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“It will protect others from the virus going from you to others.”

It appears to me the word “will” is a very bold word from the info at the links you sent. How about “might” or “may” to be generous. Perhaps we have a difference of opinion on how this virus is transmitted. The latest literature on this subject indicates that the the mere act of breathing DOES NOT spread this virus. So are we now to mask 330 million people in this country because someone might sneeze or cough? How about putting some emphasis on educating people about staying home if they are sick if they are still stupid despite all the PSA’s on the subject.

Jonrick, I think I just can’t be a “masker.” Actually, I like the term “Covidian” much better since it, to me anyway, includes those who are wearing out of utter fear and psychological problems. So I won’t be joining the Church of Branch Covidians anytime soon.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/who-guidance-healthy-people-wear-masks-around-coronavirus-patients

https://www.thehealthyamerican.org/about-wearing-masks

With the aged population in this country and the number of people with respiratory problems, this quote from Peggy Hall hits home for me personally as well:

“How can a person be forced by any business or government entity to wear a mask (which affects the respiratory system) without having a physical exam by a licensed doctor who approves such an action?”

I hope you don’t mind me taking up all you time and bothersome for my response.

I think Peggy Hall makes a convincing argument why masks are not necessary when you are not contagious. I do question her description that masks impede the inflow of oxygen and the outflow of CO2. I understand there is a reservoir of trapped air inside the mask which gets mixed with new incoming oxygen coming in and outgoing CO2 leaving the lungs. That continuously gets mixed with the new air coming in, which lowers the percent of oxygen into the lungs as well as increasing the percent of CO2 into the lungs. I compare it to what someone experiences while snorkeling. I will need to find time to see what research has been done on the effects of that trapped air mixture.

The big picture is ones potential for spreading the virus. I gave you the results of one study. The spread of infection on the bus gives a hint. Those with windows open had fresh air coming in which swept away any virus laden droplets and aerosols the infected person 1 put into the bus cabin. It points to the evidence of virus laden droplets and aerosols.

How does one know they are healthy when the virus is in its initial phase of infection? They call that phase, the series interval, between the time one is infected and how long it takes to infect another person. That time researchers have determined to be 2 to 4 days. So, a person may think they are healthy for 4 days while, all that time, are capable of a R-not (reproductive ratio) rate of let’s say 3 people they can infect in normal conditions. The bus was a closed system and provided ideal conditions. Of the 66 passengers, 24 were infected because of one infected person. Then, you consider the type of COVID-19.

COVID-19 type S is the least virulent and infects 30% of the people worldwide. COVID-19 type L is the most virulent and has infected 70% of the people. What happens, if the L-type virus were to be transmitted unimpeded? Statistically, 40 people can get infected in 12 days. That person on the bus did over half that number in one day! Ideal conditions.

So, with the potential of spread to 40 other people, what does one do when they are out in public and not feeling any symptoms yet? My answer is protect yourself from others, in case you are contagious.

Back around March 1st I had the most intense respiratory infection I have had in 15 years. It began with a burning feeling in my throat and a runny nose with lots of sneezing. During that time, I went to my pooled caucus, shopped and to my dentist before I finally stayed home, coughing like I was going to die. In the beginning phase I felt OK, but I may have infected people with the same infection. My son may have gave it to me because he went to a hospital ER to get checked out for the virus. Lucky, it wasn’t the virus. If it was, all those people I had contact with would have been infected with COVID-19 because of its contagious nature.

If one is in a production environment, a cashier, stocking merchandise etc, you should wear a mask as a insurance policy against the COVID-19’s infection rate for infecting others during that period when you aren’t feeling symptoms to cause alarm. Once you do have symptoms, you must stay home, get tested and get paid leave for your time off. That insurance should also require hardship pay for the discomfort of using a mask.

What happens if you do get the infection? For the big picture of the infection process, you might find this video (200,556 views) very interesting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRfwZcLeOm4