All things CoronaVirus

[Typical Lax Dad]

you're the mask czar. if and when you believe it's appropriate to be donning masks (indoors, high spread, whatever) what types of masks do you advise that the local/federal authorities require in any mandates they put out? and which ones do you tell them won't be effective to meet their ends?

Am I like an actual czar with mandate and enforcement powers?

Or am I a Trump health advisor at the start?

Or am I a Biden health advisor now?

What kind of constraints are we talking about in our little wargame against covid?

don't overthink it. put yourself in any position and date you wish.

personally, i'm more concerned in the now as the past is the past. but it's my position that our guidance or actions on "masks" has been ineffective since no less than 6 months into this as maybe experts should know better. still... you're the mask czar, don't let me tell you anything.

we still have mask mandates going until this day. what would you do about it?

We have mask mandates being dropped this very day.

[wgdsr]

you're the mask czar. if and when you believe it's appropriate to be donning masks (indoors, high spread, whatever) what types of masks do you advise that the local/federal authorities require in any mandates they put out? and which ones do you tell them won't be effective to meet their ends?

Am I like an actual czar with mandate and enforcement powers?

Or am I a Trump health advisor at the start?

Or am I a Biden health advisor now?

What kind of constraints are we talking about in our little wargame against covid?

don't overthink it. put yourself in any position and date you wish.

personally, i'm more concerned in the now as the past is the past. but it's my position that our guidance or actions on "masks" has been ineffective since no less than 6 months into this as maybe experts should know better. still... you're the mask czar, don't let me tell you anything.

we still have mask mandates going until this day. what would you do about it?

We have mask mandates being dropped this very day.

you want this thing to go on forever.

[wgdsr]

Given no authority beyond guidance, I'd be saying that we have lots of available top ranked masks, we're making them available free where needed, and when case incidence is high in any particular areas, or traveling to and from such areas, such masks are recommended in indoor situations, even more so in densely crowded situations, so mask mandates for those situations are supported as good health policy.

I'd likely be more specific to level of incidence, cases and positivity rates, and their trajectory, and I might include hospitalization rates and those trajectories in such guidance metrics.

I'd recommend being quick to reinstate guidance and mandates when appropriate, slow to remove them, but always based on data trajectories.

Better if this is all transparent so that folks can predict what will be happening, and why, ahead of time. I'd be producing clear videos on mask wearing, rationale, differences, proper usage, etc.

To be clear, at this point, I'd be recommending not recognizing cloth masks, gators, etc when mandates are in place. If someone wants to wear such when not mandated, no sweat, but they help relatively little compared to the high rated masks that are now so ubiquitously available. But they're less comfortable, so it's understandable why someone would prefer cloth when not required otherwise.


Ideally we'd not need to 'mandate', the guidance would be such that all or nearly all people would willingly mask properly in response to data metrics. Unfortunately, that's not the case. People prefer clarity to be masked and businesses depend on their clientele and employees being confident that the best efforts are being made/required if necessary.

I have a lot of friends who are adamant about still not going to an indoor restaurant in Florida because of the lack of masking. Too many people assumed to be making no effort to avoid spread. Had this happen twice over the past two weeks, even though I'd proposed the venues because they had outdoor seating midway from where we stay each. Folks remain anxious, if not so much for themselves personally, for their elderly or otherwise more vulnerable family members. I get that, given the concerns we had in our family.

We have a lot of Dartmouth alums at our residential golf and yacht club in Florida as it was founded by a Dartmouth guy and a lot of the first residents were Big Green alums. We'd had an event scheduled for late January, would have drawn 50+ people, but the folks planning it cancelled until next year, having cancelled last year as well...I've suggested re-thinking this for March, but so far these older folks remain anxious even though our club has now lifted it's own mask requirements. We've had quite a few cases of Omicron on campus, but basically everyone has triple jabbed, and there've been no serious cases...and no new cases for some weeks now.

I think we're on the other side of this wave...but, as a public official, I'd be signaling that if there's another wave detected, requirements will very likely be brought back...meanwhile some relief.

Personally, I wear an N95 or surgical mask, whenever in potentially crowded situations indoors, basic retail etc. Not that I have any serious concern for myself, but I know that it's reassuring to those who remain concerned. Haven't worn cloth since surgical or better became widely available. Took awhile for that.

What’s funny is that people can do their own research on vaccines and viruses but can’t do their own work when it comes to a stupid masks…..it’s a disingenuous argument.

i struck out with lewis and clark to get away from the gubermint.

