Remember mask wearing is to stop the spread, NOT prevent you from getting it. So when people say, I do not wear a mask because I am a low risk person are either being obtuse or purposely ignoring the science. If 10 low risk people wear a mask around 1 person who is at risk, the at risk person is well protected assuming all other guidelines are followed. If 10 low risk people do not wear a mask and the at risk person does, the at risk person is still at a large risk of catching it. You don't wear the mask for you, you wear the mask for others. The reasons why Asians all wear masks during cold and flu season is to prevent them maybe spreading germs to others. This is the point that really is overlooked in the mask debate. Staying home or going out is really the issue with at risk people but wearing the mask is a collective thing to stop the spread. Are kids at risk? No but teachers can be so if your kids are not wearing masks and the teacher is, the teacher can still catch it. Simple science.
Buddy sat down on the train without a mask. Woman across the way looked like she was going to lose her shit. He pulled out his cup of coffee and she relaxed. As we all know, COVID is polite enough to not bother us when we're eating in restaurants or cafes. But if we get up to use the bathroom - WATCH OUT. That bastard virus comes like a mofo. Gotta wear your mask on the way to the restroom. The concept of wearing a mask for other people's protection goes back to what I said earlier. Suddenly this is our concern. If you are very susceptible to the virus, stay locked down. We don't wear masks for flu season. We don't wear masks for any other cold viruses. Just this one.
Here are a few countries and their opinions on masks. Let me know if you're interested in more. I've got a bunch.
Americans dont wear masks during flu season. Japanese do wear masks regularly during flu season. Just compare the cases of flu as a % of population. Americans don't want to fight the flu because many get vaccinated. How many people are vaccinated from COVID again, I forget... Restaurants and cafes are supposed to have tables that are spaced out so it would seem reasonable to take off your mask to eat just like if you were walking in the park outside not near anyone. Anyone who makes an issue about the mask usually falls in the COVID is a hoax family for the most part. Many people have died from COVID withno preexisting condition or were younger than 65. How do you know you are not in the at risk group until you are on a ventilator dying? Just wear the fucking mask if you want to go in places.
Healthy people also die from the flu and making left turns and driving over 20 mph. At some point to you tell people to protect themselves and let other live there lives. There is a saying my Constitutional law professor used when we reviewed cases where 2 constitutional rights intersect... plaintiff vs defendant. He would ask... whose ox gets gored? (the idea being that when oxes ploughing fields locked horns the only way to break them apart was to kill one.) My common sense says breathing through masks for long periods of time is not healthy. Especially if I am exercising. Breathing through masks made in China is almost guaranteed lung problems in the future. Why... should we force others to do something for which there is no compelling science. Distancing yes. Masks should be optional.