matters.
So, I have one neighbor who is a male ER nurse.
On the other side is a 90+ year old widow who is getting very paranoid and absent minded.
I worry that one is bringing disease, and that the other one will get one.
Don’t Panic, But Breakthrough Cases May Be a Bigger Issue Than You’ve Been Told (msn.com)
Quotes from the article:
“The breakthrough problem is much more concerning than what our public officials have transmitted,” Topol continued. “We have no good tracking. But every indicator I have suggests that there’s a lot more under the radar than is being told to the public so far, which is unfortunate.” The result, he said, was a widening gap between the messaging from public health authorities and the meaning of the data emerging in real time. “I think the problem we have is people — whether it’s the CDC or the people that are doing the briefings — their big concern is, they just want to get vaccinations up. And they don’t want to punch any holes in the story about vaccines. But we can handle the truth. And that’s what we should be getting.”
Hello; (My comments) When the information gets out widely even more trust will be lost. The point of this link for me is how trust is eroding for any who are not sure what the point is.
Quotes from the article:
“The breakthrough problem is much more concerning than what our public officials have transmitted,” Topol continued. “We have no good tracking. But every indicator I have suggests that there’s a lot more under the radar than is being told to the public so far, which is unfortunate.” The result, he said, was a widening gap between the messaging from public health authorities and the meaning of the data emerging in real time. “I think the problem we have is people — whether it’s the CDC or the people that are doing the briefings — their big concern is, they just want to get vaccinations up. And they don’t want to punch any holes in the story about vaccines. But we can handle the truth. And that’s what we should be getting.”
Hello; (My comments) When the information gets out widely even more trust will be lost. The point of this link for me is how trust is eroding for any who are not sure what the point is.
What Happens When Vaccinated People Get COVID-19? - The Atlantic
"Post-vaccination infections, or breakthroughs, might occasionally turn symptomatic, but they aren’t shameful or aberrant. They also aren’t proof that the shots are failing. These cases are, on average, gentler and less symptomatic; faster-resolving, with less virus lingering—and, it appears, less likely to pass the pathogen on. The immunity offered by vaccines works in iterations and gradations, not absolutes. It does not make a person completely impervious to infection. It also does not evaporate when a few microbes breach a body’s barriers. A breakthrough, despite what it might seem, does not cause our defenses to crumble or even break; it does not erase the protection that’s already been built. Rather than setting up fragile and penetrable shields, vaccines reinforce the defenses we already have, so that we can encounter the virus safely and potentially build further upon that protection."
"Post-vaccination infections, or breakthroughs, might occasionally turn symptomatic, but they aren’t shameful or aberrant. They also aren’t proof that the shots are failing. These cases are, on average, gentler and less symptomatic; faster-resolving, with less virus lingering—and, it appears, less likely to pass the pathogen on. The immunity offered by vaccines works in iterations and gradations, not absolutes. It does not make a person completely impervious to infection. It also does not evaporate when a few microbes breach a body’s barriers. A breakthrough, despite what it might seem, does not cause our defenses to crumble or even break; it does not erase the protection that’s already been built. Rather than setting up fragile and penetrable shields, vaccines reinforce the defenses we already have, so that we can encounter the virus safely and potentially build further upon that protection."
Do masks actually work? The best studies suggest they don't (msn.com)
Quotes from the article:
“The answer: It depends on the study.”
“Anderson cites multiple medical studies on masking that fall into one of two categories: observational studies or randomized controlled trials, dubbed RCTs. He notes that much of the scientific community has based its masking guidance on observational studies rather than RCTs. (Note: Anderson is referencing cloth and surgical masks, not N95 respirators).”
My comments: Hello; The distinction about N95 masks can be important. Problem has been finding them. There is an KN95 which has similar value. There is an N95 type mask with an exhaust valve which I had a small supply of when the pandemic started. Problem is that valve lets out my breath.
“He goes on to cite several trials conducted over the past several years, each of which found that cloth masks and surgical masks offer very little to no benefit at all. The one trial that specifically tested masks against COVID-19 was a 2020 study in Denmark with 4,800 participants. The researchers found that “1.8 percent of those in the mask group and 2.1 percent of those in the control group became infected with Covid-19 within a month, with this 0.3-point difference not being statistically significant,” Anderson writes.”
“Incredibly, the CDC has dismissed the Danish study as “inconclusive” and “too small” while praising the observational study of the Missouri hairdressers, with its fewer than 200 participants and no control group, as a landmark case, Anderson said.”