[MDlaxfan76]

Am I right that you guys are just being reciprocally sarcastic?

[Typical Lax Dad]

you're the mask czar. if and when you believe it's appropriate to be donning masks (indoors, high spread, whatever) what types of masks do you advise that the local/federal authorities require in any mandates they put out? and which ones do you tell them won't be effective to meet their ends?

Am I like an actual czar with mandate and enforcement powers?

Or am I a Trump health advisor at the start?

Or am I a Biden health advisor now?

What kind of constraints are we talking about in our little wargame against covid?

don't overthink it. put yourself in any position and date you wish.

personally, i'm more concerned in the now as the past is the past. but it's my position that our guidance or actions on "masks" has been ineffective since no less than 6 months into this as maybe experts should know better. still... you're the mask czar, don't let me tell you anything.

we still have mask mandates going until this day. what would you do about it?

We have mask mandates being dropped this very day.

you want this thing to go on forever.

Plenty of places are dropping mandates. You believe they should all be started and stopped at the same time across the country? Yes or no? PS waiting on my car to be serviced, every person in here waiting on a car has a N-95 mask on.

[Farfromgeneva]

We've had like more than a week of 0 positive tests at my kid's school - it's definitely time here (and so close to the actual home of the CDC).

[Typical Lax Dad]

We've had like more than a week of 0 positive tests at my kid's school - it's definitely time here (and so close to the actual home of the CDC).

That’s right.

[Typical Lax Dad]

Given no authority beyond guidance, I'd be saying that we have lots of available top ranked masks, we're making them available free where needed, and when case incidence is high in any particular areas, or traveling to and from such areas, such masks are recommended in indoor situations, even more so in densely crowded situations, so mask mandates for those situations are supported as good health policy.

I'd likely be more specific to level of incidence, cases and positivity rates, and their trajectory, and I might include hospitalization rates and those trajectories in such guidance metrics.

I'd recommend being quick to reinstate guidance and mandates when appropriate, slow to remove them, but always based on data trajectories.

Better if this is all transparent so that folks can predict what will be happening, and why, ahead of time. I'd be producing clear videos on mask wearing, rationale, differences, proper usage, etc.

To be clear, at this point, I'd be recommending not recognizing cloth masks, gators, etc when mandates are in place. If someone wants to wear such when not mandated, no sweat, but they help relatively little compared to the high rated masks that are now so ubiquitously available. But they're less comfortable, so it's understandable why someone would prefer cloth when not required otherwise.


Ideally we'd not need to 'mandate', the guidance would be such that all or nearly all people would willingly mask properly in response to data metrics. Unfortunately, that's not the case. People prefer clarity to be masked and businesses depend on their clientele and employees being confident that the best efforts are being made/required if necessary.

I have a lot of friends who are adamant about still not going to an indoor restaurant in Florida because of the lack of masking. Too many people assumed to be making no effort to avoid spread. Had this happen twice over the past two weeks, even though I'd proposed the venues because they had outdoor seating midway from where we stay each. Folks remain anxious, if not so much for themselves personally, for their elderly or otherwise more vulnerable family members. I get that, given the concerns we had in our family.

We have a lot of Dartmouth alums at our residential golf and yacht club in Florida as it was founded by a Dartmouth guy and a lot of the first residents were Big Green alums. We'd had an event scheduled for late January, would have drawn 50+ people, but the folks planning it cancelled until next year, having cancelled last year as well...I've suggested re-thinking this for March, but so far these older folks remain anxious even though our club has now lifted it's own mask requirements. We've had quite a few cases of Omicron on campus, but basically everyone has triple jabbed, and there've been no serious cases...and no new cases for some weeks now.

I think we're on the other side of this wave...but, as a public official, I'd be signaling that if there's another wave detected, requirements will very likely be brought back...meanwhile some relief.

Personally, I wear an N95 or surgical mask, whenever in potentially crowded situations indoors, basic retail etc. Not that I have any serious concern for myself, but I know that it's reassuring to those who remain concerned. Haven't worn cloth since surgical or better became widely available. Took awhile for that.

What’s funny is that people can do their own research on vaccines and viruses but can’t do their own work when it comes to a stupid masks…..it’s a disingenuous argument.

i struck out with lewis and clark to get away from the gubermint.

A horse has more common sense than a dumb American.

[wgdsr]

you're the mask czar. if and when you believe it's appropriate to be donning masks (indoors, high spread, whatever) what types of masks do you advise that the local/federal authorities require in any mandates they put out? and which ones do you tell them won't be effective to meet their ends?

