Masks ONLY work in regard to droplets, NOT in regard to airborne viral particles. So, sure, it prevents about 1-2% of vector transmission - so basically worthless. If the CV is a real pandemic, rather than just pretty severe flu targeting elderly with multiple conditions (as evidence overwhelmingly suggests), then masks are a tertiary form of spread prevention. Obviously, blocking out the 98-99% of vector transmission through non-mask means would be necessary to stop the spread of transmission. This would mean absolutely draconian lockdowns. As soon as the lockdowns are lifted, the transmission starts again because of the epidemiological law that once a contagion enters the general population, you cannot eliminate it. So, let's have lockdowns till the end of time, destroy the economy, shove the poor into perpetual, starvation level poverty, and live in fear and misery, shall we? What is the end game of these lockdowns? Will it be 5 years, 10 years? The H1N1 was only that long ago, Ebola about 4 years ago. Perpetual lockdown is the only way to handle this, apparently.
Never heard about any "perpetual lockdowns" but I did hear 1 year maximum. Reality, most countries are no longer in a lockdown. Instead, they are now doing targeted restrictions of problematic hotspots while those within the targeted problematic areas are screaming "lockdown". Just common sense will do but most don't have it. For example, when we were kids we were taught to wash our hands before breakfast, lunch and dinner. You'll be surprise at how many people only do the basic hygiene via washing hands "after" they eat and not "before" they eat. I saw stats once a few years back that showed "washing hands" was down 65% in the past 10 years...even more so for men and those that did...only about 1/2 used soap when they washed their hands. I remember watching friends closely when we went into a restaurant...none of them would was their hands prior to eating but I assumed they did wash their hands after they used a restaurant toilet but then contaminate their hands again when they grabbed the door knob to open the door and exit the bathroom. My kids use to scream murder when I made them wash their hands before eating anything at home, before eating in a restaurant or before eating at someone's house...its a good habit that one day may save their life. Simply, if someone is only wearing a face mask and not doing the other things that's common sense about their hygiene...a face mask will be useless. More stats about problems for kids that don't wash their hands @ https://www.wateraid.org/us/media/global-handwashing-day-hygiene-in-schools-healthy-children The above link is info very similar to adults that I saw some years back...people handling food. wrbtrader
That's what there trying to do, full time lockdown, military on the street to enforce, talking not allowed to leave the houses, full on new world order, police state, grassing on your neighbors for a bar of chocolate. I hear gyms and pubs and everything shut again from next Friday not read it yet mind, the town which was back to normal, is back to scared people avoiding each other again, didn't take long for the FEAR to get a grip did it And obviously ignore Sweden and there 0.06% death rate with no measures, impressive how they ignore that. People are so easily led, while scared
Sweden's current restrictions... Travelling to Sweden The Swedish Government has decided to suspend non-essential travel to Sweden from countries outside the EU. This ban will apply until October 31. This ban has been introduced to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak, and to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The entry ban does not apply to citizens of EU/EEA countries, UK, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican, or their families, or for travels to Sweden from the EU/EEA area. Furthermore, the ban does not apply if you or a close relative already live here as a permanent resident or hold a residence permit in Sweden or another EU country, or if you have a national visa to Sweden. More information can be found in frequently asked questions answered by the Swedish Police Authority. More information about the Swedish travel restrictions Information on how Swedish citizens can travel to other countries Entry requirements There is no quarantine requirement for travellers to Sweden. Swedavia Airports recommends that you use face masks at their airports. Airline operators may require passengers to show a health statement but this is no general requirement for entering Sweden. Information about Covid-19 measures taken by the aviation industry at the Swedish Transport Agency Please pay close attention to the information given by your airline – many airline companies require you to wear a face mask on board. You do not need a health statement or health certificate in order to enter Sweden. Information from the Swedish Transport Agency about measures taken by airports and airline operators with regard to Covid-19 Face masks There is no general requirement to wear a face mask in normal social situations, in public places, in public transport etc. The Public Health Agency of Sweden ("Folkhälsomyndigheten") recommends that: those who are feeling unwell stay at home stay at least an arm's length away from other people wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Protect yourself and others from spread of infection Testing and travel certificates Some other countries require a certificate proving that you do not have Covid-19 before entering. This is not the case in Sweden. In Sweden, anyone with symptoms can get a PCR test which will determine if there is an active Covid-19 infection. If you are interested in doing a PCR test, contact phone number 1177. An antibody (or a serological) test can show whether you have previously had Covid-19 and developed antibodies against the virus, and thus have protection against the disease. Some companies in Sweden offer foreign citizens such antibody tests (information in Swedish) at a cost, some of which can provide travel certificates. Also check information provided by your embassy. More details about testing in Sweden Travelling in Sweden Those without symptoms can travel in Sweden. It is important for everyone to maintain distance from other people, both while travelling and at the destination. Before your journey, check with the municipality (”kommunen”) you intend to visit if there are any local restrictions. Public transportation is operating but services may be limited, both as regards the number of passengers allowed and frequency of departures. For information about services or routes, visit the relevant website or contact the operator on the phone for information in English. If you become ill, you need to be able to make your way home without putting others at risk of infection. Remember to maintain distance from others and avoid places where many people gather. More information about travelling in Sweden at the official Swedish website for tourist information Visitsweden.com More information about travelling in Sweden during the pandemic Minimising the spread of Covid-19 Stay at home if you are feeling ill with symptoms such as nasal congestion, respiratory infection, coughing, or fever, even with mild symptoms. Avoid contact with people who are unwell. Those aged over 70 are advised to limit contact with other people as far as possible. Wash your hands often with hot water and soap. Avoid touching your face and eyes. The infection is spread via mucous membranes in your eyes, nose and mouth. Avoid going to parties and other social events. Keep your distance from other people in public places. Avoid travelling in rush hour traffic. Avoid unnecessary journeys. Ban on public gatherings of 50 people or more Public gatherings and events may have a maximum of 50 participants. The police can cancel or disband a public gathering or event with more than 50 participants. Restaurants and cafes are exempted from the 50-person limit. Information on restrictions and prohibitions in Sweden during the covid-19 pandemic Swedish Healthcare If you are on a visit in Sweden and become ill or get injured, call 1177 for information about illnesses and about Swedish healthcare. In case of emergency, call 112 for an ambulance. During the Covid-19 pandemic, there may be reductions in healthcare services because of the handling of Covid-19. Do not visit a health centre (“vårdcentral”) if you have any symptoms associated with Covid-19. Instead call 1177 where you will get medical advice from a registered nurse. Accommodation Campsites Campsites are not included in the ban on public gatherings exceeding 50 people. However, events on and in connection with campsites may be affected. Due to the risk of contagion, the Swedish Tourist Association ("STF") has introduced restrictions concerning how many people may spend the night in the Association's mountain cabins. Hikers will have to book a space in the cabins and pay in advance. Private cabins may also have introduced similar rules. If you have considered hiking this summer, we recommend that you investigate this before leaving. Hotels and private accommodation General advice and recommendations regarding minimising the spread of infection apply. Activities Restaurants and cafés Restaurants, cafés, and bars as well as other venues serving food and drink must: Take measures to avoid crowding of people in queues, at tables, buffets or bar counters. Ensure that guests can keep at least one meter's distance from other people. Only serve food and drink to guests who are seated at a table or a bar counter. Guests are permitted to order and pick up food and drink, provided that this does not lead to crowding or queues. Offer guests the opportunity to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water, or offer them hand sanitiser. Inform guests about how they can decrease the risk for spreading infection. Hotels, hostels, and campsites Hotels, hostels and campsites should ensure that personnel and guests are familiar with and follow the advice of the Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten). Visitor-related businesses should be able to offer alternative solutions to queues, for instance, when checking in (e.g. showing the distance guests can maintain between each other). Personnel and visitors should also have the opportunity to cleanse their hands, both with soap and water and hand sanitiser. If the business has a restaurant, bar or café, it is subject to the Public Health Agency’s overcrowding rules for, among other things, restaurants and pubs. Any events may be affected by the ban on public gatherings and events. You can find information intended for camping businesses and their guests on the website of the sectoral organisation, SCR Svensk Camping. Allemansrätten – Your rights and obligations in nature Allemansrätten ("the Right of Public Access") means that you are permitted to move freely in nature without asking the land owner's permission. However, there are certain things you must consider while you are out in nature. Information about Allemansrätten in several languages Lighting Fires and the Right of Public Access - Things to consider when lighting a campfire or barbecue outdoors, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), (pdf) When many people venture out into nature at the same time, it is important that everyone is respectful of the nature, animal life, land owners, and other people. In nature reserves and national parks, there are special provisions in place to protect the nature. The applicable rules are available to read on the area's notice boards, or on the municipality’s and county administration's websites. Information about national parks in Sweden from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency ("Naturvårdsverket") Shops and stores Most shops and stores are open. These may have reduced opening hours and/or limits to the number of customers allowed. Make sure to maintain a safe distance from other people. --------- Sweden has restrictions (measures)...don't be disillusion. There's other countries that also did not lockdown and has LESS restrictions than Sweden. Now ask yourself...why aren't those other countries mentioned...why are people not creating threads here at ET about those other countries ??? Politics of Misinformation / Disinformation will continue the FEAR wrbtrader
Millions more worldwide gonna die. Excess deaths are underreported.. Stubborn deniers in the USA and our fearless leader are laughingstock of the world. This winter will be a nightmare. Hopefully Biden establishes mask mandates and national contact tracing etc
Ken, Agree...gotta hit this hard before it picks up steam and becomes much worst beyond such as a growing toll on the economy, jobs and such. Faster we do this...sooner we can get back to normal assuming a vaccine or inexpensive therapeutic medicine is approved by the FDA. One of the current "emergency treatment" therapy is > $2000 price tag. That's just the therapeutic medicine itself and not other costs associated with long-hauler illnesses associated with Covid-19 Lately, I've been joking with my teenagers to petition their school to have another language course...South Korean (Korean). If this Pandemic gets much worst...we may move there for the remainder of this Pandemic and live with their aunt for awhile whom is married to a South Korean. I myself know the country very well...lived there for a few years and still have very close friends there. Regardless, there's a lot of moving variables involved into getting back to normal and one of those variables (not often discussed) is the overwhelming number of people that are anti-vaxxers (they are not going to take a vaccine)...that in itself will put a big dent in the possibility of herd immunity and puts more stress on those very expensive therapeutic medicine is one does become sick from Covid-19 wrbtrader
That's WHY you don't just wear masks. You wear masks AND social distancing of at least 2 meters from somebody not from your household. It's not like once you wear a mask, you can start kissing and hugging everybody. The mask protects from the droplets but the proper social distancing measures would protect against airborne viral particles, if any. Studies have shown that although the virus can be transmitted via airborne particles, the probability is still lower as the airborne particles is generally less in volume and does not stay in the air for long unless you are exposed to an extremely concentrated high volume of airborne viral particles expelled by an infected person like in a hospital setting, then you need highly effective protective equipment. Empirical evidence from around the world has shown again and again that even in places with highly concentrated population where social distancing measures are difficult, with prevalent mask-wearing the pandemic does help in bringing the pandemic under control. People need to face the facts.
Then you should teach your children Korean. LOL But be prepared when you go to those countries to face lot more "draconian" lockdown measures. These countries have extremely strict quarantine policies against anybody coming from outside and they are prepared to dish out harsh penalties to anybody who chooses to disobey. So if your children go to South Korea, chances are they won't be living with their aunt, they will be most likely carted off to designated quarantine facilities with heavy monitoring as soon as their plane touches down on the ground and be forbidden to have any contact with the outside world for at least a designated period of time meanwhile have to report to a mandatory government contact-tracing app on a daily basis. There is a reason why the pandemic is under control in those countries. It's because people there are prepared and willing to do what's necessary to defeat the thing.
Disagree, from the amount of colds and flu's going around in the UK the mask appears to do and science agrees aswell quite the opposite. What it really does is trap the virus then create a great little micro climate where you can then inhale it. Everywhere, they've put masks in, literally EVERYWHERE has had an increase in Covid cases 2-3weeks later, coincidence ?? I think not. UK, there doing lockdowns and trying to put another 3 weeks hard lockdown in place, but there also saying the virus hasn't got enough numbers to do the Shielding program for the old and at risk, which was the only program that makes sense, so basically just sacrificing the old to create more fear, and yet still you lot believe every word they say ?? By the time they do shielding, it'll be to late as before, when really why lockdown people not at risk ?? why not just shield the at risk ??
But your not defeating it, your merely slowing it's spread, you can't defeat it and in Covid's case, you don't need to because the fatality rate simply isn't high enough to need it, it's not spanish flu, it's sub 0.1% with good health care and sub 0.3% with crap health care. Sweden, no lockdowns, they spent the money treating people rather than giving them a holiday and 0.06%, which is less than anywhere with lockdowns and it's over there, they've got herd, life as normal.