My comments: Hello; I find this interesting. If true that the CDC dismissed a trial study of 4,800 and used an observational study with no control group. See the GYM paragraph for a comparison.
“is a 2015 study that directly compared cloth masks to surgical masks. Its 1,100 participants, each of whom was a healthcare worker, were instructed to wear their masks at all times on every shift for four weeks. The study found that those who wore cloth masks were 13 times more likely to develop an influenzalike illness than those who wore surgical masks. But even the surgical masks were found to be “poor” at preventing the penetration of particles, and cloth masks were “extremely poor.” Surgical masks let through 44% of particles. Cloth masks let through 97%.”
“Anderson concludes:”
“In sum, of the 14 RCTs that have tested the effectiveness of masks in preventing the transmission of respiratory viruses, three suggest, but do not provide any statistically significant evidence in intention-to-treat analysis, that masks might be useful. The other eleven suggest that masks are either useless — whether compared with no masks or because they appear not to add to good hand hygiene alone — or actually counterproductive. Of the three studies that provided statistically significant evidence in intention-to-treat analysis that was not contradicted within the same study, one found that the combination of surgical masks and hand hygiene was less effective than hand hygiene alone, one found that the combination of surgical masks and hand hygiene was less effective than nothing, and one found that cloth masks were less effective than surgical masks.”
“This is important because an honest conversation about masks requires taking a hard look at the scientific evidence backing them. And if Anderson is right and the CDC's observational studies are as sloppy and inconclusive as they appear to be, that's a problem. Millions of people have been led to believe that the only way they can protect themselves against this virus, besides getting vaccinated, is by strapping a piece of cloth around their noses and mouths. Social media giants and everyday busybody scolds have shamed and punished anyone who questions this guidance.”
“But the data cited by Anderson suggests that not only was this guidance wrong but that public health officials knew it was wrong and rolled it out anyway.”
My comments: Hello; The point for me is how to know what is effective. If the reality is a mask is slightly better than nothing, then let us know the truth. If we need an N95 level mask to be worth much, then let us know. Something I had already known was that well set up trials are the way to get good information. Masks are starting to be mandated again. It would be good, in my ignorant way of thinking, to have some source of information to trust.
I knew better back when the “good lie” was told at the start of the outbreak. I also knew it was important to have a good mask. Maybe I am getting things backward but seems to me that an authority ought to have the “good” masks available before issuing a mandate.
My country ramped up the production of ventilators to the point of having some to export. I do not see why an N95 type mask supply cannot be given the same push if these mandates are to be used again. I see way too many neck gaitors(sp) when out.
Quotes from the article:
“The answer: It depends on the study.”
“Anderson cites multiple medical studies on masking that fall into one of two categories: observational studies or randomized controlled trials, dubbed RCTs. He notes that much of the scientific community has based its masking guidance on observational studies rather than RCTs. (Note: Anderson is referencing cloth and surgical masks, not N95 respirators).”
My comments: Hello; The distinction about N95 masks can be important. Problem has been finding them. There is an KN95 which has similar value. There is an N95 type mask with an exhaust valve which I had a small supply of when the pandemic started. Problem is that valve lets out my breath.
“He goes on to cite several trials conducted over the past several years, each of which found that cloth masks and surgical masks offer very little to no benefit at all. The one trial that specifically tested masks against COVID-19 was a 2020 study in Denmark with 4,800 participants. The researchers found that “1.8 percent of those in the mask group and 2.1 percent of those in the control group became infected with Covid-19 within a month, with this 0.3-point difference not being statistically significant,” Anderson writes.”
“Incredibly, the CDC has dismissed the Danish study as “inconclusive” and “too small” while praising the observational study of the Missouri hairdressers, with its fewer than 200 participants and no control group, as a landmark case, Anderson said.”
My comments: Hello; I find this interesting. If true that the CDC dismissed a trial study of 4,800 and used an observational study with no control group. See the GYM paragraph for a comparison.
“is a 2015 study that directly compared cloth masks to surgical masks. Its 1,100 participants, each of whom was a healthcare worker, were instructed to wear their masks at all times on every shift for four weeks. The study found that those who wore cloth masks were 13 times more likely to develop an influenzalike illness than those who wore surgical masks. But even the surgical masks were found to be “poor” at preventing the penetration of particles, and cloth masks were “extremely poor.” Surgical masks let through 44% of particles. Cloth masks let through 97%.”