Am I like an actual czar with mandate and enforcement powers?

Or am I a Trump health advisor at the start?

Or am I a Biden health advisor now?

What kind of constraints are we talking about in our little wargame against covid?

don't overthink it. put yourself in any position and date you wish.

personally, i'm more concerned in the now as the past is the past. but it's my position that our guidance or actions on "masks" has been ineffective since no less than 6 months into this as maybe experts should know better. still... you're the mask czar, don't let me tell you anything.

we still have mask mandates going until this day. what would you do about it?

We have mask mandates being dropped this very day.

you want this thing to go on forever.

Plenty of places are dropping mandates. You believe they should all be started and stopped at the same time across the country? Yes or no? PS waiting on my car to be serviced, every person in here waiting on a car has a N-95 mask on.

no. i have made no comment here lately on whether we should have mask mandates or not at this time.

[Typical Lax Dad]

you're the mask czar. if and when you believe it's appropriate to be donning masks (indoors, high spread, whatever) what types of masks do you advise that the local/federal authorities require in any mandates they put out? and which ones do you tell them won't be effective to meet their ends?

Am I like an actual czar with mandate and enforcement powers?

Or am I a Trump health advisor at the start?

Or am I a Biden health advisor now?

What kind of constraints are we talking about in our little wargame against covid?

don't overthink it. put yourself in any position and date you wish.

personally, i'm more concerned in the now as the past is the past. but it's my position that our guidance or actions on "masks" has been ineffective since no less than 6 months into this as maybe experts should know better. still... you're the mask czar, don't let me tell you anything.

we still have mask mandates going until this day. what would you do about it?

We have mask mandates being dropped this very day.

you want this thing to go on forever.

Plenty of places are dropping mandates. You believe they should all be started and stopped at the same time across the country? Yes or no? PS waiting on my car to be serviced, every person in here waiting on a car has a N-95 mask on.

no. i have made no comment here lately on whether we should have mask mandates or not at this time.

That wasn’t my question. Nice dodge. Was it a face or a hesi?

https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/end-to ... /20154930/

EDIT: I saw the “no”. Not every local should start and stop the “mask mandate” at the same time.

[runrussellrun]

Yeah....equines are smart.

but hey, guess today, we are just hating ALL Americans

[wgdsr]

you're the mask czar. if and when you believe it's appropriate to be donning masks (indoors, high spread, whatever) what types of masks do you advise that the local/federal authorities require in any mandates they put out? and which ones do you tell them won't be effective to meet their ends?

Am I like an actual czar with mandate and enforcement powers?

Or am I a Trump health advisor at the start?

Or am I a Biden health advisor now?

What kind of constraints are we talking about in our little wargame against covid?

don't overthink it. put yourself in any position and date you wish.

personally, i'm more concerned in the now as the past is the past. but it's my position that our guidance or actions on "masks" has been ineffective since no less than 6 months into this as maybe experts should know better. still... you're the mask czar, don't let me tell you anything.

we still have mask mandates going until this day. what would you do about it?

We have mask mandates being dropped this very day.

you want this thing to go on forever.

Plenty of places are dropping mandates. You believe they should all be started and stopped at the same time across the country? Yes or no? PS waiting on my car to be serviced, every person in here waiting on a car has a N-95 mask on.

no. i have made no comment here lately on whether we should have mask mandates or not at this time.

That wasn’t my question. Nice dodge. Was it a face or a hesi?

https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/end-to ... /20154930/

what are you talking about? you asked for a yes or no answer about something i haven't even been discussing. i gave you that, then told you it was a rando question to topic. if you weren't aware.
sounds like you're doing the dodging.

[Typical Lax Dad]

you're the mask czar. if and when you believe it's appropriate to be donning masks (indoors, high spread, whatever) what types of masks do you advise that the local/federal authorities require in any mandates they put out? and which ones do you tell them won't be effective to meet their ends?

Am I like an actual czar with mandate and enforcement powers?

Or am I a Trump health advisor at the start?

Or am I a Biden health advisor now?

What kind of constraints are we talking about in our little wargame against covid?

don't overthink it. put yourself in any position and date you wish.

personally, i'm more concerned in the now as the past is the past. but it's my position that our guidance or actions on "masks" has been ineffective since no less than 6 months into this as maybe experts should know better. still... you're the mask czar, don't let me tell you anything.

we still have mask mandates going until this day. what would you do about it?

We have mask mandates being dropped this very day.

you want this thing to go on forever.

