“We are now at a point where the virus is spreading so fast,
there is little margin for error.”
Even "don't mess with Texas" governor Gregg Abbott is reversing course and mandating the use of Covid masks in most counties of the Lone Star State.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday ordered that face coverings must be worn in public across most of the state, a dramatic ramp up of the Republican's efforts to control spiking numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.
Abbott, who had pushed Texas' aggressive reopening of the state economy in May, had previously said the government could not order individuals to wear masks. His prior virus-related orders had undercut efforts by local governments to enforce mask requirements.
But faced with dramatically rising numbers of both newly confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus and the number of patients so sick they needed to be hospitalized, Abbott changed course with Thursday's mask order. It requires “all Texans to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth in public spaces in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases, with few exceptions."There are some in our own ranks who, like Greg Abbott once did, dismiss Covid-19 reaction as hysteria by "Covidiots." The Americans are dishing up proof positive of how easily this pandemic can get out of control when our leaders succumb to ideological pressures. It's a medical threat. We have first rate medical experts - virologists, epidemiologists and others - who can tell us what we must do and when. As for the noise, just tune it out.
9 comments:
I'm gobsmacked by the many who simply deny reality.
Social media buzzing about Americans spotted in the Okanagan
https://www.castanet.net/news/Vernon/304337/Social-media-buzzing-about-Americans-spotted-in-the-Okanagan#304337
I don't know if this is legitimate or social media hysteria but that is a Texas license plate.
Also, we are seeing a lot of Alberta plates. People aren't taking this virus seriously.
I expect, Owen, is that we're seeing another manifestation of how many Americans have been groomed to willingly accept whatever they're fed on FOX or social media or open-mouth radio. There's a feral irrationality to them. Everything they're trained not to like is an affront not just to them but a defilement of their Constitution. It's lunacy. As I commented on your blog some days ago America's lunatic fringe has now become a mainstay of the Republican Party. Fringe no more. There was always going to be a price to be paid for that stupidity.
I know that some of us on the island get riled up at the sight of an Alberta plate, Toby. Not much regard for the possibility it could be an islander coming home to reunite with the family or someone who has just relocated to BC.
CBC had a story about a family of Canadians returning from Texas and how they've endured all sorts of negative reaction to their Texas licence plates.
Skin color aside i will judge you by the color of your license plate.
BC had a problem way before covid. As an Albertan born in BC, spending a large part of my life there, i am amused that some dick from Toronto is 100% a-okay after two weeks and a new plate and that he is ready to disparage the "others".
Many Albertans live in BC; many have summer homes. Not a problem. What we are seeing, though, is a sudden surge since Stage 3 rules were announced. It's not just Albertans although they are easily spotted because the pink lettering stands out.
Personally, I think Stage 3 rules should have mandated masks anywhere it is not possible to keep a safe distance. What the masks do is remind us that some of us, at least, do care that everybody stay safe.
Masking is a difficult issue, especially when the only research on cloth masks reccomends against their use due the increased risk of respitory infection. Medical style masks like n95s are what the researchers suggest be worn, but not all day long. Here is the conclusion of the study, which as far as I'm aware is the only one ever done (back in 2015) on the efficacy and safety of cloth masks:
Conclusions This study is the first RCT of cloth masks, and the results caution against the use of cloth masks. This is an important finding to inform occupational health and safety. Moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection. Further research is needed to inform the widespread use of cloth masks globally. However, as a precautionary measure, cloth masks should not be recommended for HCWs, particularly in high-risk situations, and guidelines need to be updated.
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/4/e006577
This makes the entire issue incredibly problematic. I do see people wearing what appear to be medical type masks, and others wearing the obvious cloth masks held in place by string or rubber bands.
Why case numbers are climbing in some US States have been climbing as they open up, while in Ontario are numbers are dropping while we have been opening up......I do think it's a little simplistic to draw basic cause and effect relationships. My province of Ontario is talking about moving to phase 3 which will mean that almost all remaining businesses will be allowe d to open. We shall see what happens to the numbers then.....my own inclination is that that cloth masks are a bacterial breeding ground and could make things worse. If I'm forced to cover my face I've decided to opt for a face shield if I can't get proper medical masks.
Gordie, I agree with your comments about masks. They aren't a great protection. However, when I wear one other people give me more space. Maybe they think I'm crazy. I don't care; more space is safer.
Here's the thing, Gordie. You have your doubts about the efficacy of masks and you're welcome to them. On the other side we have the CDC and its companion agencies in every nation in the OECD, all 37 of them. I guess it's a coin toss.
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