“Anderson concludes:”
“In sum, of the 14 RCTs that have tested the effectiveness of masks in preventing the transmission of respiratory viruses, three suggest, but do not provide any statistically significant evidence in intention-to-treat analysis, that masks might be useful. The other eleven suggest that masks are either useless — whether compared with no masks or because they appear not to add to good hand hygiene alone — or actually counterproductive. Of the three studies that provided statistically significant evidence in intention-to-treat analysis that was not contradicted within the same study, one found that the combination of surgical masks and hand hygiene was less effective than hand hygiene alone, one found that the combination of surgical masks and hand hygiene was less effective than nothing, and one found that cloth masks were less effective than surgical masks.”
“This is important because an honest conversation about masks requires taking a hard look at the scientific evidence backing them. And if Anderson is right and the CDC's observational studies are as sloppy and inconclusive as they appear to be, that's a problem. Millions of people have been led to believe that the only way they can protect themselves against this virus, besides getting vaccinated, is by strapping a piece of cloth around their noses and mouths. Social media giants and everyday busybody scolds have shamed and punished anyone who questions this guidance.”
“But the data cited by Anderson suggests that not only was this guidance wrong but that public health officials knew it was wrong and rolled it out anyway.”
My comments: Hello; The point for me is how to know what is effective. If the reality is a mask is slightly better than nothing, then let us know the truth. If we need an N95 level mask to be worth much, then let us know. Something I had already known was that well set up trials are the way to get good information. Masks are starting to be mandated again. It would be good, in my ignorant way of thinking, to have some source of information to trust.
I knew better back when the “good lie” was told at the start of the outbreak. I also knew it was important to have a good mask. Maybe I am getting things backward but seems to me that an authority ought to have the “good” masks available before issuing a mandate.
My country ramped up the production of ventilators to the point of having some to export. I do not see why an N95 type mask supply cannot be given the same push if these mandates are to be used again. I see way too many neck gaitors(sp) when out.
Now for some real world experience, with various medical grade masks.
In our health care facilities here in AB, only surgical grade masks are typically worn. Common, and cheap. many probably manufactured in China. N95 masks are generally only utilized in health care facilities, by those that work in hospitals, and who are directly exposed to covid positive patients, such as respiratory therapists - the fine folks that insert & remove incubation trach tubes. They also wear face shields, and safety glasses or goggles, gloves, and a gown. Common sense when dealing with very sick folks, infected with a virus. Same protocol long before covid, nothing new there. I will have to do same today while I work in a unit that has covid positive residents.
As previously mentioned, for the first time in a decade, we did not have an influenza outbreak on any of our units. (while wearing common surgical masks) Prior to all staff having to wear surgical masks due to covid, we had one or more outbreaks, on pretty much every unit, in every building, every year that I have worked in this field. Our Provincial lab confirmed influenza cases over this period confirm same. We went from 6700+, to 0.
Do masks work - absolutely. Do they need to be N95 masks to slow the transmission of an airborne virus? Nope, obviously not.
In our health care facilities here in AB, only surgical grade masks are typically worn. Common, and cheap. many probably manufactured in China. N95 masks are generally only utilized in health care facilities, by those that work in hospitals, and who are directly exposed to covid positive patients, such as respiratory therapists - the fine folks that insert & remove incubation trach tubes. They also wear face shields, and safety glasses or goggles, gloves, and a gown. Common sense when dealing with very sick folks, infected with a virus. Same protocol long before covid, nothing new there. I will have to do same today while I work in a unit that has covid positive residents.
As previously mentioned, for the first time in a decade, we did not have an influenza outbreak on any of our units. (while wearing common surgical masks) Prior to all staff having to wear surgical masks due to covid, we had one or more outbreaks, on pretty much every unit, in every building, every year that I have worked in this field. Our Provincial lab confirmed influenza cases over this period confirm same. We went from 6700+, to 0.
Do masks work - absolutely. Do they need to be N95 masks to slow the transmission of an airborne virus? Nope, obviously not.
Thus far, our only real outbreak in this building, is from a health care aid that that chose not to get vaccinated, and came to work while positive with the Delta variant. Even still, due to our pandemic protocol (surgical masks worn by ALL staff) we have managed to keep this outbreak to 2 residents, on one unit, thus far. Hopefully we can keep it that way.
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