Plenty of places are dropping mandates. You believe they should all be started and stopped at the same time across the country? Yes or no? PS waiting on my car to be serviced, every person in here waiting on a car has a N-95 mask on.

no. i have made no comment here lately on whether we should have mask mandates or not at this time.

That wasn’t my question. Nice dodge. Was it a face or a hesi?

https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/end-to ... /20154930/

what are you talking about? you asked for a yes or no answer about something i haven't even been discussing. i gave you that, then told you it was a rando question to topic. if you weren't aware.
sounds like you're dodging.

This threw me off:
“we still have mask mandates going until this day. what would you do about it?”

So I asked about starting and stopping mandates simultaneously….
I did mentioned you did say “no”. I edited my response.

[MDlaxfan76]

you're the mask czar. if and when you believe it's appropriate to be donning masks (indoors, high spread, whatever) what types of masks do you advise that the local/federal authorities require in any mandates they put out? and which ones do you tell them won't be effective to meet their ends?

Am I like an actual czar with mandate and enforcement powers?

Or am I a Trump health advisor at the start?

Or am I a Biden health advisor now?

What kind of constraints are we talking about in our little wargame against covid?

don't overthink it. put yourself in any position and date you wish.

personally, i'm more concerned in the now as the past is the past. but it's my position that our guidance or actions on "masks" has been ineffective since no less than 6 months into this as maybe experts should know better. still... you're the mask czar, don't let me tell you anything.

we still have mask mandates going until this day. what would you do about it?

We have mask mandates being dropped this very day.

you want this thing to go on forever.

Plenty of places are dropping mandates. You believe they should all be started and stopped at the same time across the country? Yes or no? PS waiting on my car to be serviced, every person in here waiting on a car has a N-95 mask on.

no. i have made no comment here lately on whether we should have mask mandates or not at this time.

That wasn’t my question. Nice dodge. Was it a face or a hesi?

https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/end-to ... /20154930/

what are you talking about? you asked for a yes or no answer about something i haven't even been discussing. i gave you that, then told you it was a rando question to topic. if you weren't aware.
sounds like you're doing the dodging.

mmm, you may not be aware of it, but you do come across as possibly hostile to mask mandates and/or public health guidance in general...may not be intentional. Up to you as to whether you want to be more clearly understood.

[wgdsr]

you're the mask czar. if and when you believe it's appropriate to be donning masks (indoors, high spread, whatever) what types of masks do you advise that the local/federal authorities require in any mandates they put out? and which ones do you tell them won't be effective to meet their ends?

Am I like an actual czar with mandate and enforcement powers?

Or am I a Trump health advisor at the start?

Or am I a Biden health advisor now?

What kind of constraints are we talking about in our little wargame against covid?

don't overthink it. put yourself in any position and date you wish.

personally, i'm more concerned in the now as the past is the past. but it's my position that our guidance or actions on "masks" has been ineffective since no less than 6 months into this as maybe experts should know better. still... you're the mask czar, don't let me tell you anything.

we still have mask mandates going until this day. what would you do about it?

We have mask mandates being dropped this very day.

you want this thing to go on forever.

Plenty of places are dropping mandates. You believe they should all be started and stopped at the same time across the country? Yes or no? PS waiting on my car to be serviced, every person in here waiting on a car has a N-95 mask on.

no. i have made no comment here lately on whether we should have mask mandates or not at this time.

That wasn’t my question. Nice dodge. Was it a face or a hesi?

https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/end-to ... /20154930/

what are you talking about? you asked for a yes or no answer about something i haven't even been discussing. i gave you that, then told you it was a rando question to topic. if you weren't aware.
sounds like you're dodging.

This threw me off:
“we still have mask mandates going until this day. what would you do about it?”

So I asked about starting and stopping mandates simultaneously….
I did mentioned you did say “no”. I edited my response.

communication on a chat thread. not supposed to be parsed with all context understood and read 100% of the time before trigger pulled.

[Typical Lax Dad]

you're the mask czar. if and when you believe it's appropriate to be donning masks (indoors, high spread, whatever) what types of masks do you advise that the local/federal authorities require in any mandates they put out? and which ones do you tell them won't be effective to meet their ends?

Am I like an actual czar with mandate and enforcement powers?

Or am I a Trump health advisor at the start?

Or am I a Biden health advisor now?

What kind of constraints are we talking about in our little wargame against covid?

don't overthink it. put yourself in any position and date you wish.

personally, i'm more concerned in the now as the past is the past. but it's my position that our guidance or actions on "masks" has been ineffective since no less than 6 months into this as maybe experts should know better. still... you're the mask czar, don't let me tell you anything.

we still have mask mandates going until this day. what would you do about it?

We have mask mandates being dropped this very day.

you want this thing to go on forever.

Plenty of places are dropping mandates. You believe they should all be started and stopped at the same time across the country? Yes or no? PS waiting on my car to be serviced, every person in here waiting on a car has a N-95 mask on.

no. i have made no comment here lately on whether we should have mask mandates or not at this time.

That wasn’t my question. Nice dodge. Was it a face or a hesi?

https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/end-to ... /20154930/

what are you talking about? you asked for a yes or no answer about something i haven't even been discussing. i gave you that, then told you it was a rando question to topic. if you weren't aware.
sounds like you're dodging.

This threw me off:
“we still have mask mandates going until this day. what would you do about it?”

So I asked about starting and stopping mandates simultaneously….
I did mentioned you did say “no”. I edited my response.

communication on a chat thread. not supposed to be parsed with all context understood and read 100% of the time before trigger pulled.

Happens all the time! Go Hoos tonight.

[jhu72]

We recall that February 1 Denmark relaxed all mandates and social distancing requirements. Their numbers were moving in the right direction. 3 weeks later the numbers are moving in the wrong direction and the Danish Women's soccer team has withdrawn from the Algrave Cup tournament as a number of team members have comedown with COVID. Denmark's numbers are going up as the BA.2 variant has become dominant in Denmark.

BA.2 has been detected in 74 countries and 47 U.S. states, but experts are keeping a close eye on Denmark, where it’s now responsible for nearly 90% of new COVID cases, as it has fueled a second omicron surge.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer ... uxbndlbing

[Typical Lax Dad]

We recall that February 1 Denmark relaxed all mandates and social distancing requirements. Their numbers were moving in the right direction. 3 weeks later the numbers are moving in the wrong direction and the Danish Women's soccer team has withdrawn from the Algrave Cup tournament as a number of team members have comedown with COVID. Denmark's numbers are going up as the BA.2 variant has become dominant in Denmark.

BA.2 has been detected in 74 countries and 47 U.S. states, but experts are keeping a close eye on Denmark, where it’s now responsible for nearly 90% of new COVID cases, as it has fueled a second omicron surge.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer ... uxbndlbing

We have had enough with COVID-19….

[wgdsr]

We recall that February 1 Denmark relaxed all mandates and social distancing requirements. Their numbers were moving in the right direction. 3 weeks later the numbers are moving in the wrong direction and the Danish Women's soccer team has withdrawn from the Algrave Cup tournament as a number of team members have comedown with COVID. Denmark's numbers are going up as the BA.2 variant has become dominant in Denmark.

BA.2 has been detected in 74 countries and 47 U.S. states, but experts are keeping a close eye on Denmark, where it’s now responsible for nearly 90% of new COVID cases, as it has fueled a second omicron surge.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer ... uxbndlbing

i think most people would take denmark's results.
80% fully vaxxed.
0.2% case fatality rate.

my boys at ihme have their infections down 50% already, hospitalization has turned south and deaths are supposed to like now.
as far as one mitigation easing, they have them at 13% masks vs a high of 18% in early feb. after they were around 1% for months late in 2021.

if there's another surge coming shortly, it'll have to fight the declines already happening.

[Typical Lax Dad]

We recall that February 1 Denmark relaxed all mandates and social distancing requirements. Their numbers were moving in the right direction. 3 weeks later the numbers are moving in the wrong direction and the Danish Women's soccer team has withdrawn from the Algrave Cup tournament as a number of team members have comedown with COVID. Denmark's numbers are going up as the BA.2 variant has become dominant in Denmark.

BA.2 has been detected in 74 countries and 47 U.S. states, but experts are keeping a close eye on Denmark, where it’s now responsible for nearly 90% of new COVID cases, as it has fueled a second omicron surge.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer ... uxbndlbing

i think most people would take denmark's results.
80% fully vaxxed.
0.2% case fatality rate.

my boys at ihme have their infections down 50% already, hospitalization has turned south and deaths are supposed to like now.
as far as one mitigation easing, they have them at 13% masks vs a high of 18% in early feb. after they were around 1% for months late in 2021.

if there's another surge coming shortly, it'll have to fight the declines already happening.

If we were at .2% things would be much different. Maybe we will get there. 2% right now and hopefully we see it decline rapidly.